Splinter Cell PR Stunt Condemned By NZ Police

19 Apr 2010 at 15:14:46 by Andy Alderson

New Zealand police officers have condemned a recent publicity stunt for Splinter Cell: Conviction.

The marketing ploy, which involved a PR man running through Auckland's Viaduct Basin pointing a replica weapon at pub-goers, resulted in armed police being called to the scene. Two men were subsequently cautioned.

Game promoter Monaco Corporation claimed it contracted another company to carry out the promotion and that it was unaware of the involvement of fake guns.

“This was by no means an attempt to get cops down there and get this sort of exposure,” Monaco's marketing manager Duane Mutu told the NZ Herald (thanks Kotaku).

“We do apologise, we shouldn't have had guns down there. It was just marketing gone wrong."

Terrified pub-goers were unable to tell that the man's weapon was plastic and some outdoor drinkers ran for cover.

"We consider these types of stunts to be very ill-advised and have real concerns a similar one may one day end in tragedy," said Aukland Police Senior Sergeant Ben Offner.

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