Mass Effect SeXbox Feud Continues; Fox Responds, Says EA Ignoring Invitations

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The ever-growing controversy regarding BioWare's Mass Effect (X360) and Fox News Channel's gross misrepresentation of the RPG as a graphic sex simulator shows no signs of slowing down.

Despite Electronic Arts' demands that Fox News correct the multitude of errors made when reporting on the game earlier this week, the network now claims that EA has ignored all invitations to appear on-air and set the record straight.

"Fox News Channel has extended several invitations to EA through a company representative to appear on 'Live Desk With Martha MacCallum' to discuss 'Mass Effect' and the segment which aired on Monday," a Fox News representative told MTV Multiplayer. "We have received no response."

The whole affair began this Monday, when Fox News hosted a segment on Mass Effect that involved longtime gaming journalist Geoff Keighley, who had played the title, and five other participants who had not. Baseless accusations began flying shortly into the segment, with Fox News incorrectly claiming that the game featured "full digital nudity and sex."

While Mass Effect does in fact permit characters to engage in sex at certain points, the action occurs off-screen without full nudity or any involvement from the player.

One panelist even went so far as to compare the title to pornography. "Who can argue that Luke Skywalker meets Debbie Does Dallas is a good thing?" they asked.

Electronic Arts, which owns BioWare, was quick to respond. In an letter to Fox News, EA communications VP Jeff Brown claimed the inaccurate coverage "represents a new level of recklessness" and "was insulting to the men and women who spent years creating a game which is acclaimed by critics for its high creative standards.

"EA would like you to set the record straight on a number of errors and misstatements which incorrectly characterize the story and character interactions in Mass Effect," wrote Brown, who argued that popular Fox-produced shows, such as The OC and Family Guy, were no more graphic or demeaning than Mass Effect. "This isn't a legal threat; it's an appeal to your sense of fairness."

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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