Chibi-Robo: PR Stunt Patrol
Nintendo has announced another out-of-the-box promotional effort for Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol, this time focusing on the environmental theme. The game is about improving parks, and what improves outdoor areas more than a nice tree?
To that end, Nintendo will send out 500 trees to a random selection of Chibi-Robo registrants who sign up between now and November 9th. The saplings will be mailed out just in time for America Recycles Day, which is apparently a real thing. We wonder if they're the same kind of trees that were pulped for the Chibi-Robo bookmarks.
Cynics may wonder why, if Nintendo is so concerned about the environment, they're associating this game with ginormous Earth-killer Wal-Mart. Those of you with advanced degrees in cynicism may be thinking that these shows of environmentalism may be an effort to offset the association with Wal-Mart. Whatever the reason, seeing a big company like Nintendo do anything environmentally conscious at all is nice. Check the press release after the break for a little more information about Nintendo's green practices.
NINTENDO GOES GREEN WITH ENVIRONMENTAL GAME AND 500 TREES
Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol for Nintendo DS Shows Kids How to be Green
REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 2, 2007 - Nintendo is on a mission to make some locations - both virtual and real - a little greener. In honor of today's launch of Chibi-Robo™: Park Patrol for the portable Nintendo DS™, Nintendo is offering 500 tree seedlings to kids who want to help keep their environments clean and beautiful.
Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol is one of the first games based on the growing environmental movement, and it's a great way to get kids and their parents on a green path. In the game, players take on the persona of a cute little robot. They clean up a park by planting flowers, building park equipment and defeating toxic enemies called Smoglings.
Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol lets players use the Nintendo DS touch screen to control actions like watering plants, squirting enemies or riding a bike. Chibi's good deeds are converted into Happy Points that power him and the friendly toys he meets along the way. He even uses environmentally friendly modes of transportation to get around.
"From hybrid cars to energy-conserving light bulbs, everyone is going green," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol represents one of the first environmentally themed video game adventures."
To get a tree seedling, register at www.Chibi-Robo.com between now and Nov. 9. Before America Recycles Day on Nov. 15, Nintendo will choose 500 people at random to receive a seedling that they can plant in their community.
But Nintendo's environmental efforts are not limited to video games. In the real world, Nintendo has already undertaken multiple initiatives to help preserve the environment.
Nintendo:
recycles the paper it uses company-wide, limits the use of colored paper (since it's not easily recycled) and purchases recycled paper towels, report covers, message pads and writing pads.
recycles more than 70 percent of the waste generated at its headquarters and promotes the recycling of aluminum cans and glass in its corporate cafeterias. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the United States as a whole recycles about 32 percent of its waste.
requires manufacturers not use any banned substances (such as lead, mercury, etc.) in components, nor use them in the manufacturing process for any components used in its products.
