[Transformers] Global Robot Sightings

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

In recent years, TV networks and movie studios alike have started to experiment with the marketing potential of the internet, and this has resulted in some pretty interesting "guerrilla marketing" campaigns for shows like LOST, Heroes and for movies like Cloverfield and even the recent Star Trek movie.

It seems the Paramount has decided to jump on the same bandwagon in line with the release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen next week, and I found out about this through a direct email from someone called Daan, Chief Robot Spotter.

The basic idea is that Transformers have been making appearances all over the world and these sightings have been captured on various video sharing websites. The videos are pretty fun to watch since it becomes a game of "spot-the-Transformer" to some degree and it's certainly an odd way of getting attention. Details below.

If you want to check out some of the "official" videos released so far, try the following links:

• UK - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo0cwRY59X4
  
• Tokyo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0oQZi2G_Ns
  
• Barcelona - http://www.dailymotion.com/RubiTruji/video/16052462
  
• Berlin - http://www.vimeo.com/5125821
  
• Machu Pichu - http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu135/p3t3r_photo/DSC00030.jpg
  
• France - http://www.dailymotion.com/Vinnylemans/video/16143347

To add fuel to the fire, they've also created two blogs that are supposedly tracking all these sightings and will continue to post updates about these sightings. You can check'em out here:

• The Real Effing Deal
  
• GiantEffingRobots

One question for Paramount, though - what's with the effing profanity? Is this supposed to make you look cool?

While the notion behind the campaign is pretty cool, I think it would have made more sense to launch this campaign perhaps a few months ago in order to build more buzz. This late in the game, guerrilla marketing is not really that powerful since everyone is focused on the actual trailers and TV spots (not to mention the movie tie-in toys) that have already flooded the media airwaves and the internet for that matter.

Either way, I guess it's a cute idea and I'm not one to complain about seeing Transformers all over the planet.