ASA rejects Heavy Rain complaints

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has rejected complaints about a Sony advert for recent PS3 hit Heavy Rain.

The BBC reports that the objections stemmed from the depiction of a level in the game where two-sided detective Scott Shelby intervenes (or not, depending on the choices made by the player) in an armed robbery at a convenience store.

Their airing coincided with the murder of shopkeeper Gurmail Singh in Huddersfield on February 20th.

Three of the four TV spots were restricted for broadcast after 7:30pm with the other banned completely before the 9:00pm watershed.

In total the ASA received 38 complaints about the campaign. The regulator conceded that their timing was unfortunate but added that the time restrictions placed upon them prevented harm to minors.

It also added that it would have been obvious to children that the characters depicted were digital.

We understand the broadcast of the ads coincided with tragic events in Huddersfield and we accepted that that may have been upsetting to those directly affected by the incident and similar events of robbery,” a statement read.