Contestants in an 'ultimate' game show with no rules forbidding rape or even murder are furious after the organiser claimed the entire project was a 'fake' .

Hundreds of potential participants applied from around thew world to join the Hunger Games-style project living on a Siberian island facing threats from bears, wolves and minus 50 degree temperatures.

But now Russian entrepreneur Yevgeny Pyatkovsky, 39, has claimed the show was a stunt, causing a furious backlash from would-be gamers from around the world who were ready to devote nine months of their lives to the 'online TV show'.

'It was a fake to help my market research,' he said, although there were claims he abandoned the idea after pressure from the Russian authorities.

Hundreds of potential participants applied from around thew world to take part in the bizarre Game2:winter project. Pictured: An advertisement for the for 'game show'

The Hunger Games-style project involved living on a Siberian island facing threats from bears, wolves and minus 50 degree temperatures. Pictured: Oksana Shiganova, 28, who wanted to take part

He has promised to repay the tickets of any contestants who had bought air fares to Siberia expecting to start on the bizarre Game2:winter project next month.

The project faced widespread criticism after a rule unveiled last year stated: 'Everything is allowed. Fighting, alcohol, murder, rape, smoking, anything.'

In March, he told the media: 'I am pretty sure there will be fights, and more.

'We are not scared of negative reaction if that happens either....we will refuse any claim of participants even if they were to be killed or raped...

'We will not intervene into relations between participants nor monitor their sexual life either, and our cameras will not be able to follow every move in every corner of the island.

'They are free to form any couple or union, and there is no limits or rules regarding sex.

'If a woman falls pregnant - and manages to carry the baby - that's fine with us.'

Russian entrepreneur Yevgeny Pyatkovsky, 39, has claimed the show was a stunt

He promised training in 'how to behave when you meet a wild bear' on an island which he said he would festoon with 2,000 cameras offering 24/7 live footage on the web.

Now he has boasted that the critical coverage proved he was a marketing genius, but he has been clammed by would-be contestants ready to take part.

Dozens had been expecting to start within a few weeks.

Timur Akchurin, 28, from Magadan, claimed the organiser had 'strengthened the image of Russia as an unpleasant and unattractive country'.

Russians would be 'ashamed', he said. 'You are just a swindler.'

A large number of protests came from those hoping to take part and others who followed the expected launch.

Furious Yana Ivanova declared: 'I suggest the project continues with just one participant - Yevgeny.

Pyatkovsky's comments sparked a furious backlash from would-be gamers from around the world who were ready to devote nine months of their lives to the 'online TV show'

'Let's drop him somewhere in the taiga, stick a GoPro [camera] on his head, and put a tracker in his a** to find his body later.It will be a great selling video.'

Mats Goldberg, from Sweden, said: 'I don't like to be made to look a fool in such an arrogant way by Russian millionaire Yevgeney Pyatkovsky.'

Pavel Glotov, 56, who had big support in online voting for participants, claimed the organiser was a 'swindler', saying he is 'upset', and that a 'worthy and beautiful' idea was 'debased'.

Fyodor Pavlov complained: 'Yevgeny you fooled us. How can I explain to my supporters that am as naive as a baby.'

But others believe Pyatkovsky pretended it was a fake idea only after failing to raise sufficient sponsorship to make it work.

Andrey Ryshkov told Pyatkovsky: 'It will not happen for one reason only - a lack of cash and sponsors.

'With these two, all other issues would be resolved very quickly.'

Pyatkovsky promised training in 'how to behave when you meet a wild bear' on an island which he said he would festoon with 2,000 cameras offering 24/7 live footage on the web

Among those who had signed up for the project was Oksana Shiganova, 28, from the Russian Arctic city of Murmansk, who said: 'I am a professional blonde, a girl who loves dresses, manicure and shopping.

'I love myself and will definitely not make it through the show without help. But this is what will make it so interesting to follow me.'

The show had attracted former special services officers and outdoor-loving travellers.