EA Staged Fake Protest At E3 to Promote Dante's Inferno

DoctorFinger · 06-05-2009, 12:10 PM

Image courtesy LA Times

From the "almost too dumb to be true" file comes this story of 'viral' publicity gone just a little too far.

During Tuesday's official opening of E3 a group of about 20 "protesters" gathered outside the LACC, apparently with a grievance against EA's upcoming Dante's Inferno. They carried signs reading "Hell is not a game", "Play Dante's Inferno, burn in Hell" and other religiously themed slogans. The protest got almost no publicity, other than the occasional post on gaming blogs.

It turns out these "protesters" were in fact actors, hired by a PR firm EA had contracted to do viral marketing. EA seems to be trying to say they did not know about the protest in advance, and the 'faux-testers' did not return to the show after Tuesday. Let's hope in the future EA's marketing partners look before they leap.

Sources - AP; Game Politics.

Savok · 06-05-2009, 12:13 PM

God dammit EA we were making progress, don't fuck it now.

violent · 06-05-2009, 12:16 PM

Marketing departments, where morons can make a living.

Mr.Green · 06-05-2009, 12:27 PM

Well I prefer that than the alternative.

Ink Asylum · 06-05-2009, 12:32 PM

This protest sounded fake when I first heard about it. Like protestors are going to slap the real EA logo all over their signs for free advertising.

Gorvi · 06-05-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Green

Well I prefer that than the alternative.

All expenses paid trips to Hell for the press?

Kelegacy · 06-05-2009, 12:43 PM

I think it's hilarious. These sorts of people exist. They just burned down a topless coffee shop here in Maine recently.

Nutjobs, and I think the fake protest was creative and funny in a mocking sort of way.

Disgustipated · 06-05-2009, 12:54 PM

I like shit like this. It pokes fun at real retarded protesters, yet makes people want to play Dante's Inferno even more.

Adam Blue · 06-05-2009, 01:13 PM

Yeah, I dig it too. It's poking fun, and could look bad for EA, but they don't care!

Xerxes · 06-05-2009, 01:16 PM

Bleh, they should of hired the "all i want for Christmas is my psp" people. That ad might be why I have a psp now. Actually, I think some of you guys talking about Jeanne D'arc.

Dukefrukem · 06-05-2009, 01:18 PM

What's wrong with this? I's great promotion.

"Zomg there's protectors for this game at E3... lets go check it out!"

Probably cost EA $100 to do.

torrefaction · 06-05-2009, 01:20 PM

I actually think this is hilarious and tongue in cheek.

jpublic · 06-05-2009, 01:25 PM

I think I'm going to give EA a little benefit of the doubt here, and believe that it was all the PR firm and not EA on this.

rein · 06-05-2009, 01:38 PM

I love it! Pretty obvious it was not a real protest. I'm a little more offended that EA is acting as though they were not aware of it. If I were the spokesperson for EA I would just point and laugh at anyone who thought this was real.

BigJonno · 06-05-2009, 01:45 PM

I think it's pretty funny. It's good to see some entertaining PR that isn't dangerous/retarded.

Deadend · 06-05-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpublic

I think I'm going to give EA a little benefit of the doubt here, and believe that it was all the PR firm and not EA on this.

Same here, as the idea is too stupid for anyone at EA to approve of.

The Continental · 06-05-2009, 02:33 PM

I like it, it's different. If anything I'll remember Dante's Inferno as "the God of War knock off with the fake protesters ad campaign" instead of just "some God of War knock off".

BigJonno · 06-05-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Continental

I like it, it's different. If anything I'll remember Dante's Inferno as "the God of War knock off with the fake protesters ad campaign" instead of just "some God of War knock off".

I'm sticking with "the God of War knock off that raped classic literature up the arse."

The Continental · 06-05-2009, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJonno

I'm sticking with "the God of War knock off that raped classic literature up the arse."

I thought that descriptor already went part and parcel with the God of War franchise.

Sl1pstream · 06-05-2009, 04:03 PM

I don't really have a problem with this. They're promoting their game while making fun of crazy people. It's not like they're actually offending anyone by doing this.

06-05-2009, 12:10 PM	#1
DoctorFinger Senior News Editor Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New York City Posts: 7,633 Blog Entries: 10	EA Staged Fake Protest At E3 to Promote Dante's Inferno Image courtesy LA Times From the "almost too dumb to be true" file comes this story of 'viral' publicity gone just a little too far. During Tuesday's official opening of E3 a group of about 20 "protesters" gathered outside the LACC, apparently with a grievance against EA's upcoming Dante's Inferno. They carried signs reading "Hell is not a game", "Play Dante's Inferno, burn in Hell" and other religiously themed slogans. The protest got almost no publicity, other than the occasional post on gaming blogs. It turns out these "protesters" were in fact actors, hired by a PR firm EA had contracted to do viral marketing. EA seems to be trying to say they did not know about the protest in advance, and the 'faux-testers' did not return to the show after Tuesday. Let's hope in the future EA's marketing partners look before they leap. Sources - AP; Game Politics.

06-05-2009, 12:16 PM	#3
violent Anti-Music God Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5,707	Marketing departments, where morons can make a living. __________________ May God have mercy on our dirty little hearts.

06-05-2009, 12:27 PM	#4
Mr.Green Colonist Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: French Canada Posts: 53	Well I prefer that than the alternative. __________________ Xbox Live: MrGreen PSN: MrGreenPSN Wii: 4859 2... oh fuck it.

06-05-2009, 01:13 PM	#9
Adam Blue Bluegamer.net Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bedford, Tx Posts: 2,622 Blog Entries: 1	Yeah, I dig it too. It's poking fun, and could look bad for EA, but they don't care! __________________ Live -Adam Blue : PSN - BlueGamer : Steam/XFire - adamblue bluegamer.net / adamblue FB My Twitter / BlueGamer on Twitter BlueGamer Bluecast Live Saturdays 5pm-7pm cst! Previous episodes can be found here.

06-05-2009, 01:16 PM	#10
Xerxes Drastic Prick Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: HTX Posts: 10,218 Blog Entries: 8	Bleh, they should of hired the "all i want for Christmas is my psp" people. That ad might be why I have a psp now. Actually, I think some of you guys talking about Jeanne D'arc. __________________ What Would Xerxes Do?! - Coming Soon. 360: Xerxes PSN: ArmoredXerxes Wii: Bitch, please. I've gone through the alphabet with more girls than a kindergarten teacher. -Ox My life requires busting faggoty assed bitches like yourself in the fucking face. -Zeal the original Game Boy was the size of a VCR -pronounconnoun

06-05-2009, 12:13 PM	#2
Savok Vulcan Rage! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 4,562	God dammit EA we were making progress, don't fuck it now.

06-05-2009, 12:32 PM	#5
Ink Asylum WE ARE SEX BOB-OMB!! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 7,775	This protest sounded fake when I first heard about it. Like protestors are going to slap the real EA logo all over their signs for free advertising.

06-05-2009, 12:43 PM	#7
Kelegacy Adventure Time! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Augusta, Maine Posts: 7,202	I think it's hilarious. These sorts of people exist. They just burned down a topless coffee shop here in Maine recently. Nutjobs, and I think the fake protest was creative and funny in a mocking sort of way.

06-05-2009, 12:54 PM	#8
Disgustipated It goes to 9000! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 3,262	I like shit like this. It pokes fun at real retarded protesters, yet makes people want to play Dante's Inferno even more.

06-05-2009, 01:18 PM	#11
Dukefrukem Awesomeness Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 6,616 Blog Entries: 2	What's wrong with this? I's great promotion. "Zomg there's protectors for this game at E3... lets go check it out!" Probably cost EA $100 to do. __________________ PSN: Dukefrukem XBL: Dukefrukem Steam: Dukefrukem Xfire: Dukefrukem Goozex: Dukefrukem Currently Playing InFAMOUS (PS3) L4D2 (PC)

06-05-2009, 01:20 PM	#12
torrefaction Colonist Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2,263	I actually think this is hilarious and tongue in cheek.

06-05-2009, 01:25 PM	#13
jpublic Like a record, baby. Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Toontown, Canuckia Posts: 2,629 Blog Entries: 10	I think I'm going to give EA a little benefit of the doubt here, and believe that it was all the PR firm and not EA on this. __________________ "We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary." --James D. Nicoll

06-05-2009, 01:38 PM	#14
rein I pray for you Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Natural State Posts: 3,325 Blog Entries: 22	I love it! Pretty obvious it was not a real protest. I'm a little more offended that EA is acting as though they were not aware of it. If I were the spokesperson for EA I would just point and laugh at anyone who thought this was real.

06-05-2009, 02:33 PM	#17
The Continental I Am Also Trains Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Washington, D.C. Posts: 487	I like it, it's different. If anything I'll remember Dante's Inferno as "the God of War knock off with the fake protesters ad campaign" instead of just "some God of War knock off". __________________ XBL: TheContinental0 PSN: TheContinental0 Steam: The Continental

06-05-2009, 04:03 PM	#20
Sl1pstream [E] Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Brecht, Belgium Posts: 1,857	I don't really have a problem with this. They're promoting their game while making fun of crazy people. It's not like they're actually offending anyone by doing this. __________________ Gamertag \| Steam \| Twitter \| Facebook

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