42 Entertainment is Behind “Test Subjects Needed” Website, More Details Emerge Dan Koelsch, May 26, 2011 There’s now an interesting development in what I thought would be a one-off post about a unique viral marketing website for gum. On Tuesday, we told you about TestSubjectsNeed.com, which supposedly tested you to see if you could participate in the “Human Preservation Project”. Now we know that the site is from prominent viral marketing company 42 Entertainment, which raises the question of what this campaign is really promoting. 42 Entertainment has made a name for itself in recent years by running some of the best movie ARGs ever. It’s the company behind the quintessential viral campaign for The Dark Knight, as well as the recent (and extensive) TRON: Legacy campaign. Based on their portfolio and what we know about them, they seem to focus on technology and entertainment products and brands, which pokes a hole in our theory that the Test Subjects Needed (TSN) campaign is for Wrigley’s 5 Gum.So, how do we know this is a 42E campaign? The Seattle Weekly website has a QR Code advertisement that links to the TSN website. This ad is filed under “Ad Index > Entertainment > Concerts, Festivals & Events > 42 Entertainment”, which pokes another hole in our theory, since I’m pretty sure chewing gum wouldn’t be classified as a concert, festival, or event, no matter how good it is.On a side note, the TSN website has a mobile version, which I found out by using a QR reader on my iPhone. It has a similar experience to the regular site, but is more direct and looks really good for a mobile conversion. Also, at the end, it gives you a video that shows some of the images you see flash across the screen on the regular site.Of course, the Unfiction forums are all over this. While there were some initial indications that this could be part of the emerging ARG for The Dark Knight Rises, it seems that the gum theory has more support, especially since a commercial for the gum had the line “Test Subjects Needed” at the end.Thanks to MovieViral reader Yankee White for the information. Do you think this could be a campaign for something else? If it is for gum, are you still excited to participate? Viral Marketing 42 EntertainmentTest Subjects Needed
Fan-made District 9 Sites September 13, 2009April 20, 2010UPDATE: Fookinprawns.net is now live! Just like I thought, it has a soundboard of Wikus and our favorite lines from the film (including alien speech). The site even has T-Shirts to buy, so check it out! What is the ultimate type of viral marketing? Getting fans to do the advertising… Read More
New Viral Posters for “Total Recall” Include Anti-Rekall Group June 20, 2012July 8, 2012Earlier this month, posters for the fictional company Rekall began popping up in Hollywood and likely other cities. The posters link to the memory vacation company at the heart of Total Recall. SuperHeroHype found more posters online, including one with star Colin Farrell for No Rekall, the group that is… Read More
Kevin Smith To Distribute “Red State” Himself, Forgo Any Advertising January 24, 2011January 24, 2011The big buzz late Sunday night was Kevin Smith’s surprise announcement at the Sundance Film Festival. After screening his latest film Red State, Smith was supposed to hold an auction for potential distributors. However, Smith instead chose a very unique distribution method. Get the details after the break. Read More
At the National Confectioners Association’s Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago, the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co introducing a tropical flavor called Swerve to its 5 gum lineup. This could be it. http://adage.com/article/news/nestle-hershey-wrigley-show-products-snacks-expo/227740/Jonny
Hmmm, I wonder! Hoping it’s for something else.Reminded me of Fringe and the flashing images from Season 1 that suck your brain out. :p
I’m thinking Assassin’s Creed: Revelations. A bit later on when you sign up they say something baout sending stuff out to you. The flashing sound effects (coincidentally perhaps) sound just like Animus effects that the game uses, and it’s well known that the Templars are testing and training Subjects to fight the Assassin’s. My guess is beta access.
That first screen also mentions a lot of stuff about sensory anomalies and effects. Revelations deals with Desmond attempting to unlock the sixth sense.
It is possibly a game, not 5 gum. I did the test and signed uup, and a have an option to enter in my phone number. Underneath this, it says “By giving us your phone number, you are allowing us to send in-game messages to your phone. Leave blank to opt out.” It mentions ‘in-game’ a few times, so I think it isn’t 5 gum. Maybe Smeghead25 is right and it is for the upcoming Assassin’s Creed.
im confused…i signed up a week ago and i just got something in the mail. A small card says “We are both creatures of the senses, you and i – we inhabit the same reality, simmering just below the perceivable world.” at the bottem it says “THE PULSE IS GROWING. CAN YOU FEEL IT?” attached was a small device that has flashing blue LEDs. anyone know whats going on?
The ad that led me to the site was on facebook and said “what does Euphoria look like?” and had some kind of psychedelic picture beside it. This is a conjecture at best, but a film adaptation of Electric Kool-Aid Acid test is supposed to come out this year. It’s about hippies and acid, so, this website seems to along those lines.
Sorry if someone else already posted about this, but it looks like it IS for a concert. One of my friends got a package in the mail and it led to a new website. I’ve been part of an ARG before so I know to look for hidden areas on sites to click. I clicked on a spot and was linked to this video of a concert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh-6owRbFvQ So yeah, it looks like the concert theory is correct, not a game or 5 gum. Maybe 5 is sponsoring it or helping to promote it? When I did the ARG to promote the Repo Men movie Wired Magazine was a big part in promoting the hunt. Just trying to pass along what I know. ^_^
I got my package in the mail and it says exactly what Katie’s says. I’m interested but upset that it has to be a hype promotion for something.
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