Take Two ticks off UNICO National

by: Dan - posted: 8/19/2010 9:05:00 PM

File this one under the "Really?  You didn't have anything better to do today with your time?" category.

Long known for ticking off advocates against violence and sex in video games, Take Two Interactive apparently found someone else to piss off with their upcoming release of Mafia 2. UNICO National, the largest Italian American service organization in America, released a scathing PR attack on Take Two yesterday for their portrayal of Italian Americans in the Mafia 2 game. The group’s leader, Andre' DiMino (who also went after MTV’s ‘Jersey Shore’) is demanding that Take Two halt the release of the game, which is slated to hit retailers on Tuesday August 24th.

DiMino apparently wrote to Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take Two, starting that Mafia 2 is "inappropriate and insulting perpetuation of the pervasive and denigrating stereotype of organized crime being the exclusive domain of Italians and Italian Americans."

The only thing I can say to DiMino is…well duh. It’s a game Mr. DiMino, get over it. Furthermore, you better buckle up your chinstrap and ask yourself if you want to go there, because you basically started a war over every movie, TV show, book and play that might portray Italians in a poor light.  In fact, might I suggest a couple of excellent film titles for DiMino to take in while he waits for the call from Take Two that will never come.  I personally would start off with a little 'Scarface', followed by 'Goodfellas' with a chaser of 'Casino'.  Oh, and as an encore, take in this little flick called 'The Untouchables'...I hear it is based on a true story.

My advice to DiMino and UNICO National…keep moving in an orderly fashion to the exit and you're welcome for the free publicity.