The adverts in question showed Tiger Woods swinging the Wii Remote as footage from the Xbox 360 version of the game rolled into view. The footage from the 360 version also mimicked Tiger’s action with the Wii Remote.
"Electronic Arts confirmed that the footage in the ad was taken from the Xbox 360 version of the game. They pointed out that Tiger Woods was seen using a Wiimote throughout the ad and the only branding at the end of the ad was that of Nintendo Wii,” the ASA stated from its website.
The ASA explained that EA added text below the usurped footage which informed that the game was “available on all formats” as a means to avoid confusion.
“Electronic Arts maintained that they were demonstrating game action that was possible on all formats and did not show any gameplay that was impossible on a Wii. [EA] explained that Wii footage would not be of broadcast quality, and the originating agency had thought it preferable to use the Xbox footage, which was closer to broadcast definition, than to "up the resolution" of Wii footage to broadcast quality,” the statement read.
The ASA also states that EA believed that the footage of the Wii Remote throughout the advert, as well as the use of Nintendo branding “was sufficient to allow viewers to ascertain that the gameplay was representative of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 and not specific to any gaming platform.”
The ASA received a complaint soon after the adverts began broadcasting. The group has now banned the advert in its current form, declaring the massage that the game was available on all formats wasn’t enough to convey that the advert had mixed features from both consoles.