As Friday 13th looms this week, new research out today reveals that one in five Brits (21 per cent) are more likely to regularly follow superstitions – from saluting a single magpie to avoiding cracks in the pavement – due to their fear of risking any bad luck in the current economic climate.According to the research, which marks the launch of video game F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, over a third (34 per cent) of Brits are getting ready to act with caution and look out for signs of good or bad luck this Friday 13th fuelled by fear and paranoia around these testing times.
With so many Brits actually watching out for superstitious signs this Friday, games developer Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is planning a unique superstitious ad campaign, which will see the company advertise on a traditional sign of bad luck – black cats – for the first time ever, to capture maximum attention for the release of its new horror video game F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin on its superstitious release date, Friday 13th.
The black cat-vertising campaign will see a ‘clowder’ of black cats become walking ads for the F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin video game on Friday 13th – hissing in the face of superstition.
Specially commissioned F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin branded cat clothing will be sported by individually trained black cats that will be seen walking around London on Friday 13th February to advertise the game and capture the attention of superstitious passers-by.
Spokesperson for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Charlene Allen, comments: “Every day people are bombarded with so many advertising messages that it can be easy to miss them. With our research telling us that Brits are actively looking out for signs of bad luck this Friday, it makes perfect sense to try and capture their attention that way.”
The research also reveals the nation’s main superstitions, with breaking a mirror coming out top of people’s most feared for nearly a third of people (30 per cent),
The nation’s top 10 fears, superstitions and signs of bad luck ranked in order of ‘superstitiousness’
1. Breaking a mirror
2. Walking under a ladder
3. Friday 13th
4. Opening an umbrella indoors
5. A black cat crossing your path
6. The sight of a single magpie
7. Spilling salt
8. Placing shoes on the table or on the bed
9. Treading on cracks in the pavement
10. Walking over three drains
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin launches on Friday 13th February 2009 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.