Microsoft Australia have kicked off a charity campaign with the Make-A-Wish foundation where custom-painted 360s, adorned with the "likeness" of an "Australian celebrity", will be auctioned off for kids with cancer.
Good cause. Great cause, even. Shame about the celebrities and the craftsmanship. I'd love a Rusty Crowe 360, I think he's a perfect fit for the 360's brand identity, but the rest? Newsreaders, washed-up talkshow hosts and a swimming commentator? This wasn't thought through at all, as evidenced by the fact that only Jennifer Hawkin's face is on show, and not the rest of her.
My advice? If you miss out on the Rusty Crowe 360, head on over and donate straight to Make-A-Wish, because having a pink, autographed Kerri-Ann Kennerley 360 in your home is only going to invite trouble.
Xbox 360 Konsoles for Kids on Auction [Xbox.com]












Comments
Is it me, or do most of those just look..bad? Granted, the Peter Jackson one looks really good. Personally I'd rather buy a plain 360 and donate difference directly to Make a Wish, rather than risk being taunted for having one of those in my living room.
No Steve Irwin?
LOSE.
@Evin:
Microsoft: "We regret not being able to use Mr. Irwin's likeness, but due to the unfortunate circumstances of his passing, we've decided not to rape and pilage his corpse...
...Pfft, who are we kidding? He'll be out next year, along side the likeness of the Stingray. It'll go BIG."
I am struggling to see why anyone would so much as give a rats ass over any of this. It's fantastic they want to donate to Make-A-Wish, but really now why would anyone want that crap in their house?
"Oooh, I've got a signed 360 by an actor I'll never meet, and no authenticity on said signature, but it's worth it! His/her picture is a litho stuck to the case!!"
360 = good, using a hackjob door prize to get people to donate = bad.
^^^ You beat me to it, Evin. Great cause, though.
The Warnie one isn't that good, and he isn't holding a mobile.
(boom-tish!)
Either the artwork is pretty bad, or the Aussies have mutated looking celebrities.
@splines: No ciggies? No dice.
Come one, you know you want The Wiggles one!
Hmm! I was expecting more people here to support this cause. I agree the paint jobs aren't the best, but its something more special than a plain white box. I'm quite surprised at the lukewarm reception kotakuites are giving it, especially after the raving support for Penny Arcade charity and the Folding@Home deal.
I wonder what that indicates.
Anyway, give it a chance, its for the kids in the end.
Where's the Nerds FC one? Come on, that one would be sure to have a market...
Isn't russel crowe a new zealander?
@endaround: My thoughts exactly... I hope when you turn it on, instead of the giant silver green ball spinning, the wiggles theme song should play....
@Norsehawk: No kidding, is there some huge interest in warped caricatures in AUS that we're unaware of? Every one of those people look weird.. And that guy on the right.. His chin is bigger than Jay Leno's head.
Why don't they do this in the US? I think there are more gamers that would buy these here. I wish I had one...but I guess I will just have to wait and in the meanwhile just donate directly.
Whoever airbrushed these hack jobs just didn't account for the concave shape of the 360. Now everyone's now got super sized chins and foreheads. With the quality of these, it just feels like they've reduced the value of the unit.
I'm all for charity, and Make a Wish is one of the greater ones. But common, there are better ways to spice up a 360 auction. Maybe some snazzy Elites with, I dunno, a steel Halo 3 Master Chief emblazoned on the side. Heck, just laminate one pink and I'd be more likely to pick one up.
Something between the execution of these, and the unlikely thought that someone would pay a premium for one, makes me think Make a Wish would've been better served by the straight up donation of our dollars.
@khdownes: That's why the "Australian" part is in quotation marks.
I hear the West Coast Eagles one comes with some coke...
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