Why did we rush out on to retailers on Black Friday again? This holiday season the retailers are dishing the deals all December long, and Target is no exception. Starting Sunday the 13th, the more sophisticated version of Walmart has bargains too ridiculous to pass up, unless of course you already got your holiday shopping done *grumbles*.

Purchasing a Nintendo Wii or DSi from Target next week will earn you a $30 or $10 Target gift card, good towards the purchase of anything Target carries. Buy a slightly older Wii game, or just stock up on Choxie-brand chocolate goodness. Yes, I am plugging Choxie. I would fill my bathtub with Choxie products if I had the means, and then I'd get all upset because I forgot to clean it out first. Mmmm, chocolate raspberry soap-scum truffles.

The Nintendo love extends to select Nintendo DS games as well, with The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and more discounted to $25 a pop. No more putting off picking up the Jonas Brothers game for you, my friends.

Finally,Target is cutting prices drastically on games bundled with plastic controllers. Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero World Tour, DJ Hero and Tony Hawk Ride are all dropping to $88, which is a substantial savings, yet still far too much to pay for Tony Hawk Ride.

Oh, and they have Archer Farms stuff too. I could kill for a bag of apple pie trail mix right about now. What were we talking about again?

Pearl Jam reinvents themselves a bit in Backspacer, their 9th studio album, due out in stores on September 20th. As reported previously, the entire album will be up on the Rock Band Music Store for the Xbox 360 on the same day it hits stores, with the Wii version available on the 22nd and PlayStation 3 owners getting theirs on Thursday the 24th. PS3 and 360 owners can alternately purchase a special version of the CD at Target that comes with a voucher to download the Rock Band tracks.

Aside from Backspacer, there's not much happening in the world of Rock Band next week, aside from two new tracks for Rock Band Unplugged - Megadeth's "Wake Up Dead" and The Fratellis' "Flat Head."

I've yet to purchase a full album for Rock Band. Could Backspacer be the one?

Sure it's blurry and only a partial picture of the full page, but the information in this picture coincides with the information we've seen previously in rumored ads from both Wal-Mart and Toys R Us, sharing the exact date with the latter.

This latest ad also fuels our suspicions that Nintendo will make a big price drop announcement during the Tokyo Game Show next week, despite the fact that the company does not have an official presence at the show.

A price drop to $199 for the Wii would effectively place Nintendo back at the lower end of the console spectrum in the face of recent price drops for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

We've contacted Nintendo of America for comment and are awaiting a response.

Update: Nintendo's response, as expected, was that "Nintendo does not comment on rumors and speculation."

Pearl Jam is releasing their 9th album without any major record label assistance on September 20th, but they've got a pretty strong support system in place, which includes Harmonix, MTV Games, and Target. The entire album will be available on Rock Band on the same day the album hits store shelves, with Target offering a special edition that comes with codes to download the tracks for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Those tracks include "The Fixer", a song that I'd be hard-pressed to place with a band had I not already known it was Pearl Jam. Nice to see the band changing things up, though I still firmly believe that lead singer Vedder has the craziest eyes in entertainment history.

Pearl Jam: 'Back' To The Future [Billboard via Rock Band DLC Twitter]

Over the past year, Target has instituted a new pre-order program and negotiated several exclusive video game premiums, including an entire mountain in Ubisoft's Shaun White Snowboarding. Now they take things to the next level with the Bullseye Lounge, a place where E3 attendees can relax and eat free food. Oh, and they'll be showing off some games in there as well, but that's beside the point.

"Time and time again, the Electronic Entertainment Expo has proved to be the epicenter of the video game world," said Mark Schindele, senior vice president, Target. "Events like E3 allow us to collaborate with our publishing partners to highlight key titles as well as get a look at the best video game products for the future."

Yes, yes, game products. Target will be providing food from their Archer Farms line of premium comestibles. If they throw in a little Choxie and have a good wireless signal you'll know where to find me between June 2nd and June 4th this year.

Here's how the new Target reservation program works. First, you pay $1 to receive a collectible reservation card, featuring the logo of the game you wish to reserve. Upon the game's release, you bring in your reservation card, pay for the game, and get a $5 Target gift card for your trouble. In effect, reserving a game at Target puts you either $5 or $4 ahead of most retailers, depending on whether or not the initial $1 is taken off the game's price or simply used to secure the reservation.

Unfortunately the final fate of that initial $1 fee is still in question. We've contacted Target for comment, and expect a call back later today. If the $1 is towards the purchase, then getting a game for regular price plus a $5 gift card is a pretty good deal. If not, you'd be paying an extra $1 for the game. It would still put you $4 up, but you'd be limited to spending the extra at Target.

The first batch of games to utilize the new program includes Punch Out!!, EA Sports Active, Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, and UFC 2009 Undisputed.

Update: Target has confirmed that the initial $1 reserves the game but does not count towards the game's purchase. This means you will be paying $1 for the collectible reservation card, then paying full price for the game when you pick it up, receiving a $5 gift card as long as the game is purchased within seven days of release. Still not a bad deal, but that $5 gift card might as well be a $4 one.

Target stores across the country are currently receiving, sitting on, or awaiting stock of a new 80GB PlayStation 3 Greatest Hits Bundle, which comes complete with the reissued budget versions of the original Motorstorm and Resistance. The sku number in question is 207-23-0009, originally revealed over at Joystiq. Several stores we contacted actually had the units in stock, but when they attempted to actually ring them through the register they received a warning that the product could not be sold until March 29th, days over the close of next week's Game Developers Conference.

Perhaps dashing the hopes of a pre-GDC price cut, the new bundles were priced the same as the standard 80GB PlayStation 3 - $399.99. Of course it's technically $60 due to the inclusion of two $30 titles, but do you really need those when two superior sequels are already on store shelves?

Image courtesy of Joystiq

The titles are all selling for $40 and coincidentally include Call of Duty World at War, which Gamasutra recently pointed out was getting a price drop to $50 from Activision.

The sale starts on Sunday for Call of Duty: World at War, Shaun White Snowboarding, Madden 09, Animal Crossing, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and Midnight Club.

On top of that, and that rumored Black Friday sales circular we posted, Target will be offering a free $5 to $10 gift card with the purchase of Rock Band 2, Fable 2, Left 4 Dead and Star Wars The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels.

What's so exclusive about it? It's not just the Target branding on the box art. The "Target Limited Edition" will offer including an exclusive mountain, cleverly dubbed Target Mountain. If you want to look at Target logos, this is the only game in town. According to the release the Target Limited Edition of Shaun White's Snowboarding will also feature "exclusive jibs, additional scenes and more characters."

I don't know what a jib is, but the fact that I can "cozy up in the game’s virtual version of the Target Chalet, the real-life mountainside home where Shaun and his fellow Target athletes hang out with friends and family at the annual Winter X Games in Aspen" just sold me on a copy of whatever else.

I estimate this year that you'll see EA enter this space for some of their games, and a few other big names are absolutely interested. In fact we're in final negotiations with a couple of recognizable names.

We tend to estimate the size of the total pre-paid gaming card business when we do our numbers, and this year we're looking to something between $75-100 million dollars in sales across North America. We see that going to $250-300million in 2009 and being in the region of a half-billion by 2010.

We see this market growing dramatically in the next two to five years.

The whole interview is an interesting look at how the industry deals with retailers via middlemen like GMG; it also points to the popularity of these models that many 'serious' gamers tend to ignore.

“Shaun has been riding for Target for nearly seven years, so this exclusive version of Shaun White Snowboarding was a natural fit for our relationship with him,” said Troy Michels, Target Lifestyle Marketing. “It’s great to see the Target brand brought to life alongside Shaun in the game and we’re confident that Target guests and gamers will be eager to see what has come from our collaboration in the Target edition of Shaun White Snowboarding.”

Lovely! I see no problem with this whatsoever. In fact, I would probably be more up to buying Splinter Cell: Conviction if they place an entire level inside a McDonald's Playland. "There were plastic balls everywhere and blood...so much blood." The very notion fills me with such glee. Glee!

Target To Offer Special Edition Of Ubisoft®’s Shaun White Snowboarding Video Game Exclusive Version of the Highly Anticipated Action Sports Game Hits Shelves This Winter

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Oct. 8, 2008

Snowboarding phenomenon and Target athlete Shaun White will be riding his way into Target stores this Winter with an exclusive edition of Ubisoft’s newest action sports title, Shaun White Snowboarding.

The special Target edition of the game, available on Xbox 360®, PLAYSTATION®3 and Wii™, will have exclusive extended content and features that consumers won’t be able to find anywhere else, including the Target Mountain – an entire mountain environment found only in the Target exclusive edition. Gamers will also be able to take advantage of exclusive jibs, additional scenes and more characters. Additionally, players will be able to cozy up in the game’s virtual version of the Target Chalet, the real-life mountainside home where Shaun and his fellow Target athletes hang out with friends and family at the annual Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado. Among other exclusive features, the Target Chalet is the only indoor environment anywhere in the game.

Target guests are now able to purchase a $5 pre-sell card to ensure they’ll be shredding the mountain as soon as the exclusive version hits shelves.

“Shaun has been riding for Target for nearly seven years, so this exclusive version of Shaun White Snowboarding was a natural fit for our relationship with him,” said Troy Michels, Target Lifestyle Marketing. “It’s great to see the Target brand brought to life alongside Shaun in the game and we’re confident that Target guests and gamers will be eager to see what has come from our collaboration in the Target edition of Shaun White Snowboarding.”

Shaun White is an Olympic Gold Medalist and has 42 professional wins, including seven Winter X Games gold medals. He was also the first athlete to win gold medals in Winter and Summer X Games in unique disciplines. White has collaborated with Ubisoft’s award-winning development team to create Shaun White Snowboarding. The game features open-world mountains across the globe, where players are free to define their own experiences, and express themselves through tricks, unique riding styles, and highly customizable avatars. Players can also hang out with their friends and have fun off the board by throwing snowballs, hiking to access secret spots, and filming their friends doing tricks.

“I’ve had a blast working with the Ubisoft developers, and we’ve created a game that’s really different from any other action sports game,” said White. “I think it really captures my style, and I can’t wait to see what Target guests think of the extra features we’ve made just for them.”

For more information about Shaun White Snowboarding, please visit www.shaunwhitegame.com.

Xbox 360 60GB already out at Target [Penny College via Gizmodo]

Xbox 360 Pro Hardware [Target - thanks, jump4816!]

According to the Circuit City employee focus newsletter people who buy the $300 Xbox 360 will get a free $30 gift card and a copy of Athlon Magazine. The catch? It's a doozie, you also need to buy a copy of NCAA Football 09. Boooooooo!

Update - We originally thought this was a Target Ad, but have since confirmed it is indeed Circuit City. Sorry for the confusion.

“I love video games and actually have versions of Guitar Hero that I play on my bus and at home. To have Target, Activision and Aerosmith on my car for the New Hampshire race is pretty cool,” said Franchitti. “Who doesn’t love Aerosmith’s music? It’s perfect for getting ready for the side-by-side, non-stop action of NASCAR racing.”

In addition to the co-branded race car, Target stores will also be selling a special Wii bundle for GH: Aerosmith that includes 2 wireless controllers and a tour book for $149.99. You might as well just buy the damn game before Activision starts marketing on you. Believe me, it's extremely difficult to breathe in a full vinyl wraparound.

Target and Activision Partner with Chip Ganassi Racing to Feature Guitar Hero: Aerosmith on No. 40 Dodge
Wrapped Car Will Run in New Hampshire NASCAR Race on June 29; Target to Offer Exclusive Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Wii Bundle

CONCORD, N.C.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced today it has partnered with Activision and its long-time sponsor Target® to feature the latest version of the Guitar Hero® series, Guitar Hero®: Aerosmith®, on Dario Franchitti’s No. 40 Dodge in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) on June 29.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, which will be released June 29, is the latest installment from the Activision franchise that was the top-selling video game in 2007. The game puts players in the shoes of Joe Perry (guitar), Brad Whitford (guitar) and Tom Hamilton (bass), as they rock out alongside front man Steven Tyler and drummer Joey Kramer. Gamers will experience Aerosmith’s GRAMMY® winning career, from their first gig to becoming rock royalty while jamming to the band’s top songs.

With the launch of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, Target stores will carry an exclusive bundle for Nintendo’s Wii that includes the game, two wireless guitar controllers and a tour book. The ultimate rock experience, whether cooperatively or head-to-head, can be had right out of the box on June 29 for $149.99.

“The marriage of Nintendo Wii and Guitar Hero makes a lot of sense for the Target guest,” said Steve Eastman, Vice President, Target. “The music of Aerosmith bridges generations, just as the Wii has done. Everyone in the family can share that experience with this bundle.”

Franchitti will be making his debut in the Sprint Cup Series at New Hampshire in the fading yellow to red Target/Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Dodge. The 2007 IndyCar champion has eight starts this season in his rookie campaign in the Cup Series and currently sits 39th in the 2008 point standings.

“We’re very excited to have Guitar Hero bring together two great American traditions, rock ‘n’ roll Aerosmith style, and NASCAR racing,” said Dusty Welch, head of publishing Activision/RedOctane. “Fans at the event will get a double treat, watching their favorite drivers race and competing for a chance to face off against one of them on Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.”

The Guitar Hero consumer bus will be parked in the display area behind the main grandstands at NHMS all weekend for fans to take a sneak peak at the game and try their hands as a guitarist from Aerosmith. Franchitti and Target driver Reed Sorenson will make an appearance at the bus on Sunday to showcase their talents on the guitar before strapping into their Dodges for the 301-lap race.

“I love video games and actually have versions of Guitar Hero that I play on my bus and at home. To have Target, Activision and Aerosmith on my car for the New Hampshire race is pretty cool,” said Franchitti. “Who doesn’t love Aerosmith’s music? It’s perfect for getting ready for the side-by-side, non-stop action of NASCAR racing.”

Target knows, the ad says, that you're spending all of your time playing GTA, but don't forget Mother's Day. That's right: GTA and Mother's Day in the same sentence. Classy.

[EGP T-shirts] sold slightly less then what Target views as good enough to keep in store. But [the distributors] are going to try the line out at places like Hot Topic and Urban Outfitters in the coming months. We will see how it goes.