EA Launches Mass Effect 3 Discs into Space

[Yokai]

I predict screaming mobs tearing each other to pieces at the projected landing sites. Because, y'know, people are dumb.

 

[Canadish]

-Find a copy.
-Take disk.
-Replace disk with a copy of Dragon Age 2.
-Hide it in the back of a Taxi/Bus.
-Watch the hoard of hairy neckbeards hoof it around the city trying to figure out where it's gone.
-Collect tears when they finally get it and it's not ME3.

 

[Bishop99999999]

One day, one wonderful, wonderful day, game marketing departments will consist solely of one guy whose job is to post gameplay trailers onto YouTube.

 

[Griffolion]

So what was the purpose? In case some IRL Reapers come along, they can play this game so that they know that if they invade us we will mess them up?

 

[Baldry]

Oh I thought they were sending some copies of the game into space as some sort of message to aliens, probably "Don't fuck with us, we have commander Shepard."

 

[Sofus]

I don't get how launching copies into space will affect the hype, sales or publich knowledge about the product even the slightest. I can however see how launching a copy of the Origin store into space would have made for a perfectly good joke about the creation of the Reapers.

 

[chadachada123]

Mass Effect's website/twitter don't have any info on how to find the stuff.

Any link's for live trackers, or blogs, or anything related? On the extremely off chance that one will fall somewhere close in Michigan...

 

[Dfskelleton]

So... EA's marketing department hasn't learned any lessons from their previous gimmicky failures? No? Nothing from Dante's Inferno or Dead Space 2? ...okay then.

Especially when this game honestly doesn't need it. "Mass Effect 3." ...upon hearing that, you know if you need it or not. Launching discs into space and tracking their decent to Earth... it sounds cool, doesn't it? But it's so cheap and attention-grabbing, and does nothing for the game. ...I'm not a fan of this. Not at all.

Actually I think this is a great idea. Dead Space 2's advertising was horrible, and Dante was just even worse, but unlike those two, this one doesn't actually hurt anybody, at all. I don't see any harm in this and think this is great.

Agreed. I guess it is a grab for attention, but isn't that basically what advertising is? Trying to grab the consumer's attention about their new product? They're not sending you a box that won't stop playing Rick Astley songs until you break it with a hammer, and then having it tell you that you're going to Hell. I think this is a neat idea.
Oh, and I think the point where they went wrong with Dante's Inferno was the point when they decided to turn one of the most famous epic poems ever written into an action game. Neither my hand nor my face are not durable enough to perform the facepalm that such a decision deserves. Maybe I'm just sore because I am currently reading the Divine Comedy and enjoying it.

 

[roflmecopter]

(Peering through binoculars) "I see the game, yes yes I see it! Its coming down.....its coming.....its coming!!! Aaaaaaaaand it just landed in that volcano....."

My precccciooooouuuussssss *falls into lava clutching box*

 

[Corporal Yakob]

(Peering through binoculars) "I see the game, yes yes I see it! Its coming down.....its coming.....its coming!!! Aaaaaaaaand it just landed in that volcano....."

My precccciooooouuuussssss *falls into lava clutching box*

If people really do vaporise themselves in an attempt to get Mass Effect 3 I must come up with some way to get all their stuff!

 

[TheRealGoochman]

This idea is pretty cool.

I will pay attention to where they are going.....however if one does happen to land in my yard I still will probably wait to nab my Collector's edition (and use the time to make my perfect ME1 and 2 character)......I will keep the weather balloon though (and hell keep the game and frame it or something)

 

[Redryhno]

I guarantee you people are going to end up in the hospital or the dead house over this. Great advertising though.

 

[alik44]

Well i can't possibly see going wrong in anyway.

 

[Roxor]

This is among the most absurd PR stunts I've ever heard about.

 

[gamegod25]

EA: We spend tons of money on pointless and stupid advertizing instead of putting it toward making better games!

Every aspect of this is fucking stupid. They aren't actually sending the game into space, as this story pointed out there is a very good chance they will land in the middle of an ocean, and even if you do manage to find a copy it may not even be for the system you want! Sooo...yeah way to keep the dial to fucking retarded EA marketing dept. *facepalms*

 

[MakerOfRoads]

I've got $100 on inside the balloons there is nothing but a code to download it off their service.

Thats if thats even that. Its also likely that its not even the game, just the opportunity to buy it before anyone else has the chance to.

Its not like EA to give anything away for free. Though, making them jump through hoops for something that could potentially be crap does seem par for the course.

 

[TophatEmperor]

and then one of them lands in a African tribe and they began worshiping Commander Shepard

 

[Strazdas]

So, you are giving pirates an early start. because surely some pirate will get one of those copies, rips it and while internet will have it before buyers will. good job.

 

[TheRundownRabbit]

God, what is it with everyone launching things into space these days?