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Stay for the entire XBLA Block Party and receive parting gifts
Microsoft has announced more details about its Xbox Live Arcade "Block Party," which is ... right around the corner. Next month's lead-up to the launch of the Xbox Game Room will see a promotion similar to the one offered during last year's Summer of Arcade, and then some. For Xbox Live Silver members that purchase all three Block Party titles released next month -- Toy Soldiers, Perfect Dark and Scrap Metal -- and then download the free Game Room "client," Microsoft will credit your account 400 ($5). So, 3200 ($40) spent on the participating XBLA titles will get you back five bucks. If you're a Gold member, though, the deal gets a little sweeter: Purchase the three titles, download Game Room, and you'll get the 400 refund and a free month of Xbox Live Gold service (worth $4 and change if you're an annual subscriber) credited to your account. A free "everyone's a Gold member" (no, not that Goldmember) weekend is also scheduled, permitting Silver members to play the three Block Party releases online (but only the Block Party releases) from 12pm ET on Friday, March 26 through 12pm ET on Monday, March 29.
Darksiders' free Red Faction promo open to anyone who bought it new, no code required
Got yourself a copy of Darksiders but, for whatever reason (admit it, you lost it), don't have the slip of paper it came with containing the "mystery code" redeemable for a free copy of Red Faction Guerrilla and digital art book? Seems you're not out of luck -- unless you bought it second-hand (or "pre-played," if you will). Vigil has announced via its official Darksiders blog that those without codes, but who purchased the game new can still get the free RFG and disc full o' artwork. It's a little more work than simply clicking a link and typing in a code, but, hey, free is free. Those who want in on the promotion must fill out a form, provide "your original purchase receipt of a NEW copy of Darksiders," the barcode from the cover insert and, like everything else, pay shipping and "handling" (we never quite got what that is, exactly). You have until March 7 to get in on the promotion, whatever your situation may be. [Thanks, NBA Kirkland]
Motorola Backflip promo spot reminds us what rock and roll is all about
Remember when men were men and guitar riffs were boring and mindless? Moto does. The company has thrown together a little animated spot demonstrating its new Backflip handset. If you're the sort of person who has trouble conceptualizing objects in 3D space -- particularly objects that run Moto Blur and have an oddly oriented keyboard that flips backwards to face out from the back of the device -- this video should work wonders for you. If you're the sort of person who burned your Big Muff fuzzbox in effigy on New Year's Eve, you might want to rip your computer speakers out right about now. Video is after the break, and don't forget to check out our hands-on with the phone for a deeper, more staid look.
Touch Arcade picks their favorite iPhone games of 2009
Our friends over at Touch Arcade have put together their list of the best iPhone games of 2009, and if you happened to unwrap an iPod touch or an iPhone yesterday, that's as good a place as any to start hunting for your favorite games. Spider: Secret of Bryce Manor [$2.99, iTunes link] topped their list, and we agree that it's an excellent showcase for original iPhone software (there's also a promo version if you want to try the gameplay for free). Other than that, there's a few of our favorites missing from the list (no Ramp Champ? No Galcon Labs?), but there are plenty of terrific games to download and play on into 2010. It's been a fantastic year for iPhone gaming -- if you haven't yet jumped in and checked out some of the best the platform has to offer, what are you waiting for? Get downloading!
Buy Wii Fit Plus, get free water
Did you upgrade to Wii Fit Plus so you can stay in shape over the holidays? While some may question the validity of a Wii Fit "workout," premium water company Hint is trying to capitalize on the craze by offering all purchasers of Nintendo's latest fitness title a free case of water. A standalone copy of Wii Fit Plus costs $20, while a 12-pack of Hint water costs $22, making this quite the "deal."According to its official website, "Hint is a pure healthy water lightly infused with natural flavors. Unsweetened. Lightly flavored. No calories." If you're into that sort of thing, you can send in a digital scan of your Wii Fit Plus receipt to hintwater@5wpr.com. You'll be able to choose from one of the following flavors: Blackberry, Watermelon, Pomegranate Tangerine, Mango Grapefruit or Raspberry Lime.
Peek offers disgruntled Sidekick owners a free Pronto, internet high-five
As Microsoft and Apple have so precisely demonstrated, there's nothing like a face full of egg to make the competition fire up the sucker punch machine. Take Peek, for example, who is now offering angered Sidekick users (you know, the ones that probably lost all of their data recently) a gratis Pronto for their trouble. All that's required is an image of you, a frowny face, your wiped Sidekick and a T-Mobile bill -- once that's sent over to Peek's dedicated inbox, you'll soon receive your Pronto in the mail. 'Course, it's up to you to foot the $20 monthly bill for keeping the thing active, but hey, free's free. Kind of.
Motorola CLIQ promotional material surfaces, confirms October 19th pre-order start
Can you feel it? Can you feel Motorola rushing back to relevance? If you're still in need of a bit more encouragement, have a gander at this. What you're looking at is official T-Mobile USA promotional material for the upcoming CLIQ, and interestingly enough, the whole brochure is in the shape of the phone it's advertising. You won't learn much from flipping through the pages (though the screengrabs are appreciated), but you will notice that pre-orders are set officially begin on October 19th -- just like we knew they would. You know, when it shows up as free on contract.
Ginormous Palm Pre shows new Japanese-only 'Contacts' card in Heroes promo
We'll confess -- only a few Engadget staffers are still hanging tight to see if Heroes will ever become the flagship show that it looked to be in season uno, but there's no denying that the whole crew will be watching the premiere that drops on September 21st. Why? 'Cause evidently there's a ridiculously large, presumably GSM-based Palm Pre making an appearance, and it'll be showing off the newest webOS feature: an updated 'Contacts' card. We could be off base here, but it looks as if the new card will sport psychedelic graphics and Japanese expressions when someone dials in, though we've a tough time believing anyone in real life ever secured one of those mythical '555' numbers.[Via Engadget Spanish]
Nintendo hits the road to promote Wii Sports Resort
The Nintendo DSi isn't the only thing getting out and about, as Nintendo has announced a tour to promote the recently released (and recently reviewed!) Wii Sports Resort. The event in Times Square is just the beginning and marks the start of a nationwide tour that will see Nintendo attending various fairs and festivals throughout the rest of summer. For the full list of where and when Nintendo will be making stops, head past the break.
Ten crazy iPhone cases
I ended up going with an iSkin Revo for my iPhone as a thin little protective case, but now that I've seen some of these crazy cases, I'm reconsidering just a little bit. Who wouldn't want to encase your iPhone in what appears to be bacon, or try out the tactile iPhone case above (which transmits button presses to a customized home screen -- not something I'd want to use all the time, but it is wild and it has a purpose).That Dexter case is cool too, though there are probably plenty of promotional cases out there. It's almost too bad -- when I picked up my plain black case, I was thinking a lot more about function than appearance. There's all kinds of cool things out there to put your iPhone in.[via Urlesque]
Video: LG's LGenius presentation lays out totally fake, remarkable TV advancements
Not that we haven't seen completely off-the-wall viral marketing ads before (including one from LG, in fact), but this one just takes the proverbial cake. In a perfectly staged LGenius presentation, we're informed about a few astounding up and coming TV advancements. The first one intelligently replaces all swear words with baby laughter or eerie silence, while the "Happy Time" feature automatically detects when a program is too sad for one's health and adds random images of cute puppies and kittens. Finally, the "Family Time" feature turns any sensual scene into one with cartoon characters, making even the steamiest bedroom romance seem perfectly acceptable for innocent eyes. Seriously, this one has to be seen to be believed -- mash that play button and have a gander.[Thanks, Kellen]
Woz is set for his Dancing with the Stars debut
ABC has released a promo picture of Woz and his dancing partner in the upcoming series of Dancing with the Stars, and it is amazing. Woz is looking good. I thought about photoshopping a pimp hat and a cane into his hands, but frankly, he doesn't need it. That man can rock a pink shirt like no one else. That's professional dancer Karina Smirnoff hanging off his arm, too -- she apparently came in second place on the show a few seasons ago dancing with Mario Lopez, but she's definitely upgraded this time around.I stay away from reality television, and talent shows usually give me hives, but I just might have to tune in for this. Our favorite Chief Scientist strolling across the floor showing up the likes of David Allan Grier and Steve-o might be too much to miss. The series premiere airs March 9th.
UK woman is most definitely, absolutely the #1 Halo Wars fan -- 100 percent confirmed!
In all of our time playing Halo online (68,873 combined hours, to be exact), we've encountered numerous people who say they are females, but we know the truth: girls don't play games ... ever. Also, they have cooties. Our world has been flipped upside down, though, thanks to south Londoner Amanda Johnstone. She apparently likes Halo Wars -- a lot. Amanda loves the game so much that she doesn't mind having 5 of the same poster on her wall. She's that into it. Pay no mind to the fact that the game comes out in the UK next week. This isn't a promotional thing. Amanda actually owns 8 Halo Wars cups and sits around in her short-shorts and Halo Wars tanktop all the time. It's a way of life for her.Source (NSFW) - UK Resistance
VIZIO does it big time with own Super Bowl ad
We've always respected those who practiced what they preached, and we've got to give it to VIZIO here -- it's definitely standing by its word of switching marketing gears from discount to high-quality. The company famous for delivering HDTVs at rock bottom prices has just announced that it will air a commercial in this year's Super Bowl, and at around $3 million per slot, you know it'll be worth watching. Of course, you probably shouldn't expect scantily clad females or overdone explosions, as the company's co-founder and VP of sales and marketing Laynie Newsome has stated that the spot is one that's "simple and speaks directly to its customers." Low-key and Super Bowl? Those don't mix, do they?
VUDU price dramatically slashed to $99* for the holidays
We know it's a touch late to be ordering up a gift for unwrapping on the 25th, but this one just might be worth the IOU you'll likely be forced to give. VUDU's movie set-top-box, which typically goes for $299, is now priced at just $99 for a limited time. Of course, VUDU forces you to purchase $50 in movie credits along with it (thus the asterisk being applicable here), but it's not like you're just going to buy this and never watch anything, right? There's also a bundle that includes a Wireless Kit at 50% off (now just $49), making the grand total for a VUDU, $50 in movie credits and a Wireless Kit only $198. Let's just say now is about the time to buy if you've been holding off on a VUDU -- we hear those HDX titles are mighty tasty![Thanks, Rob]
Sony sets Guinness World Record with BRAVIA-drome
Sony was smelling a world record when it constructed this beast, and sure enough, that's exactly what it set. The BRAVIA-drome was originally constructed to showcase its 240Hz Motionflow technology, and it has ended up being a continual source of interest even after the commercial shoot. This week, a Guinness World Records adjudicator affirmed that the structure was indeed the "World's Largest Zoetrope." We're not exactly sure that this proves / disproves the awesomeness / lameness of its 240Hz tech, but congrats anyway, Sony.
Panasonic launches online community for Living in HD program
At least initially, Panasonic's Living in HD program seemed like a one-off promotion to hook a few crews up with some pretty sweet swag. Now, it has morphed into a running R&D experiment of sorts, with some 44 families having participated in order to give the outfit feedback on how its HD-related gear works / doesn't work in real life. In fact, applications are still being accepted for the next wave of winners, and in case you're interested, the company is also launching a new online community in conjunction with the initiative. The site contains a number of videos to get beginners started in their HD life, and there's also a forum for families to discuss such important matters as mounting / not mounting, surround system versus soundbar, etc. Sure, it may never top the mighty AVSForum in terms of breadth and depth, but it's probably not going to overwhelm and intimidate the newbies, either.
Mac Update offers holiday bundle
In the midst of the holiday shopping season, MacUpdate is in the process of offering their Holiday Bundle. MacUpdate tells us that their new purchasing system now allows purchases to be gifted, and in this particular bundle if you purchase three copies, you'll receive a fourth free. The bundle is selling for $49.99US, and includes the following applications at a hefty discount: Drive Genius 2 RapidWeaver 4 DefaultFolder X 4 VirusBarrier X 10.5 MacGourmet Deluxe LittleSnitch 2 KeyCue 4 MacPilot 3 WhatSize 4 iVolume 3 If you're looking for a last minute holiday gift idea for the Mac user in your life, consider MacUpdate's Holiday Promo. The deal runs through December 18, and can be purchased/gifted through the MU Promo website.Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Super Bowl XLIII to boast interactive commercials
For years now, companies have sought to produce the most engaging advertisement on the eve of the Super Bowl here in America. In just a few months, however, they'll be vying for something else -- your clicks. Canadian sportscaster Le Réseau des Sports has confirmed that both SD and HD broadcasts of Super Bowl XLIII will feature commercials that are "enabled with interactive functionality permitting viewers to opt-in and hyperlink directly from the RDS network to long-form video content." Additionally, viewers will be able to bookmark that content for future viewing. Details of how the links and on-demand material will work are still fuzzy, but it's apt to function a lot like the TV-to-Internet ad platform that's already out courtesy of Backchannelmedia. The bar just got raised a few rungs higher, and we're pretty stoked to see what happens next.
Sony builds massive BRAVIA-drome in Italy to showcase 240Hz Motionflow tech
As the race to infinityHz continues, Sony is busting out the advertising checkbook to showcase its utterly mesmerizing 240Hz Motionflow technology. The BRAVIA-drome installation, which is modeled after a 19th century zoetrope, measures 10-meters across, spins at over 40kph and is the centerpiece in a new commercial designed to display soccer action in the sleekest, smoothest, silkiest way imaginable (or so it says). Have a quick glimpse at the filming of the spot just after the break.[Via Geek]%Gallery-38661%
