MAG isn't out until the 26th of January, but you can get a head start with the 7-Eleven MAG recruitment kit. It contains all you need to know about the Shadow War and its three factions - S.V.E.R, RAVEN, and VALOR. The kit contains information on the factions' reputations, skill sets, and purpose, giving you several months to do some soul-searching in order to determine which suits your personality the best.

And if that doesn't do it for you, hey - free poster.

Get Your MAG Marching Orders at 7-Eleven! [PlayStation Blog]

A spokesperson tells MTV Multiplayer that not only is the company attempting "council" offending stores, it's working with its legal department to warn franchisees of "repercussions" for selling you Gears of War 2 thirty-six hours early. Thanks a lot, 7-Eleven legal department!

7-Eleven Trying To Ditch Reputation For Early Game Sales [MTV Multiplayer]

Michael Jester, 7-Eleven category manager for gaming and electronics said in a statement “This is not just a holiday promotion for us, but a brand new product line-up that will be available year-round."

In addition to seeking to become the "most convenient destination" for the hottest video game titles, 7-Eleven will be ramping up the number of pre-paid gaming cards it carries. That includes MMOs like Guild Wars and City of Heroes, as well as pre-paid cards for Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. Oh, we'll definitely come again if this work out.

7-Eleven® Gets in the Game

Retailer Sets Sights to Become Most Convenient Destination for Hottest Video Titles, Prepaid Game Cards

DALLAS—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Gamers never die; they just grow up … and continue to play … and play … and play. Today, the average gamer is not in his teens, but in his early 30s and, not surprisingly, most likely male. They play at home, at social gatherings, at work (shhhh) and online.

That’s good news for 7-Eleven, Inc. whose customer base skews heavily male between the ages of 18 and 34. The world’s leading convenience retailer is ready to take the proverbial plunge into video game sales after dabbling in it over the past years with successful Slurpee® beverage promotions aimed at top-selling game franchises like Microsoft’s Halo and EA Sport’s Madden.

This month, participating 7-Eleven® stores introduce a line-up of seven of the top video game titles for sale as well as one of the most comprehensive selection of prepaid gift cards for another growing gaming phenomenon – Massively Multi-player Online Games, or MMOGs.

“Video games aren’t just for kids anymore, and they’re not just sold at big box and game stores either,” said Michael Jester, 7-Eleven category manager for gaming and electronics. “We can compete with the major players and offer consumers a more convenient place to purchase games and accessories. They can pay a deposit and reserve their copies ahead of time and pick them up starting midnight (12 am) on the release date at locations closer to their homes.”

The video game industry is a $12 billion business and growing. A recent survey by the Entertainment Software Association found that 65 percent of American households play computer and video games, with 41 percent of Americans expecting to purchase one or more games this year. Of the top-selling games, 85 percent are rated E for “Everyone” and T for “Teen.”

“AAA” VIDEO GAMES

“AAA” games, as they’re called in the industry, are the top-selling, most anticipated games, often sequels with proven appeal to both serious and casual player alike. Suggested retail prices are $59.99 for Xbox 360 and PS3 games, $49.99 for Nintendo Wii, and $39.99 for PS2.

Predicted to be the hottest sellers this holiday season, these game titles are available at 7-Eleven stores while supplies last:

* Guitar Hero: World Tour-Band Kit (Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii)
* Fallout 3 (Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PS3, personal computer or PC)
* World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (MMOG available on PC only)
* 007: Quantum of Solace (Xbox 360, PS3 and PS2)
* Gears of War 2 (exclusive to Xbox 360)
* WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 (Xbox 360, Sony PS3 and PS 2)
* Call of Duty: World at War (Xbox 360, PS3)

“This is not just a holiday promotion for us,” Jester said, “but a brand new product line-up that will be available year-round. We may not be a total entertainment destination … yet, but we’re hoping to expand our selection beyond the high-dollar, hot- selling games to include options for all budgets, like value-priced video games as well as DVD movies. For consumers wanting convenient one-stop shopping for at-home entertainment along with groceries and gas or who just want to avoid big-store shopping inconveniences, their local 7-Eleven store is open and ready.”

PREPAID MMOG GIFT CARDS

Displayed right next door to the console games is a broad selection of online game gift cards to make virtual purchases in MMOGs or pay for your monthly subscription. Played on the Internet, these online games feature at least one virtual world and enable players from around the world to communicate, cooperate and compete with each other.

“MMOGs got their start in Asia, but have gained a worldwide audience of millions,” said Brian Haynes, 7-Eleven category manager for services. “In November of 2007, 7-Eleven was the first convenience retailer in the U.S. to introduce the Nexon gift card, its first foray into the world of MMOGs.”

This year, the number of prepaid game cards available at participating 7-Eleven stores has expanded to approximately 20 different cards in varying denominations. So popular have these prepaid game cards become that 7-Eleven is placing a major focus on this growing segment of the prepaid business this year next.

While most games are free to play, players can use microtransactions, an innovative cash-shop system that allows payments of little as a quarter for a virtual item, to make purchases to individualize their characters and create unique identities. These features are purely optional, and players can try out items in virtual dressing rooms before making a purchase. They can also spend cyber-dollars to unlock clues and levels of the different games.

Most top-selling video games have action- or battle-oriented objectives popular with male players. Many of the online MMOGs, however, are classified as “casual,” “role-playing” or “experiential” and attract a higher percentage of female players.

The 7-Eleven prepaid game card line-up includes Nexon, Habbo, Gaia, Guild Wars, gPotato, Runescape, Aeria, City of Heroes, Exteel, ijji, IMVU, Neopets and Sims2 prepaid game cards. Sold primarily in denominations of $10 and $25, many of the cards can be used to make purchases within multiple online games. 7-Eleven and Slurpee have a presence in some games where players can receive a FREE Slurpee Machine to place in their virtual room.

Along with the prepaid MMOG cards, 7-Eleven offers prepaid gift cards for the two biggest game platforms – Sony PlayStation Network and Microsoft Xbox Live. Players can use the Xbox and PlayStation gift cards to download new games, and game content and access playable demos of upcoming releases.

“We think video games will be a great year-round seller for us,” Jester said. “Whenever a big-name game is released, it creates instant demand, and we plan on being there to meet it.”

7-Eleven Breaks Wrath of the Lich King Street Date [1UP]

Look, none of this is really all that important. The important thing here is that if I don't get a Maple Story 7-eleven cup, someone is going to die. Statistically speaking someone is going to die anyway, but getting a collector's cup with a cute little pirate standing on a mushroom on its surface would assure everyone that I wasn't directly involved.

Nexon and 7-Eleven® Launch ‘Where You Play for Free’ Slurpee® and Online Games Campaign

Millions Can Instantly Experience Nexon’s Free, High-Quality Online Games via Redeemable Codes on Branded Slurpee® Cups and Game DVD Giveaways

LOS ANGELES—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Nexon America, a world leader in massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, and 7-Eleven, Inc. have kicked off the “Where You Play for Free” Slurpee® drink campaign in the U.S. to introduce and promote the world of free-to-play online games.

The promotion, running now through Dec. 31 in more than 5,600 participating U.S. 7-Eleven® stores, includes four Nexon-branded 22-oz. Slurpee cups, each featuring different eye-popping images from Nexon’s games: MapleStory, Mabinogi, Combat Arms and Sugar Rush.

7-Eleven customers also receive a collectible Nexon game DVD with the purchase of a 22-oz. or larger-size Slurpee beverage while supplies last. The DVD features the four Nexon games on the branded cups so users can easily download these games onto their PC.

Each Nexon-themed Slurpee cup has an exclusive game code that is redeemable for customized 7-Eleven and Slurpee-branded in-game virtual items in the four games. The game code also provides 7-Eleven customers access to participate in the closed beta stage of the highly anticipated MMO game Sugar Rush, which is scheduled to launch in early 2009. Customers can learn more by visiting http://slurpee.nexon.net.

“7-Eleven is a great advocate of free-to-play online games, and now millions of its customers will have the chance to join in the fun through the pre-loaded DVDs that allow them to quickly install our games with the click of the mouse,” said Min Kim, vice president of marketing for Nexon America. “Then, once they’re in one of our games, which span from role playing to first-person shooters, they can use the Slurpee game codes to access free, exclusive content.”

To further commemorate the promotion, 7-Eleven also introduced a new, promotional flavor, Vanilla Créme, a variation of vanilla that mixes well with other Slurpee flavors. For more information on all things Slurpee, go to www.Slurpee.com.

“We’ve seen great success with the Nexon pre-paid cash cards and this partnership further solidifies 7-Eleven as a premier gaming destination,” said Brad Haga, 7-Eleven’s senior product director of services. “Free-to-play games are more popular than ever in North America, and with Nexon, we can deliver a dynamic experience for our customers looking for great entertainment.”

Nexon offers gamers a chance to select one of the following options with a Slurpee game code:

— Combat Arms (http://combatarms.nexon.net)

— 7-Eleven-branded cap and supply case (which offers a random weapon to use)

— Mabinogi (http://mabinogi.nexon.net)

— Slurpee potion which has healing powers (20 potions per code)

— MapleStory (http://maplestory.nexon.net)

— 7-Eleven-themed Double Experience Points card, which lasts for one hour

— Sugar Rush (http://sugarrush.nexon.net)

— Exclusive closed beta access and Slurpee set, which includes a Slurpee-style straw, 7-Eleven T-shirt and Slurpee hair with cap

How interested? Interested enough to start tracking sales and, over the course of the next few months, to start taking pre-orders on a number of video games.

Our Slurpee-sources tell us these 7-Eleven gaming facts:

One out of ever two 7-Eleven customers own a gaming system.

Nearly 3,200 stores had considerable Madden sales the first week of the game's release.

More than 25 percent of Madden sales at 7-Elevens occurred between midnight and 1 a.m.

What's that mean to you John Q Customer? Why that starting this month 7-Eleven is going to start selling the seven "highest potential games" introduced for the holiday wind up.

Those games include Lich, Guitar Hero World Tour, Fallout 3, 007: Quantum of Solace and Gears of War 2.

The stores will soon have point of purchase signs set up for video game pre-sales.

Games will all be available at midnight on the day the game is released.

Slurpee® Rocks the Store with Guitar Hero May Promotion Aimed at Music-, Game-Savvy Consumers

DALLAS—(BUSINESS WIRE)—To promote its new Full Throttle Frozen Blast Slurpee® drink this May, 7-Eleven, Inc. has partnered with Coca-Cola, Activision, Inc. and Microsoft Corp. in a marketing and public relations blitz designed to reach music-loving, videogame-playing, techno-savvy, 18- to 34-year-old males.

Online and radio contests, grassroots events and traveling street teams will call attention to 7-Eleven's promotion of Activision's highly anticipated Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. The Guitar Hero videogame franchise has sold more than 14 million games worldwide since its introduction in 2005.

In an online contest at www.slurpee.com, visitors can enter codes found on specially marked 22-ounce Guitar Hero-branded Slurpee cups for a chance to win a copy of the new Guitar Hero: Aerosmith videogame, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft, or Microsoft Points to purchase content from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace. One copy of the new Guitar Hero: Aerosmith game will be awarded every hour throughout the month of May, for a total of 744 games. In addition, 10 lucky winners each will receive a prize package that includes an Xbox 360 console along with a copy of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. Finally, more than 711,000 Microsoft Points will be awarded.

"The sweet spot of the core Slurpee customer is between 18 and 24 years old," said Jay Wilkins, brand manager for Slurpee and Big Gulp® beverages. "Our goal is to keep Slurpee as cool today as it was to teens and young adults in the 1960s when it was first introduced."

Today, that means partnering with hit movies, videogames, popular music and extreme sports ... and reaching out to teens and young adults where they are - online and on the street. To that end, 7-Eleven has planned some non-traditional approaches to this month's promotion in addition to unconventional advertising:

Getting Ripped - Giant tear-off pads of posters featuring art from Guitar Hero and Full Throttle Frozen Blast Slurpee will be posted at 484 outdoor locations near schools, transit stations, theaters, skate parks, beaches, etc., in eight major metropolitan areas.1 (See below for participating markets.)
Mobile Screens - Media vans, each with a 6- by 12-foot video screen, will visit select 7-Eleven stores where visitors can play a version of Guitar Hero live.
Pickin' Slurpee - More than 10,000 custom guitar picks printed with Full Throttle Frozen Blast on one side and the slurpee.com website address on the other will be distributed at special events.
Hot off the Press - College students still read newspapers - their own. Full-color ads including Slurpee coupons will run in 21 college and university newspapers in 7-Eleven major markets.2 (See below for participating markets.)
Slurpee Nation - A revamped Slurpee website is the hub of all the activities, including featured contests, Slurpee trivia games and the 4-1-1 on upcoming special events.
"Every month this summer - every week even - something new will be buzzing around Slurpee," Wilkins said. "Stay tuned. Slurpee is ready to rock!"

An animated version of a 7-Eleven store and an employee will appear in the popular MapleStory MMOG. This type of integration is cutting-edge, according to Nexon. It brings relevant content to consumers and provides 7-Eleven with a new way to use virtual worlds to expand its marketing.

7-Eleven® Brings Nexon America Game Cards To Teen, 'Tween Customers

Real Card Buys Kids Virtual Shopping Experience

DALLAS — November 29, 2007 - While most big news in the videogame industry revolves around the midnight launch of a hot, new game or the latest, greatest console to hit store shelves, 7-Eleven, Inc. is promoting a new videogame initiative that is less about hardware and software than it is about going on a virtual shopping spree.

One of the biggest global gaming phenomenons is the "Massively Multiplayer Online Game" (MMOG), a computer game that is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. The games are played on the Internet and feature at least one virtual world. MMOGs can enable players to cooperate and compete with each other, as well as interact meaningfully with people around the world. While many of these games are free to play, gamers can spend money to create the coolest avatar, a graphic or visual online identity.

7-Eleven® stores and their 24-hour operation make it more convenient for the millions of MMOG fans to personalize their play with certain online games by offering the Nexon Game Card at its U.S. stores.

7-Eleven has an agreement with Nexon America Inc., the U.S. division of Asia's leading online games company, Nexon Group, to be the first convenience retailer in the United States to sell these cards. Gamers can use the prepaid cards to redeem virtual in-game items and accessories within the MapleStory, Audition and upcoming KartRider games produced by Nexon. The prepaid game cards available in 7-Eleven stores are sold in $10 and $25 denominations.

"We have a great assortment of prepaid cards and now we have one especially for 'tweens and teens who are the biggest fans of these online games," said Brad Haga, 7-Eleven senior product director for business development and services. "They're perfect for young people on a budget and should appeal to the Slurpee®-beverage crowd."

7-Eleven and Nexon worked with InComm, a technology firm that develops, markets and distributes stored-value gift and prepaid products, to add the Nexon gift cards to 7-Eleven's extensive services category. An animated version of a 7-Eleven store and an employee will appear in the popular MapleStory MMOG. This type of integration is cutting-edge, according to Nexon. It brings relevant content to consumers and provides 7-Eleven with a new way to use virtual worlds to expand its marketing.

"Offering these exclusive game cards is an important first for a convenience chain and massively multiplayer online (MMO) publisher," said John H. Chi, president and CEO of Nexon America Inc. "By partnering with 7-Eleven, we're able to reach a much broader audience than ever before. Many of Nexon's customers are teenagers without access to credit cards. Now they will have a more convenient option to getting the cards."

The Nexon Game Card can be used within any of Nexon's games, which are free to download at http://www.nexon.net. Players use an innovative cash shop system (called microtransactions), that provides the option to individualize Audition and MapleStory characters and create unique identities. These features are purely optional, and players can try out items in virtual dressing rooms before making a purchase. Items range from hip haircuts and stylish clothes in Audition to vibrant, colorful outfits and fire-breathing pets in MapleStory.

"7-Eleven is eager to offer more products and services for tweens and teens who have fun personalizing elements of these online games and interacting with other players around the world," said Haga. "The Nexoncards are a perfect fit for our prepaid product selection."

As the pioneer of the microtransaction, or Item-Selling business model, Nexon has sold millions of virtual items worldwide through MapleStory and other hit titles like KartRider and BnB: Crazy Arcade. In February 2007, Nexon America reported that North American players spent $1.6 million on 600,000 virtual products within MapleStory alone.

Ian over at Water Cooler Games points out that Nintendo has teamed up with 7Eleven to create a, how else can I put this, disgusting contest.

If you run to a 7Eleven and buy a StrawberrWii Banana Slurpee you're entered to win a Wii. I don't know about this whole naming drinks after the Wii. I mean, I've mostly gotten the urge to mock the name out of the system, but this contest leaves me with a burning sensation to start up the stream of jokes again. Brian Crecente

StrawberrWii Banana Slurpee [Water Cooler Games]