Any publicity is good publicity. Right?

The marketers responsible for selling upcoming title Splinter Cell Conviction clearly subscribe to the theory. In a bizarre stunt aimed at getting press attention for the game they had a man dress as protagonist Sam Fisher, replica gun and all, and storm a New Zealand pub.

While initial backlash may be harsh to such an ill advised stunt, there is no doubting it's done exactly what the promoters intended.

A STUNT to promote the release of XBox game Splinter Cell Conviction ended with people diving for cover, fearing for their lives.

Police were called to Viaduct basin in Auckland after reports of terrified pubgoers cowering under tables after a man threatened them with what turned out to be an imitation pistol.

"He's got a gun!" one shouted, according to a report in the New Zealand Herald.

The bar's manager said his customers were terrified as "the man with bandages on his hands" pointed the gun at them.

Only, "the man with bandages on his hands" was supposed to Splinter Cell Conviction character Sam Fisher and the gun was plastic.

Senior Sergeant told the New Zealand Herald even police were fooled right up to the moment they got their hands on the weapon.

Euphoric via news.com.au »