Pigeons advertising at Wimbledon
 

Acclaim have apparently set out to use pigeons to advertise Virtua Tennis 2. Can we take this seriously? If so, what are the implications of this kind of advertising impropriety? This from gamerfeed.com:



sony news

Virtua Tennis 2 Marketed by Pigeons
By Mike Viscel -- Staff Writer
Published 12:17 PM CDT June 19, 2003

You're not going to believe this one. This will be swarming with animal rights activists.

Acclaim made a stunning announcement today regarding exactly how they will market the upcoming PS2 game Virtua Tennis 2 . The marketing idea will use spray-painted pigeons at this year's Wimbledon. Let me explain.

Acclaim has hired a team to train 20 pigeons to act as a flying billboard. The pigeons will be painted with a harmless water based paint. They will paint 2 game logos under each wing. The pigeons will swoop down on the tennis watchers and act as a flying banner promoting the upcoming tennis game. The pigeons have been trained to return to their secret home base where they will be re-sprayed and sent out again.

Larry Sparks, VP Marketing International of Acclaim, the UK publishers of Virtua Tennis 2, said: "The Virtua Tennis 2 pigeon marketing campaign is highly targeted as it brings awareness of the game directly to tennis enthusiasts. The Wimbledon tournament is famous for the occasional descent by pigeons onto Centre Court, but our advertising pigeons are trained to go straight for the fans and flap their logos in front of them."

I hope the fans bring an umbrella.

Where's Randy Johnson when you need him?

Since they are intentionally sending pigeons there, I wonder if they are responsible for damages relating to their waste products? Would sound like they should have to clean up after their birds, to me.

I've heard of Wimbeldon matches being rained out, but never of them being pooped out. Guess there's gotta be a first time for everything...

Funniest post all day. :D

To go further back in the day, where's Dave Winfield when you need him?