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September 25th, 2008 @ 17:16
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.
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September 25th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
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.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
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.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
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.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I’ve got a feeling of dread about it, tbh, no matter why it’s in there.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
It would be one hell of an unfortunate coincidence.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
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.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Yeah, it’ll make it
September 25th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
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.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
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.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
If it is, all they’d have to say is that they were trying to raise awareness. Keep it in the public’s mind.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
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.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
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.
September 25th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Maybe they found her!
September 25th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Who is she,i’m not a xbox fan.
September 25th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
A campaign expansion is probably the most I could have hoped for. Fantastic.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
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.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
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.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
“or a pretty stunning level of ignorance”
American
September 25th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
the next video needs the message “it was her bitch mother” in it somewhere for my entertainment >:D
September 25th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
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.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
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.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
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.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
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.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:22 am
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.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Do we have an explanation for this yet, then?
September 26th, 2008 at 9:27 am
See top of site.