It won't go down in history as one of those "do you remember where you were when...?" moments, but it was definitely one of videogame's quicker lived bits of history.
It was only this morning that Square Enix announced a partnership with creative agency Ralph that ultimately resulted in some rather negative PR for both companies. Ralph had created a Facebook app for Square Enix's title Hitman: Absolution, allowing gamers to put out hit on their Facebook friends.
According to a press release, "The experience brings the iconic character of Agent 47 to life in a moody, live action video which incorporates the target's individual information from their Facebook account. Agent 47 tracks them down and pieces together his sniper rifle before assassinating them with cold, clinical precision. Pulling together a collage of their photos, the victim then witnesses their life flash before their eyes. Despite its seemingly dark heart, the experience has its tongue firmly in its cheek, allowing users to input whatever ridiculous reason they want for their friend to be terminated. Whether it's their bad taste in clothes or inability to get a round of drinks in, the target is left in no doubt as to their 'crime'."
However, the internet is seemingly rife with, well, douchebags. Who would've thought? Some of those select few didn't put out a hit on "friends" for the reasons the release suggested, instead opting to go with reasons like not being well enough "equipped," or being a ginger. Apparently the influence of South Park episodes are still far reaching even today.
Said "hits" obviously weren't amused, resulting in Square since pulling the app, and issuing an apology: "Earlier today we launched an app based around Hitman: Absolution that allowed you to place virtual hits on your Facebook friends. Those hits would only be viewable by the recipient, and could only be sent to people who were confirmed friends. We were wide of the mark with the app, and following feedback from the community we decided the best thing to do was remove it completely and quickly. This we've now done. We're sorry for any offense caused by this."
The app's youtube trailer has been made private, and the site now directs to hitman.com.
Who would've thought that the same company who made dominatrix styled nuns was capable of more bad taste?
Hitman: Absolution is out now for Windows PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.
