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Viva Piata toys are latest spawn from Microsoft, BK love in
In the march up to the October 30 release of Microsoft's 'family friendly' party game-montage, Viva Piñata: Party Animals for the Xbox 360, Burger King has made available a collection of Viva Piñata toys for customers with kids in tow (or adults with more shelf space than sense). The set includes a total of eight different colorful toys, including Horstachio, Sparrowmint, Elephanilla, Fudgehog, Macaraccoon, Fizzlybear, Cocoadile and Goobaa, with each packed with a 'surprise in every piñata,' such as a flying disc or every parent's favorite, a kazoo. Advil not included.
[via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
Burger King 360 prize comes with steep price: Terror
Ever heard of looking a gift horse in the mouth? It's supposed to be a bad idea. It's just not as unwise as looking a gift Burger King in his deadened, black, all-seeing eyes and learning the exact date of your death. One guy named David did just that ... and lived to tell the tale.David was lucky enough to win a Burger King sweepstakes -- an effort to promote their line of top-notch games -- picking up a premium Xbox 360, tons of accessories, oh, and the physical manifestation of fear: a Burger King mask. Sure, he enjoyed the prizes and all, but it had to be packed in with the face of evil itself, which more than negates the generosity. It's a little like getting hot, free muffins from a truck that just ran over your uncle. "Yes, the muffins were delicious, but ..."
Well, at least David didn't receive a copy of Big Bumpin'. So there's still some kindness in the world.
[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
The BK King gives out the 360 goods
X3F reader and overall good guy David wrote in to tell us that he has been touched by the BK King's giving hand. David entered one of BK's most recent giveaways that coincided with those lovely BK 360 games and came away with the stash you see above. In total, BK sent him an Xbox 360 premium, wireless adapter, faceplate, Vision camera, gold subscription to Xbox Live, three extra wireless controllers, a $50 BK gift card, and one sexy King mask. David just wanted to let everyone know those big companies do actually give away contest goods as he is living proof that it could happen to you. Congrats David, but you now must promise to play a few rounds of UNO with us on Xbox Live wearing your King mask ... that'd be sweet.
Burger King games available at BK online store
So, did you miss your chance back in November to pick up any of the three Burger King games with your Whopper? Well, the franchise's official website has you covered, since they are now available to order online. Each game costs $3.99 individually, or you can grab all 3 for $10.99, netting you a savings just a couple pennies shy of a buck. But watch out, the shipping is an extra $11.50 on top of your purchase, so you might just be better off going to your local EBStop and trying to nab them used for $6.99 or so.[Via MGC]
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.
Best of the rest: Ross' picks
On a big screen with surround sound, Q Entertainment's Lumines Live was easily the most-played game in my library (if you stretch the definition of library to digitally distributed titles). Although I railed against how microtransactions were implemented in this title and still think the extent to which they disclosed the dearth of features was misleading, both the Basic and Advanced Pack got more than enough play time, as did the multiplayer. It is the best Xbox Live Arcade title since Geometry Wars.
Burger King games as big as Gears of War
As marketing mash-ups go, the Burger King videogames is one of the strangest in recent memory (or is it?). Strange or not, you can't argue with success. Get this: all the Burger King games combined -- Sneak King, Big Bumpin', and Pocketbike Racer -- have sold ... wait for it ... over 2 million copies. That's right, in a matter of weeks, these games officially rival the sales of Gears of War. Now, we're not attesting to the quality of these games. After all, they're cheap and they're sold with food, something that Gears of War cannot claim. Still, the sales numbers are damned impressive. Who would have thought that junk food and videogames would go together so well? Maybe Burger King is in the wrong business.
That's weird ... we're really hungry all of a sudden.
[Via Joystiq]
Burger King games go double-platinum
What burger-backed trio of minigames reached the 2-million-in-sales mark faster than Gears of War? That's right ... Burger King's Value Meal threesome! Well, technically, 2 million is the number of combined sales (of the three games: Pocketbike Racer, Big Bumpin', and Sneak King); and each is only $3.99 with the purchase of an E. coli-free meal.Still, 2 million of these games consumed in just four weeks must represent a milestone in the evolution of fast food chain promotions. Look to Taco Bell to start thinking inside your 'Box to claw its way out of the doghouse.
Game with Fame: the BK King
Love him or hate him, everyone knows that cultural icon the BK King and who wouldn't want to head to head against him on Xbox Live? With the recent release of the Burger King series of Xbox 360 games, the King wants to challenge you to some online gaming, winners play for pride and maybe a Whopper or two. Also, NY Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma will be playing online the same night. So, if you want to play against the BK King go to BKgamer.com and sign up for the Game With Fame session and cross your fingers. The Game With Fame festivities are going down Tuesday, December 12th from 4:30PM - 6:30PM EST, be prepared.Promote Burger King with your Xbox Gamer Pic
A filthy marketing scheme is slivering its way onto the Xbox Live Marketplace today: Burger King Games Picture Pack. We shudder at the thought of Xbox Live users handing over their gamer picture spaces to Burger King. But it will happen -- because the picture pack is free.Some may view this as a win-win situation (users get free pics, BK gets free advertising), but the BK Picture Pack also highlights a growing disappointment: there aren't enough freebie gamer pics to download. If we had our way, playing a game would unlock at least a pair of pics (additional content could still be sold); plus, achievement images (already cropped to gamer pic size) could be inserted into one's gamer card. Instead, users are eagerly downloading Burger King ads because they deviate from the pay-for-content norm.
Burger King picture pack is FREE!
If you are a fan of that scary BK King we all know and love from Burger King, then go to the XBLM and download the free Burger King picture pack. It includes a few BK King pictures, the big buckin' chicken, Whopper Jr. and others. And if you're having a little trouble locating the picture pack, (as I did) it's under the Xbox Community section. I think this subliminal advertising is taking effect, I have a weird jonesing for a Whopper and some fries. Don't be greedy, pass the ketchup packets!Burger King Xbox games roundup
We finally decided to ante up and visit a local Burger King in order to pick up the three Xbox games they released recently. You can get 'em with any value meal for an additional $3.99, and they work in both the original Xbox, and the 360.Our first trick was in talking them into letting us buy all three without having to also buy three value meals. So, one Jedi mind trick on a manager and $15 later, we had our three games and a really nasty Chicken Fries value meal with hash browns. Not a good choice, FYI.
All three of these games feel like they are the bastard children of Fuzion Frenzy, but what can you really complain about for $3.99? The only improvement would be to stick all of these on one disc and sell them at the same price. They run in HD, but the graphics are extremely last-gen.
NASCAR + Burger King + 360 = sweetness!
NASCAR fans who enjoy their Xbox 360 are in for a treat this weekend as Bill Elliott is going to racing the #00 Xbox 360 / Burger King racecar of death. This puppy is decked out in 360 signature green, sleek 360 curving rings and The King driving a bumper car. I may have to turn on the TV to watch cars go in circles for hours on end just to see this bad boy in action. Also, I'm compelled to ask; do you think this racecar makes more noise than an Xbox 360 running at full throttle?[Via, MajorNelson]
Big Bumpin' screens are BK fresh
How did I miss this major announcement yesterday? Big Bumpin' is one of Burger King's soon to be released Xbox 360 games, and IGN posted some new screenshots. I'm uber excited about this one, how can't you be? Imagine it now, Big Buckin' Chicken versus The King in bumper cars, blood will be shed, feathers will fly ... priceless.
The Burger King Achievements
Achieve360Points has managed to obtain a breakdown of the Achievements you can earn from the triumvirate of Burger King games set for release in late November. Each title can net you 200 points for various acts of riding, bumping, or sneaking.We've already relayed to you just how dirty these games are, when viewed in the right context. Go check out the awards and have a giggle at the names. Then come back and tell us your favorite (our pick: Not Playing Anymore!).
All three Burger King titles will be available from November 19 to December 24 for Xbox and Xbox 360. Whoppers be damned, we'll try to have a review by November 20. Hail to the King.
Read -- Sneak King Achievements
Read -- Pocketbike Racer Achievements
Read -- Big Bumpin' Achievements
