Video game promotional stunt causes gridlock, misery

In today's oil-dependent economy, screaming "free gas" could cause a riot...which is presumably what games publisher EA had in mind when they whipped up a fuel giveaway to promote their new action game, Mercenaries 2: World in Flames.

Unfortunately, they nearly got what they were hoping for. According to the BBC, the prospect of receiving up to 40 GBP (about $70 U.S.) in free petrol caused massive traffic jams in London's Finsbury Park district, angering locals and driving motorists mad.

Local Member of Parliament Lynne Featherstone wasn't thrilled, either.

VIEW MERCENARIES 2 SCREENS

"Trying to recreate Venezuelan-style fuel riots on the streets of London is completely irresponsible and downright dangerous," she said. "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."

Released last week to mixed reviews, Mercenaries 2 is set in a war-torn Venezuela in which fuel is so scarce, it's used as a form of currency. A similar gas giveaway in Los Angeles went off without a hitch.

Not everyone was upset with the London promotion. One recipient of the free gas quipped, "This is a genius idea, whoever thought of this should be promoted."

Wasn't that the plan all along?

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