Subway launches ‘Sink a Sub’, its first-ever game, where everybody wins instantly via Wunderman Thompson Australia and New Zealand

Subway has unveiled its first-ever gaming experience via Wunderman Thompson Australia and New Zealand, Sink a Sub; a virtual at-sea battleground that will transform the way consumers engage with the brand’s most iconic product – the submarine sandwich. Across November, Sink a Sub players can win a treasure chest of prizes including an Isuzu M-UX, $10k cash, bikes and Subway food.

Every customer purchasing a sub-and-drink at participating Australian and New Zealand Subway restaurants will receive a code for a high-sea gaming experience that invites players to sink a submarine sandwich on the digital gameboard.

Says Rodica Titeica, head of marketing, Subway: “With Sink a Sub, we’re doing things in a fresher way and making everyone a winner. Every guest who plays, wins a prize. So even if you miss when you fire your meatball cannon, you’ll still win instant swag, including Subway cookies, drinks and meal upgrades.”

Sink a Sub is Subway’s first venture into a gaming experience, with the concept, build and promotion developed by Wunderman Thompson in Australia and New Zealand. The agency’s specialists in creative, experience design, shopper and technology led the gamification strategy and experience, plus the CX and path-to-purchase retail campaign.

WPP AUNZ’s Ikon Communications (Brisbane) will use the power of multiple media channels to build relevance and drive action, delivering scale and frequency to make Sink a Sub feel like the biggest ship on the ocean. Unlisted (formally known as Passion Pictures) also worked alongside Wunderman Thompson to bring the animation of the gaming experience to life.

Says Frank Martelli, experience design director at Wunderman Thompson: “What began as a hallway conversation over 12 months ago has now seen a passionate team at Wunderman Thompson, Ikon and Subway come together to bring Sink a Sub to life.

“It’s a simple idea that brings fresh energy to the brand in a new and unique way. We’ve been very focused on making the game seamless and engaging for users to interact with, whilst working hard to build in complex gamification strategies and frameworks to ensure Subway customers return to restaurants and the game again and again and again.”

Says Georgia Bruton, partner – shopper marketing at Wunderman Thompson: “We know the most motivating and successful promotions are the ones that deliver instant gratification, but logistically they are the hardest to execute. The Subway team were undeterred and agreed that to deliver a successful campaign, we needed to reward all customers with not only a fun and interactive experience, but one in which everyone wins instantly. Well done to Subway for believing in such a great idea and for being such a great partner. It took true partnership skills to make something like this happen, especially in the space of three months.”

Says Titeica: “Wunderman Thompson and Passion Pictures have brought this digital treasure-map alive with market-leading animation and gameplay. This November, plot a course for Subway and claim your own share of the treasure with Sink a Sub.”

Sink a Sub will be heavily promoted online, in-store, TV, OOH and radio throughout November.

Weigh anchor, hoist the mizzen and set sail for the Sink a Sub game here. Visit www.sinkasub.com to check it out.

Creative Agency: Wunderman Thompson Australia and New Zealand
Ana Lynch: Partner
Sheridan Turner: Group Engagement Lead
Bronte Rohrig: Engagement Manager
Angela Morris: National Chief Strategy Officer
Frank Martelli: Experience Design Director
Yvonne Jahn: Head of UX Design
Marvin Cheung: Senior UI Designer
Kate Roden: UI Designer
Koji Yajima: Junior UX Designer
Heidi Fidel: Junior UX Designer
Nick Doring: Associate Creative Director
Kat Thomas: Associate Creative Director
Amee Wilson: Art Director
James Southey: Copywriter
Julian Batty: Designer
Evelyn Tran: Designer
Ben Dubuisson: Tech Lead
Priscilla Edmonds: Digital Project Manager
Hamish Lamb: Front-end Lead
Luciano Di Giuseppe: Senior Server Side Developer
JM Beltran: Front-end Developer
Annie Kyles: Front-end Developer
Samina Munir: Tester
Georgina Bruton: Managing Partner, Shopper
Emma Williams: Senior Engagement Manager, Shopper
Sandi Gracin: Head of Screen
Chloe Marshall: Integrated Producer
Kel Gronow: Editor
Media Agency: Ikon Communications
Subway
Rodica Titeica: Head of Marketing ANZ
Ben Mile: Senior Marketing Manager
Raquel Hine: Marketing Manager
Kate Munro: Assistant Marketing Manager
Wannetta Samidurai: Assistant Marketing Manager
Geoff Fowler: Assistant Marketing Manager – Loyalty
Unlisted (formally known as Passion Pictures)
Director: Nick Lines
Executive Producer: Graham Pryor
Producers: Megan Plane & Liz Manning
Storyboards: Dylan Shearsby
Concept Designers: The Stompin’ Ground
Character Designer: Sacha Bryning
CG Modeller: The Stompin’ Ground, Kevin Taylor
Cinema 4D: Miguel Rodrigues
Head of VFX: Adrian Oostergetel
3D Generalist: Duncan McDonald
3D Animator: Rodrigo Torres
Design: Will Hunt
AE Animator: James Neilson, Josh Le Good
Online: Tom Marley