In-your-face competition takes UK gamers by storm

Somehow this is the kind of promotional stunt you’d expect from a company that proudly labels itself as “the stupidly cheap online games retailer.” That company is GametartDirect. And the PR stunt is a competition where UK gamers send in pictures of themselves (or their friends) putting on their best (or worst) funny faces while playing on their consoles.

“We’re giving away free money for games to the best 5 game-gurners in the UK!” reads the website. “All you need to do is send us your ugliest picture (with details of what game you were playing) for your chance to win.” At stake are GametartDirect.com vouchers. Gamers who can make most people laugh stand to earn store certificates worth £10 (US$13.00), £20 ($26.00), or £30 ($39.00).

For those of you outside the UK, gurning is the making grotesque facial expressions. Face-pulling contests were common entertainment at fairs and gatherings around Britain before radio, TV, and videogames came along. Facial expressions ranged from gruesome, scary, or silly.

The on-line gurning competition was originally set up to promote GametartDirect’s Christmas sales promo but the response by UK’s gaming community was nothing less than overwhelming. Gametart Direct says:

It seems to be a bizarre matter of pride … people seem proud of the fact that they pull the best faces in Britain! Of course, there are a fair few people wanting to embarrass their mates too by sending in pictures of them while they’re deep in concentration! It’s all good fun and weÂ’ve had some classics.

Everyone say “Cheesy!”

Somehow this is the kind of promotional stunt you’d expect from a company that proudly labels itself as “the stupidly cheap online games retailer.” That company is GametartDirect. And the PR stunt is a competition where UK gamers send in pictures of themselves (or their friends) putting on their best (or worst) funny faces while playing on their consoles.

“We’re giving away free money for games to the best 5 game-gurners in the UK!” reads the website. “All you need to do is send us your ugliest picture (with details of what game you were playing) for your chance to win.” At stake are GametartDirect.com vouchers. Gamers who can make most people laugh stand to earn store certificates worth £10 (US$13.00), £20 ($26.00), or £30 ($39.00).

For those of you outside the UK, gurning is the making grotesque facial expressions. Face-pulling contests were common entertainment at fairs and gatherings around Britain before radio, TV, and videogames came along. Facial expressions ranged from gruesome, scary, or silly.

The on-line gurning competition was originally set up to promote GametartDirect’s Christmas sales promo but the response by UK’s gaming community was nothing less than overwhelming. Gametart Direct says:

It seems to be a bizarre matter of pride … people seem proud of the fact that they pull the best faces in Britain! Of course, there are a fair few people wanting to embarrass their mates too by sending in pictures of them while they’re deep in concentration! It’s all good fun and weÂ’ve had some classics.

Everyone say “Cheesy!”