Just saw this on The Sun! Looks like they are placing severed arms all over the UK to sell Madworld!
Edit: Oops, wrong forum, but never mind......
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2329321.ece
AN ULTRA-violent computer game for the family-friendly Nintendo Wii went on sale today – amid a sick publicity stunt that saw blood-soaked severed arms placed in cities across the UK.
Madworld from Sega – the firm behind cute Sonic The Hedgehog – is said by its makers to be the “most violent ever” and features a chainsaw-wielding character who goes around executing those around him.
The adventure is designed in black and white, emphasising the red blood that is spilt with every kill.
Banned
The Sun revealed last year how bosses at Mediawatch-uk had called for it to be banned but it was then granted an 18+ certificate by the British Board of Film Classification in January 2009.
Its release for the Nintendo Wii – which uses hand movements rather than button presses to control actions on screen – appears to go against the successful reputation of the best-selling machine, famed for being one that all the family can enjoy.
Other game play elements in Madworld include the chance to impale enemies on spikes and road signs, rip out their hearts and stab people with daggers.
The Japanese firm placed the severed prosthetic arms in random locations across Britain, including Tower Bridge and fashionable Carnaby Street in London’s West End today.
Each one was holding a copy of the game.
Promotional material for the title explains how it will “transform” the Wii’s family-friendly image.
Delighted
A Sega spokesman said: “Sega is delighted to be leading the way with adult games for the Wii, and we are sure that gaming fans will see it as a breath of fresh air.
“The arms used were very clearly black and white to reflect the comic-book nature of the game.
“We had a team of people carefully monitoring reaction to the arms, if anyone at all found them offensive we removed them immediately. But we have had no complaints from the public at all.”
It is the second time in a week computer game firms have used fake body parts as shock tactics to sell their products.
A “treasure hunt” last week to promote Resident Evil 5 saw severed heads and torsos placed in London’s Trafalgar Square and led to bosses issuing an appeal for them to be disposed of safely, after some were stolen and complaints made to police.
Today also sees the launch of another hugely controversial title for a Nintendo machine, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars.
It is the first 18-rated game for the DS handheld, a console massively-popular with children.
Made by Rockstar, who created the multi-million selling GTA series, it lets players carry out drug deals, prompting them to work out which illegal substances they can make the most money out of.
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