MNN.COM›MNN BLOGGERS›

Karl Burkart's Blog

Karl Burkart

New game guns down environmentalists

Postal III video game takes aim at PETA and Al Gore... Has 'green fatigue' turned into anti-green rage?
Thu, Oct 22 2009 at 9:05 PM EST
Read more: ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME, VIDEO

(All images courtesy Postal III)
Makers of the popular Postal video game series have just released Postal III which dispenses with commonplace zombie enemies and faceless military combatants and targets instead those oh-so-annoying environmental activists. 
 
Well actually they are called "ecotologists" which by the description of the game creator are like PETA activists combined with scientologists. Their leader? A dead ringer for Al Gore.
 
 
I heard that a recent marketing study showed if the word "green" is in a web-link users are 10x less likely to click on it over a non-green link. I'm still trying to confirm the report, but whether or not the number is exactly right there is no doubt that marketers have overexposed users to the term resulting in an epidemic of "green fatigue."
 
This is bad news for the environmental movement as a whole. Back in 2006, the marketing industry hopped on the green bandwagon faster than a pack of wolves in heat and as a result the fledgling "green movement" was in my opinion more or less co-opted by an industry seeking to commoditize green values in the sheep's clothing of convenient recyclable packaging (and other such greenwashing tactics).
 
All of us lifers have been watching this trend with dismay, but I don't think anyone would have predicted that the "green fatigue" of young consumers would morph into a more violent anti-green sentiment.
 
Well it has, thanks to Postal III.
 
Warning to environmentalists... gun up. Maybe in Postal IV marketing execs will be the next enemy target, and you'll get your own chance to go postal.
 

 
 
 
 
CLOSE link:
The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.
« Previous
Green giant inspires kids to take on climate change		   Next »
Mapping the future of energy

Comments(4)

Sort by:
Posted By a - Tue, Nov 24 2009 at 7:13 PM EST

sigh

I don't see why why they are making a third postal after the colossal failure that was postal 2.

Posted By BYoung - Fri, Oct 23 2009 at 2:47 PM EST

Monkey?

He has a monkey on his back. A monkey with electric hair curlers that pick up the Fox News frequency. This game could be entertaining!

Posted By @warehousemedia - Fri, Oct 23 2009 at 2:42 PM EST

Perfect example

Here's an example of smart, innovative and affordable marketing...

http://adage.com/article?article_id=139862

We can use an idea like that to help the environment, too. How about a Sim City-type game where you manage a renewable power grid? ...you could build a house and receive points for energy efficiency with existing technologies...

Posted By @warehousemedia - Fri, Oct 23 2009 at 12:17 PM EST

We need more smart enviro PR/Marketing, Less Greenwashing

With how often the term "green" has been abused, it's no surprise that environmentalists are being attacked, however misplace the anger might be. Good thing we have our own "weapons" to fight back, should we use them wisely. Social Media provides the tools to get past the filters that so often distort or block the important messages about protecting the natural world we depend on. What we need to do is find the best in the business; those who know how to use video, social and traditional.... More

Add your comment

You can’t fool Mother Nature
This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Image CAPTCHA