Culture

Culture

by Mike Masnick




Taking Viral Marketing A Little Too Literally

from the send-'em-a-virus! dept

Ah, those nutty video game companies. The latest publicity stunt, involves having people give out phone numbers and email addresses of their friends, and letting the video game company spam them with a text message or email telling them they have a virus. Anti-virus firms are horrified, especially as this follows up a number of over-hyped articles about mobile-phone viruses. The video game company, however, stands by the promotion, claiming that if people go to the website advertised in the "you have a virus" message, they'll realize it's just a promotion. Because, obviously, the first thing you do when you get a message telling you that you have a virus is go to the website it's advertising.

2 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
 

Reader Comments

(Flattened / Threaded)

    Aug 18th, 2004 @ 1:22pm
  • Wow how lame

    by Griffon

    That is just mind bogglingly stupid, If got one of those I would go after them and the so called friend. Viruses are not funny and neither are companies trying to make a marketing campaign based on peoples fear and ignorance.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

    • Aug 18th, 2004 @ 3:27pm
    • Re: Wow how lame

      by Anonymous Coward

      Wow, had to dig a bit before someone came out and said it was Capcom and the European marketing firm CE... I was SURE it was another Acclaim stunt.

      Of course, for those in the care, the virus they're talking about is supposed to be a BIOLOGICAL virus, so its not as bad. (rolls eyes) Cause anthrax scares are funny!

      (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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