July 22nd, 2007
Take-Two Games and the Knife …
By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
Take-Two has never been accused of good taste in its games, nor, apparently, of doing too well with tracking stock options 
… but this goes beyond bad taste. It’s all about Take-Two subsidiary 2K Sports’ All-Pro Football 2K8, which includes O.J. Simpson as a player.
A customized video clip on the Game Trailers Web site shows Simpson game highlights as his team, “The Assassins,” moves down the field. Toward the end of the clip, Simpson scores a touchdown, prompting a large hooded mascot (above) above the scoreboard to make stabbing motions with a large knife. Source: TheStreet.com
We Say: The Assassins? Note that GameTrailers frequently records their own footage, so Take-Two may not even be involved. Still, whether or not (as many commenters at other sites seem to think) you think this is overblown and humorous … it’s still in poor taste.
Mark says:
I agree. This is definitely in poor taste, and worse.
July 22nd, 2007 at 10:44 am
Charles says:
In poor taste against whom? OJ?
He didn’t go to prison, so his punishment is living with ongoing references like this. It’s not much, but I’m ok with it.
In poor taste against the Brown or Goldman families? I think under the cirumstances they would be ok with a society that is not going to let Simpson off the hook, and will go to great lengths to perpetuate that perception of him.
Not that EA did this for any other reason that publicity…
In poor taste would be a blonde woman standing next to the mascot when he does his thing. I think the way EA dd it was a measured jab at OJ and will potentially give the game some controversial buzz.
July 22nd, 2007 at 10:45 pm