Shameless promo or decent homage?

It’s been the biggest news in the last week that the musical legend that was Michael Jackson has died. Many important people and musicians have been paying homage to the prince of pop in their own way by incorporating his lyrics into their songs at concerts or planning tribute shows in his honour. However it has to be noted that many are also taking the chance to profit from his death. His own father has shamelessly promoted his own new record company every time he has been interviewed by the press.

It seems that some have now objected to what they see as a tasteless promo by EA Games. In what appears to be a weak cash in for the game Battlefield: Heroes, you can now purchase two new outfits for the forthcoming free-to-play shooter. These two outfits are called the Smooth Suit and the Thuggin Outfit. Essentially they are the outfits that Jackson wore in the videos for the songs Smooth Criminal and Bad respectively.

I can see how some would see this as a tasteless promotion for a game but at the same time it could also be seen as paying homage to the man. I mean it's not like they are having you gun down the cast of the Thriller video in a zombie level or incorporating Neverland as a battleground. Personally I think EA have enough smart people to know that trying to cash in on his death would spell trouble among his fans.