Splinter Cell Conviction publicity stunt goes horribly wrong

Everyone loves a good ol' fashioned video game publicity stunt.  We tend to find them entertaining and enjoy freaking out the non-gamers -- like an inside joke.  Speaking of freak-outs, one marketing agency is in a spot of trouble for getting too realistic with a Splinter Cell promotion.

At 8:00 PM on Friday, April 16, an actor wrapped in bandages started waving around a fake pistol outside Degree bar, sending 20 or so patrons diving under their tables and frantically dialing the police.  The drama all start when one person shouted, "He's got a gun!"

Degree's manager Steph Kurtovich claimed, "This guy with bandages on his hands pointed a gun at customers sitting outside.  They were pretty terrified."

The police are obviously very displeased with the entire situation and looked to game promoters Monaco Corporation for answers, who then pointed at another marketing company they tasked with putting together a Splinter Cell Conviction stunt. 

Monaco marketing manager Duane Mutu apologized for the misunderstanding, "This was by no means an attempt to get cops down there and get this sort of exposure.  We do apologise, we shouldn't have had guns down there.  It was just marketing gone wrong."

Sr. Sergeant Ben Offner had a few choice words himself.  Said he, "We consider these types of stunts to be very ill-advised and have real concerns a similar one may one day end in tragedy."