GTAIV viral marketing: wanted posters

by Richard Mitchell { Jan 31st 2008 at 12:45PM }

Now that Grand Theft Auto IV has an official release date, it's time to let the viral marketing begin. Enter this scarily realistic wanted poster uploaded by Flickr user freshyill. Honestly, is that the kind of face you'd want to see at your car window late at night? The answer to that question is an emphatic no. Actually, we're a little curious to see if these posters raise any stink, because they could be mistaken as real posters by those who aren't in the know. Let's just hope the folks behind the viral marketing don't take it too far and actually rob a bank.

Tags: grand-theft-auto, grand-theft-auto-4, grand-theft-auto-iv, gta, gta4, gtaiv, rockstar, take-two, viral, viral-marketing

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

bigC24 @ Jan 31st 2008 12:56PM

So, how long until Jack Thompson throws a huge overblown hissy fit over this?

Perhaps these ads are damaging the youth that are walking by them?

Oh great, now Fox News is going to say that the game is being advertised to toddlers.

WHEN WILL IT END!?

ZEBRA NINER @ Jan 31st 2008 1:17PM

Well, based of the height that the wanted posters where mounted... I would say they are marketing to infants being carried by their mothers. Since this would be the eye level for a child of that age (while being carried of course).

Basically it encourages children about 6 months and younger to sell drugs and prostitute women.

Oh, btw... read my new book called "The Cult of Perfection Make Peace With Your Inner Overachiever"!

Thanks, Cooper Lawrence

DownwardMonkey @ Jan 31st 2008 1:01PM

You know what makes me sick about stuff like this? It just shows what gaming has become, this ad is only there to shock and raise a stink. Then when they get the publicity they want it's the gamers that suffer for it. This advert certainly isn't there for my benefit, if I want a game I'll buy it and it's as simple as that for me. I don't need shocking.

Bryan @ Jan 31st 2008 1:07PM

You, sir, are astonishingly reasonable.

TORO @ Jan 31st 2008 1:08PM

Yea pretty cheap advertising, just have to pay for ink and blank paper.

JakubK666 @ Jan 31st 2008 1:25PM

True, Jack and Cooper will do the rest of the job!

CHAINSAW @ Jan 31st 2008 1:23PM

i want a scan of this bad.

CHAINSAW @ Jan 31st 2008 1:25PM

Like all viral marketing it's purpose is to get people talking about it. I don't think it is purposely created to cause a "stink".

tastybytes @ Jan 31st 2008 1:25PM

i just hope they paste this over the one of me

Eddie @ Jan 31st 2008 1:30PM

lol +1

Boogs @ Jan 31st 2008 1:31PM

These won't be mistaken for real wanted posters in NYC, where this picture was taken, because we don't put wanted posters up on street poles and other such areas, they go up in Post Offices, Subway Stations, Police Stations. You will usually find "Missing" posters on street poles. Anyone seeing this will think "WTF?" until the look at the bottom

Edav @ Jan 31st 2008 1:39PM

I hope nobody takes those posters seriously. Especially since I saw a customer at a local mall who looks just like him.

TORO @ Jan 31st 2008 2:14PM

You should report him.

Big Filth @ Jan 31st 2008 1:40PM

^^

its working.

they win.

people are talking about it.

EMOruffino @ Jan 31st 2008 1:50PM

i think this is actually really cool.

I did the radio thing for GTAIV so hopefully my rant will be in there :)

Anticrawl @ Jan 31st 2008 2:15PM

Because of this poster I won't buy the game.

No but seriously I wasn't gonna get the game anyway, but now I have a reason the rest of the sheople in the gaming comunity can understand; you know since saying Grand Theft Auto hasn't innovated or changed since number III doesn't seem to get my point across. And yes I've played all of them, including the first two. In fact I still feel cheated for RENTING San Andres. I remember walking in that fateful day, looking around the store only to be dissappointed by their lack of copies but I decided I'd ask the clerk and sure enough he had one copy behind the counter he was saving for himself, but had a change of heart and let me rent it. Skipping through the rest of my story I'll say that 7.50 could have been better spent buying McDonald's for someone I truely hate.

Anticrawl @ Jan 31st 2008 2:18PM

But I suppose it isn't a fair thing to make assumptions of a game based on the trailers. Though everyone else makes their final judgements in this manner before the game is even released, even professional reviewers.

I suppose I'll wait till it's out to make a final decision. Who knows they could have done something amazing, you know other than adding one new vehicle class or "Pimp My Ride" game additions.

I can see the bullet points now for Grand Theft Auto IV.
- Now with submarines!!!!!!!!!! Isn't that new and exciting!!!!!!!!!! Please don't cry.....

Anticrawl @ Jan 31st 2008 2:33PM

Oh and just so we're clear here. My senseless hatred for all things GTA is because how critics, reviewers and gamers alike find this game to be so innovating, original or simply God's gift to gaming when it so clearly is a run-of-the-mill sandbox game with a very "attractive" attitude and story. To top it off when a game does come around that adds something fresh or new to gaming it is shunned or criticised for what it isn't and not viewed for what it is.

Of on another rant here...

Problem I find with most sandbox games (for me atleast) is even when they feature a fantastic cast, score and story they give one so much initial "freedom"*** one starts out doing a few "missions" here and there only to stray more and more off into doing random shit throughout the world. Sure this is fantastic fun, but it doesn't last and by the time the luster of roaming the streets wears off one has no motivation to get back into the story and ultimately misses a great portion of the game and possibly one of it's strongest assets. Then again if this game does indeed feature online/offline co-op the insane social gamer in me will be forced to atleast rent this game. I love gaming with friends or online buddies so much so that it really doesn't matter what game we are playing, even a sports game (which I despise).

*** = This freedom I speak of isn't true freedom. The illusion of freedom in a game is done by limiting ones actions to the most mundane/tried-and-true gaming elements. Much like how OSX is so "feature rich", "easy to use" or doesn't get infected. They limit your options and focus your view to a narrow field and basically glamorize it. One can't get a virus on an operating system if one doesn't have true or ultimate control over said system. Don't get me wrong this is great for the "average" or "below average dumb redneck" user. Eh this is why I disliked Vista and also why I initially didn't like XP until I figured out to remove all the "retarded user" features and failsafes.

Well I best get going, got an interview at the biomedical research center I work at for a higher position up in the "helpdesk" as they call it. Have fun talking about your GTA you giddy schoolgirls you (read in an affectionate tone, cause I love you guys and I'm not being sarcastic.)

dylan @ Jan 31st 2008 2:55PM

I can see it now : Some grandma will be walking down the street, see Zidane, think it is him on the wanted poster and mace him.

Although Zidane probably deserves a good macing.