10 Video Game Promotional Tactics That Backfired HORRIBLY
7. The Mercenaries 2 Causes Gridlock
From Acclaim giving the UK the go-ahead to do a little bit of speed limit breaking, we shift gears completely to Electronic Arts causing gridlock and mayhem.
The Mercenaries 2: World in Flames really went off the deep-end into the bizarre for its marketing tactic. This game all about destruction and explosions needed something big and flashy and so EA elected for… giving away free gas, for some reason?
EA hoped to make the United Kingdom aware of Mercenaries 2’s release date and whilst it’s fair to say they achieved that they also created a situation which eclipsed any anticipation for the product. Taking over The Last Stop gas station in Finsbury Park, London, EA announced that they had paid for £20k of petrol and were giving it out to consumers to a maximum of £40.
Now, back in 2009 it was half the price it is today but no matter when or where free petrol is free petrol. As such, drivers all over London raced to The Last Stop and caused a traffic standstill. Scenes were so hysterical that the Police called off the promotion midway through the day.
Sure, the stunt made it to the news but was anyone talking about the game? Wait.. what game was this promoting again?