Resident Evil 5 marketing fun - real game of "hunt the body parts" going on in London right now.

Creating advertising stunts for video games has always skirted the edge - remember when Acclaim Entertainment said they'd advertise on tombstones? When a PlayStation 2 party was serving offal from the stomach of a freshly decapitated goat, when Electronic Arts gave away £20,000 worth of fuel to promote the game Mercenaries 2: World in Flames" causing London causing serious traffic jams and attracting the ire from the local MP for Hornsey and Wood Green,Liberal Democrat Lynne Featherstone, who said: "Trying to recreate Venezuelan-style fuel riots on the streets of London is completely irresponsible and downright dangerous.".

Well now we have reached a new level of tacky - as Resident Evil 5 launched a game of "find the body parts" thrown around London. Between nine and eleven today, hunters who've signed up to play have to figure out by way of clues where these body parts lie.

I admit, I love the idea though, if only for this part;
"Alert us to your presence by standing on Westminster Bridge, holding the artificial body parts over your head and shouting 'Kijuju!'. We will be there, watching you, and will approach when you make yourselves known."
A crowd of people waving dismembered body parts around while shouting gibberish quite close to the houses of parliament? Now that's funny.

Capcom's release read; "the infected have been and gone - but they have left behind the bloodied remains of their victims. Find the bodies on the morning of Thursday March 12th and win a holiday to Africa." - at 11 am the game is over, and I can't wait until the pictures taken by confused passers by show up on Flickr.

This could never have been done in Boston, where Adult Swim Boston LED Billboards caused panic. ;-)

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adlib

- March 12, 2009 - 11:06

Will serial killers take the chance in disposing of body parts today?
Speaking of game ads bordering on bad taste, remember hitman? http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/07/ad-critic-hitman-advertisement

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Dabitch

- March 12, 2009 - 11:22

Ha! Would be a good way of getting rid of excess body parts I guess.

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adlib

- March 12, 2009 - 17:05

Here are the happy winners!

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Dabitch

- March 12, 2009 - 17:09

Can We Have Our Body Parts Back Please? Video Games Stunt Organisers Appeal for Return of Fake Limbs

Can We Have Our Body Parts Back Please? Video Games Stunt Organisers Appeal for Return of Fake Limbs
Submitted by: Monument PR Worldwide
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Publicity stunt organisers who hid a large number of gory replica body parts around Central London this morning (Thursday) say they've lost a number of them after their stunt went wrong. 3 heads, 3 torsos and 12 arms and legs were hidden at a number of locations as part of a bloody 'treasure hunt' challenge against the clock to mark Friday the 13th's release of the new game "Resident Evil 5" which features 'zombie like' characters.

Unfortunately, only 2 heads, one torso and 6 limbs were returned across the winning line on Westminster Bridge. Organisers are now concerned the remaining fake body parts, if left unattended, may be mistaken for the real thing, sparking alarm.

A spokesman for the company behind the 'treasure hunt' said "The body parts are very realistic and we don't want people to be alarmed by them. They've all been taken from their original positions, but we now have no idea where they are. If you have them, please either return them, or dispose of them in a responsible and careful manner. In addition, chicken livers were used for added gore, and, uncooked, they can be dangerous."

The treasure hunt started early on Thursday morning, and was eventually won by Steve Long, a 26 year old IT consultant from North London. Mr Long's prize is a holiday for two to Africa, the continent where "Resident Evil 5" is set.

Steve said "Some of the parts we found were horrifically gory. They had been hidden well, but they were definitely realistic enough to be confused with the real thing."

The treasure hunt was almost brought to a premature finish when horrified passers-by complained to police. Officers were called to the winning line on Westminster Bridge in view of the Houses of Parliament, but no charges were made.

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Dabitch

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