Features

FREEKSTYLE FEEDBACK

Your Thoughts on the Offensive EA Sports Commercial: Save The Cyber Ecosystem

By Rick Sieman

Editor's notes: As with most circumstances of public outrage, the furor fades with time and people tend to forget. Let me encapsulate: EA Sports, the makers of various video games for kids, released game called Freekstyle, which was no big deal. It was just in bad taste, which is no crime.

However, they ran a television commercial (animated) that showed thuggish-looking helmetless punk on dirt bike, running rampant though a pristine forest, blasting though trees and bowling over cute little animals. It ended with baby bunnies getting roosted with rocks and mud, and then the punk set the forest on fire with his bike.

When I saw this, I went nuts! What made it even worse, was that EA Sports was the prime sponsor of the AMA Supercross Series.

Well, for the last four months, I have waged a personal campaign against EA Sports and urged the readers of ORC to let EA Sports know just what they thought about the situation. And I'm happy to report that EA did get swamped with some

Very powerful emails.

One good thing has come of this, so far. Next year, EA Sports will not be a title sponsor of the Supercross Series. Instead, a rival video game maker has stepped in. Is it possible that the people who run the AMA actually were behind this? And is it possible that the feedback from your ORC readers helped contribute to that?

Either way, unless there's new development, this is the last installment of the Freekstyle Feedback.

Rick Sieman
Somewhere in Baja at the moment

Dear S.H.,

I have just spent the last hour reading all of the responses that were posted in regards to the Freekstyle roast. I stand with you, and hold the same opinion about EA's marketing techniques. Hopefully EA will do the intelligent, mature thing, and respond so that it is beneficial to everyone.

The console game industry can make serious inroads to promoting off road sports as easily as causing it problems, all the while making money. It's always about money.

If there is a bright side to this, it is that if anything has come from your scathing and witty articles and corporate admonishments, at least you have made a good percentage of people actually try to watch their grammar, punctuation and spelling! Now if only people will listen and stop trying to nurse all of those sad YZ490s...

Thank you for the many years of ridicule and insight.

Chris Dispina

When I first read Rick Sieman's article on Freekstyle, I expected a reply from EA Sports that would contain at least some degree of apology from Jillian Goldberg-Director of Marketing. However, as Rick Sieman states, the response was, "pure, 100%, unadulterated BS" and I for one agree.

Any person who responds with, "People who like video games and that type of entertainment generally understand the difference between cartoon mischief and the very serious issues behind arson and animal cruelty" is completely misunderstanding the basis of the complaint.

I know and am related to many dirt bikers who are very civil, intelligent well mannered citizens; none of my friends or family share any traits that the dirt bikers in Freestyle emit.

I would also like to emphasize that rational that Jeff Brown uses, for example, in the reply to Rick Sieman, Brown states, "[Freekstyle] is based on fantasy and was not designed to be reflective of your business." Well Jeff, thanks for stating the obvious, but what about the kids who watch JackAss on television and then end up in the news because they strapped themselves with twenty pounds of meat, jumped on a giant BBQ and severely burned themselves?

The truth is that not all people do understand the difference between one "type" of entertainment and others, especially when the product is merchandised to the underdeveloped brains of children who sometimes lack the ability to distinguish between what's real and what's fake.

Jeff Brown states that the game is not meant to reflect the dirt biking industry. Instead it is obvious; marketed to children, packaged in shiny boxes, and sent to every electronic store in the US, where it is then shown to underdeveloped minds who go out and copy things they see on MTV's Jack Ass.

When companies such as EA market "entertainment" such as Freekstyle to children, they give the child the wrong impression by promoting unsafe riding as well as many other unsafe practices. By releasing Freekstlye, EA has portrayed dirt biking as something it is not and hopefully will never be.

If dirt biking ever becomes a tat-wearing, inexorable sport, I'll have to find pleasure in something else, like hitting a ball or something (hopefully not golf).

An Avid Off-Road Reader, 
Derrick Snow

This is what greeted me when I rolled up to a riding area today. I haven't been there for a while, but often thought about "The Playground".

The Bonnet Carre' spillway earned that nickname. It was a great place to spend the day. My wife and I have spent many days just casually riding around taking in the sights. Dog training, archery, skeet shooting, 4x4 trucks, ATV's, dirt bikes, even skiing and fishing could all be enjoyed on the same day.

After many good memories, we decided to go back today and bring the camera. My heart sunk when we drove into the area. Areas were lined with markers and iron gates. We couldn't look in any direction and just see natural terrain.

I did speak with a park Ranger,(Army Corps of Engineers). He seemed quite proud of their work. He didn't have a clue about why we were so disappointed. I spent about thirty minutes talking to him about how my friends and family spent many weekends riding and enjoying the nearby lake. Now we can't even get to the lake.

It felt like we were riding on a muddy corner lot with all the neighbors watching.

We have ridden in several areas in Mississippi that are maintained by the Forestry office and local clubs. These areas are kept clean and in great shape. We are able to ride trail systems from 6 miles long up to 35 miles. We ride and are able to enjoy the woods and the wildlife.

I'm sure you have heard this all before, but this is the hardest slap in the face I have ever had. It hurt.

Thanks for listening,
Your long time fan, 
Mike Dufour
Poplarville, MS

Editor's notes: This is the kind of land closure that results from the commercials that EA Sports ran. Government flunkies see the commercial and vow to keep the "evil dirt bikers" from destroying the forest. More land gone.

Hey SH,

Do any of the 'backlash people' know who you are?  I bet they do not. I remember you getting arrested during the 1980's I believe for land closure issues....and the comments my father was making about the 'lunatic on the dirt bike' who was wasting tax payers money.

At the time I had just started racing MX and I knew at that time I had to sit down with him and set him straight about your role in this great adventure of off road riding. Once explained, he acquired a GREAT admiration for the 'Super' one and actually went to the races with me to take in the action....a very large accomplishment. He now looks at most forms of off road as vital and began riding and building dune buggies in his retirement.

PS, my son is 3 yrs...rides a PW50 and will never see a video game in my house .... video games ... stupid .... put your kids out doors, for god sakes.

Mark Ansara
Canada