ESA and Microsoft collaborate, offer mediocre games for charity
by Scott Jon Siegel 
{ Nov 16th 2007 at 5:00AM }
Microsoft has teamed up with the Entertainment Software Association to offer a special three-pack of Xbox 360 games this holiday season. The pack, which retails for $29.99 USD, is comprised of Cars, Open Season, and Fuzion Frenzy 2 -- three E-rated games which are notable for tepid reviews across the board.It's definitely for a good cause, so we really shouldn't be complaining. All retail fees for the three-pack have been waived, meaning that the entirety of each $29.99 purchase goes directly to the ESA Foundation, which raises money to support groups like the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Penny Arcade's Child's Play event, and HopeLab, the developers behind the serious game Re/Mission.
The charity three-pack is currently available in retail stores, as well as on online sites such as Amazon.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sokkratez @ Nov 16th 2007 5:10AM
This is really cool. I see it as a stocking stuffer for kids, and for a good cause.
TwistedBishop @ Nov 16th 2007 5:46AM
Boo for charity! Boooo!
The holidays are a time to think only of yourself and what you want. Just like every Christmas movie has taught us.
ThornedVenom @ Nov 16th 2007 5:47AM
Microsoft: trying to be good or trying to look good?
Depends on your point of view. In other words, flamewar.
Pureshooter @ Nov 16th 2007 8:23AM
No company is "good" or "bad". It isn't a person, just a profit machine that is only as good or as bad as its most recent actions.
The bottom line is that the kids are good, and that is who is benefitting.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 16th 2007 9:57AM
*claps*
1+ for you.
deaftly @ Nov 16th 2007 10:06AM
you'd be surprised how many charities microsoft is constantly giving money to
Hashbrown_Hunter @ Nov 16th 2007 3:22PM
Yeah Microsoft is generous.
Just not THAT generous.
Hoffer @ Nov 16th 2007 6:58AM
I got this bundle last week. I agree with the "3 Games for 3 great prices". I never had interest in the 3 games, until I could get them for $10. I'm bringing my 360 to my parents for Thanksgiving and Xmas. These games will make the kiddies happy.
Brucie B @ Nov 16th 2007 7:48AM
Thank God I just returned Fuzion Frenzy & got $30 off my COD4! Woo
Princess Skittles @ Nov 16th 2007 7:56AM
It's a damn shame that everybody thinks kids should be relegated to playing nothing but crappy licensed games (or that kids simply accept this). There ARE great "family-friendly" games out there that don't have a Disney or Marvel character slapped on the cover. I would probably not have my passion for gaming that I do now had I been playing the Spider-Men and X-Man games on the NES when I was a wee one instead of Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Mega Man, Dragon Warrior, etc.
Zsavior @ Nov 16th 2007 9:31AM
The problem is there are not many games you can give kids today, so these "crap" games are it. Bishock isn't exactly family friendly.
FidliousWong @ Nov 16th 2007 10:25AM
Yeah, I was dating this one chick and we went to a bar and she started making out with this chick. I was a little in bishock myself since I didn't know she was bi... it certainly wasn't a family friendly scenario. Which is a good thing cause then I'd be incesshocked....
Mark @ Nov 16th 2007 8:02AM
Well, it IS 3000 cheap achievement points, right?
Crazed Geek @ Nov 16th 2007 8:08AM
Kinda. Cars has some slightly difficult achievements. Fusion Frenzy 2 requires that you play online for about 25% of its achievements. Open Season, however, is really easy to 100%.
Samuel McConnell @ Nov 16th 2007 1:01PM
That's exactly what I thought when I saw this.
CarpeD1em500 @ Nov 16th 2007 8:44AM
Is the line through "Great" games a Joystiq addition?
No way thats on the actual cover art...right?
Oh and just a heads up, this has been out for over 2 weeks now. It was sitting at my local Best Buy for awhile, and I was like...wtf mate? Then I realized it was just three games bundled together. Didn't realize it was for charity though...Meh...wish the games were better...
Donald @ Nov 16th 2007 8:49AM
It looks shopped. I can tell by some of the pixels and having seen quite a few shops in my time.
Scott Jon Siegel @ Nov 16th 2007 9:37AM
I added the line myself, using my expert-level Photoshop skills.
I'm a Photoshop Hero, baby.
CarpeD1em500 @ Nov 16th 2007 12:04PM
Thats good Scott - personally I'm a Heroin Hero guy myself, but hey, to each his own...
lol
Sieged Eagle @ Nov 16th 2007 1:37PM
I've never been that much of a Heroin Hero you know, so that is why I prefer to stick to being a Rehab Hero. Much better.
CarpeD1em500 @ Nov 16th 2007 1:38PM
Is that the sequel? I'll have to pick that up after I catch the dragon...
Karen @ Nov 16th 2007 8:48AM
Cars is the best game in the pack, It's like a miniature version of Forza and not like most licensed games. The other two the kids may want to play but I hated the first Fusion frenzy because of the voices announcers.
Ghen @ Nov 16th 2007 9:02AM
Hey, we have these games sitting around not making us money. How can we use that to make ourselves look good?
I know! Call it a charity pack! It will make us look all warm and cuddly without affecting our bottom line!
xXFenixKnight13Xx @ Nov 16th 2007 9:36AM
My kids love Cars. They go nuts on just the XBLive Demo lol. Might pick this up =) If your a parent then you know this is a good deal coming from MS.
Captain Obvious @ Nov 16th 2007 10:36AM
The whole "evil" corporation schtick is really getting old, 'stiqqers. I'd wager that M$ gives more money to charity each year than the combined lifetime earning capacity of the joystiq.com community.
I'm definitely going to pick up this pack!
Your Ad here 555-1923 @ Nov 16th 2007 10:52AM
Almost 30$ for 3000 game score points, I’m sure achievement whores will appreciate it.
xXFenixKnight13Xx @ Nov 16th 2007 10:57AM
You rang???? lolz!
Shockgamer @ Nov 16th 2007 11:06AM
I heard that when you open the case, bright, blinding light flashes before your eyes. In that brief, passing second, you see in gruesome detail how you will die.
dunlop @ Nov 16th 2007 11:58AM
Good stuff, even though I have Cars for the Wii, I will definately pick this up as it goes to a great cause and there are some more games I can play with the kids.
KamenRiderTakoyaki @ Nov 16th 2007 1:11PM
I'd have prefer if Microsoft did something like Campbell's Soups Chunky Soup charity thing. Why are they trying to torture the children with such shoddy games?
Sieged Eagle @ Nov 16th 2007 1:43PM
This 3-for-1 bundle sounds nice. It's going to be a good investment for small children, although I highly doubt they'll play them because lately, most children prefer to break the ESRB rating and play FPS games and such, just like my 8-year old nephew, who prefers to play Halo, GoW and FEAR over any of the other games he has.
Then again, if you are an achievement whore...
Step 1: Make a bundle of crappy games.
Step 2: Wait for an achievement whore looking for games to fatten its GC.
Step 3: ?????????????
Step 4: PROFIT!
Flak Beard @ Nov 16th 2007 5:15PM
It's the 3K for $30 pack. Achievement junkies, here's your fix.