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Skrillex advergame takes dubstep to the stars
Like a pod-person from Invasion of the Body Snatchers, dubstep artist Skrillex's upcoming album, Recess, is walking among us, hidden in plain sight. Play the shoot-em-up game Alien Ride, now available for free on iOS and Android, and not only will you find asteroids to blow apart, but a preview of Recess as well. Alien Ride is what you might call an advergame. You don't get to choose the track or listen to the whole album, but theoretically it could at least get you excited for the dubstep artist's first full album release on March 18. This isn't the first time Skrillex has snuck his way into video games, mind you. He also created Reptile's theme for the 2011 reboot of Mortal Kombat, as well as the main theme for 2012's reboot of Syndicate. So yeah, Skrillex is somewhat versed in both nice sprites and scary monsters. [Image: Skrillex]
Coke-branded PlayStation All-Stars advergame hits iOS, Android
Sony recently announced a partnership with Coca-Cola to bring a Coke Zero-branded game to iOS and Android by the name of PlayStation All-Stars Island. The game features four characters: Sackboy from the LittleBigPlanet series, Nathan Drake from the Uncharted series, Cole MacGrath from the InFamous series and Kat from Gravity Rush. Those four characters tackle four mini-games in which players collect Coke Zero "orbs," which are then used to unlock "Make it Possible" moves. PlayStation All-Stars Island is available now for free through the iOS App Store and Google Play store. %Gallery-195705%
Old Spice advergames arrive on XBL Indie Games
Some brands just seem to go with gaming. We don't know why Mountain Dew, Cheetos and our beloved Blueberry Muffintops match so perfectly with joysticks and thumb pads, but there's no denying that they do. For whatever reason, Old Spice deodorant desperately wants to be in that club (anyone remember the Old Spice Experience Challenge or its bastardized rehash?). Now the Bane of B.O. has returned with three Xbox Live Indie (in name only, we guess) Games designed to keep Old Spice in your brain as well as under your arms: Newton vs The Horde, The Fresh Card Game and Old Spice Racers. (Update: A spokesperson for the company requested that we clarify that these games were not, in fact, made by Old Spice but rather by members of the XNA Creators Club in conjunction with the Dream.Build.Play. competition.) We were going to try to describe each of the games, but we only got as far as "zombie Stinkies" before we were overwhelmed by a crippling wave of depression. Props to Xbox 360 Digest for being made of stronger stuff than us.
A night at 'The 711 Club,' an advergame
I awake with a pounding headache. Where am I? I stumble toward the nearest doorway -- into a nightclub. The bartender greets me. "Welcome to the 7-1-1 Club," he says. "I don't think I've seen you here before -- your first time in Rio?" Rio? How the eff did I end up in Rio? I think I see a familiar face in the crowd. I approach, blurting out a convoluted question about the nearest airport (get me outta here!) and concern for my heart condition. "You flatter me, but I don't think we've met," says the man introducing himself as Charles. Hmmm, I don't know a Charles ... Suddenly, a burst of fire sets forth inside me. "LET'S DANCE!" I yell. Staggering out onto the dance floor, I am a man possessed. My feet are arrow keys, the beat falling blocks. I can do this! "I know I've just met you, but I feel as though we've been dancing for all of eternity," Charles gushes. Eternity? Wait a minute, am I in ... "LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!" I cry. Then everything goes black.
FDA gave Pfizer hard time over Viagra game
Although the US Food and Drug Administration cut off Pfizer's Viagra advergame back in September, it appears the details are just coming out now. The Multinational Monitor notes the FDA requested that the pharmaceutical company remove the game from the interwebs after it decided Viva Cruiser failed "to disclose any risk information for the drug."According to Pharma Industry, Viva Cruiser had players guiding a motorcycle down a desert road, picking up gifts for a date and avoiding obstacles. We're sure many retail driving games are happy that the stiff competition this Viagra game could have posed was removed by the FDA.[Via GamePolitics]
XBLA Yaris drives into the sunset
Well, apparently the Xbox Live Arcade delisting initiative hasn't been completely abandoned, because promogame Yaris has apparently vanished. Not just like "you can't find it for download" gone, either. No, it's more like "the game page has completely vanished, D.B. Sweeney in Fire In The Sky-style" gone. We're trying to get an answer from Microsoft on what exactly happened, but we have to ask: If a driving game once referred to as "a festering turd" by X360 Magazine isn't safe from being deleted, who among us is? [Update: As much as we'd like to think Yaris was deleted for turdiness, apparently "the title was removed since the program is now over" according to Xbox Live's Major Nelson – meaning the advergaming tie-in period had lapsed. Bet you wish you downloaded it while you still could!] [Thanks, James]
Rock the Ashram with Love Guru's web game Sitar Star
While we're not sure what to make of Mike Myers' latest farce The Love Guru (we hear it ranks up there with the likes Dana Carvey's The Master of Disguise), there is a pretty fun Guitar Hero parody Sitar Star available on the film's website (play it here). You can choose from two songs ("Rock the Ashram" and "Don't Stop Bhagavan"). Same Guitar Hero rules apply, you can hold down any number of frets to the left of the note. Give the game a spin; if the reviews are any indication, it might be the best thing to come out of the movie.
Joystiq review: Yaris (Xbox 360)
Chris Grant, playing the Danny Trip to my Matthew Albie, and I concocted a rather novel concept for Joystiq's Yaris review on Tuesday, wherein Toyota's old marketing slogans would be littered throughout the text. Phrases such as "Moving forward advert gaming" or "Oh what a feeling we get when playing Yaris" would have been the inopportune solid object collision with your funny bone. Unfortunately, to chase the laughs and satirize the release of the Xbox Live Arcade game would be doing a disservice. Crafted in a circle of Hell even Dante didn't believe existed, the developers of Castaway Entertainment created Yaris with an objective I can only believe is to cultivate anger in those who play it. I know an allusion to Dante's Inferno seems passé, the standard go-to reference for the sophomore year English Lit major, but forgive me because I feel that this accurately conveys what a truly diabolical creation this game is. Rosemary's baby's got jack on Yaris.
Puzzle Quest and Yaris now on XBLA
Today is an interesting day for Xbox Live Arcade. We have two new games available, both of which have someting unique to bring to the service. First, there's Puzzle Quest, which is a combination of a role playing game and a puzzle game. Every time players do battle with a monster, they do so by playing a round of Bejeweled. See? Interesting, no? Yaris, on the other hand, presents XBLA with its first advergame. If you're not hip to the latest cars, a Yaris is a vehicle from Toyota. If a free game featuring said vehicle is enough to make you consider purchasing one, then we suppose those marketers will be getting a hefty Christmas bonus this year. You should probably know that a real Yaris won't drive up walls and on ceilings though. Puzzle Quest may be had for the always controversial price of 1200 MS Points. Yaris, as we mentioned above, is free.
Today's future-of-advertising-video: Yaris game
Remember that Yaris XBLA game to be released free on Wednesday? Gametrailers user, warchiefgrim, uploaded a clip. We hope this video convinces you to save the precious bandwidth of the internet and pass on the game; even "free" costs too much. Things we learned: The 4-Door Sedan Yaris comes in such focus-group-approved colors as "Jade Sea Metallic," and "Flint Mica." Northbound on 101 goes straight up (and straight down) as often as it goes north. The Yaris is powered by the constant desire to catch a cat toy mounted on its roof. Sadly, the toy is always just out of reach. See the video, and add your own observations after the break.
This Wednesday: Puzzle Quest and Toyota advergame hit XBLA
As was revealed over the weekend, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is finally gracing Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday. A fee of 1,200 MS Points ($15) allows entry into the kingdom where warring men and beasts settle things not by clanging swords, but politely manipulating colored tiles. The price of such civility may seem puzzling, but the digitally distributed form seems to offer the most features (examine them after the break) at the lowest price. Wednesday sees another game arrive at the lowest price, specifically $0. In what is sure to be a vortex for game of the year accolades, Toyota's "Yaris" advergame allows you to test drive the eponymous vehicle from the comfort of your couch. You'll dodge robotic rabbits, engage in the exciting "Yaris vs. Yaris" mode and even upgrade the "protective shielding" you're surprised Toyota hasn't made more of an effort to market. Unfortunately, this game is only available to Live subscribers in the US and Canada. %Gallery-8259% %Gallery-8258%
Puzzle Quest and Yaris are XBLA bound
Even though we were tipped off about one XBLA release this week Microsoft decided to surprise us with another. Releasing to the XBLA this Wednesday, October 10th are two new Arcade offerings including the puzzle adventure Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords which is priced at 1200 Microsoft points and a racing game sponsored by Toyota called Yaris which, to US and Canadian Live members, will be absolutely free. We're sure Puzzle Quest fans are already frothing at the mouth in anticipation for this Wednesday and already purchased their Microsoft points cards, but where the heck did this Toyota Yaris game come from? Total left field here, but a free corporate sponsored game and some free Gamerscore is something we won't question.
Catch the headlines with Newsbreaker advergame
Tired of wasting time reading the news when you could be playing games? Wait, don't leave! OK, fine, go. We understand we can't compete with the games we cover. But at least promise us you'll go play a game like Newsbreaker so you can keep up with the headlines as you get your game on.At first glance, Newsbreaker seems to be just the latest in a line of extremely generic Breakout clones, this time in the form of an MSNBC advergame. What's makes the game special is what is quite possibly the first recorded use of live news headlines as powerups. That's right, headlines pulled from MSNBC feeds slowly fall from some busted bricks, and catching 25 of them gets you an extra life. What's more, each caught headline is saved so you can read the full story once you're done playing.We feel this combination of games and news is a good first step to combating the growing media illiteracy epidemic, but why stop there? How about giving Achievement Points for reading the newspaper every morning? Hiding secret codes for today's hottest games in the nightly news broadcast? Offering Gamestop gift certificates for listening to NPR? The game industry could single-handedly save the news business!
Logitech blob-jumping advergame actually good
When it comes to online advertising games, our expectations are decidedly low. Basically, if it's better than whack the fly, we're impressed. Those low standards notwithstanding, Logitech's Jelly Jump is actually pretty good.It seems incredibly simple at first -- just use the arrow keys to jump around an on-screen keyboard, hitting the green keys as quickly as possible. But a variety of hazard keys and some clever level design means the action gets tough pretty quickly. The game automatically saves your progress for a later play session, which is good, because getting the best scores on all 50 levels might take a while.Sure, there's a coupon for Logitech keyboard if you get through the first ten levels, but we would play this game even without the promise of a good deal. And for an advertising game, that's saying something.[Thanks stupidiot]
'America's Army' grows to 8 million, actual Army increase costly
According to America's Army PR (ostensibly paid for by US tax dollars), the PC version of the popular shooter registered its 8 millionth user this past weekend. The America's Army user base now apparently spans more than 60 countries, likely owing to the fact that the "game" is freeware; the payoff is in the propagation of a positive image of the US Army throughout various parts of the world. It's no secret that the US Government developed the project as a propaganda device, but it's difficult to measure its impact on worldwide opinions, not to mention US Army recruitment success. We do know that the Army met its recruitment quotas in the two years following the game's release (in 2002).Lt. Gen. Stephen Speakes, a deputy chief of staff, estimates that increasing the size of the Army's active troops by 65,000 (as recommended by Defense Secretary Robert Gates), would cost $70 billion (to be budgeted between 2009 and 2013). Nearly half of that proposed increase has already been accomplished under a temporary program that will likely be made permanent. It's unclear what portion of the estimated $70 billion, if any, would be spent on future upgrades to America's Army. If US troop growth is indeed this costly, then America's Army's true strength may be in its potential to win over the minds and bodies (enlisted in the militaries of US allies) of non-US players.[Via press release]
Blow off clothes in body spray advergame
Most online advertising games are pretty dull -- extremly basic sports and racing games are par for the course. But there's something a little more titillating in the latest online advergame from Dare Digital. Lynx Blow doesn't have much of a setup, just a full screen video of a scantily clad woman in a barren winter landscape and an entreaty to blow into a microphone or headset "to make me hot." Indeed, constant blowing thaws out the woman and eventually blows her top off, at which point she runs off and you can start all over again. Don't want to bother with blowing for your PG-13 fun? Check out this flickr set of the photo shoot or this video of clips from the game. While the game certainly captured our attention, we can't really vouch for its effectiveness as advertising. We had to search the interwebs for ten full minutes just to figure out what the heck this Lynx product was. No, it's not a portable game system or a text-based web browser -- apparently it the British version of America's Axe body spray. I suppose most of the game's target audience would already know this, but would it have killed them to at least squeeze a link to the product page in with the scantily clad goodness? [Via Coolzor]
Promogames: another kind of advertising
Serious Games Source has posted an article schooling us in the history of game-based advertising. The focus is on the trio of Burger King Xbox titles released last year, and their place in the more than two-decade-old evolution of 'promogames' -- to be distinguished from 'advergames.' Ian Bogost writes:"I give the name promogames to video games whose primary purpose is to promote the purchase of a product or service secondary or incidental to the game itself ... While advergames promote the company, promogames offer an incentive to consume the company's goods independent of the game's representational properties."Bogost stresses the need to better understand the complex advertising methods being developed for video game audiences. Know how and why companies are pushing their products on you.
Toyota Yaris ad campaign to spam XBLA?
According to a recent OMMA (Online Media, Marketing & Advertising) article, which examines Toyota's strategy for the Yaris, its new subcompact, the car manufacturer will be releasing "a Yaris driving game for the Xbox Live Arcade." Without an official statement from Saatchi & Saatchi, the advertising firm employed by Toyota, or Microsoft, it's not yet clear how the Yaris campaign might infiltrate XBLA. Are we to expect advertisers are now vying for space on the virtual download service -- perhaps using momentary incentives to elevate their "games" above the rest? Or is this an isolated case in which, for example, Toyota gives Load Inc. some cash to complete Mad Tracks for XBLA, and in exchange, Load Inc. incorporates several models of the Yaris and some ad banners into the game? [Via XBLArcade.com]
