Stranglehold KEY POINTS:
LONDON - Britain's Advertising Standards Authority said it had banned an advert for a computer game because it was too violent for broadcast.
The TV advert for the 18-rated, John Woo-directed game Stranglehold showed a prolonged shoot-out between four men with a voiceover that said: "Honour is his code. Vengeance is his mission. Violence is his only option."
The watchdog said that although the violence was computer-generated, it appeared realistic.
"We considered the ad was likely to be seen as encouraging and condoning violence," the ASA said in a statement.
"Because the issues raised by the ad could not be addressed with a timing restriction, we considered the only solution was to withdraw the ad from transmission completely."
The makers of the ad, Picture Production Company, said the footage had been edited so no character was shot, adding they believed it was clear to viewers that the footage was animated game play and not real-life violence.
The company also said the violence was stylised, unrealistic and had a fantasy quality.
- REUTERS
