TheSpunker - by Ben Popken. Published by Gattaca, Inc.

Alternate Reality Gaming

From the Hanasiana blog: Jim Hanasiana wrote, "a story about so-called alternate reality games (ARGs) for the January issue of Creativity, which is out now. For the uninitiated, ARGs are complex, narrative games that start online but usually spill out into emails, instant messages, films, faxed message, phone calls, and live events. So far, most of the high-profile games have been sponsored by marketers, from Warner Bros.—which sponsored the seminal ARG “The Beast” to promote the movie AI—to Audi, which sponsored last year’s “The Art of the Heist.” People [Jim] interviewed for the piece include Sean Stewart, the sci-fi writer who is part of the team at 42 Entertainment that created “The Beast,” “I Love Bees” (for Microsoft’s Halo 2), and “Last Call Poker” (for Activision’s Gun); Steve Wax and Mike Monello of Campfire, who developed “The Art of the Heist” with ad agency McKinney + Silver; and Steve Peters, founder of the Alternate Reality Gaming Network (ARGN). [Jim thinks] ARGs are interesting, not just as someone who covers advertising, but as a writer. When the novel goes, what then? What’s next for storytelling? Stewart, who is the author of eight novels and winner of the 2000 World Fantasy Award, had this to say when [Jim] asked him to compare working on novels to working on games:

Right now, this art form is more exciting than novels. If I had to choose, I’d do this, and I don’t say that because of the paycheck. I honestly believe that the gods, in their infinite mercy, looked down and gave me a chance to be at Kitty Hawk, to be in motion pictures in 1905, to be at a place and a moment in time where something extraordinarily exciting was just getting off the ground.

The full article is here, but requires a subscription. If you already subscribe, or receive Creativity, check it out. Interestingly (or perhaps ominously), the new ARG on the block—Methargo (which appears to be unsponsored)—revolves around a mysterious “new marketing” firm where the employees are dropping like flies."

Incidentally, none of the adcritic.com logins at bugmenot.com work - - something somebody nice somewhere should rectify...

The Fable of PSP

PSP: It's like cheese you can listen to outside. Video. Also, there's one with squirrels. You can go here to see Mexican hairballs and some other versions but I don't think they're as good. Credits - Director: Monkmus. Animators: Dan Abdo, Jason Patterson, Masako Miyazaki. Creative Director: Jerry Gentile. Copywriter: Patrick Almaguer. Art Director: Blake Kidder. Sound Design: Neil Uchitel / Slappo. Agency: TBWA/Chiat/Day

Space Invader Sneakers

Put ink on these Space Invaders sneakers and tag while you walk. Replace invader with logo of your choice for unique branding opportunity. Cool animated gif after the jump.

PSP Graffiti Backlash

The streetwork commissioned by Sony for PSP has some graffiti kids outraged, prompting them to cover the works with stickers saying "say no to corporate vandalism" and in San Frans to add "Advertising directed at your counter-culture," "Get out of my city," and changing Sony to "Fony," reports Wired. As we all know, legitimate street art only contains high-contrast pictures of George Bush coupled with shocking non-sequitors.

HYPE.SE. Hardcore Gamers Only

"HYPE.SE. Hardcore Gamers Only." Rockin' ad for hype.se, some kind of ikealand gamers site. Pretty good stuff for this level of online venture. See also Breakout and Space Invaders. Via Reklamfeber. Agency: Forsman& Bedenfors, Sweden

Prince of Persia Training

Maverick's viral vid for Prince of Persia reaches its dramatic third act. A live-action hefty bloke learns how to play, for reals. Wall-climbing + blood + fat guy = comedy. Lauded director Phil Trail directed the films.

Advergaming: Post All Bills

Advergaming. It's going on. Yup. For some people, this is incredibly exciting and just for them, here is a billboard found in the Matrix Online game by Billboardom. Funny. There should be a phone number in it, however.

PotatoHead People PS2 Ad

Whoa! Sony PS2 ad by TBWA, Paris. Strange and awesome. Not sure how new these are. Definitely related to the '04 CDA Palm 3rd prize winning print campaign. You can see that one here. Spotted at Adverbox.

XBOX Viral

In the midst of flu and cold time, Microsoft has been sending out its own viral spores for Xbox. The pictured sign, "Hex168," has shown up around the country and on college football fields. An email from "Lutz," with various pictures of the deed attached, circulated amongst the press that read: "I will bring them together to witness the New Beginning before the rest of the world. And I will reward them with a physical manifestation of the power of this sign... At noon on October 18, the true purpose of the sign will be revealed, and the truly committed will have their chance to experience the New Beginning before the rest of the world." The pictures were also posted to various gaming geek forums. Whee! On the hex168 website a headline reads "HEX ALERT: E-SEER PREFERS YETIS' which could be an anagram of  "Free: Three-Sixty Prereleases!" (or something similar). So its all some ballyhoo to get free Xbox360's somehow. There's also discussions about the secret meaning here here and everywhere. The revelation will happen tomorrow, Oct. 18, at noon. They should've done a better job of making the viral look more organic. Like actually make the symbol all over the place and let people find it and post about it on its own.  Kinda cool, kinda lame, just like their Origen website business. UPDATE: The site is operational now. It's basically a variation on "Am I Hot Or Not" except its "Am I Hex or Not." Users are supposed to upload hex168 photos, which are photos showing things in groups of 1, 6 or 30, or photos that shows the Hex168 sign. Yes, these are signs the world is ending, but not quite in the way the site designers envisioned...

Hot PSP Spot

Dope PSP spot introducing "The Icon." It's difficult to discern from the photo, but pictured are two abstract conlgoms of the PSP icons duking it out. They perform other tricks as well. Sick sick sick. Creative forces behind it: RSA, TBWA and The Mill. (via Boardsmag)