F.E.A.R. 2 to be advertised on cats

Posted at: 3:28pm 11th February 2009 by Ben Hardwidge

Warner Bros plans to unleash ‘cat-vertising’ campaign on London on Friday 13

We’ve heard of some pretty bizarre publicity stunts in our time, but this is the first time we’ve heard of live animals being used as walking billboards for a new computer game. Warner Bros has revealed that it plans to advertise its forthcoming shooter, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, via a clowder of black cats around London on the game’s launch day on Friday 13.

Shamelessly branded a ‘cat-vertising campaign’, the scheme will see the specially trained black moggies sporting F.E.A.R. 2 cat clothing, and then roaming the streets of London. The idea, according to Warner Bros, is that the creepy kitties will ‘capture the attention of superstitious passers-by,’ as Friday 13 is famous for its supposed bad luck and a black cat crossing your path was listed at number 5 in a recent survey of Britain’s superstitions and signs of bad luck. Friday 13 was listed at number 3, while breaking a mirror was listed as the number 1.

Explaining the campaign, a spokesperson for Warner Bros said that ‘every day people are bombarded with so many advertising messages that it can be easy to miss them. With our research telling us that Brits are actively looking out for signs of bad luck this Friday, it makes perfect sense to try and capture their attention that way.’

If you own a black cat and fancy joining in the fearful feline fun, then you can also call the black cat-vert hotline on 020 7841 6668 to request some F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin cat clothing of your own.

UPDATE: Electric Pig has some photos of the cats here