I have to hand it to Electronic Arts -- they may be pretty damn spotty when it comes to quality, but damn if their marketing isn't spot-on. With Mercenaries 2: World in Flames having launched in the UK today, publisher EA has been promoting the game in one of the most novel ways I've seen -- by taking over a petrol station and offering £20,000 worth of fuel free to motorists.
By 07:30 BST this morning, EA had already served more than 150 drivers with their £40 share of free petrol. The promotion is set to continues until EA runs out of juice. Security has been on-hand to deal with traffic and arguments, and according to the BBC, tempers were strained during rush hour as motorists began to argue like the greedy, Mad Max-style fuel hogs that they are. Still, everybody who got their free forty quid seems pretty happy.
"This is a genius idea, whoever thought of this should be promoted," stated one lucky recipient. "I'll definitely be buying the game, you're never too old to play computer games." An EA spokesman stated that the promotion mimicked the game, which is set in Venezuela, where fuel is used as currency.
Of course, this is Britain, which means one sour-faced killjoy bitch was displeased by this brilliant bit of marketing: "What an extraordinary thing to do, it's totally irresponsible. I can't believe they've been allowed to do it," stated one wretched tart. "This area is usually very quiet but look at it now, there's cars queuing everywhere. It's just creating unnecessary problems." She can shut up though, because this is a fantastic idea and EA should do it in her back garden next time.
[Thanking Budr]
Great idea!
Good to see EA branching out into the Oil industry. Kind, kind people.
I'm a Mercenary
You ain't got a prayer
You owe MEEEEEEEEEE
In the UK? Wow, I never thought they'd do that. Good show.
Official: EA are killing the planet. £40 at a time.
... and I don't mean their games .. hoho.
I had a dream last night that I was playing this, and I could ride a scooter. Not a motorised one, but one of those ones where you stand on one foot and push with the other. Has this vehicle been confirmed? Don't think I'll buy it if not.
G E N I U S
"They deserve an apology for being the victims of such an ill-thought out media stunt."
Yeah, because it has had no publicity other than national news. More than E3 will ever get....
Growing up in the area I have seen it go down, down, down hill and the council want to worry more about changing that area from the shithole it is rather than worry about this.
I know this isn't a duplicate, but didn't someone else post about this happening in LA last week?
You know, EA, there is a definite marketing vacuum around the lower-central-slightly eastern portion of Pennsylvania. Just thought I mention it. Its not for me really.
(10:00 tomorrow at the Harrisburg East Mall's GameStop and for Allah's sake, keep it quiet.)
Uhmmm what town was this in?
Norf London mate.
How many litres does £40 get you these days?
This did this in California when the game came out in America.
I'd do it in her back garden
If ya know what i mean!
@The-Excel
One.
Petrol? What the hell is that?
http://kotaku.com/5045849/authorities-pull-plug-on-london-mercenaries-2-gas-giveaway
Petrol? PETROL?
It's called gas. GET IT RIGHT. AMERICA, FUCK YEAH
We'll call it gas when we pay for gas. Ie £1 for a billion gallons of gas rather than one house for 4 litres of petrol.
Loving the game apart from the random bleeping of the word shit when they say other wear words all the time and its a fucking 16+!
whats petrol. like some kind of plant part?
Now, Britain, America, let's not fight over 'gas' vs. 'petrol'.
I have solved our diplomatic quandary with two words: 'go-juice'.
also acceptable "firewater"
"What an extraordinary thing to do"
I think she's using that word wrong.
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