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Bungie’s Keep it Clean trailer has instantly sparked web-wide analysis, with sites digging through it frame by frame for clues as to what the game may be.
The Xbox Live version of the movie has confirmed that the new Bungie product is a Halo 3 add-on, proclaiming: “High action and deep mystery await players in this new Halo 3 campaign experience. Prepare to drop!” More on Joystiq.
X3F’s spotted a date in there as well. January 6, 2009 is clearly included on one of the movie’s frames. See through the link.
Lastly – and this was picked up almost immediately – three frames in the video carry the message, “Maddie, where are you?”
Debate’s kicking off as to whether this is a direct reference to the Madeline McCann disappearance, but you can bet the UK press is going to have an absolute field day with that. Could be highly misjudged, if we know the UK press. See GamesRadar.
You can watch the video here.
Viewing 26 responses
trav said:
Good job GamesRadar. You’ve highlighted something that may have nothing to do with real-life but still given ammo to rags like the Daily Mail to proclaim that the games are evil and don’t care about anyone.
Don’t worry though GamesRadar, you’re sure to get loads of hits because of it.
patlike said:
There’s absolutely no way that’s an “accident”. I think Bungie’s going to regret that. The Sun, Mail, etc will go fucking tonto.
Psychotext said:
Like I said in the other thread, there’s going to be a reason for it or it would have never got past MS’s PR dogs.
patlike said:
I’ve got a feeling of dread about it, tbh, no matter why it’s in there.
Truk said:
It would be one hell of an unfortunate coincidence.
Psychotext said:
Will be fun to see if it makes it to the media though. I know a couple of EG posters who are probably mailing people about it right now.
patlike said:
Yeah, it’ll make it
ElfShotTheFood said:
Wouldn’t a Madeline McCann reference imply that Americans keep up on world news?
I doubt it’s anything more than a weird coincidence; obviously there’s somebody named Maddie in the game who has some importance to one of the main characters.
No_PUDding said:
Cannot wait for this be torn apart by the great ignorant mediated masses.
Unless it IS a McCann reference, in which case, it seems a BIT distasteful to use it in a teaser, but nothing to go schizo about.
Psychotext said:
If it is, all they’d have to say is that they were trying to raise awareness. Keep it in the public’s mind.
Quiiick said:
i don’t think that Bungie is aware of the “Madeline McCann”-case.
Remember, it’s a US company!
Outside of the UK it’s not that much in the media.
No_PUDding said:
But it’s marketing… And it’s not explicit, it’s just a flash, like they wanted to use it.
And more to the point Bungie WILL know about McCann, all I am saying here, is whether this is actually a reference in the game, or whether it’s a character.
It’s intentionally referencing McCann no doubt, to enhhance the viral nature of it.
redlander said:
Maybe they found her!
3ig3oi said:
Who is she,i’m not a xbox fan.
morriss said:
A campaign expansion is probably the most I could have hoped for. Fantastic.
Hero of Canton said:
It’s not GamesRadar that’s the problem here – it shouldn’t be there in the first place. It might not have anything to do with the McCanns, but it either shows shockingly bad taste or a pretty stunning level of ignorance.
If we want people to start taking videogames seriously, then this sort of shit has to stop.
morriss said:
I don’t think the McCann’s should have the patent on the name Maddie just because their daughter might have got kidnapped a few years ago.
If it turns out that ‘Maddie’ has an integral role in the new game then there’s no story really.
Psychotext said:
“or a pretty stunning level of ignorance”
American
El_MUERkO said:
the next video needs the message “it was her bitch mother” in it somewhere for my entertainment >:D
absolutezero said:
I fucking love that this has over shadowed the Halo hype mobile. No one seems to be talking about the actual game. Which is awesome.
Psychotext said:
Really AZ? On the forums I go on this maddy thing got a couple of posts and then got forgotten about… still, no-one is talking about the game anyway because it’s the usual shit flinging fest when it comes to Halo topics.
Hero of Canton said:
If it turns out that ‘Maddie’ has an integral role in the new game then there’s no story really.
Apart from the fact that it shows a distinct lack of sensitivity or tact.
I find it hard to believe that no-one, at any point during the making of this, said something along the lines of ‘hang on a minute, chaps – this could be a bit dodgy’. I’m just saying that this sort of thing does videogaming more harm than good. I’m not saying no-one should be able to use the name as a game character or whatever.
I suppose Bungie could argue that it’s just raising awareness. After all, I’m not sure her picture’s been in the paper for a couple of days.
Psychotext said:
Hero: You’d have a point if they were a British, or even European dev… but they’re not. This wasn’t big news in the US, and realistically nor should it have been all things considered.
That’s of course, assuming it’s not intentional.
onyxbox said:
Perhaps the McCanns have given their consent, you know, keeping ‘Maddie’ in the forefront of peoples minds etc. However, my initial thought was that it does seem like a bit of a cheap move.
Blerk said:
Do we have an explanation for this yet, then?
patlike said:
See top of site.