[pants]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...marketing-slur

Alice: Madness Returns designer American McGee has apologised for comments he posted on Reddit earlier this week that criticised publisher EA. McGee claimed EA had wanted to "trick" gamers into thinking the game was a brutal and bloody affair, rather than just the odd and darkly beautiful game McGee had actually built. "They wanted to 'trick' gamers into believing Alice: Madness Returns was a hard-core horror title," he wrote, "even though we refused to develop it in that tone." The game's marketing was originally put together by external creative agency Shy The Sun, whose "fantastic" work EA then "interfered" with, McGee said. "Their thinking is, even if the game isn't a hard-core horror title, you can market it as one and trick those customers into buying it (while driving away more casual customers, like female gamers, who might be turned off by really dark trailers). It's all a part of the race to the bottom [that] EA, Activision and the other big pubs are engaged in. Expect to see it get worse before it gets better." Two days on, McGee has apologised in a blog post (thanks, Kotaku). "It attracted a few pissed messages from EA," McGee admitted. "Allow me to expand on my original post while at the same time making a correction (call it a retraction if you like). "'Tricked' is the wrong word. I take that back. Apologies to EA and anyone else whose feelings were hurt. Electronic Arts doesn't trick customers into buying things. They carefully apply proven marketing techniques to achieve the desired customer response. If they were bad at this sort of thing they'd have been crushed by their competitors long ago and you'd be playing Madden Football from Activision or Atari or something.

This apology :lol

[News Bot]

Pretty classy "apology" really. It's hard to defend EA.

[Ronok]

So they don't trick customers, they just trick them. Got ya. :P

[Dabanton]

Hilarious apology.

They carefully apply proven marketing techniques to achieve the desired customer response.

lol

[D-e-f-]

Heartfelt stuff.

I approve :D

[sueil]

Fuck em if they can't take a joke.

[pa22word]

They carefully apply proven marketing techniques to achieve the desired customer response.

oh god my sides

[SystemBug]

Maybe now he can apologize for the game being mediocre.

just kidding

[Astrosanity]

Why would McGee even give a shit at this point if EA were offended by his frankly very mild insult about their marketing department? They practically let Madness Returns die on release, I sort of doubt unless he really thinks a third game is likely he has any wish to work with them again.

[DXB-KNIGHT]

Admiting your mistake is admirable even if it was EA

[Cynar]

Fuck em if they can't take a joke.

Best apology ever. Good job. Literally laughed out loud.

[Omikaru]

I was tricked by this thread's title. There was no real backtracking!

Amazing "apology" though. I can totally see EA doing just as he described on Reddit.

[Agkel]

Lol at this apology! +1 respect to the guy

[tmarques]

They also tried tricking people into thinking it was an entertaining game, but you don't see McGee whining about that.

When was the last time he was involved in a truly great game?

[ebullientprism]

Electronic Arts doesn't trick customers into buying things. They carefully apply proven marketing techniques to achieve the desired customer response.

Beautiful. :D

[Hugstable]

This is great haha. They don't trick people, they apply "proven marketing techniques."

[scitek]

Why would McGee even give a shit at this point if EA were offended by his frankly very mild insult about their marketing department? They practically let Madness Returns die on release, I sort of doubt unless he really thinks a third game is likely he has any wish to work with them again.

He doesn't.

[Truant]

Awesome apology. That's gotta sting, EA.

[DaBoss]

Haha, great apology.

[Blueblur1]

Excellent apology. Hilarious even.

[skinnyrattler]

If they were bad? Still seems like the question is up for debate. Seems like the wording was taken directly from the conversation with one of the marketing folks, bitching him out.

[sleepykyo]

They carefully apply proven marketing techniques to achieve the desired customer response.

I love this phrase.

[A More Normal Bird]

They carefully apply proven marketing techniques to achieve the desired customer response.

What are the odds that he lifted this verbatim from an angry email he got from EA's lawyers?

[daxgame]

They carefully apply proven marketing techniques to achieve the desired customer response.

hahaha I'm dying

[Bjoern the Smexy]

I still love you, American McGee. <3
I'd really love to see a third Alice game.

[Lapidus' Beard]

Classic! I like the guy.

[Corto]

I think he's the one that tricked EA here hehehe Great apology there.

[Mr. Poolman]

I trust Anerican McGee.
I don't trust EA.

Love this "apology", I'll need to learn to apologize like this.

[More Fun To Compute]

This is very visceral news.

[rvy]

I don't even like Alice, but God damn this guy deserves all the credit in the World.

[V_Arnold]

Nice burn. Sad thing is that it is absolutely true, and I guess some EA execs were actually "outraged" at the "accusation", while at the same time knowing how twisted their job is :P

[eXistor]

So now you're still saying EA tricked customers, but you're using fancy words to do so (which makes it even more scathing imo) and EA approves? Tricking the trickee, I like it.

[Glass Rebel]

Can't hate this guy, genius :lol

[Valnen]

Maybe now he can apologize for the game being mediocre. just kidding

I hope so, I tried it earlier today and it seemed like fun.

[vazel]

Since McGee is playing the blame game I take it Madness Returns didn't sell well in the long run. It's a shame because it's a far superior game to the first one.

Most of the trailers did make the game seem like horror instead of the deranged tone McGee goes for. But wasn't a bigger issue the lack of marketing money. Did this game even have any TV commercials?

[Pupi18]

Thats the best backtracking apology I ever seen. Dude knows how to deliver it.

[crazygambit]

Why would McGee even give a shit at this point if EA were offended by his frankly very mild insult about their marketing department? They practically let Madness Returns die on release, I sort of doubt unless he really thinks a third game is likely he has any wish to work with them again.

Dude, did you not read the "apology"? He clearly doesn't give a shit. Brilliant stuff IMO.

[RoboPlato]

LOL at that apology.

Alice's marketing was a bit misleading but not too bad. Brutal Legend, on the otherhand, was flat out tricking people.

[En Ex]

I realize everyone is quoting this...

Electronic Arts doesn't trick customers into buying things. They carefully apply proven marketing techniques to achieve the desired customer response.

...but this really is a well-crafted statement that can be admired for its construction, implementation, and implications.

Seriously, bravo.

[bengraven]

"Well, we WANTED to do Alice 3, but if you feel that way..."

"Whoa whoa whoa...let me internets..."

[Haunted]

Electronic Arts doesn't trick customers into buying things. They carefully apply proven marketing techniques to achieve the desired customer response.

*clap*

Well done, McGee. Well done.

[Pie and Beans]

An EA Partners game having any marketing at all here is the real surprise!!

[mentalfloss]

DAT SNARKY APOLOGY.

I wasn't a big fan of American McGee before, but I am now.

[Nokterian]

Electronic Arts doesn't trick customers into buying things. They carefully apply proven marketing techniques to achieve the desired customer response.

I am laughing to hard right now..yes impresive apology. Very well constructed in a manner of speaking lol.

Wauw..i am thinking about Dead Space 3 PC now. Strait Port out of the wazoo.

[Audioboxer]

"'Tricked' is the wrong word. I take that back. Apologies to EA and anyone else whose feelings were hurt. Electronic Arts doesn't trick customers into buying things. They carefully apply proven marketing techniques to achieve the desired customer response. If they were bad at this sort of thing they'd have been crushed by their competitors long ago and you'd be playing Madden Football from Activision or Atari or something.

[Messofanego]

That is a brilliant response!

When is Akaneiro Dream Hunters coming out anyway?

[Astrosanity]

Dude, did you not read the "apology"? He clearly doesn't give a shit. Brilliant stuff IMO.

... I did? I just don't see why EA would assume McGee would stay civil about them in the first place after how their partnership turned out unless either side felt another Alice game was still possible.

[jett]

An EA Partners game having any marketing at all here is the real surprise!!

tru dat

[Derrick01]

As far as their own games go they definitely don't trick anyone. They actively try to make their games dumb and mainstream as hell so the marketing doesn't lie. I'd actually prefer it if the marketing was lying.

[GameCenterXDS]

They also totally ruined what Suda 51 wanted to make. EA just sucks, I hate them.