Social Mixer 2024 Singapore
marketing interactive Content360 Singapore 2024 Content360 Singapore 2024
marketing interactive

LOOK Marketing stunt faking terrorist attack in Singapore cops flak

share on

A first-person shooter game ‘Call of Duty’ has gained international traction for a controversial campaign launched on its Twitter page. The campaign was promoting its new game Call of Duty: Black Ops 3.Since its launch, news outlets such as BBC and Yahoo have picked up on users’ angered reaction towards the campaign. With over 2.8 million followers on Twitter, The Call of Duty promotional stunt comes in a form of fake tweets that tracks and reports on terrorist attacks in Singapore.The first post reports of an “explosion on the North bank of the Singapore Marina” with a follow-up “confirmation”.BREAKING NEWS: Unconfirmed reports are coming in of an explosion on the North bank of the Singapore Marina.— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) September 29, 2015UPDATE: Sources confirm explosion took place at Singapore Research Laboratories belonging to Coalescence Corporation pic.twitter.com/UyW9Ph8XA4 — Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) September 29, 2015UPDATE: Singapore Authorities have officially announced a state of emergency and declared martial law.— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) September 29, 2015James Chung, commander of the Singapore Armed Forces, has issued a statement about the situation on the ground. Points follow. — Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) September 29, 2015The campaign sparked an online furor with netizens slamming the insensitive nature of the posts, with some citing that it might stir confusion among readers given the region’s recent encounters with violence and terrorism. One such attack happened in Thailand in August, where a bomb blasted near the Erawan Shrine.Here are some of the comments that popped up on Twitter about the mock-terrorism campaign:@CallofDuty This method of advertising is actually kinda sick. I know people in Singapore.— Daniel Geaslen (@Av8orGamer) September 29, 2015@CallofDuty This isn't making me want to buy the game. — Zuds (@Zudss) September 29, 2015@CallofDuty if this is real, pls report more. If this is a way to market the camping for bo3, you all are very sick in the head. — the_masta_demon (@aglinski503) September 29, 2015 @UnusedWings @CallofDuty this can cause confusion and mayhem, if this is cod campaign, I don't want it tweeted like this. — the_masta_demon (@aglinski503) September 29, 2015 Marketing has reached out to Activision for more comments. 

share on

Follow us on our Telegram channel for the latest updates in the marketing and advertising scene.
Follow

Free newsletter

Get the daily lowdown on Asia's top marketing stories.

We break down the big and messy topics of the day so you're updated on the most important developments in Asia's marketing development – for free.

subscribe now open in new window