Venezuela enlists Bono to stop Mercs 2
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Mar 22nd 2007 at 12:45PM }
A group called Venezuelan Solidarity isn't happy about Mercenaries 2 (that sounds awfully familiar). Apparently the group isn't so keen on the game's depiction of Venezuelan locales, not to mention the "extremely realistic" violence Mercenaries 2 encourages in said locales. In an open letter to Bono, Venezuelan Solidarity asks the U2 singer-cum-activist to pull the support of Elevation Partners -- Bono's investment firm -- from Pandemic Studios, developers of Mercenaries 2. The group pulls at Bono's human rights strings, asking that he "reconsider [his] investment in a company that glorifies violence and militarization." Furthermore, Venezuelan Solidarity implores the rock star to prevent the game from being sold "anywhere." That's a mighty tall order, even for Bono.Whether or not Bono will accept this call to arms remains to be seen. We wait with bated breath.
[Via Joystiq. Thanks, Stynk Monkey]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
VOS @ Mar 22nd 2007 12:49PM
Christ, sounds just like they did on GTA: Vice City and removing the Haitians from the game. I love people, theres always someone to bitch and moan about something.
Manny @ Mar 22nd 2007 1:24PM
Wow lol. I'm Venezuelan and I have absolutely no desire to keep this game of the market... plus, Venezuela is already in the brink of self-destruction, why not make a game about it?
Jesus @ Mar 22nd 2007 1:16PM
I´m in Venezula. The Venezuela´s Goverment LOVES attention. And this will be a news for the ignorants masses here in Venezuela. They´ll show the game and say: look at the bad imperialist they want to kill us, and all the stupid people will applaud. This isn´t really a motivation for a war, it´s stupid to say that. They just want a media hype. Uhhh how I hate Chávez :S
John @ Mar 22nd 2007 1:27PM
Why do people care what celebrities think? U2 isn't even a good band.
matthew @ Mar 22nd 2007 1:35PM
Its not about what he thinks, its about leveraging his fame and his record of activism against his investment in this game, in order to get publicity.
I'm mostly ambivalent about this. On one hand I want to roll my eyes; on the other, we in the US should keep in mind how Americans would react if, say, an Iranian company made a game about Iranians running around in America blowing shit up.
pattrips @ Mar 22nd 2007 4:04PM
Oh god, not sure about this game or whatever but man that picture is absolutely hysterical. lol nice
stynkmonkey @ Mar 22nd 2007 5:55PM
Good or bad, Im getting Mercs 2 just to piss off Hugo Chavez and his flunkies.
THA1icarus @ Mar 22nd 2007 5:59PM
I don't think Bono is going to respond to this propaganda. I hope at least that he doesn't...
I think he likes being rich and he doesn't controle every thing that the investment co does. Ore he would be broke by now...
Wow I don't hear any Arab country bitch ore mone when there is an arab shiek ore even a country invold in some shady business in a movie...
And movie's have bigger social inpact than games...
Go talk to Jack Thompson Venezuela.....
THA1icarus @ Mar 22nd 2007 6:06PM
@5 Btw there is a FPS game made in Syria (I think) where you invade the US and kill Americans.
There is also a game made in the US and the point of the game is to kill as much Jews and Black's as possible. made for the KKK.
But to be onist these are all mod's of a game...