North Korea Invades…….
I recently attended the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at the Los Angeles Convention Center and observed a disturbing yet interesting marketing ploy. THQ Games teamed up with “Pyongyang Express” (a mobile Korean/Mexican fusion kitchen that cruises around LA) in order to promote the new game “Homefront,” which envisions a fictitious not so distant future in which a unified Korea controls most of the world. As I made my way to the Convention Hall I began to notice signs that read "check point ahead" and North Korean flags on vehicles in a near by parking lot.
In addition I noticed a couple of signs near stacks of sand bags that read "North Korean Federation Subsidized Free Parking, Working together for a better America." Now this may be purely speculation on my part, but the free parking was all a marketing ploy and visitors could park free if they flew the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) flag on their cars. I began to immediately think of my man Zururi and felt compelled to give him the 411 on what's going down in LA.
In light of the March 26 attack on the South Korean "Cheonan" warship in which 46 sailors were killed and the DPRK's constant sabre rattling it is inappropriate to display such inflamatory images. Furthermore, North Korea has issued a warning today that it will retaliate against South Korea, Japan and the U.S. if they convince the U.N. Security Council to issue sanctions or punitive actions against the North.
Personally I am an avid gamer and I enjoy edgy subject matter and the feeling of being submerged into another world while playing a game, however I feel some marketing ploys can go a bit to far. The plot of "Homefront" is after the death of Kim Jong IL (an eerie parallel considering his questionable health) his son Kin Jong Eun takes power and unites the two Korea's. This may sound like a dream for many, however the new "Greater Korean Republic" begins an aggressive campaign to take over the world. The resulting events are fictitious yet startling. Japan surrenders to the new regime, Korean special forces seize Hawaii and eventually trigger an EMP (Electromagnetic pulse) which results in leaving much of the U.S. in the dark. One of the great things about the U.S. is you have the freedom of speech and expression, but with freedom comes great responsibility. Marketing a video game with North Korean propaganda plastered everywhere and a rolling roach coach with a Kim Jong IL DPRK menu, is in extremely poor taste due to the June 25th anniversary of the Korean war and the many people who have died as a result of this conflict.
