Here we have an example of marketing that’s just plan stupid – and the person behind this deserves to be smacked upside the head, and admonished with a stern “What the hell were you thinking?â€
Pub goers in Auckland, New Zealand were terrified when confronted by a man pointing a gun at them. Unbeknownst to them the assailant was an actor, trying to promote Splinter Cell conviction.
Police in the Viaduct Basin area were called in after a man with bandaged hands ran about pointing a weapon at revellers, many of whom dived for cover. Police were not amused – "We consider these types of stunts to be very ill-advised and have real concerns a similar one may one day end in tragedy," said Ben Offner.
the marketing company behind the stunt have apologised, saying "We do apologise, we shouldn’t have had guns down there†and that "It was just marketing gone wrong."
I think there are probably better ways to promote a game that to go about pointing fake guns at civilians, but with the story now making its rounds on websites all over the world, I’d say they’ve done their job.
Splinter Cell conviction is currently available for Xbox 360, and will see a PC release at the end of this month. We thought it was rather good.
Source : The Herald
Last Updated: April 19, 2010
Uncle
April 19, 2010 at 12:51
Wow whoever thought that up should be fired… at.
Born GuILtY
April 19, 2010 at 12:58
If his ass was in NYC he woulda been shot 41 times. Then the police would’ve put another 4q in him.
Born GuILtY
April 19, 2010 at 13:01
If that happened in NYC, he would’ve been shot 41 times; then the police woujld’ve dumped another 41 in him
Bobby Kotick could be in a sleeper cell
April 19, 2010 at 13:35
I can just see how this unfolded in the brainstorming session at Whatsissheep Marketing in Auckland, New Zealand.
Guy # 1: “Alright mate we need to do something fabulous for our client. They’ve decided that we need to promote their game in New Zealand”.
Guy # 2: “Well.. Bruce what about some posters in Auckland and we dress up sheep in military uniforms..”
Bruce: “Damnit Andy you know posters have been overdone and we already did the whole sheep thing for EA. Don’t be such a drongo. I want something that’ll blow their socks off”.
Andy: “Well… then I don’t know Bruce, we might as well dress some actor up, give him a gun and send him into a pub, mate”.
Bruce: “Good on ya mate, that’s a fabulous idea…”
Andy: Alright Bruce you up for a beer and barbie?
Bruce: “Ah cheers mate”
mitas
April 19, 2010 at 14:54
alright bruce bring shelia along wont ya mate..
this site gots a great sense of the humorous
WitWolfyZA
April 19, 2010 at 15:06
lol i would pissed myself if that happend to me ,i swear
V@mp
April 19, 2010 at 18:00
They need ta “HARDEN THA F*CK UP, MATE”
...squirrel
April 19, 2010 at 18:11
what do you mean? running around pointing guns at people is perfectly normal :pouty:
WitWolfyZA
April 20, 2010 at 15:06
He probably hangs out ALOT in Hillbrow :pirate: