An ABC news affiliate is reporting that mysterious QR codes have popped up all over Tampa, Florida. The codes direct users to a Google search for “8 bit Lincoln”, which reveals, among other things. the YouTube video embedded below. While there’s not much more information about the codes, the reporters at ABC Action News think that this is part of a viral marketing push for Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, a movie based on the book of the same name by Seth Grahame-Smith. I have my doubts.
For one thing, the video in question is just one of many results that I got when I Googled “8 bit Lincoln”, and it wasn’t even the first result. The first few are associated with a Steam user account by that name. Further, there’s no real reason why we should assume that the video in question – even if it was the main item we were supposed to find – is associated with the movie. A cursory glance reveals that the video was uploaded in December of 2010 by user scarykeri07, the username of one Keri Riley, who describes the video as being created for a class assignment. It seems like one wouldn’t begin a viral marketing campaign so far out from the movie’s release, tentatively scheduled for Summer of 2012.
These aren’t the only reasons that I doubt this QR code incident is connected with the movie. For one thing, there’s no obvious call to action here. What’s our next step after we’ve seen the video? Why send your audience to a dead end? Finally, at least to the extent that I can determine, there haven’t been any other incidences of “8-bit Lincoln” QR codes popping up in other cities. I’m just guessing here, but I bet that this is just something local. Cute video, though.
I could be wrong, though, and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Put your detective hats on, Suvudu, and see if you can solve the “8-bit Lincoln” mystery.
