THQ's 'Homefront' Balloon Stunt Angers San Francisco Residents

by Caleb Johnson on March 3, 2011 at 12:05 PM

Some San Francisco residents are upset about a promotional stunt that, in support of a video game, sent thousands of red balloons drifting across the city on Wednesday, some landing in the nearby bay.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, game developer THQ released the balloons, which had promotional cards from Gamestop attached to them, to promote its new game 'Homefront' at the Game Developers Conference. When people noticed the balloons in the bay, much of their ire was directed at Gamestop, but the retailer was quick to distance itself from the stunt. "[The] balloon drop stunt in San Francisco was created by THQ... and Gamestop had no prior knowledge of it," the company said in a statement.

THQ responded, reassuring San Franciscans that the balloons were biodegradable, and of no threat to the environment. "[The balloons] start the process of biodegrading as soon as they're blown up with the helium. There should not be any environmental concerns," Julia MacMedan, THQ's vice president of corporate communications, told CNET. That may be true, but there's still an immediate threat to wildlife, according to Ann Bauer of The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito. "It's biodegradable over time, but a bird can still get entangled in it right now. A sea lion could be curious about it, bite it and swallow it. It could clog their stomach and cause them to die -- right now. Biodegradable takes time to happen," she said.

Tags: advertising, balloons, environment, GameDevelopersConference, gamestop, gaming, green, marketing, SanFrancisco, stunts, THQ, top, VideoGames

via: CNET
source: San Francisco Chronicle

Comments

bolivitornotMar 3rd 2011 1:28PM

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I tweeted this to you too:

@gamestop @sfchronicle RT @ekai Does this look like a soy based, biodegradable balloon to you? #redballoongate http://twitpic.com/45hmx3

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jessicaMar 3rd 2011 8:41PM

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@bolivitornot Your response to dandelion should be that latex takes *6 months* to degrade.

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kMar 3rd 2011 3:38PM

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So, why aren't the ballooners in jail? At the least, this is mega littering. Make 'em pay and lock the cell.

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WadeMar 3rd 2011 3:58PM

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It really takes a bunch of idgits to worry about sea lions when their whole state is a model of failure and depravity for the nation and the world. Thank God these people (and I use that term loosely), live on the left coast away from my family.

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frankMar 3rd 2011 6:10PM

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@Wade idiots like you are responsible for the demise of this country.

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LitaMar 3rd 2011 4:18PM

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@UltraHipster sounds like he's angry that he's no longer getting "butt sex," and that he has been replaced by a worthy cause. Please go sit on a pipe bomb.

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ScootrbumMar 3rd 2011 5:04PM

Low Ranked

Those whining tree huggers just don't see that a dead bird or sea lion is acceptable to further that economic juggernaut Gamestop. Those few dead or maimed animals are worth it to get this sluggish economy going and employ millions. Suck it up sissies.

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frankMar 3rd 2011 6:09PM

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@Scootrbum My SUV will crush your bike

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Joe MeyersMar 3rd 2011 6:04PM

Highest Ranked

I live in San Francisco and can tell you that somebody is going to be upset in this city no matter what happens, when it happens or how it happens. The San Francisco Chronicle now consists of about six pages, most of which include articles from AP, UPI and the Los Angeles times. Their three local reporters go to fires and figure out ways to insult Republicans, but when they get something really, really meaty like this, well, it's just national news I tell ya. Here's what I hope that most of the rest of the country will remember about San Francisco - it's made up overwhelmingly of nice, decent people who mind their own business. About 4% of the population consist of twits who have nothing to do but figure out how to run the lives of the other 96% - so if it's getting 'angry' at the release of balloons, or getting themselves into a lather about McDonald's giving toys with childrens' meals, please consider that it's the 4% rule. Then come on out and eat at our restaurants and enjoy the view. We're really okay.

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kristen.ramosMar 3rd 2011 7:15PM

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@Wade you're a moron and the reason why people live on the left coast. enjoy your deep fried twinkies and inbred cousins.

ps-no one knows what "idgits" are but everyone knows what spellcheck is.

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