An advert for a computer game has been banned from television. The advert for 'Stranglehold' had realistic violence, constant gunfire and condoned violence, according to ad watchdog the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
The ASA responded to two complaints about the promotional clip for the game, which is endorsed by martial arts director John Woo.
One person complained that the advert glorified gun violence and could affect susceptible people. Another said their three-year-old son had seen the ad when it was shown before the 9pm television watershed.
The advertising agency behind the ad, Picture Production Company, said that it believed that it was clear that the footage was animation and not realistic, and that nobody was seen to be shot because bullets were fired into the air in the clip.
The ASA did not accept its arguments. "The ASA noted that the shooting was almost continuous throughout the ad and considered that the violence depicted, although computer-generated, was realistic in appearance," said its ruling.
"We considered the voice-over, which stated 'Honour is his code. Vengeance is his mission. Violence is his only option,' suggested that it was honourable to seek revenge and that violence was an acceptable solution to a situation," said the ASA.
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