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A Mercenaries 2 PR stunt in London, at which EA tried to give away £20,000 worth of free petrol, has been branded “irresponsible” by an MP after hordes of motorists tried to cash in.
The fuel was limited to £40 per person, and 500 motorists were fast enough to get the gift.
By midday over 40 cars we queued along the residential street alongside the London petrol station, and one local resident had to be calmed down by EA security because he couldn’t get his car out from his drive.
“Whilst a lucky few might have got some free petrol, hundreds of local residents have faced misery on their daily journeys this morning. They deserve an apology for being the victims of such an ill-thought out media stunt,” said the MP for Hornsey Lynne Featherstone.
More on CVG.
Viewing 4 responses
Harry said:
Well done EA PR, you’ve certainly got the game in the news. But you’ve furthered the view in the mainstream media that the gaming industry is childish and irresponsible.
Whizzo said:
At least we know where Acclaim’s PR department went when they went under.
El_MUERkO said:
Lynne Featherstone, MP said “… Trying to recreate Venezuelan-style fuel riots on the streets of London is completely irresponsible and downright dangerous.”
What? What riots? Ignorant bitch.
trk_rkd said:
@El_MUERkO:
In 1989 the Venezuelan government tried to lift the subsidies on their fuel, which was then (and still is) the cheapest fuel in the world, thanks partly to their massive natural reserves but also because of the ridiculous market-distorting subsidies the government gives to the populace, money which could be much better spent on infrastructure and helping the poor (obviously fuel subsidies don’t help you much if you can’t afford a car). At any rate, the 1989 lifting of the subsidy led to weeks of rioting in which government troops killed literally hundreds of rioters.
Now who’s the ignorant bitch?