Microsoft investigating ad placement on Xbox Dashboard
A parent on Reddit complained about an advert been shown on the Xbox 360 Dashboard that scared his 3 year old daughter so much so she now refuses to even turn the machine on again. The ad in question was for the 2012 remake of The Evil Dead being advertised for rent from the Xbox movie rental service. Even with family settings turned on the scary ad still managed to find its way onto the Home screen.
The Xbox 360 has family safety filters to block adult content and images been shown to minors yet even with said filters turned on the disturbing image of a grotesque demonic woman smiling and staring into the camera still appeared. I’m old enough to remember the original Evil Dead film, yet that picture gives even me the creeps. Just imagine how a 3 year old girl would react to it.
In response to the complaint Xbox Live Director Of Programming Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb had this to say on the matter;
I asked the ad team to look into this. Sorry about your daughter being scared. That’s not cool at all.
I want to be sure we’re talking about the same thing, If the slot is an ‘Advertisement’ (paid placement) then it is labeled as such. All other spots are for marketing/merchandising other store content. I know it sounds like I am splitting hairs, but there is a big difference on who I escalate this to. From what I see here is in what we call a ‘programmed slot’ so I’ll send this to the programming team.
Yet when it was pointed out that the Evil Dead trailer was shown as an ‘Advertisement’ Hryb said “Thanks. I am escalating this.”
A very simple solution to this would be to just show the movie poster rather than a frightening still from the movie. This was also suggested but quickly shot down by Hryb,
“Probably not. The dimensions of movie posters are very different from what is needed on the top level dashboard.”
Article By Steven van Eekeren
With almost 30 years of video game experience to his name, Steven knows more than a thing or two about the industry and has been putting it all to words these past few years. As a trophy hunter, the Playstation brand gets most of his attention. Twitter: SteveVanEekeren PSN: Devils_Demon
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