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!"

[www.amazon.com]

RedOctane Adds GHIII Backing To Music-Making Campaign [gamasutra]

Spyro the Dragon to Scorch Wendy's Restaurants This Fall

Popular Sierra Entertainment Franchise Featured in Nationwide Kid's Meal Promotion

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ — Sierra Entertainment, a division of Vivendi Games, today announced a nationwide promotion with Wendy's, coinciding with the launch of The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night.

Beginning October 8, 2007, the four-week promotion features one of five Spyro premium items and a coupon with each purchase of a Wendy's Kids' Meal at participating Wendy's restaurants nationwide, while supplies last.

"Not only are we offering a variety of nutritious Kids' Meal options — from low-fat milk and yogurt to mandarin oranges and turkey sandwiches — we're focusing on promotional extensions that bring families together in entertaining, engaging ways," said Ana Hernandez, Wendy's diversity marketing director.

Featured premium item characters from the new video game include the Sparx Flyer, Flapping Spyro, a Spyro Keychain, Spyro Checkers and Ruby Reveal. The panel of each Kids' Meal bag also will feature a $5 off coupon from GameStop for any platform of The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night.

"The Spyro the Dragon franchise has reached families all over the world," said Al Simone, senior vice president of Global Marketing, Sierra Entertainment. "After millions and millions of video games sold, it's great to be able to extend the brand by offering fun toys and games to Wendy's customers."

The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night is the latest installment in the 20 million-unit-selling Spyro franchise and a continuation of the new The Legend of Spyro trilogy of video games. The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night is currently available for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, Wii(TM), Game Boy(R) Advance, Nintendo DS(TM) and available in early November for mobile phones. The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night will carry an MSRP of $39.99 for the PlayStation(R)2 system, $49.99 Wii(R), $29.99 Game Boy Advance and $29.99 for Nintendo DS.

KONAMI AND NESTLE WATERS NORTH AMERICA ANNOUNCE THE "GREEN WITH ENVY" NATIONAL PROMOTION FOR DEWY'S ADVENTURE™ VIDEO GAME FOR THE WII™ HOME VIDEO GAME SYSTEM National Promotion With Nestle Waters' Aquapod™ Bottled Water And Dewy's Adventure™ Video Game Offers Grand Prize Trip To Costa Rica And Other Prizes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

El Segundo, CA - September 17, 2007 - Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. and Nestle Waters North America Inc. will provide a positive "Green" and health message to children this fall with a promotional partnership surrounding the highly anticipated release of Dewy's Adventure™ for the Wii™ home video game system and the popular Nestle Waters' beverage option for kids, Aquapod™ Natural Spring Water. Through the partnership, Aquapod™ will administer a national contest and sweepstakes offering consumers a chance to win an exciting rain forest/eco-adventure to exotic Costa Rica along with other fabulous prizes, including copies of Dewy's Adventure™. The sweepstakes will run from September 12th through November 30th.

The program is supported by a multi-million dollar marketing and promotional campaign which includes national print, television, radio advertising, Internet media, coupon offers, in-store point-of-sale messaging, and more. Television spots announcing the sweepstakes will air nationally on major television stations, and will feature gameplay footage of Dewy's Adventure™ and the Aquapod™ logo. Radio spots will also support the Program, running on stations nationwide, from October 1st to November 17th. An FSI will run during the first week of the sweepstakes period, reaching 25 million households nationwide with coupon offers as well as the launch of www.aquapodmoms.com website that will provide moms information about the importance of kid's hydration.

A number of half-liter 24 pack cases of Poland Spring®, Deer Park®, Zephyrhills®, Ozarka® and Ice Mountain® brand Natural Spring Waters, and Arrowhead® brand Mountain Spring Water will contain on-pack stickering that will feature Dewy's Adventure™ artwork along with the Konami logo and information about the Program.

After the smoke cleared, only four were left standing (except of course for the BMX winner. The winners were Chris O'Reilly for skate vert, Louie Lopez for skate park, Copy Porsche for inline skating, and Kyle Kelsey for BMX. Each winner received $5,000 and a scholarship to Woodward for next season.

Stories like these make me remember the good old days of my youth, when my parents would actually have to tell me to come inside and watch television. . .back before outdoors became what I passed through on the way to Wal-Mart. Michael Fahey

PlayStation AM JAM Finalists Selected [Playstation.Blog]

Live ads involving actors that will be in the theater with you will play out the following scenario in order to peddle the Nintendo Wii:

The ad reel plays in the darkened auditorium as usual, but the two actors are present amongst the audience. Steve, an achingly cool teenager sits near the front. Unbeknown to him, his mother, Elsa, enters the auditorium in search of her son. At the appropriate moment during the on-screen commercials, the ad reel is stopped and the house lights come on. Steve's mum bustles in and calls her son embarrassingly from the darkness.

What follows is a living hell for Steve as his mother challenges him to a rematch of Nintendo Wii tennis there and then in front of an audience of total strangers. Preferring to lose some of his cool rather then look cowardly Steve takes up the challenge. He soon forgets his embarrassment as he becomes caught up in the game.

Steve's also gonna get my foot caught up his butt if they don't dim the lights and start playing the damn movie. Kim Phu

Live Interactive Ads for Nintendo Wii are Given the Silver Screen Treatment [Creative Match via Next Gen]

On a side note, it turns out that Shaun in just one of the three professional football sons that Ian has (there are two other kids, but there is no listing for what their occupation is). Is it just me or is this family way too talented? Kim Phu

PRESS RELEASE

Ian Wright And Shaun Wright-Phillips Make The 'Mario Strikers Charged Football' First Team

Father and son strike force line up to promote Wii's first online title*

17th May 2007 - As the football season reaches its climax, Nintendo UK are celebrating today with the announcement they have made the signings of the season with Ian Wright and Shaun Wright-Phillips lined up to promote the hugely anticipated Wii football title 'Mario Strikers Charged Football.'

Ian and Shaun line up against Mario and Co. as the stars of the Mario Strikers Charged Football campaign which goes live across terrestrial TV from 19th May featuring in major sports events such as the upcoming Champions League and FA Cup finals and more family oriented programs such as Coronation Street, Grease Is the Word and Big Brother.

The TV ad sees Ian and Shaun at home battling another team of opponents online using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, a feature that allows Wii owners to take on anyone across Europe.

To celebrate the launch, Ian Wright will also be appearing at GAME, Oxford Street from 9am on launch day (25th May) playing against challengers in store and signing Wii hardware and software for fans.

With Mario Strikers: Charged Football you really can compete in a world cup, thanks to the multi-player mode via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Service. Make sure you're wearing your team colours as 'Mario Strikers: Charged Football' kicks off across Europe on Wii on 25th May 2007.

Nintendo has taken one of the world's most popular sports and made it even better by throwing in some of Nintendo's most popular characters, 5-a-side teams and well and truly throwing out the rulebook! What's more now it is available on Wii! The innovative Wii Remote, will allow players to immerse themselves deep into the action translating real movement into on-screen action.

Mario Strikers: Charged Football is different from the average football game and is even more exciting and engaging than ever before, with a strong emphasis on each team's captain. These star players each have unique abilities and enhanced skills, which allow them to really influence the outcome of a game. The team captains all feature a Super Ability which can be used to devastate their opponents, ranging from Mario growing to giant proportions and trampling other players, to Peach taking a photo and freezing the entire opposing team on the spot. Tactical use of these super abilities can break down even the most stubborn defence. To top this off, in Mario Strikers: Charged Football players can choose 3 side-kicks (from a total of 8) who each have their own unique features which allows for tactical team customisation.

The Wii Remote brings a dynamic new element to Mario Strikers: Charged Football, encouraging the player to make instinctive physical movements to achieve the desired effect within the game. Basic movement and strikes are executed using the analogue stick and buttons on the Wii Remote and nunchuk, but when the pressure is on, players can use their instinctive movements to affect the gameplay. Flicking the Wii remote will cause the character to check their opponent, hopefully stealing the ball in the process. Players can also use the Wii remote to perform cat-like saves, defending their goal from Megastrikes by grabbing the balls out of the air.

In Mario Strikers: Charged Football the sense of fair play is thrown out the window along with the rulebook. Fouled players get special treats with which to avenge themselves, ranging from Red Spiky Shells, which knock everything out of their path, to the Chain Chomp that chases players from the opposing team around the pitch.

One of the many modes this game features is the multiplayer mode which can see up to four players in any one game (players must split between two teams). Players can also utilise Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Service to take on players from across the globe! Multiplayer modes include Ranked mode where players can compete to climb up leaderboards and Unranked mode where they can quickly select and play friends.

The game's main mode, Road to the Striker Cup, pits players against increasingly difficult opposition as they compete to win three different cups. For quicker pick-up and play action the game's Domination Mode allows players to set-up a game to suit them, defining the rules as well as selecting stadium and cheats. With an in-depth main mode and a plethora of extra features you won't take your eye off the ball in Mario Strikers: Charged Football. There is a wide and varied choice of 17 stadiums in which to defend your crown. Many of them have varying features and characteristics to put you off your game and challenge you to even greater heights.

With its fun and tactile controls, online multiplayer gaming and addictive gameplay, Mario Strikers looks certain to score when it launches across Europe on Wii on the 25th May 2007 for the estimated retail price of around 50 Euros ( 35 in the UK).

Wii console is available at the estimated retail price of around 249 (approximately 179 in the UK) and comes bundled with Wii Sports.

Click onto www.Wii.com for all of the most up to date official information on Wii.

- ends -

For further information please contact the Nintendo Press Office on 0207 307 3103 or email kim.shaw@cakegroup.com / kirsty@cakegroup.com / ben@cakegroup.com or matt@cakegroup.com

*Mario Strikers Charged Football is the first online Wii title to be released in the Western Hemisphere.

About Wii
Nintendo's new system, Wii, will feature a controller designed to be used with either one hand or two - a first in the video game industry. When picked up and pointed at the screen, the controller gives a lightning-quick element of interaction, sensing motion, depth, positioning and targeting dictated by movement of the controller itself.

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection - FREE, SIMPLE & SAFE

The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service launched globally in November 2005 and to date has a staggering 3.5 million unique users and over 100 million online gameplay connections. . The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service allows you to play games over the Internet, wirelessly, at home or at a public Wi-Fi (wireless internet) hotspot provided by (territories to insert provider details), using a Nintendo DS and a Nintendo Wi-Fi compatible Nintendo DS software.

The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service is free* - there are no fees or subscriptions to pay (usual broadband line rental costs apply when accessing the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection at home). It's simple to use - you simply turn it on and select Wi-Fi. There are no complicated menu screens or confusing instructions to follow. It's safe for everyone - you currently do not have direct communication with other players when playing anonymously and therefore personal details or inappropriate comments can't be exchanged. For further information on Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection service visit www.nintendowifi.com

About Nintendo
The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii , Nintendo DS , Game Boy Advance and Nintendo GameCube systems. Since 1983, Nintendo has sold nearly 2.2 billion video games and more than 387 million hardware units globally, and has created industry icons like Mario , Donkey Kong , Metroid , Zelda and Pok mon . As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Grossostheim, Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in Europe.

Nintendo reports that the Wii is spurring some promotions within Nintendo. Fanboy idol Reginald "Reggie" Fils-Aime is the new president of Nintendo of America, with Tatsumi Kimishima moving on to a CEO and chairman-of-the-board position. Says current Nintendo president Satoru Iwata:

With the upcoming introduction of Wii, along with the strength of this new leadership team and strong executives already in place, Nintendo will continue to dramatically change the way consumers of all ages interact with their video game console on a daily basis.

The orc-like Fils-Aime has been with Nintendo a mere three years, and will continue to oversee his current sales and marketing divisions, as well as day-to-day Nintendo operations, with an iron fist. Many congratulations, Reginald. May you crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their wiimen. Eliza Gauger