EA and Pandemic Studios announced today, that from 6am this morning til whenever “the pumps run dry”, they will fit the bill to pump your car full of gas — if you can make it to 8489 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles CA before the deal goes up in flames.

Seriously, who thought mixing flames, gas, and mean looking dudes covered in tattoos together for a real life promotion would be a good idea? Because it is fucking brilliant. Give that person a raise.

A word of caution. If you are one of those people who never tips the full serve gas guy, you may want to bend the rules a bit this time. I’m guessing this is more of side job for the guys shown above, as their full time gig probably involves crushing people’s skulls with their bare hands. Just a suggestion.

Full press release with details as well as a live feed of the event after the jump.

PETROL FOR THE PEOPLE – FREE GAS!

WHEN: AUGUST 29, 2008

TIME: 6am – until the pumps run dry

WHERE: 8489 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles (N/E corner of La Cienega and Beverly)

WHO: Josh Resnick, President of Pandemic Studios will also be on-hand day of the event from 6am-9am for interviews.

WHAT: Petrol to the People from EA

In celebration of the launch of Mercenaries 2: World in Flames from Pandemic Studios, EA is giving away FREE GAS! On Friday, August 29th, before the North American launch, Pandemic Studios will take over a gas station located at 8489 Beverly Blvd in Los Angeles giving PETROL TO THE PEOPLE, FOR FREE!

The Petrol to the People event will feature Mercenaries 2 branding all around the gas station, promotional flyers being handed out to consumers and will even feature actors dressed up as Mercenaries pumping gas.

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames is an open-world action game set in Venezuela – a lightening rod in the global debate around energy policy and oil production. The games story is ripped from today’s headlines.

The story of the game is set in a world where countries rich in oil have found new power. That power corrupts, and in Venezuela, corruption has sparked a political coup. A power hungry tyrant uses Venezuela’s oil supply to overthrow the government and turns the country into a war zone. Players step into the role of a mercenary for whom politics doesn’t matter.

Break.com is currently broadcasting a live feed of the event which can be seen right here. The banner in the video above the pumps reads “There’s no gas like free gas.” Ain’t that the truth.

Afterthought: Do you like this? Should gaming companies offer more real life promotions like this on a larger scale, or would you rather they use the money spent to improve or lower the cost of the game?

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