As part of their massive Resident Evil 5 launch festivities, Capcom held a Blood Drive in a hollowed-out adult entertainment store in Hollywood, California last Friday. After all, who needs flashy venues and sexy booth babes when some old lady named Ping with questionable vision and shaky hands is sticking a needle in your arm?
I have to commend Capcom: not only have they really gone all out for their latest game releases, but an unorthodox event that skips the chocolate fountains and overpaid DJs to actually help people while simultaneously raising awareness and good will towards the game it’s promoting is a little bit of genius.
There were a few stations set up with HDTVs displaying Resident Evil 5 running on the limited edition, red Xbox 360s, and plenty of exclusive RE5 Blood Drive swag like stickers, buttons, and posters. However, it was all a little too M*A*S*H for me. I felt like I was back in ‘Nam. Would a disco ball or half-naked “nurse” dancing on a stripper pole really have been such a bad thing?
Regardless, with over 150 pledges and people walking in off the street every few minutes, Capcom and fortyseven (that omnipotent PR firm) did plenty of good. Not enough to reverse the hatred they built up by charging for the extra costumes in Street Fighter IV, but it’s a start.
March 16th, 2009 at 1:24 am
Ah you got to go! Nice. I wish they had more events on the East Coast (Read: NY, the best) instead of always always always Cali. But this was a good event and I would have supported it and brought friends if it were local. Unlike their DLC prices for the online in RE5, that they can just twiddle their thumbs up their bums with.
March 16th, 2009 at 4:13 am
Cloverfield… I laughed. =)
Did you really go under the needle Haley, or did you make one of the poor girls do it first?
March 16th, 2009 at 7:54 am
Aww, man, RE blood drive sounds cool. I want free swag—even if it’s stickers! xD
March 16th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Everything happens in America. Even 8 year old Japanese kids taking their regular visit to a porno store only to find…
March 17th, 2009 at 6:07 am
It’s great that it’s a worthwhile cause!
It’s creepy that it was for a Resident Evil title
Just dont know how to react to that one
March 17th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Last time I donated blood my car got stolen. True story.
March 17th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Well now I’m never going to donate any blood. Don’t want my car stolen
March 18th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
I heart Capcom. If I weighed enough I would have totally given blood for schwag!
March 18th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Haha, I’m on your team too Jinxie. I just tell people it’s because my car got stolen (which it really did) because that’s the last time I was even able to donate blood.
March 20th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Original marketing to say the least. All for a good cause too.
March 21st, 2009 at 8:32 am
That looked sweet! Nice Article
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Blood is gross, even when it’s mine. *Especially* when it’s mine!