It's part sweepstakes, part instant win game as Pizza Hut signs on with EA to promote the latest entry in their boxing franchise, due out June 30th for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Players can enter the sweepstakes once per day for a chance to win a trip for two to Las Vegas to watch a championship fight in person, so you can compare the real thing to the fake thing. Perhaps of greater interest to our readers, however, is the instant win portion of the contest, where they'll be giving away 10 limited-edition Fight Night 4 Xbox 360 consoles, and 200 copies of the 360 version of the game.

Entering the sweepstakes takes you to the instant win game, where you must click on a punching bag to see if you win. I didn't, which means the chances that you will just got that much better. Good luck!

Update: EA Sports passed along a couple of pictures of the consoles for us, and damn if they don't look worth entering a contest for.

Rumble in the Ring Sweepstakes [Pizza Hut]

Microsoft is doing up Discovery's crap-fishing television series big across all of its various networks, including MSN, MSN Mobile, Hotmail, and of course, Xbox Live. The promotion, which started on April 10th and ends tomorrow at Midnight, has players texting special mobile phone numbers for a chance to be one of 5,000 winners of 2 million Microsoft points. The codes can be found either through video clips accessible via Xbox Live ads, or through in-game advertisements in certain Xbox 360 games, including Madden NFL 09, Need for Speed: Undercover, Battlefield: Bad Company, Mercenaries 2, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2, Shaun White Snowboarding, Skate2, and NHL 09.

The best part of the promotion is not actually having to watch The Deadliest Catch to participate. Not that it is a bad show...it's just one of those trap programs you cannot tear yourself away from no matter how hard you try. I've spent many a weekend afternoon watching countless hours of crab fishing, and I don't even eat seafood. That's too much power for one show to have.

The famed fried chicken franchise will be plastering stores, radios, and televisions with advertisement's promoting the video game, which is based off of an animated cartoon featuring the voice of Samuel L. Jackson. Restaurant customers will be able to participate in the Afro Samurai Enter-to-Win Sweepstakes, with a $7,500 grand prize up for grabs, as well as an Afro Samurai iPod.

The press release from Church's is calling this "advergaming", citing their SoulCalibur IV promotion last year as another example of this. Just figured I'd pass along the news and maybe let Church's PR know that no...this is not "advergaming". This is "advertising" for a game.

Church’s Chicken® Uses “Advergaming” and Text Messaging to Connect with a Cross Section of Urban Young-Adults

Church’s Chicken's New 2009 Promotions Connect Drumsticks and Joysticks

ATLANTA—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Church’s Chicken® begins a new year with interactive promotional initiatives that target the mature, multicultural, urban young-adults with the best of food, video games and mobile technology. Church’s Chicken announces the brand’s promotional partnership with SURGE, a studio and publishing label created by NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. The joint partnership has culminated in the release of Afro Samurai, an animated video game fusing hip-hop overtones with Japanese inspired themes. The brand is also in collaboration with Coca-Cola® on a promotion called Be Heard that uses mobile technology to engage and interact with a younger segment of the brand’s target audience.

Church’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Farnaz Wallace said, “Making sure that marketing campaigns are relevant while resonating with our customer base is vital and always our key ingredient in planning. The urban youth market is the second largest and fastest growing segment in the US and an audience we see emerging as one of our core customers. It just makes sense to reach out to them in non-traditional media platforms where they socialize and play to supplement long-term brand building and recognition within this important group.”

Afro Samurai, which is based on the acclaimed animated series, has a large cult-following. The video game has already gone gold and will be officially released throughout North America on January 27, 2009, for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.

Church’s Chicken, as the exclusive partner for the quick-service restaurant category, will promote the game with the support of national TV and radio advertising on urban young-adult channels and outlets in addition to in-store merchandising. The brand will launch a traffic-driving Afro Samurai Enter-to-Win Sweepstakes on January 26th to capitalize on the heavy Namco advertising campaign breaking behind the video game launch in late January. For the promotion, Church’s customers will have the chance to win the $7,500 grand prize as well as other prizes including a customized Afro Samurai iPod player, a copy of the game or gaming console.

But Afro Samurai is not the brand’s first foray into “advergaming”. Last year the brand had a successful run with the release of Soulcalibur IV®, yielding approximately 17,300 online sweepstakes entries where nearly 20% of those entries actively requested to receive coupons and promotional information from Church’s. The Soulcalibur IV promotion also increased traffic to Church’s official website by an average of 30% and supplemented an increase in the brand’s value combo sales.

“Gamers are an emerging loyal fan base akin to those of traditional sports like football or basketball. According to the Entertainment Software Association, 65% of American households play computer or video games. We made a strategic decision to be more steadfast in spending time, research and money in targeting to this growing influential segment,” Wallace added.

After conquering the gaming world, Church’s Chicken sets its sights on a mobile campaign to tackle the power of text messaging. The Be Heard promotion, slated for implementation early this year, allows customers to text in a code after answering four simple questions - polling their recent Church’s in-store visit. Once submitted, customers instantly receive a bounce-back coupon for exciting offers. The promotion wets more than the appetite with an opportunity to win $1,000 in cash to be awarded on a weekly basis for the 9-week promotion, and a Be Heard poster featuring artwork by notable visionary Kadir Nelson and an inspirational poem by acclaimed R&B artist Musiq Soulchild.

“With the rapid evolution of social and interactive technology like video games and cell phones, brands will be tested and graded on how their traditional marketing tactics intersect with emerging trends and digital past times. Pioneering new and exciting ways to connect with the younger demographic is ultimately the true testament to a brand’s insight, marketing dexterity and creative shelf-life. Our loyal fans can expect us to deliver more value-driven promotions, whether through traditional or new media, that successfully connects and effectively resonates with them in the near future,” says Church’s Director of Marketing Services and Communication, Jennie Hong.

While Church’s marketing recipe for success is going digital in 2009, the chicken chain will still continue to focus on new product introductions and innovative marketing initiatives that connect fresh consumer trends with the brand’s proven tradition of positive sales and sustainable success.

Finally, on Saturday the 30th from 10:00PM to 1:00AM GMT, players will be able to jam online with the folks from Neversoft, from the Producer on down to the QA testers. Hit the jump for the full list of Neversoft friends to add to your list, as well as more details on how you can participate in the weekend's festivities.

SHRED, DRUM AND WAIL IN GUITAR HERO® WORLD TOUR LIVE WEEKEND ON XBOX LIVE® MARKETPLACE

Prizes to be won in online sweepstakes. Game with the developers in Xbox Live exclusive Guitar Hero World Tour tournaments

Wednesday 19th November/... Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced an exclusive Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network weekend for their smash-hit Guitar Hero® World Tour. Starting November 27, 2008, players 14 years of age or older will be able to participate in a number of exciting online activities to determine who is truly the top Guitar Hero® rocker.

These activities include:
• Xbox All Nighter – Thursday, 11/27, from dusk until dawn
• Play & Win Sweepstakes – Friday, 11/28, through Saturday, 11/30
• Game with Developers – Saturday, 11/30 from 10:00pm – 01:00am GMT

Throughout the weekend, guitarist, drummers and vocalists who register and play the Guitar Hero World Tour multiplayer (co-op) session can also win special prizes, such as a Samsung television home theater package, collector’s edition Guitar Hero World Tour drum sticks, 1GB memory sticks and Guitar Hero portable USB/battery powered speakers.

Highlighting the weekend’s activities, on Sunday, November 30 from 10:00pm – 01:00am GMT, virtual musicians will have the opportunity to prove their rock god skills online against none other than Neversoft Entertainment, the creators of Guitar Hero World Tour. For those up for the challenge, be on the look-out for the following development team Gamertags:

• GHDevTina – Producer
• GHDevLee – Associate Producer
• GHDevCorey – Production Coordinator
• GHDevAnthony – Midi Designer
• GHDevChris – Midi Designer
• GHDevJason – Lead Animator
• GHDevZack – Junior Programmer
• GHDevJosh – Jr. Sound Designer
• GHDevKristina – Mocap Supervisor
• GHDevJustin – Mocap Tech
• GHDevAdry – QA Tester
• GHDevBrandon – QA Tester
• GHDevTravisR – QA Tester

More details on registering for Guitar Hero World Tour Xbox LIVE weekend and information regarding terms, conditions, and official rules are available through the official event page: http://www.xbox.com/guitarheroworldtour. Open registration will begin when the site goes live and will end at 04:59am GMT on December 1st, 2008.

The latest installment in the #1 best-selling video game franchise of 2007, Guitar Hero World Tour transforms music gaming by expanding Guitar Hero’s signature guitar gameplay into a cooperative band experience that combines the most advanced wireless controllers with new revolutionary online* and offline gameplay modes including Band Career and 8-player “Battle of the Bands,” which allows two full bands to compete head-to-head online for the first time ever. The game features a slick newly redesigned guitar controller, drum kit controller and a wired microphone, as well as an innovative Music Studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share their own rock ‘n’ roll anthems. Music creators will also be able to share their recordings with their friends online through GHTunes where other gamers can download and play an endless supply of unique creations.

All that, plus a year's worth of pizza. I know. I too was pretty 'meh' until that last bit. There are also several consolation prizes involving GameFly memberships, but in the face of the massive Grand Prize these are laughable at best. Hit the jump for the full details on the prizes while I start clearing some kitchen space for pizza boxes.

Pizza Hut® Offers Gaming Enthusiasts Opportunity to Win Gamer Fantasy Package

DALLAS—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Pizza has long been the food of choice for video game fans and now Pizza Hut, America’s Favorite Pizza, is giving gamers an opportunity to play their favorites in style with the “Gamer Fantasy Package” from Pizza Hut and GameFly.com. Click on Gamer Fantasy Package for details.

Playing three different video-game systems on a big screen plasma TV while enjoying surround sound and free Pizza Hut pizza for a year might sound like a dream, but that prize package will become very real for one lucky winner. And, with the new promotion, everyone who orders online at pizzahut.com will get 30 days of free game rentals from GameFly.com.

“Gamers have always been big fans of Pizza Hut so this sweepstakes is a natural fit,” said Brian Niccol, Pizza Hut CMO. “Your next online order at pizzahut.com could be your ticket to a gaming package that will make you the envy of all your friends.”

Order Online for Your Chance to Win

From May 27 through July 26, customers ordering online at pizzahut.com can enter for their chance to win the “Gamer’s Fantasy Package.” One lucky winner will take home a prize package valued at over $10,000, including a 60” LG Plasma TV, an XBOX 360, Nintendo Wii, and PlayStation3 gaming systems, a Bose Home Theater System, a Berkline home theater seating set and a popcorn machine. GameFly.com will make sure you have plenty of games to play on your new systems with a free one-year subscription, while Pizza Hut will make sure you don’t go hungry with a year’s worth of free pizza. Five first prize winners will receive one-year trial memberships to GameFly.com, while 500 second-prize winners will receive 60 day trial memberships. Official rules and contest details are available at pizzahut.com.

Everyone’s a Winner with a Free Month of GameFly.com

Even if you don’t take home the Gamers Fantasy Package, you can still score big with a free month of GameFly.com when you order online at pizzahut.com. Beginning May 27th, customers placing an online order will receive a code good for 30 days of free game rentals from GameFly.com, a $22.95 value. GameFly.com is your ticket to thousands of your favorite video game titles delivered right to you door.

Sounds like a pretty sweet prize, I just hope that whoever wins this thing will actually go out and do some actual snorkeling between bouts of Endless Ocean. Otherwise it would just be kind of sad.

With all the Bully bruhaha behind us and the controversial game taking a backseat to newer titles, Rockstar has decided to eek out a bit more life out of it by holding a new contest. The Harrington House Fraternal Society Initiation Rites Sweepstakes (damn, that's a mouthful) is fairly simple to enter and if you are one of the five winners, you'll be the recipient of a huge package of Bully branded goodies. The prizes include:

• Cricket bat
• Six Buttons (or badges if you prefer)
• Skateboard deck
• Dodgeball
• Notebook
• Paperweight
• Pencils
• Bullworth Academy rugby jersey
• Slingshot
• Bumper stickers
• Bully T-shirt

That is some pretty sweet swag right there! I just wonder what the initiation rites are? Something tells me it probably involves secretly kissing boys and getting the crap beat out of you with that cricket bat.

You can check out pics of all the available prizes on the sweepstakes entry page. Flynn De Marco

The Harrington House Fraternal Society Initiation Rites Sweepstakes [Rockstar Games - thanks, packratshow]

There not many details as to the size of this hefty prize, but be warned, the rules state that it is the winner's responsibility to pay for taxes and shipping costs. All entries must be received by January 31st for the drawing that will be held sometime around Valentine's Day.

I wonder what the delivery fee for an elf-like Hyrule hero to your front door actually is? Flynn De Marco

Ohhhh Canada, you could win a giant Link [Joystiq]