Posters? They're old hat. Promotional Happy Meals in McDonalds? That's so last-century, Grandad. Gravelly-voiced trailers? Pur-lease! Everyone knows that the cutting-edge way to promote a new film is by persuading Second Life users to bump each other off. Virtually, of course.
That's the thinking behind a new campaign for Smokin' Aces ("crass, pointless" - This Is London) anyway. Universal Pictures has launched an event called 'Smokin' Aces: Second Life Assassin' within SL, which offers up to $1 million Linden dollars in prize money.
Participants get virtual weapons, and have to hunt each other down. The film's director, Joe Carnahan, is also doing an in-world Q&A session this Friday. It's another boost to SL's status as the zeitgeisty brandspace of choice, following this week's news that Vodafone is launching a virtual mobile network there.
In this case, the promotional event sounds more fun than the film. I'm not sure how that puts bums on seats in the cinema, mind.
Smokin' Aces: Second Life Assassin