Back in September of this year, Midway released an online-only video advertisement to coincide with the United Kingdom release of Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (original story). Designed as a viral marketing stunt, the commercial was an overly violent depictation of a board room argument, complete with Mortal Kombat style fatalities (watch the video).

According to Virgin.net, a complaint was filed with the Advertising Standards Authority, an independent regulator for advertisements in the UK, and was deemed inappropriate.

After investigating one complaint, the Advertising Standards Authority said the advert was irresponsible, and told the advertiser Midway Games Ltd not to repeat it.

The industry watchdog ruled: "We considered that the ad was likely to cause fear or distress and serious or widespread offence and that Midway Games had used shocking images to attract attention to their product."

The company who produced the advert, Maverick Media, apologized if it had offended anyone, but maintained that the video was suitable for the audience it was intended for.

Wow, that's pathetic. Complaining about a online ad? <a href=http://mkoutworld.net/?id=downloads/video> Click Here</a> to Download the "Blood On The Carpet" ad. (.zip format)

Originally Posted by : Khaos
Wow, that's pathetic. Complaining about a online ad?

Agreed. Its not like the TV...not everyone can just turn the computer on and have it thrust in their faces like a normal commercial. If they put it on a banner though, I could see why there would be a problem, but as it is...just plain stupid.

Originally Posted by : Disappointed
[quote=Khaos]Wow, that's pathetic. Complaining about a online ad?

Agreed. Its not like the TV...not everyone can just turn the computer on and have it thrust in their faces like a normal commercial. If they put it on a banner though, I could see why there would be a problem, but as it is...just plain stupid.[/quote] Main pissed-off factor that it's a internet, when there is far more brutal things being passed around the internet rather than a little blood. Nick Bergs decapitation, millions of people tuned into watch that. Did one person bitch about the fact that there was blood? No. They were just pissed off that the talaban did it. Porn, I don't see people complaining that porn is disguisting, which it is. It's unecessary filth, and you never read on the internet : "Porn sites closing, people angry!". But the second a commercial comes out on the internet, people are pissing there panties. They have the option of not watching it, or just to laugh at it like the rest of us did. People are weak sometimes..

It was properly a arm-chair whiner that was behind the complaint. There are a lot of peeps like that in the Uk... They spend their whole time writing to the newspapers... Complaining about EVERYTHING.

Oh god...i just watched the commercial again, since I hadn't seen it since TRMK did the story on it...what the fuck were they complaining about? The commercial features a brutal decapitation, heart-rip and eat (kinda reminds me of havik ), and some fighting. Oh god its horrible! except for the fact that its for a game that FEATURES ALL OF THESE THINGS IN EXCESS. Wake the fuck up, people.

i know people should just learn to face the facts mortal kombat is all about this and if people dont like the ad no one is forcing them to watch it

You know what... There have been WORST ads on the TV and they've had no complaints.

LMFAO! That's the funniest damn thing I've ever seen. LOL!