A Capcom Europe publicity stunt for Resident Evil 5 took an unexpected turn when organizers lost some fairly realistic-looking (and quite) fake severed limbs. Gamezine reports the publisher held a competition in London earlier today, where participants were asked to find bloody body parts hidden around the city (the winner received a trip for two to Africa). Things went a tiny bit awry when not all the appendages were discovered by the limb hunters -- and were no longer found in the organizer's designated locations.
Capcom is asking people who find the limbs to return or dispose of them in a "careful manner." For "added gore," chicken livers were used to make the parts more realistic and could be harmful due to bacteria -- if you found a severed appendage in London, don't eat it. Although residents did complain to police during the competition, no charges were made. We're not even going to discuss what would have gone down if this stunt had been attempted in Manhattan.
Reader Comments (46)
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 2:14PM (Unverified) said
What happens when they find that body stashed in the dumpster?
Wait, what competition?
Reply
Wait, what competition?
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 4:27PM (Unverified) said
Yeah seriously. It was a dick idea that could have caused unnecessary panic and possible trauma to some unsuspecting bystander, not to mention the wasted police man hours just for them to find out it was some "innocent" marketing stunt.
I'm all for creating a buzz for games and products, but not at the expense of common sense. I stand by my arrest warrant.
Reply
I'm all for creating a buzz for games and products, but not at the expense of common sense. I stand by my arrest warrant.
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 10:54PM (Unverified) said
@Lars: sadly, it's not as practical in the US because of different gun regulations for everyone else. More people have firearms.
But, stupid as this stunt may seem, I think Capcom might be disappointed that nothing more serious happened. The "hot coffee" effect if you will.
Reply
But, stupid as this stunt may seem, I think Capcom might be disappointed that nothing more serious happened. The "hot coffee" effect if you will.
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 2:20PM (Unverified) said
Wow, just wow...
That marketing team should be arrested. What a stupid idea.
Reply
That marketing team should be arrested. What a stupid idea.
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 2:38PM (Unverified) said
Yeah, it was stupid. But wanting them to be arrested? Seriously?
Reply
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 2:43PM (Unverified) said
You're right, B. They should be shot on arrival.
Reply
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 3:18PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
No, but if a casual onlooker had been seen by police carrying a head down the road....
"STOP, GET DOWN ON THE &*!£ING GROUND OR WE'LL SHOOT BA@$&@RD!"
Reply
"STOP, GET DOWN ON THE &*!£ING GROUND OR WE'LL SHOOT BA@$&@RD!"
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 6:22PM Larz said
I wish they took guns away from beat cops and patrols here. So many kids with airsoft and drunk guys have been killed by cops with itchy trigger fingers when they really didn't pose any threat.
It really bothers me when cops box a car in with their patrol cars, then get out and shoot the person trying to escape them and say "the suspect's vehicle was considered a weapon because he was driving dangerously close to officers on foot." It's like they get out of the car so they can use that as an excuse.
Anyways, I think it's safe to assume nobody's gonna find one of these fake body parts and start gnawing on it... unless it was brains.
Reply
It really bothers me when cops box a car in with their patrol cars, then get out and shoot the person trying to escape them and say "the suspect's vehicle was considered a weapon because he was driving dangerously close to officers on foot." It's like they get out of the car so they can use that as an excuse.
Anyways, I think it's safe to assume nobody's gonna find one of these fake body parts and start gnawing on it... unless it was brains.
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 2:57PM latin trident said
Everybody knows Hannibal Lecter is figuring out who left him those tasty treats on the street.
As we speak, he is preheating his oven.
Reply
As we speak, he is preheating his oven.
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 2:26PM Burritoclock said
BEST IDEA EVER!
Every aspect of this is just.... awesome!
Reply
Every aspect of this is just.... awesome!
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 2:27PM ShadowLordAriel said
So who seriously thought that this would be a good idea? Really.....It just sounds like the marketing team is grasping at straws and looking to see how they can get more attention. This obviously has backfired ....BADLY.....LOL. I get what they were trying to do but they probably should have considered that most people don't know what Resident Evil is all about let alone even play videogames at all. EPIC FAIL!!!
Reply
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 2:29PM Torpedo Vegas said
When I first read about this competition, I just knew something like this would happen. Obviously Trafalgar Square is one of the most frequented tourist spots in London. And you know who is traveling to London now? Well, they probably aren't in the same age bracket as RE5 players, that's for sure. Too bad I missed it though. I would have competed had I not had class today.
Reply
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 2:30PM arkweld said
In what universe could anyone predict this wouldn't go wrong?
Really. It was just a perfectly fun idea just like finding hidden eggs at Easter.
I'm looking forward to the next Splinter Cell promotion in which suitcases marked "Warning - Nuclear Weapon. Radiation Hazard." are hidden around London. It will be fun. The gaming community can pretend they are in a real version of 24. And since the general public don't play Splinter Cell they'll ignore all the suitcases thinking it's just an amusing fun competition.
Reply
Really. It was just a perfectly fun idea just like finding hidden eggs at Easter.
I'm looking forward to the next Splinter Cell promotion in which suitcases marked "Warning - Nuclear Weapon. Radiation Hazard." are hidden around London. It will be fun. The gaming community can pretend they are in a real version of 24. And since the general public don't play Splinter Cell they'll ignore all the suitcases thinking it's just an amusing fun competition.
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 2:35PM (Unverified) said
Damn, I though I accidentally hit my /b/ bookmark.
Reply
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 2:42PM (Unverified) said
(sarcasm)when somebody walks down the street with severed human head everybody knows its just a competition.(sarcasm/)
Reply
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 2:46PM (Unverified) said
What the hell Joystiq!?
I just came home and turned on my computer to go to Joystiq and while the page was loading I was yawning and stretching when this showed up.
Reply
I just came home and turned on my computer to go to Joystiq and while the page was loading I was yawning and stretching when this showed up.
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 2:53PM AmazingAaron said
How could a big company like this, come up with such a BAD IDEA! I mean come on, realistic fake body parts with chicken liver on them laying around a big city!
Reply
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 3:08PM (Unverified) said
Well yeah, sure loosing body parts is bad...but at least it wasn't battery powered lightbrights with cartoon charecters flippin' the bird...now that would have been dangerous.
Reply
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 2:59PM VoodooHack said
Yeah. If they did it in Manhattan, the democrats would've held a mannequin anti-defamation rally at city hall. Celebrities would have shown up to raise awareness and Al Sharpton would be scrounging around for a reporter looking for someone to interview.
Reply
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 3:09PM F1 Basu Gasu Bakuhatsu said
I can just imagine one of the participants walking down the street with a holding a severed head by the hair.
Reply
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 3:16PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
Told you this was a stupid idea :P
If the advertising team needed advice, they should have asked me for a hand, besides, my head is always better then 1, and it wouldn't have stupidly cost them an arm an a leg :D
Reply
If the advertising team needed advice, they should have asked me for a hand, besides, my head is always better then 1, and it wouldn't have stupidly cost them an arm an a leg :D
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 3:48PM technoKyle said
I thought this was a hilariously brilliant idea, but obviously something was bound to happen. Perhaps using uncooked chicken on them was a bit stupid, but I'm still in love with the premise. In this day and age of over-the-top political correctness, it's a breath of fresh air in all honesty.
Reply
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 5:01PM ducttapeBigSexy said
London citizens are so mad that heads will roll over this!
No good? Okay, how about:
The London police will have someone's head because of this!
Reply
No good? Okay, how about:
The London police will have someone's head because of this!
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 5:28PM Optimaximal said
Didn't some games journo find one in a shop doorway last week?
Reply
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 5:28PM (Unverified) said
does capcom think vegetarians don't play games and/or want to participate in their events??
if i had gone there (being a vegetarian) and had not known in advance i would have been pissed.
either way i think thats a bad idea on their part and though i think their games are good i will think twice before buying their products without an explanation...
Reply
if i had gone there (being a vegetarian) and had not known in advance i would have been pissed.
either way i think thats a bad idea on their part and though i think their games are good i will think twice before buying their products without an explanation...
Posted: Mar 12th 2009 9:07PM (Unverified) said
Didn't Sony get frowned upon for doing a similar stunt to this (the goat thing for GOW), though that was a little ott lol.
I think this was a little bit daft, especially seeing how the police could potentially shoot someone for carrying a 'body part' around, they have been known to shoot innocent people without any intelligence (as in the spy kind, not for just being dumb b'stards.
Reply
I think this was a little bit daft, especially seeing how the police could potentially shoot someone for carrying a 'body part' around, they have been known to shoot innocent people without any intelligence (as in the spy kind, not for just being dumb b'stards.
Posted: Mar 13th 2009 3:38AM (Unverified) said
Had I found zombie parts in my city back home, I'd have to hop into the zombie shelter and start locking and loading.
Reply
Sorry, you must be logged in to leave a comment.
Featured Stories
The most popular posts
in the last 7 days
- Vita 'UMD Passport' won't be offered in US 220 comments
- Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning review: A tempting fate 153 comments
- David Jaffe leaves Eat Sleep Play, layoffs hit developer [Update] 108 comments
- Don't call it a remake: Final Fantasy X is a 'remaster,' to be clear 95 comments
- Battleship movie adapted into FPS by Double Helix 93 comments










