Gun Manufacturer, Bay Area Video Game Maker's Ties Under Scrutiny
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — The gun and video game industries have quietly developed a marketing relationship that is prompting scrutiny on the heels of the shooting in a Newtown, Connecticut school earlier this month.
Studies have failed to find a connection between video games and gun violence, but last week in a news conference, leaders of the NRA claimed that producers of violent video games and movies help to incite violence.
Redwood City-based Electronic Arts created a website to promote companies that make the guns portrayed in its new game Medal of Honor Warfighter according to a New York Times report.
Ties Between Gun Manufacturers and Video Game Industry Under Scrutiny
Dan Hsu, San Francisco based editor-in-chief of Games Beat, which follows the video game industry said the use of the links to manufacturers on the website is interesting, but he did note that since the controversy that the links had been taken down though the brands were still there.
Other analysts have said most gun manufacturers want to distance themselves from such products, But Hsu pointed out depictions of real people and products in games to show authenticity has been going on for years.
"I wonder if this is just a marketing tool that they have an agreement in place to show off these brands," Hsu wondered.
In an email, EA said it took down the gun manufacturer links of its Medal of Honor website after finding it inappropriate.
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