God Of War 2 goes too far

[Razer]

UK newspaper damns publisher for God of War II event in Athens.

UK, April 30, 2007 - Sony has come under heavy fire from UK newspaper The Mail on Sunday for having a decapitated goat as the centrepiece of a European launch party for God of War II.

Under the headline and intro "Slaughter: Horror at Sony's depraved promotion stunt with decapitated goat", the newspaper went on to lambast the company, saying the event had "sparked a major row over animal cruelty and the ethics of the computer industry".

According to the paper, the event in Athens saw guests invited to reach inside the goat's still-warm carcass, pulling out and eating meat they were told was the goat's intestines - in fact, it was actually cooked offal procured elsewhere. Guests were also given the chance to throw knives at targets and pull live snakes out of a pit using their bare hands.

Sony's Official PlayStation Magazine carried a double-page feature on the event, along with photos of the goat's carcass and topless women, who were on-hand to drop grapes into the mouths of guests. 80,000 copies of the magazine - which was due to go on sale this week - have now been recalled by Sony so the offending feature can be removed.

In a statement to the newspaper, a Sony spokesperson said: "Sony does not condone or sanction any inappropriate behaviour by its staff or sub-contracted staff. It has come to our attention that at the God of War II launch showcase, an element of the event was of an unsuitable nature."

Sony went on to say that it's currently conducting an internal enquiry into the event, ensuring that something like this does not happen again. It also added that the goat had not been killed for the event but had been bought from a local butcher by the Greek company hired to stage the party.

Altho I can connect the topless women to God Of War, I'm not even sure what a slaughtered goat has to do with the game. This is just bizarre.

[Ming]

I would assume that the goat is supposed to be representative of ancient Greek culture somehow, and the overall brutality of the game. While it may be a bit over-the-top, I think it's ridiculous to chastise the company for this. As long as the company didn't slaughter the goat themselves for the event, then I don't see any issue really. If you're squeamish or don't approve, then don't attend.

[ScrumYummy]

*cries* poor goat ;_;

Razer--that was my reaction too, what does a slaughtered goat have to do with anything?

[GAAZ]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ares

[Razer]

[Sciler]

I have to agree with Ming here. It was done by a professional butcher, and was used to eat and whatnot anyways, so I dont see any harm done here. A bit morbid sure, but I dont see any cruelty done here. I agree, if you dont like it, you didnt have to attend or even stay.

[shadokastur]

Boo friggin hoo! I think Gaaz made the defining point here with the info.

If that bothers you just read the sacrifices that were demanded in the Old Testament. (I AM NOT MAKING THIS A RELIGIOUS THING, I AM JUST SAYING.)One goat is good. And they were setting the environment, just like Star Wars fanboys/girls dress up like their fav jedi etc...

[reaper]

I didn't read anything about topless women, but this doesn't really bother me. I mean I have eaten goat before....Little stringy but pretty good.

[Shino]

Yeah, honestly, over reacting FTL

I really don't understand why it was that big a deal. The cooked a goat... What that doesn't happen elsewhere?

[RivaOni]

The deal is that the tabloids such as the Daily Mail will do anything to say "Look what videogames are doing to people!" just like Jack Thompson, and this is one of the things they can use to say "God of War is ultraviolent"