Ubisoft Reworked A Famous Holocaust Quote To Promote Watch Dogs: Legion, And Nooope
You know the quote. It has various edits and permutations, but here’s one you’ve probably heard:
kotaku.com
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Kotaku: Ubisoft Reworked A Famous Holocaust Quote To Promote Watch Dogs: Legion, And Nooope
- Thread starter Icolin
- Start date
kotaku.com
It's weird they call it a quote and not a poem to me unless I'm missing something, but yeah. It didn't really register with me at first, but once I thought about it I was like...yeah. I wonder if anyone will try to argue the 'emotional impact' of this warranted the use. Guessing not lol.
I'm positive this isn't the first time this has been done in a piece of media, so "this should go without saying" isn't quite accurate.
I was really grossed out when I realized what they were doing and glad this is getting called out.
Honestly it took me a while to remember what it was and where it was from, but when I realized...
It really wasn't a good choice from them.
It really wasn't a good choice from them.
We are now two for two of inappropriate Holocaust references in 2020. Its not that hard to stop trying to capitalise on horrors
yeah, not defending Ubisoft but they aren't the first ones. Trying to remember what but I do remember something using it.
I've seen it re-purposed a lot over recent years, almost to the point of it becoming a meme.
That poem has been beaten into the ground. I can't even be mad about the degree to which it has been misused and abused.
This industry and its fans really can't get out of the way of this shit. Its fucking gross.
using a holocaust quote to sell your game about a fascist, anti-immigrant police state is the zenith of apoliticalness
I mean, I get how you can think is tacky or insensitive, but to be outraged about this because it's being used for "insidious" marketing, I mean... that just doesn't sit right with me. Like, not only is the quote being paraphrased to give an appropriate perspective of the setting of their game, but the paraphrased quote is also super relevant to the modern day political climate.
It's a poem about oppression (which the game is about) that has been used everywhere so I don't see the problem really.
They're the ones going around claiming their games aren't political though
This is a very famous thing to do because of the poem which used often in discussions about oppression and the silence of those that let it happen when it doesn't affect them.
Maybe this author isn't too familiar and feels they have a point. I don't feel they do. People have used this poem in more laughably stupid and careless ways prior.
Maybe this author isn't too familiar and feels they have a point. I don't feel they do. People have used this poem in more laughably stupid and careless ways prior.
After TLOU2 being compared to Schindler's List and that comparison being viscously defended, wouldn't be surprised if more of this happens.
It's certainly tacky to see in a commercial video game, but that well known poem is often used in any sort of discussion about fascist, authoritarian, or totalitarian regimes, not just Nazi Germany/the Holocaust.
Pretty sure people here have used it regarding Trump and the Muslim Ban, border camps, etc.
Edit: And a lot more, besides:
Pretty sure people here have used it regarding Trump and the Muslim Ban, border camps, etc.
Edit: And a lot more, besides:
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No wonder Ubisoft wants to keep their games apolitical, because when they get political this is the result.
It was used in the last episode of Game of Thrones
Tyrion gave a "first she came after the slavers" speech to Jon Snow in which he argued they should have seen her turn coming because she had killed slavers in the past. Yeah.[/spoilers]
It's ok, Ubi did not mean anything by it! There's no messaging or themes on their games whatsoever!
Arguably, it has becoming a thing in culture for a while now.
Agreed. This text has been used and paraphrased many times over the years, sometimes badly, sometimes well. The game is about an oppressive regime, as I understand it, so it's not totally ridiculous. I don't think it means Ubisoft is drawing Holocaust parallels, but I can see how some might see it as inappropriate.
My reaction portrayed by Keanu Reeves...
it is relevant, sadly Ubisoft doesn't make political games and that's why I don't like them using it for a trailer.
i think this is key to emphasize, like the game is obviously about a fascist police state but the tone is completely zany and quirky which makes the usage of this quote especially jarring and uncomfortable
It's hard for me to find it offensive because it's an extremely well-known poem and has been used and abused and exploited to hell and back and I have seen far worse and far more audacious uses of it.
Instead I find it incredibly hilarious that "apolitical" Ubisoft made a game explicitly set in post-Brexit UK and is using a variation of the poem that even a teenager could apply easily to post-Brexit UK. So deep, much wow.
Instead I find it incredibly hilarious that "apolitical" Ubisoft made a game explicitly set in post-Brexit UK and is using a variation of the poem that even a teenager could apply easily to post-Brexit UK. So deep, much wow.
It definitely seems like the studio that made the trailer was given a bit too much creative control to make whatever they like. The overall tone is off from how Ubisoft's been marketing this game.
That being said, they should know better by now.
That being said, they should know better by now.