The advertisements in question will be familiar to most people, as they were very widespread in the UK and elsewhere following the launch of the console last autumn. They all featured pictures of deserted locations, with straplines such as "This is where I cut them down to size" and "This is where I left Kate, Lucy and Michelle begging for more."

The ASA has now upheld a number of complaints about the advertisements, including allegations that several of them promote violence or bullying, or could cause serious offence due to sexual connotations.

One poster featured an alleyway at night and the words: "This is where I took on three guys ... and made them cry like babies."

Another showed a photograph of a changing room with lockers and the text: "This is where I made Kev look small."

A third poster, which also appeared as a newspaper advert, had a photograph of an isolated caravan in front of line of tall pine trees and the words: "This is where I left Kate, Lucy and Michelle begging for more."