EA Breaks The Law

GrE writes, "In advance of Electronic Arts' release of The Godfather II, a promotional package for the game has arrived leaving many reporters ready to kick ass and smoke some stogies. That's right, this press pack has a real cigar, matches, a pair of dice, length of wire and brass knuckles. EA really went for the authentic feel with this box, giving promotions everything they need to off someone."

[CrAppleton]

It's amazing the things companies can get away with in the name of promotions

[Neco512]

You can't be serious, there's no way they could get out of that simply because it's a video game. EA HAS to comment on this. I know it's legal in a lot of states, but what about the others they sent to?

[supercharger5150]

yeah I'd like to see a comment. Does it become their responsibility or that of the people who receive the box? Cause that's not right.

[Nineball2112]

I think it's a GREAT promotional package and I'd like to have it! :-)

I think it would have been great even without the brass knuckles and somebody is a knucklehead* for including that in the package!

*See what I did there? Brass knuckles.. knucklehead... XD

[JsonHenry]

It is a sad day in America (once known as Land of the Free) when the government thinks they somehow have the right to tell us that owning a pair of brass knuckles is illegal..

[Leio]

Lol this is nothing compare to "buy a car and get a hand-gun for free" campaign not long ago..

[UnwanteDreamz]

Just thought I'd clear something up for you guys. Brass knuckles like so many other weapons are not illegal to own, they are illegal to carry. Any "collector' may own brass knuckles and have them in their home. You just are not allowed to keep them in your car or pocket.

[UnwanteDreamz]

I was wrong. It looks like they are illegal in 10 states but if you reside in one of these states and have knucks in your home a cop would have to have a justifiable reason for checking. No warrant no check. They also make plastic ones that are not illegal yet as a poster below suggested.

[Cenobia]

Wtf would you need brass knuckles for? They're specifically designed for beating the crap out of people.

At least a knife can cut bread as well as people. Even a gun can be used for sport. There is no sport or alternate use in brass knuckles.

I guess you could use them as an extremely ineffective nut cracker (double entendre).

Plus they're for pansies. If you can't beat a man to death with your bare hands than you aren't man enough (lol).

[TheDude2dot0]

I doubt a reporter will be buff enough to go on a killing rampage with brass knucks.

[Head Shot King]

If the godfather gave away all them goodies then killzone 2 should have included some Pepto Bismol and prozac, and Gears of war 2 should have included a G-string and some 12 inch heels with a note that says haha cliffy just took your money and made you his b!*ch.

I love every one that disagrees, no homo.

[SinnedNogara]

Whoa, WTF!!! EA has gone too far, and that is AWESOME.

Dead Space 2....will come with a flamethrower!!!!!! Sweet!!!!

@Json Henry

People in the nation can own a gun, but can't own brass knuckles! That's ridiculous!!

[Omegasyde]

I wonder what Activision will send out for the next Leisure suit Larry game... That have to Top EA.

[DominusRebellis]

maybe this is a sign that if the game sucks, they can kill themselves with a variety of weapons...or indirectly through smoking (cancer)

[CrAppleton]

I'd love to have one of these boxes.. let me know when they hit ebay.. lol

[Neco512]

HA! I'd like one as well. I'll keep my eye out for it to hit ebay.

[Neco512]

I can't imagine they'll let people keep the knuckles if they live in a state that's outlawed it

[CrAppleton]

Well.. there is one simple solution..

Don't tell the cops that you have them.

[UnwanteDreamz]

You can get knucks at most gun shows along with nade parts and all sort of "outlawed" weapons. You can do this because it is not illeagal to own them it is illegal to carry em.

[supercharger5150]

Illegal or no, that's BAD ASS!!!

[reluctant_gamer]

Awesome! Next story will be that someone beat the crap out of/killed someone using the stuff in the promotional package. Really neat idea, though.

[CrAppleton]

THAT would be a PR nightmare

[ThatCanadianGuy]

Anything to get hits, right fella's?

[koehler83]

LOLs! Guns for all! Brass Knuckles.. for some..

Idiot laws of idiots.

[Fishy Fingers]

Best promotional kit yet. I'd love one of those :(

[Baka-akaB]

You gotta wonder if they went for edgy promotional contents , or simply bribes :p

Joke aside , i'm amazed that brass knuckles are legal in ANY states .

[ikkeweer]

Guns are

[MaCkTeHkNiFe]

Wow... thats kick-ass! Didnt EA give away petrol for the Mercs 2 release? Those guys are really going the extra mile...

[CrAppleton]

LOL.. yeah.. and they DID get in trouble over that..

[yess]

Hmm... should have been a horsehead.

[San Frandisco]

dude this is super badass man... perfect set for the ps3 fanboys to use against the 360 fanboys.

*Roll dice to decide their fate (bad obviously),beat the crap outta them with the brass knuckles,choke'em with the wire then light'em on fire.. and after that celebrate with a victory cigar*

all is good from that point on.

[2FootYard]

I'd take the tobacco out of that cigar and put some green in.

[LONEWOLF231]

Thats a nice kit............man if only i could get my hands on it...... i loved the game, already beat it.
Took me about 15 hours game play, mostly cause i was taking out rival families made men.

[Don_Frappucino]

So americans are allowed as many shotguns as they want, but a few rings stuck together is illegal?

[LONEWOLF231]

lol, thats true.
Handguns, shotguns and Rifles are okay.
A small piece of brass rings=HIGHLY ILLEGAL and dangerous!

[dirthurts]

Do you think they are real brass? If they are jazzed up plastic, that wouldn't be a bad idea.

[GameOn]

It's not a knuckle duster,it's a paper weight. It's perfectly legal.

[lephunk]

get my mafia on...

[shawnsl65]

well i hope when Grand Turisomo 5 comes out, they'll give a 25 dollar gift card for some Gasoline.

next thing you know, EA promotes real life destruction.

"Just copy what the video game's character does. We provide you the tool to kill."

[MIAMIFROST]

....will come with a hooker in a box ! :oP

[josh14399]

i wanna go knuckle duster someone while smoking a cigar :)

[No Way]

I'd like to get that promotion box.. Lol.

[enjoi187]

damn i wish i could get my hands on that package.

all i could really do when i read this ....was laugh

[OhReginald]

this is a brass knuckle....

[HtmL ps3 d00D]

thats so fu*king badass lol, prolly cost a fortune but i dont even like the godfather (no direspect intended) and i want that,

[Jaces]

BREAKIN' THE LAW! BREAKIN' THE LAW!

[ra2205]

funny

[scenegamer]

I have to admit its a nice bit of kit there, but it's also just another example of big publishers trying to 'soften' up the reviewers who drive a large chunk of their sales :)

On the other hand - none of the sources of this story could be considered rock solid..

[astrobrights]

I have to wonder about the sources myself. I never received any brass knuckles or cigars from EA. I did receive the game though. I also don't know of anyone else who received this package. It's possible though.

[astrobrights]

looks like they actually did send this out to some places:

http://multiplayerblog.mtv....

5:48 in the video

[Droid Control]

string em up
string em up
string em up!

[astrobrights]

This article is kind of stupid. There are so many loopholes around these laws. The only time anyone would ever get in trouble is if they carried them around in public.

[skottey]

brass knuckles....

not sure what states they are illegal in but I grew up in Michigan in the 80's and early 90's and lots of kids had brass knuckles. As an adult I live in Florida and I have seen them at flea markets and maybe even at gun shows. I know I have seen them around other places too.

They should be illegal to use, but not illegal to have on your person or at home. I could kill somebody with a butter knife, but I am allowed to walk around town with one in my pocket.

This is kind of a neat promotional package either way. I doubt anybody is going to take the brass knuckles out and beat their bosses' head in. But I don't know these days, with all the layoffs. On second thought, maybe the brass knuckles weren't such a good idea (kidding).