Rank Up Your Game

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“Rank up Your Game” is an online code-based sweepstakes promotion where fans can enter a code found on specially marked Mountain Dewand Doritosproduct {link no longer active} to earn XP minutes and to enter for a chance to win prizes. To play, go to www.dewxp.com and follow the online directions to sign-in or register. Each time an eligible individual logs onto the Website using their e-mail address and enters a Code, the Participant will automatically receive the amount of XP minutes associated with their Code and will receive one Prize Entry good for one entry into one sweepstakes drawing of their choice. Each time a valid Double XP code is entered, fans will also receive a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Combat Card featuring special content, such as new weapons, characters, maps, perks and strike packages. There are 15 Combat Cards overall (3 individual sets of five cards each) with bonuses for completion of a single set and all three sets. To help spread the word and facilitate trade requests, post the unique URL you see on your combat cards page on Facebook, Twitter, online message boards and even via email. Note: registered users can only request cards they don’t already have. When a trade offer goes through, you will drop the card offered and pick up the card requested.

Your Social Christmas Tree

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Head to the Heineken Social Tree Facebook App {page no longer active} and create your own tree by tagging up to 16 friends and photos and create a custom message and add it to your virtual tree before sharing. Your tree will be activated on the 11 meter high digital installation between the 17-26 of December at Clarke Quay in Singapore. Keep an eye out for the Heineken Super Social Christmas Tree in Clarke Quay, Singapore, from the 17-26 of December. It’s a huge digital art installation that’s over 11 meters tall and stacked with 48 huge LCD screens, that will become perhaps the most social Christmas tree ever created!

3DS Circle Pad Pro Coming To GameStop

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GameStop has announced that the Circle Pad Pro will be available exclusively at the retailer, both in-store and online. It is releasing on February 7, 2012 and it will cost $19.99.

“The Circle Pad Pro is a comfortable cradle that holds the Nintendo 3DS system while adding an analogue Circle Pad on the system’s right side,” read the announcement. “The attachment also adds additional shoulder buttons to give it a feel more akin to traditional console controllers. It is designed as an optional accessory and is compatible with Resident Evil Revelations and Metal Gear Solid 3D Snake Eater.”

Metal Gear Solid Stealth Entry ‘Coming In The Future’

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The announced Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is a massive departure from the stealth roots of the series (thus, the name change away from Metal Gear Solid). Series creator Hideo Kojima has gone on Twitter to assure fans that a traditional stealth entry in the series is probably coming.

“Had same kind of questions @today’s conf. Our ex-RISING also were aiming at feel good action w/ protagonist, Raiden as a Spin-off, not MGS & such concept was shared w/ New RISING by P*,” noted Kojima. “For those of you desire for authentic stealth MGS, I want you to patiently wait for the sequel coming in future.”

Source: Twitter.com

Naughty Dog Talks The Last Of Us As An ‘Experience’

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The Last of Us is the surprise new IPO from Naughty Dog, where a virulent fungus has devastated the human population and left a handful of survivors struggling to survive. The gritty new IP, due out late 2012 or early 2013, is an exception in a world where publishers rely on well known IP.

“The team at Naughty Dog is known for incredible storytelling, and what excites me most about The Last of Us is the potential of a grittier and more mature story,” says Geoff Keighley of Spike’s GameTrailers TV. “If Uncharted is the video-game version of Indiana Jones, The Last of Us has the potential to be a video-game version of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.”

The major theme involves a teenager named Ellie who teams up with Joel, who is “a vicious survivor. When he meets this girl, she is his one chance at redemption,” says Neil Druckmann, the game’s creative director. “That kind of arc has always been intriguing.”

The cordyceps fungus, which infects the brains of ants, was an inspiration because they thought “it would be a cool realistic backsetting to a zombie movie where this thing jumped species,” Druckmann recalls, “not knowing there was going to be another (game) project.”

The potential for the game caused the team to split into two projects for the first time, so after Uncharted 2 shipped, some studio members moved to the Last of Us project, while others worked on Uncharted 3. “We felt if we didn’t expand the roles for people, we could potentially lose them, because they really wanted to be challenged,” says Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells. “We didn’t want to lose that talent.”

“We’re trying to move the medium of video games into an area elevated in the same manner of respect of film,” says Naughty Dog co-president and Christophe Balestra. “We want to redefine what our medium is even called. ‘Video game’ is not an accurate name anymore. It is not necessarily a game with rules and a winner and a loser. It’s an experience.”

Source: USA Today

iOS Dominates In App Revenue Over Android

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New research shows that while Android has more phone activations (550,000 versus 450,000 for iOS), apps on iOS accounts for about 75 percent of new development and revenue. Developer support for Android has waned as well, dropping from 33 percent of all new projects to roughly 25 percent of new projects.

“While the market nearly doubled for both platforms, we believe key events changed the proportion of support between these two platforms,” writes Peter Farago of Flurry. “Of particular note, Apple expanded distribution for iOS devices beyond its long-standing exclusive with AT&T to include Verizon in February and Sprint in October.  Further, the highly successful launches of iPad 2 in February and iPhone 4S in October resulted in increased developer support for Apple.  By contrast, Android does not enjoy a truly recognizable flagship device among its army of OEMs supporting the platform.”

One key difference is believed to be the fact that every iPhone requires that users enter their credit card information for iTunes, creating a more friction-free way to pay. By contrast, Android phones have no such requirement, though they are looking to encourage such information with Google Checkout.

“While exact Google Checkout penetration is unknown, the respective revenue generated by each platform for same apps, provides the morale of the story: Despite installed base numbers and daily activations, the almighty dollar still drives business decision making among application developers. And with the critical holiday season upon us, developers are betting on iOS for Christmas 2011,” concluded Farago.

Source: Flurry

Double Fusion Acquires NeoEdge

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Double Fusion has announced that it has acquired the social and casual in-game advertising company NeoEdge Networks. Double Fusion has also sealed an exclusive sales relationship with Cue Digital Media, which represents UFC.com, Heavy.com, CollegeHumor.com, celebrity news site TMZ.com and FunnyOrDie.com.

“This acquisition highlights our commitment to deliver a complete 360 degree in-game advertising solution for our clients and partners,” said Dan Chambers, Double Fusion’s Head of Sales. “Gaming has become much more than the entertainment of choice for males 18-34.  With the dramatic rise of social and casual gaming, it’s now mainstream and appeals to women as well as Generations X and Y. You can basically find a game to fit every age and demographic.”

“We are excited to add Double Fusion to Cue’s roster of top tier media properties,” commented Cue CEO David U.K. “With Canada’s gaming industry representing $1.7 billion in economic activity in 2011, and with an expected growth rate of 17 percent over the next two years as per ESRB 2011 Canadian Study, there is clearly a massive opportunity for Canadian marketers to reach deeply engaged consumers through in-gaming advertising.”

Kixeye Hires Zynga Marketing Vet

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Kixeye has hired Brandon Barber, most recently co-founded the online sports game developer Lionside and was the first Vice President of Marketing for Zynga before that; prior to that he served as the Sr. Director of Global Online Marketing for Electronic Arts. He will assume the role of senior VP of marketing, where he will help sell the idea of social games in combat and strategy-centered gaming titles.

“In order to continue crushing our competition, we need to bring in the best talent on the planet,” said Will Harbin, CEO of Kixeye. “Brandon fits that description. His track record of innovation, execution and entrepreneurialism will help us up our game as we develop the next generation of mind-blowing online combat games.”

“Kixeye is pushing the limits of what is possible in online gaming. They’ve moved beyond cutesy Facebook games targeting 45 year old housewives to create games that gamers can actually be proud of,” said Barber. “Will and the Kixeye team are showing the world that social games can engage users on a visceral and cerebral level. I look forward to being a part of that.”

Kindle Fire Update Coming

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Amazon says that the Kindle Fire is the most popular device in its history and are rushing to meet demand. They are declining to release particular sales numbers, however, and they are looking to respond to a growing list of customer complaints.

“In less than two weeks, we’re rolling out an over-the-air update to Kindle Fire,” said Drew Herdener, a company spokesman.

The particulars of the update were not mentioned, but it is said there will be improvements in performance and multitouch navigation. Customers will also be able to change the list of items that show what they have recently been doing.

Source: New York Times