We've gotten tips from a reader as well as Network 23, so far the only ones to post a picture of their delivery boy. All scenarios played out this way: Speedy Brothers showed up, asked the recipient to sign for a package, and then left behind a box wrapped in brown paper and string.

What was inside the box? A splicer mask.

The masks appear to vary. Reader Kevin L. received that one above. Network 23's (below) looks like a standard thuggish splicer mask.

The mask was accompanied by this letter:

Dear Friend:

Phil Isidore (of N.U.F.O.S.) has vouched that you are a trustworthy individual. Please - closely guard the contents of this package. I have sent it direct via courier out of concern that gov't personnel or unknown individuals may attempt to intercept it.

As you may know, I have been investigating anomalous phenomena related to the disappearence of my daughter. In the past, you've provided information that has helped my research. Now I need your input in a matter of utmost urgency.

I discovered the enclosed item in basement workshop owned by Orrin Oscar Lutwidge. I am desperately trying to uncover more regarding it's origin, manufacture, etc. Please examine it and let me know what you make of it.

Any information could help me find my daughter.

Thanks,

Mark Meltzer

I think this concludes 2K Games' masterfully executed roleplay marketing. I have no idea how many of these were delivered - for such personal service, it can't be that many, but who knows? I'd love to know if anyone puts these items up on eBay anytime soon. There's no way I'd part with one, were it mine.

Bioshock 2 Telegram: Part Two [Network 23]

That telegram above was sent to reader Andrew B., and also to three friends who comprise the Network 23 blog. If you can't read that, the text says:

ISIDORE VOUCHES THAT YOU ARE TRUSTWORTHY BE ON LOOK-OUT FOR A PACKAGE FURTHER EXPLANATION FORTHCOMING YOUR HELP URGENTLY NEEDED

=MARK G MELTZER=

Now, here's where the mystery begins. Why them, exactly? I spoke to Network 23's Colt Gauvreau, who said it may have something to do with the Rapture Record that all of them figured out how to order from the BioShock 2 hype site (and which Totilo received back in July.) Long story short, the Network 23 guys deduced that the site was strongly hinting that they should write to a P.O. Box - the same shown on this letter. That letter also wink-nudge asked people to submit pictures of the beach events. So it appears the records and/or the telegrams are premiums for accomplishing one, the other, or both.

A wife of one of Network 23's guys managed to snap a picture of the delivery boy:

After verifying the recipient's name and delivering the telegram, the messenger "jumped on his Pee Wee Herman-looking bike and rode away."

What does all this mean? What package may they expect to receive? Do we all get one if we hurriedly write a pretty-please to that P.O. Box?

Bioshock 2 Telegram [Network 23]

The website is pretty straightforward. Choose a clip, upload a photo of your face, wait while the site does its internet magic, and presto! An embeddable video of Street Fighters battling it out with your horribly stretched face plastered over their own, no doubt silently screaming behind their hideous masks.

Actually it doesn't do too bad of a job, especially considering the poor quality of the images I used for myself and my opponent. Check out the clip below to see the results of my handiwork, with bonus points awarded to anyone who can make out who I chose as my opponent.

My Fist Your Face [Capcom]

Mirror's Edge Wanted Poster [On Mirror's Edge Forums - thanks, Andrew!]

Here's some useful tips for getting all this to work:

• Go to gearsofwar.xbox.com/lastday/
• After the age gate and the flash site loads, click the cog icon at the bottom of the log in screen to activate the code entry.
• The code is: 617461-ZMTDP-EL
• After that's entered, you can explore by clicking on the blue bars that radiate up on each side.
• Look for things to click on in the screen after that.

And here's a picture of the COG that spread us this virtual viral swag:

By the way, we've gotten tips to a ton of leaked multiplayer footage, I'm compiling all that and posting it soon.

Every Tag Tells a Tale [Breaking the Game]

These are part of a series of videos (one above, two more on the jump that have been posted as replies to other videos on YouTube, in some cases unrelated, so there's your viral aspect. The uploaders, RedWhiteBlueAlert and ThrowingStarz both joined in the past week, so, likely viral. And remember that Battlefield: Bad Company, also an EA title, took a few swings at its competition too.

And here's another one from Suki (Kelly Hu), posted as a response to a Star Trek vid. Actually, she's got others up in which she hates horror (Left 4 Dead) and expansion packs (you name it). She also likes "impressive creatures" which is probably carrying water for Spore.

Red Alert 3 Disses SC2 [sc2Pod]

And it's quite possible that this is viral marketing for the upcoming title (out in June), if not the movie (this week). They roll this sucker in San Francisco, and LucasArts is around the block in the Presidio. Five million Legos is not something you buy or assemble that quick — if it is a solid 5 mil Legos. I don't really see them flaking off as it tumbles, so it may be a bunch of big pieces- parts made by Lego and assembled by this team. Also, it's S.F. in the middle of the day, no moving cars in the shot, very few parked, so they probably got a filming permit. And the big flatbed truck too ... good bet this is marketing.

But it's clever, and I admire any creative impulse that gets you to roll a Lego boulder down a big hill into a parked van. Plus it has a guy dressed as Sallah, and fezzes are awesome. But if this was Boston, they'd all be arrested for terrorism.

LEGO Boulder [YouTube, thanks cashius22]

The GTA IV poster also features an e-mail address and web site for the Liberty City Police Department. While the site isn't currently up, the e-mail auto responder is. The response is after the jump.

Keepin' it classy, as expected, Rockstar.

Thanks for the photo, Chris!

Emails are coming from all over about an apparent Halo 3 Viral marketing campaign. Instead of keeping their virulent paws to the internet, this time they are taking it to the streets as well. Folks are being accosted on the streets by people with signs and flyers regarding an ancient alien race. The people carrying these signs are wearing t-shirts with a glyph that has appeared on a Halo 3 email from Microsoft and posted to the Halo 3 forums by administrator Adjutant Reflex as his avatar.

MTV's Game Drop got a first hand experience with this right out in front of their offices in Time Square where members of S.O.T.A (Society of the Ancients) were busy littering the NYC streets with flyers and eating soft pretzels. When questioned, the members seemed to know nothing of Halo 3, but were more interested in talking about invaders from space. Not too far fetched for Times Square, but similar acolytes were been spotted by Kotakuite Adam K. in Vancouver, BC. My guess is that there are more of this same ilk in other big cities around the country. Going to the URl printed on the bottom of the flyer, SocietyoftheAncients.com, takes you to a bizarre website with pictures of crop circles and Stonehenge, looking like something you might see featured on "In search of..." with Leonard Nimoy.

But, is this really the best way to promote a game? People on the streets will think they are just another group of crazies and players who are into Halo enough to recognize it as a marketing campaign are going to buy the game anyway. So who is the target audience for something like this?

I have posted Adam's copy of the flyer after the jump, but GameDrop has the full details including photos of the flyer passers and comparisons of the mysterious glyph from several different sources. Go see it for yourself and unravel the "mystery." Flynn De Marco

"This Will Be A Good Place to Begin." Halo 3 Viral Marketing? [GameDrop]

But did you know that Nintendo also targeted "alpha moms", tech-savvy mothers with the social skills and connections to show off the console at Tupperware-style parties? Alpha mom and gaming MILF Linda Perry held a swank shindig to promote the console to 35 of her closest friends, planting the mindshare seed in a few dozen non-gamers.

We all know that that's Nintendo's goal this gen—target the non-hardcore crowd while keeping the traditional gamer happy. From mom's to the silver haired retired set, read on for how Nintendo is doing their version of viral marketing, eschewing the fake hip hop/blog scheme and hitting up AARP conventions to push their wares. Michael McWhertor

'Alpha Moms' pitch Nintendo Wii [LA Times]

Oftentimes, internet detectives work out the relationship themselves. In the case of the I Love Bees campaign, those plodding through the Halo 2-based alternate reality game courtesy of 42 Entertainment and Microsoft were well aware of the relationship and seemingly quite enjoyed being marketed to.

However, when viral marketing goes horribly wrong, it can lead to backlash, say in the case of Sony's very recent attempt to shill PSPs via YouTube and embarrasingly composed blogs, or Sony's former attempt to shill PSPs with edgy street grafitti.

Let's hope this move cuts down on the lame attempts to covertly market to us so we can tell the authentic shitty YouTube videos from the fake shitty YouTube videos. Michael McWhertor

FTC Moves to Unmask Word-of-Mouth Marketing

"Oh my god! I just saw Mission Impossible 3! AMAZING! Best action movie I've ever seen! SUPER ARTISTIC! Sooo not your everyday cheesy action flick. You gotta see this movie! Acting, story, special effects, fabulous. EVerything fabulous. I love this movie!"
Now, I realize I likely have no power here to do anything. I don't even know if this was MS-approved (although since MI3 stuff has been all over XBL Marketplace lately, it wouldn't surprise me). However, it seems a little strange that I pay for XBL and I'm still getting ads. If this really is MS approved, I have a feeling we're in for some clogged message inboxes down the road. Keep the ads from the crappy box-office disappointments off of my pay service!

Our ornery shopaholic and consumer watchdog, The Consumerist did a piece looking into whether or not NVIDIA employed people to make accounts on various forums and promote NVIDIA products after building rep at said forums. The Consumerist contacted NVIDIA and were met with silence. Keep your eyes on this one, it's getting hot.

Did NVIDIA Hire Online Actors to Promote Their Products? [The Consumerist]