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FFXIV: A Realm Reborn plans launch party for PAX Prime
Ready to do the Chocobo Shuffle? The Mog Twist? Some Limit Breakdancing? Then you'll need to hightail it to next week's PAX Prime, where the crew of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn will be throwing a two-day launch party. The festivities start on Friday, August 30th and continue through the next day in the Seattle Ballroom at the Red Lion Hotel. The devs will show up to make their grand remarks, followed by autograph sessions, contests, raffle drawings, and hands-on gameplay sessions. It's here that you'll get to see FFXIV, not in the main PAX exhibit hall, so make plans accordingly if you want to be part of the celebration! [Source: Square Enix press release]
Play Rhythm Heaven Fever early in LA Feb. 10
If you're near Los Angeles on February 10, and you're eager to celebrate the upcoming release of Rhythm Heaven Fever, you can party with other like-minded people at the iam8bit gallery.Nintendo, Giant Robot, and iam8bit are teaming up for a launch event, at which attendees will be able to play the game (with headphones, hopefully!) and pick up custom swag. Go find out who else in the world dares to play a rhythm game about interviewing wrestlers and playing airplane badminton!
Got Klout? You may qualify for a free Windows Phone
Turns out that Microsoft's hoping to get some influential people on board with Windows Phone, and it's choosing a unique strategy to do so. It's partnered with Klout, a service that uses social media analytics to weigh the influence you have on your social network, to give away 500 free devices -- along with VIP passes to one of five Windows Phone launch parties across the country -- to those who qualify through Klout Perks. The winners appear to be determined by their Klout score and if they live in the same city as one of the five shindigs. But it's clear that the Windows giant wants to be heard, and it might just work: according to Klout's official blog, "top influencers are trusted by their audience to share their real opinions and more and more brands are recognizing this power." In short, Redmond's banking on the possibility that some mightily influential people will have great things to say about its product. After all, word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool. Head to the source link to find out how to learn if you're one of the lucky 500.
The Nintendo 3DS New York City launch event, in pictures
Trust us when we say this: you were lucky not to have weathered NYC's shockingly cold East Village this evening. No matter how much you want a Nintendo 3DS -- nothing was worth the blistering wait. Except, to the hundreds of folks munching down hot dogs and giant pretzels (not to mention the free tacos), and happily donning 3DS-branded woolen caps and tees, the cold wasn't such a big deal. As we approached the front of the line, blankets and makeshift blanket forts were keeping the most loyal -- or perhaps the craziest? -- warm in the last painful hour, with smiles as ubiquitous as the blankets. The cold, it seems, may have pushed some people off. As you'll see in the gallery after the break, the 3DS's big coming-out party could've probably used a few more attendees lining up to get inside. We're sure Nintendo will have no problem getting rid of consoles at launch and in the coming weeks, but the catering company from tonight's event is likely gonna need to get rid of a few hundred extra hot dogs.
Nintendo's throwing an all-day 3DS launch party in NYC
It's been a good long time since we lost the kind of party-stamina required to persevere through a day-long rager, but perhaps you possess the endurance required to make this invitation more inviting: Nintendo's throwing a lengthy soiree to celebrate the launch of the 3DS this weekend in New York City. You can stop by the Best Buy in Union Square starting at noon Saturday to check out the new handheld before queueing up to purchase one between midnight and 2AM. Now, considering you'll be indulging in 14 whole hours of bacchanalian delights, you'll need to come prepared -- we suggest applying multiple coats of sunscreen throughout the day, remaining well hydrated, and bringing along some extra eyeballs. On the off-chance you play the 3DS for 14 hours straight, you'll probably end up disintegrating your corneas.
'We are the controller!' A Kinect launch party overview
Microsoft says the future of gaming starts today with Kinect, but this man obviously disagrees. The Time is Fulfilled ... The End is at Hand. After last night's Kinect launch festivities, you might be inclined to agree.
Free Kinect Sports, Joy Ride for first 3,000 Kinect buyers at NYC launch
Microsoft isn't just trying to bring families together in front of the TV with Kinect, it's also doing its best to bring thousands of New Yorkers together. The official launch event for the sensor will take place at the Times Square Toys R Us, and Microsoft is giving away substantial bonuses to early buyers. The first 3,000 people to buy Kinects at the event will receive free copies of Kinect Sports and Kinect Joy Ride, along with a free year of Xbox Live Gold membership. And then, after all those hours of standing around, they'll get to go home and ... play games while standing. Random attendees will be handed prizes while in line, as well. Basically, what we're saying is you should go right now. Preferably sooner.
StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty launch events spread across the globe
Blizzard is giving ravenous StarCraft 2 fans (that's ... all of you?) launch events in London, Berlin, Paris, Stockholm, Moscow, Singapore ... and a mystical place called the Fountain Valley in California. North American details are after the break, along with links detailing the international locations.
Fight the crowds at GameStop's UFC Undisputed 2010 midnight launch parties
Before you enter an octagon full of belligerent fighters in UFC Undisputed 2010, why not prepare by visiting a strip mall full of sleepy nerds? GameStop is holding midnight launch events for the mixed martial arts title in 3,100 of its stores on the night of May 24. There, you'll be able to commune with your fellow UFC fans and pick up a new copy of the game at the earliest possible opportunity -- and you do want to buy it new. Check here to find out if any GameStops near you are participating. If you pre-order the game before then, you'll get access to four unlockable fighters from the Ultimate Fighter TV series. If you pre-order the PS3 version, you'll get three more fighters, as well as a Blu-ray disc with footage of five classic UFC fights. That is indisputably a lot of bonuses.
Meet Monster Hunter Tri's producer and director at UK launch event
If you're in London and eager to get started hunting monsters and, uh, holding a Classic Controller Pro, you'll probably want to be at GAME's Monster Hunter Tri London launch event on April 23. Not only will the game be there -- the first 50 people in line will receive a bag full of Monster Hunter stuff. And then you'll have the opportunity to have some of that stuff signed by producer Ryozo Tsujimoto and director Kaname Fujioka. Nintendo would like to remind you to wear your "best 'hunting' attire" to the event, so you look nice and ridiculous when you meet the developers. %Gallery-86439%
Splinter Cell: Conviction event at several GameStops on April 1
Splinter Cell: Conviction is having a little premiere on April 1 at ten GameStops across the US -- no, this is not an April Fool's joke; we made sure. Before the game hits stores (and the head ... and heads) on April 13, a premiere event will take place in Los Angeles on the high holy joking day. GameStop will concurrently host "first-to-play co-op demo events" at select stores. The LA event will take place at the Les Deux Nightclub in Hollywood. First-to-play sessions will occur between 2-6PM, prior to the "celebrity red carpet premiere" at 8PM. The event will feature the "Search for Sam Fisher" live interactive game, in which 15 attendees (21+) who attend the co-op event earlier in the day will be invited to participate. Grand prize is an "Xbox 360 Splinter Cell Conviction Special Edition Bundle and a library of Ubisoft Xbox 360 games." The non-LA co-op demo events will be held from 9PM until midnight in Boston, Orlando, New York City (two locations), Denver, Chicago, San Francisco, San Jose, Dallas and New Jersey. Specific locations will be listed on GameStop's website or at SplinterCell.com. The first 100 attendees at each location receive a "free Splinter Cell Conviction beanie." Honestly, we have no idea what to say to that.
Nintendo World Store holding Band Hero launch event tomorrow
No, that isn't your high school gym teacher (pictured right), that's Weezer front man Rivers Cuomo and he's joining with Nintendo to help launch the upcoming Pop-centric music title, Band Hero. Tomorrow, November 1, beginning at 11AM (EDT) at the Nintendo World Store in Rockefeller Plaza, players will have a chance to play both the Nintendo Wii and DS versions of the game before lining up for an exclusive autograph session with the singer from 3PM to 4PM. Need more incentive to join the party? The first fifty players in line will walk away with a pre-release copy of the game to call their own and other random giveaways. Finally, you yourself can interrupt your sister's Taylor Swift karaoke sessions in homage to Kanye West's VMA performance. We call that, "emergent gameplay." [Image Credit]
Dizzee Rascal gets first keys to Home's new SingStar VIP space
British artist Dizzee Rascal will headline the European launch of the new SingStar VIP space during an online PlayStation Home event on September 24 at 20:00 BST (UK time)/ 21:00 CEST (Mainland Europe). The Mercury Award-winning rapper will be on hand to promote his upcoming fourth album Tongue N' Cheek and answer fan questions, but not before taking the stage to perform some of his chart topping jams and his upcoming single.If you need more incentive to connect, Home users who join the artist's launch party can get their hands on a free Dizzee Rascal mask (as terrifyingly seen above) for 48 hours. With an accessory as crazy as that, we hope to see a quick Quincy resurgence.
Get Windows 7 Ultimate for free... by throwing a party
Dying to throw a party where everyone goes home alone? Microsoft's got you covered. Redmond's looking for Windows 7 fans to throw launch parties from October 22-29, and if you're chosen, you'll get a free "Signature Edition" of Windows 7 Ultimate, free party favors, and a chance to win a PC valued at $750. Sure, you'll have to suck up your pride and invite your friends to a party with a theme like "setting up with ease" or "family friendly fun," but if you're willing to throw a party where everyone is apparently supposed to sit around a laptop and then go out and buy something, well, we're guessing you don't have too much pride to begin with.[Thanks, Kevin]
Palm Pres available tonight to invited Premier customers at launch events
This won't apply to many of you, but just a little public service announcement to members of Sprint's elite Premier corps: you can get your Pre tonight if you've received an invitation to do so and you're willing to make the trek to one of ten stores around the country where launch parties are being held. Our understanding is that this is strictly an invite-only event and that non-Premier riff raff (and non-Sprint customers) will be turned away, but honestly, if we were in the market for a Pre, we'd probably loiter for a bit just to see what's up and get a gauge on whether they're willing to bend the rules -- particularly if the Pres end up not selling out by the time the night's over. Either way, if you want a Pre this weekend you'll need to leave your basement at some point because the phone won't be sold online initially -- so let us know how it goes out there in the trenches, folks, and we'll do the same. Stay tuned![Image via PreCentral]
Joystiq at the Nintendo DSi Launch
Nintendo had a blowout party for its new DSi handheld at Citywalk in Los Angeles, which has become the de facto launching pad for all things gaming. Kevin Pereira from G4's Attack of the Show hosted the event, which featured a live performance from Gym Class Heroes, big-screen demos of the DSi's features, and a live appearance of artists from i am 8-bit.Despite all this, and the presence of Mario himself, there wasn't a massive line of people waiting to pick up their units at midnight. Even the doomsday-style countdown clock that towered over the event didn't foretell the sounds of cash registers opening and closing around the world. The first midnight sale was rung in with a countdown, though, led by Pereira and Cammie Dunaway from Nintendo, and fireworks shot across the sky in celebration. Then Nintendo gave everyone a free DSi and a bag full of money! Er, wait ... We just dreamed that last part.So, do you want or simply need a Nintendo DSi? We spoke with David Young, the assistant PR manager for Nintendo of America, about the manufacturer's newest, shiny toy and an upcoming title that can track your dog's activity. Continue on after the break for the interview.%Gallery-49380%
No official DSi launch event in the UK
In the US, Nintendo fans can celebrate the DSi's launch at the Universal CityWalk GameStop in Los Angeles. In Australia, early adopters can go to a launch party at the "Nintendo Experience" on Melbourne's Swanston St. Melbourne. Nintendo just announced that there will be no such event in the UK to celebrate the April 3 launch of the DSi.A Nintendo spokesperson told Eurogamer that no such event is planned "because the handheld is an evolution of the hardware - and not a replacement," in a baffling instance of Nintendo downplaying its own product. Why not just tell people, "Hey, it's just another DS, don't worry about buying one, guys!"According to the Nintendo spokesperson, even though there's no "official" shindig, you'll still be able to pick up a system at one of the 200 GameStations, 55 GAME stores and "select HMV outlets" that mistakenly think the DSi is a big product.%Gallery-33263% Don't worry if you haven't been following the DSi for the last few months -- your crazy friends at Joystiq Nintendo have been all over it. Check out our unboxing of a Japanese system for a hands-on rundown of features, and have a look at the awesome DSiWare downloads that have come to Japan. Then torture yourself with the limited-edition FFCC: Echoes of Time DSi that probably won't make it here!
Celebrate the DSi launch in Los Angeles
If you're in LA this week, you'll be able to pick up a DSi just a bit early, and do a little partying while you wait in line. Nintendo is hosting a midnight DSi launch party at the Universal CityWalk GameStop location from 9 to midnight on April 4, which will feature music from VJ Fader, "with manipulated video displayed on a giant 360° projection globe," free stuff from I am 8-Bit (totally not fair), and a countdown to midnight led by Cammie Dunaway and G4 talking head Kevin Pereira.What a perfect event to capture with the DSi's tiny cameras!%Gallery-33263%
Joystiq at the Resident Evil 5 launch party
Click to El Gigante size As if compelled by some otherworldly force, hundreds of gamers converged last night at San Francisco's Union Square. Of course, they weren't some kind of brainwashed zombie parasite-controlled mob -- they were there for Capcom's latest act of large-scale fan service, the Resident Evil 5 launch party.The full RE5 development team, lead by producer Jun Takeuchi, was on hand for the event, joined by members of the game's motion capture cast. Oh yeah -- we were there, too. (Though we weren't sporting spiffy, personalized B.S.A.A. team jackets like the dev crew.) Screaming contests were held, cell phones were laser-etched with RE5 imagery and photos were taken as evidence of the night's activity; check 'em out in the gallery below.%Gallery-47647%
Joystiq at the Street Fighter IV Launch Party
By now you're probably tired of reading about slick Hollywood-based video game launch parties attended by C-list celebrities and wannabes who probably game about as much as your grandma. Capcom finally got it right by opening up the Street Fighter IV party to the public. The only problem was that so many people showed up for the event that the fire marshal ended up restricting access, and a lot of people went home without getting their game on.For those of you who didn't make it to the Geffen Museum Street Fighter Takeover in downtown Los Angeles, we offer up the gallery below from the event. There were tons of console stations where you could play the game, imported versions of the SFIV Japanese arcade game, a Street Fighter Club rumble pit, a "museum" full of Street Fighter products from over the years, Street Fighter arcade cabinets painted by different artists, plenty of people in costumes, and of course, game producer Ono-san.%Gallery-44661%
