Diehard GameFAN was recently sent this press release:
STRIDE® GUM DECLARES ITS SUPPORT FOR STOPUWEBOLL.ORG
The Makers of Stride, The Ridiculously Long Lasting Gum®, Offer
A Total of One Million Packs of Gum to Signers of the Anti-Uwe Boll Petition*
May 7, 2008, Parsippany, NJ – In an effort to protect the childhood dreams of millions of video gamers everywhere, the makers of Stride gum announced today that they are launching a special campaign supporting the efforts of StopUweBoll.org in their attempt to convince famed film director Uwe Boll to stop making video game-based films.
For years, Boll has piqued the ire of the gaming community by adapting many of their favorite games into universally panned films (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/uwe_boll/). On April 4, 2008, Boll remarked to legendary horror site FearNet that he’d consider acquiescing to his critics and abandoning making films in this genre if an online petition reached one million signatures. As of press time, the petition is just about 234,000 names, which is why Stride has decided to jump in.
“Since gamers are one of our most supportive groups, we’ve been looking for ways to return the favor,” said Gary Osifchin, Stride North American Marketing Director. “And what better way is there to get gamers’ backs than by helping them rescue their cherished videogames from the clutches of Uwe Boll?”Â
In an effort to help boost signings, the makers of Stride have put out a special bounty. If the petition reaches the required 1 million signatures by May 14 at 5pm EDT, each signer will receive a digital coupon* for a pack of gum, downloadable on May 23, 2008, a day that could really use some long-lasting refreshment, particularly as it will see the debut of his latest videogame-based film.
“Look, it’s nothing personal against the guy. Maybe his non videogame-based films are unbelievable! But we’ve seen such intense passion for this cause that we couldn’t help but get involved,” said Osifchin. “Let the signing continue.”
* Stride will provide a downloadable coupon (good for one pack of gum) to each petition signer that will be downloadable on May 23, 2008, if the target of one million signatures is reached between May 7 and 14, 2008. Additional details will be forthcoming.
Our website contacted Uwe Boll for his response and Mr. Boll had this to say:
These guys [Stride Gum] are the slaves of major studios
I’m not sure if they’re the slaves of major studios or not, but this is surely one of the most desperate marketing attemps I’ve ever seen. Things can’t be going good for Stride Gum if they’re reduced to publicity stunts like this.
Uwe Boll’s latest movie Postal hits theaters later this month on May 23rd. An interview with the man himself can about Postal can be read on our site here.
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