RIAA Exec Jumps To The ESA: Expect Lawsuits Against Video Gamers

How To Respond To Criticism: EA's Tiger Woods Walks On Water Ad

from the nice-shot dept

Thu, Aug 21st 2008 1:16pm — Mike Masnick

In an age where anyone can speak up, and anyone can criticize you, the first reaction of many folks is to hit back hard -- even trying to take down critical info. As we all know, that's exactly the wrong thing to do. But, it's still quite difficult to turn something that's negative into a positive quite as well as video game company EA just did. Mathew Ingram has the details, but basically, when last year's version of EA's Tiger Woods golfing game came out, some users made a video jokingly pointing out that a glitch in the game allows Tiger Woods to stand in the middle of a water trap and take a shot:

With this year's version coming out, EA actually took that video as inspiration for a new ad, "responding" to that video, by showing that it wasn't a "glitch" at all, but that Tiger really can walk on water and hit a golf ball:

Now that's a good response to some criticism.

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Filed Under: advertising, criticism, golf, response, tiger woods, video, walk on water
Companies: ea

27 Comments

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LBD, 21 Aug 2008 @ 1:29pm

Correct responce
Yes, yes he can
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garfalk, 21 Aug 2008 @ 1:32pm

more companies need to do this. it makes me want to buy a game i had no intention of ever buying, from a company i abhor.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Aug 2008 @ 1:32pm

I am waiting for the McCain response to this celebrity's ad.
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Matt Bennett, 21 Aug 2008 @ 2:12pm

Hah! I kinda hate EA, but that is indeed an awesome tack to take.
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XCetron, 21 Aug 2008 @ 2:32pm

Nice move, EA!
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Aug 2008 @ 2:34pm

Awaiting christian response.
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Matty, 21 Aug 2008 @ 2:35pm

i saw this on tv yesterday and now i get it. that's to funny.

Good job EA

Next watch that the posters of the you tube video will try to sue EA. lol
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Eliot, 21 Aug 2008 @ 2:36pm

Re: (I agree)
garfalk, you are totally right. I kind of want to by the game, but I don't think I'd like the game and I certainly don't want to support EA sports, but the ad is just that good.

Most excellent.
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offroadering, 21 Aug 2008 @ 2:42pm

Thats why
Tiger Woods is the only reason i have an X box
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Sierra Night Tide, 21 Aug 2008 @ 2:45pm

:)
That was cute!

Good for both of them for having a sense of humor and some fun.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Aug 2008 @ 2:55pm

EA just gained some points in my book
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Aug 2008 @ 2:56pm

I kinda like EA, they made Mail Order Monsters!
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Yakko Warner, 21 Aug 2008 @ 3:09pm

Re:
As a Christian, I have to say:

Bwahahahaha! That was brilliant! :D
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Overcast, 21 Aug 2008 @ 3:11pm

I am waiting for the McCain response to this celebrity's ad.

He can walk on oil?
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Overcast, 21 Aug 2008 @ 3:12pm

Now that I think about it, I could add:

I'd like to see all politicians walk on Oil, really.

Then we could light it on fire and half our problems are solved~ :)
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Yakko Warner, 21 Aug 2008 @ 3:15pm

Re:
I loved that game. :)

I used to edit my saved game files with a hex editor and give myself large amounts of money so I could buy all the cool upgrades and weapons for them. Heh, I was so 1337 back then. :D

Ah, good times. How come they don't seem to make games like that anymore?
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Aug 2008 @ 3:58pm

Re:
Yes, and to bring it full circle... Oil comes from Dinosaurs!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd27LUpd0Qo
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Stephan, 21 Aug 2008 @ 4:08pm

This response just earned EA back a little of the respect I've lost for them. I would love to see more companies responding to things like this. Instead of trying to cover up the glitch by asserting copyright over the video, they respond with a funny ad. Way to go EA!

(Maybe this is an actual sign that they may be slowly moving in a more positive direction?)
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Buzz, 21 Aug 2008 @ 4:10pm

Very Serious Business
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Good form, EA.
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Hoeppner, 21 Aug 2008 @ 5:40pm

The second video doesn't work, did it get DMCAed?
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XD, 21 Aug 2008 @ 6:06pm

XD
Very nice! EA defiantly earned some rep points back from me for doing this. I might buy an X-Box 360 because of this ad(and the fact I have wanted one for a while)
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Anonymous Poster, 21 Aug 2008 @ 9:04pm

You know, say what you will about the decline in quality of EA's products for whatever reasons, but their advertising department? Still got it.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Aug 2008 @ 11:34pm

"Gob, was that one of your tricks?"
"No Micheal, it wasn't one of my tricks"

The next time, on Arrested development...
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Aug 2008 @ 6:38am

If EA were as good at making games . . .
As they are at marketing, they might not have the bottom barrel, garbage reputation in the business they have today. EA should take thier SECUROM infected, sweat shop created, focus group-lowest common denominator tested, half finished "we will sell the rest as downloadable content", garbage games and throw them in the lake Tiger Woods is walking on.
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another mike, 22 Aug 2008 @ 1:50pm

Michael Phelps is not impressed with Tiger's aquatic ability.
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kevjohn, 26 Aug 2008 @ 10:21am

Woody
Tiger Woods has now starred in my two favorite athlete-based ads of all time. I'm still trying to learn the bouncing the ball on the golf club trick. This one... might take a bit longer to learn.
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Steve, 11 Sep 2008 @ 3:37pm

Christian response
Only Jesus can walk on water. Tiger is an awesome golfer, but he is not God.

Matthew 14 29-31

29.And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

30.But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"

31. Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

I hope that none of you will doubt Jesus Christ, but cry out to Him to save you from the deep water and swirling winds of this world.

In Christ
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