Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Bad Idea: Pretend to Be Video Game Character, Wave Gun Around in Public

So here's the idea for this Splinter Cell video game viral marketing stunt: hire a guy to dress up in bloody bandages, run around in public pointing a fake gun at people. What could possibly go wrong?

The police showed up. Their guns were not fake.
About 20 revellers drinking outside Degree bar dived for cover after the promotions worker threatened them with a black imitation pistol about 8pm on Friday.

Witnesses said they heard someone shout “he’s got a gun” and outdoor drinkers dived behind their tables.

Degree manager Steph Kurtovich said: “This guy with bandages on his hands pointed a gun at customers sitting outside. They were pretty terrified.”

The stunt, to promote the release of Xbox title Splinter Cell Evolution, was condemned by police.

Senior Sergeant Ben Offner said officers could not tell the gun was made of plastic until they had taken it from the actor.

If he had tried this in Texas....

via Say Uncle

2 comments:

leBolide said...

The actor is lucky Australians have already been disarmed!

Poor Australians.

John said...

New Zealand actually. I don't know about gun laws there. In many places in the U.S., the actor would have been shot by ordinary civilians. And he'd have no one to blame but himself.