Pocket Geek Game Tests Management Skills

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We really like when business to business advertising leave behind the idiotic metaphors that so pervasively fill their advertising and, instead, opt for something, well, more fun. For power plant and air traffic control software developer QNX, Fuel Industries created The Pocket Geek, an online game whereby the player acts as manager to a developer for a five day project. In the game, a set of management tools helps the manager keep the developer fed and his productivity up. Between each day, there's an IQ quiz. Unfortunately, we blew the pocket geek up after just two days. Guess we suck as a manger. It was fun though.

by Steve Hall    Jan-18-08    
Topic: Games, Good, Online



Hair Club and Playboy Frolic Together With Before/After Game

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When the vanity that is Hair Club for Men Hooks up with the vanity that is Playboy, it's clear we've entered a new chapter in the book of cultural vanity. When otherwise perfectly good looking but folically challenged men are paired with perfectly airbrushed (oh wait. that's so 70's. Photoshopped) Playboy Playmates, well, you have an online game, of course. Yes, really. After all, it's likely the only time you'll see a balding guy with a hot chic.

The game, Photo Hunt was created by Cowboy, an agency George Parker recently riffed asking, "Cowboy!!! Fucking Cowboy!!! They have to be kidding, right?"

more »

by Steve Hall    Jan-10-08    
Topic: Creative Commentary, Games, Good, Online, Racy



POTUS Encumbents Get Street Fighter Makeover

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High on politics, or just not into presidential paintball? Play Kung-Fu Election by Atom Films. It's an online fighting game a la Street Fighter, except Chun Lee's less easy on the eyes.

Unless you're into Hillary like that.

You'll start out battling Romney, who in the hierarchy of fighting games is the weakest player. He still kicked our ass, though.

by Angela Natividad    Jan- 4-08    
Topic: Games, Online, Trends and Culture



Match.com Dabbles in Cupid, Fate and Online Gaming to Draw Mucky Clients

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Muck about with Muck About, a Match.com game for UK residents more interested in beer and french fries than "icky" things like flowers and chocolate, courtesy of TAMBA.

Because yobs need love too.

by Angela Natividad    Jan- 2-08    
Topic: Games, Good, Online



VML Says Happy Holidays with Handbell Hero

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Blondie is long gone, so it's rare nowadays that we get asked to ring somebody's bell.

Perceiving our growing sense of injustice, VML invited us to ring its bells with Handbell Hero. It's kind of like Guitar Hero -- WITH BELLS!

This was way funner than that ornery virtual account manager that Burns left us (to die!) with.

by Angela Natividad    Dec-21-07    
Topic: Agencies, Games, Online



If the Holiday Message Deluge Weren't Enough...

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...we give you a menagerie of holiday games, courtesy of Miniclip -- the same people who brought us presidential paintball.

by Angela Natividad    Dec-19-07    
Topic: Games, Online



Getting Tired of the Holiday Spirit Yet? We Kind of Are

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To usher in the giggles and cheer (and, uh, promote its Fool Proof insurance product), Kwik-Fit gives us Turkey Target. It's a game involving turkeys and an outfoxed fox in a Santa hat.

Kwik-Fit also launched a holiday game called Pimp My Sleigh.

Fun fun fun.

by Angela Natividad    Dec-17-07    
Topic: Games, Online, Promotions



Election Encumbents Play Paintball for Presidency

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Why strain the dancing girls for votes when the 2008 presidential candidates can play paintball instead?

On Miniclip, they can. And thank heavens. Nothing says POTUS like a paintball ass-kicker. (We'd say Hillary's got the competitive advantage there. We bet she's loaded with quiet rage!)

by Angela Natividad    Dec-12-07    
Topic: Campaigns, Games, Online



Can't Ascend at Work? Practice On Your Phone

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Bravo partnered with LimeLife to promote Top Chef, a show that's a lot like Iron Chef except not as entertaining because it isn't ever-so-crappily dubbed.

The result was a game called Top Chef Challenge, which is available on mobile phones. The object is to climb from entry-level dishwasher to 5-star chef in a virtual kitchen.

The game is available for a one-time charge of $6.99, or a $2.99 subscription fee if you happen to have a particularly extortionate US-based carrier. (Did we mention carriers suck ass? Now there are studies to prove it.)

by Angela Natividad    Dec-10-07    
Topic: Games, Promotions



Shift Control Goes RPG on Second-Gen Company Site

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Hey, this is pretty nifty. CT-based Shift Control Media, which builds casual games for marketers, has relaunched its website with help from Vancouver's mod7.

The site vibes like an RPG game: You're an alien exploring human behavior and interning at a Madison Avenue agency. The reading's a little heavy compared with the few instances of action, but then again you get to hear bullshit words like "synergy" from alien ears.

The alien also observes that "all the attractive humanoids work in marketing." Hell yes, little green man.

by Angela Natividad    Dec-10-07    
Topic: Agencies, Games, Good, Online