10 Worst Video Game Marketing Campaigns Ever
9. Give Your Kid A Dumb Name For $10,000 - Turok Evolution
Few gaming companies embrace marketing gimmicks like Acclaim. (At least they did before they went defunct.) So when Turok Evolution was about to hit shelves, Acclaim started brainstorming ways to promote the latest sequel in the dinosaur-hunting franchise.
So what did they come up with? Organise a giant T-Rex puppet marching around a large city? Organise a lottery to win a free copy of the game? Make Turok Evolution actually good?
But the publisher didn't go with any of these ideas. According to Acclaim spokesman, Alan Lewis, they needed to do something unprecedented, since it was tough to leave a lasting impression in the growing gaming market.
With that in mind, the company decided to offer $10,000 in saving bonds to the first parents who named their baby Turok.
For some reason, none of the higher-ups at Acclaim thought this was a bad idea, despite the fact "Turok" is a really stupid name. What do you think is going to happen to the kid who's not only named after a video game character, but named after really crappy game? He's going to be bullied for life!
Considering Acclaim went bankrupt shortly after, it was clear the company was out of money as well as ideas.