What is the story with those dominion ads??

[Sombre]

Foodstamp said:
Dominions allows you to kill people by the thousands including sacrificing virgins. This game allows you to practice magic, and become a god. There is nothing wholesome about this game in the traditional sense. Yet, clothed women put in a little banner with the words "I want my Dominions" offends you all?

I am absolutely amazed that people find violence and murder more acceptable than sexuality. It reminds me of where Hillary Clinton freaked out over GTA. She wasn't angry that you could run around town killing old ladies with a shotgun. She wasn't disgusted by the fact that the primary character is a drug dealer, car thief etc. What offended her was the possibility you could download a mod a view a sexual scene in the game.

Most people will have sex at least once in their lives I hope. While I would hope no one ever has to kill anyone, sacrifice a virgin, or attempt to ascend to god hood through murder of their neighbors. Yet, in our societies, sexuality is more taboo than these other things. Makes no sense at all, period.

So your argument is that complaining about these adverts and playing Dominions 3 means we find violence and murder more acceptable than sexuality? That's ridiculous.

You might have a point if Dominions was using violence, sex and blood sacrifice in a crude and exploitative way to sell copies to idiots. If it was like Postal or a porn game or something,.. but it isn't. It's essentially a fantasy strategy game. It isn't /about/ gratuitous violence. You might have an argument that GTA is, though I would definitely take issue with that too.

These adverts are clear cut. They have nothing to do with dominions or any of its themes. They are just lame sexploitation. And yeah, that's common enough in the industry and beyond. Is that reason to accept it now it's been brought to Dominions 3?

[Wrana]

To Foodstamp:

Yet, in our societies, sexuality is more taboo than these other things. Makes no sense at all, period.

Well, the society with taboo on sexuality was the one which conquered most of the Earth's surface and got into space.
You can call it amazing (which is the best ), illogical or even perverted, but you shouldn't doubt its efficacy. And it's all about efficacy, right? (At least so positivist science tells us).
And so you probably shouldn't wonder that people who are fascinated by this conquest are less-than fond of overt demonstrations of sexuality... However, this isn't the case here at all!
To All:

but because it is insulting. The ad is basically saying "We know our target audience

This is the key. (I don't want to place long quote here - the thread is long enough already! ) For people who feel insulted by such ads it's just a sign - of not exploitation of women, but of their own exploitation which is waved before their noses. So the Foodstamp's analogy is quite off the mark: while there are pornographic computer games, there aren't those in which player is just an object of outside manipulation (sorry, forgot the TV! But we are speaking of the computer gamers here - and they by definition prefer to be somewhat active...). And just as everybody had had sex, everybody also is quite familiar with marketologists who "know what you want" MUCH better than yourself.
And this is why I both find ads humorous - as they just bring the fact that these "knowing" ones actually just don't care the freck into light - and the humor somewhat sick - as the fact that ones who don't care are considered knowledgable isn't actually THAT funny.
Dixi.
Hope that it's the last post in this thread.

[capnq]

Tim Brooks said:

All I can say is that it must be hard for you living in the world we do with that attitude.

Yes, it is. Most of us recognize that complaining about it isn't going to make one whit of difference, though, so we don't bother.

If you don't like the ads, don't buy our products and don't frequent our site.

I already own every available Shrapnel product that I'm interested in, and there's only one more thing in the pipeline that I was planning to buy before this sophomoric ad campaign started.

If I didn't feel that monitoring the Space Empires forum was part of my "duties" as an admin for the Play-By-Web site, I would cut back on my visits to Shrapnel's site until this travesty burned itself out.

[Humakty]

I fully agree with foodstamp, and others saying that they can't see the point about complaining on a relatively decent (hey, they're dressed, ever seen a shampoo ad on TV ?) advertisment, when I spend my games killing thousands of people, sacrificing virgins and sending my succubus seduce commanders (I guess they have to do more than a single smile...).

Oh my god, a woman showing her legs ! And this one doesn't have her tchador on ! She's looking at me in the eyes ! I'll call the pope right now, he'll excomunicate all those heretics at shrapnel games !!

[Annette]

Ironhawk said:

To hear a comment like this from someone attached to Shrapnel only confirms that I really should be losing respect for them. Effectively you have just told me that since I am not a prospective customer you dont care. Great. Good to know.

Now when you actually do release Dom4 or <insert other game I might buy here> I will know to reconsider.

I'm sorry, but I don't see where Scott is saying we don't care about you as a customer. He's saying that you are not the target audience for the ads.

Of course we care about customers. I think you've been around long enough to know that we continually provide excellent post-purchase support to our customers. I am saddened to think we would lose you, or anyone else, as a customer because of a banner ad running on our site. Please allow me to share some of the feedback we've had just in the past couple of months through our customer support center:

"wow! great service, thanks a bunch :-)"
- Patrick T., April 9, 2008

"Very fast response. Thank you," - Alfred E., April 9, 2008

"\o/ That worked, all is well now Thanks for sorting this out for me."
- Jason N., April 9, 2008

"I will continue to support your company as titles come out. Thanks for the quick response. My best to you all." - Dave O., March 17, 2008

"Thank you very much for the good customer service :-)"
- Raf G., March 12, 2008

"Thank you for your great customer service." - Jack H., February 18, 2008

"Thanks. Customer support here is quick." - Angelo S., January 16, 2008

As a 47 year old female, I don't find the ads offensive. I think they're out of the ordinary and bizarre, something that will attract attention. Obviously, our opinions differ, and that's what makes the world go 'round.

At any rate, I hope you would judge us as a company based on the quality of our product and the service we have provided you - not on an ad and the subsequent discussion of such ad.
We apologize that our banner ads offend you.

[Tuidjy]

I am offended that none of the follow-up ads has come anywhere near the first.

1. The woman in the first ad was arguably better looking.

2. The first add had a strategically placed cushion. None of the rest do, and
Dominions is a strategy game.

3. The woman in the first ad looked Scandinavian. Dominions is a Swedish game, right?

4. The ATF ad has all the recent Dominions ads beaten. Our game is better, why
don't we get a gun or a helmet or at least milk?

I demand a new Dominions add with a Bog Monster, and a sword, and blood. And the
lady from the first ad. Or I will never pay for a sixth copy of Dominions III. Unless
I make another geeky friend.

[Dedas]

Bog beast? Did anyone say bog beast? I LOVE bog beasts!

Seriously, Shrapnel Games have my utmost respect. Saying that they don't care about the customer is just plain wrong as they are now on the boards caring for us. They are great guys you know. In fact I haven't found a company made up of nicer and more professional people than those with Shrapnel Games.

Thank you.

[cupido2]

Tuidjy said:
2. The first add had a strategically placed cushion. None of the rest do, and
Dominions is a strategy game.

LOL! Now we found the missing link of the ad to Dominions!

The third ad with only the legs could be some of the missing parts of Holger the Head. Or is she/he/it wearing Chi shoes? Who knows.

All I want to say about the ads is, that they gave me some good laughs in the forum discussions (e.g. the bog beasts and the quoted post).