Gamers furious after advert featuring 'jiggle physics' is pulled offline

A Thai advert for Goddess of Victory: Nikke has garnered a lot of negative press for focusing on the sexualised elements of its game and the characters. While some are saying it should never have aired in the first instance, there's an equal and opposite group who are claiming it is unfair censorship that Tencent felt the need to pull the advert.

Goddess of Victory: Nikke is a popular third-person shooter mobile game set on a post-apocalyptic Earth where all life has been ravaged by an alien invasion. There are only a few refuges left for humans and the Nikkes (former human women who have been converted into artificial super soldiers) fight to defend what remains.

“Whenever they are taking cover, shooting, or reloading, the characters’ unique charm and characteristics could be shown by elaborate and detailed illustrations and animations,” said producer Kim Hyung-tae in an interview, explaining that the Nikke designs have been inspired by Blade Runner, Ghost in the Shell and Battle Angel. Sure, they've been a hit with players, but I don't think it's for their incredible martial skills. Judging by this advert, neither does Tencent.

The advert is set in the midst of a birthday party where one boy decides to depart from the festivities to play Goddess of Victory: Nikke. Watching the Nikkes fight for him and focusing on their behinds, he loses control of himself, bouncing on the sofa and flicking his tongue in and out. He's pulled out of the stupor when another child carrying a cake wishes him a happy birthday. I don't speak any Thai but I assume he wishes for his Nikkes to be real as cosplayers dressed as the characters materialise, shake their rears and sit with him on the sofa.

The other child again snaps the boy out of it, he blows out the candles and that's that. It's super strange, no matter which side of the censorship argument you stand on, because this is a young boy fantasising explicitly about these fictional soldiers. Vice reports that Tencent apologised for any offence incurred and pulled the advert, however, some are now arguing that in doing so Tencent has cowed to the criticism.

"I still can't see how anyone got offended by this. It's so abnormally stupid," said one. "This ad is actually amazing man. Love how it didn't shy away and indulge shamelessly in the game's main traits," praised another player. There's no pleasing anyone ever.