Electronic Arts Stokes Modern Warfare Level Dead Cop Controversy

Electronic Arts has learned from Activision when it comes to adding some marketing drama to selling an FPS. Rather than dead civilians in a Russian airport, however, EA's gone for cop killing in Battlefield 3.

The description provided by the ESRB regarding the game's Mature rating includes the following:

"This is a first-person shooter in which players assume the role of a U.S. Marine soldier who is on trial for treason. Players engage in fictitious military conflicts as the soldier's story is told from a variety of perspectives (e.g., fighter pilots, tank commanders, Special Forces operatives).

"Players use sniper rifles, machines guns, grenades, and rocket launchers to kill enemy soldiers in frenetic firefights. The frequent combat is highlighted by realistic gunfire and large explosions; characters sometimes scream and emit large splashes of blood when shot.

"Players can also engage in hand-to-hand combat: repeatedly punching enemies in the face; stabbing soldiers to death with knives. In one sequence, a restrained character's throat is slit (off-screen); in another, players shoot police officers to complete a mission objective. The words “f**k” and “sh*t” can be heard frequently in the dialogue."

Responding to some made-up controversy about "Players shoot police officers" an EA spokesdroid told Eurogamer, "I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation. For God's sake, there is a nuke in Paris! Millions of lives are at stake!!"

God knows how Ealing Film Studios PRs responded to the actual death of a fictional policeman IN 1950!.

Time to stop being so lazy, eh, EA?

No shooting of police people in our Battlefield 3 Single-Player preview. Check it out.