Scion IQ Purchase Nets Consumers A PS Vita

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Scion has announced that buyers of a new 2012 Scion iQ (MSRP $15,265) will receive a PS Vita for free. The promotion will take place as the iQ launches, which is Scion’s fourth vehicle and the world’s smallest four-seater.

“Scion is very proud of the iQ’s intelligent and functional design,” said Jack Hollis, Scion Vice President. “Similar to the PS Vita, the Scion iQ comes loaded with premium technological features, has a focus on functionality, is concentrated into a suitably small package and most importantly is tons of fun.”

This is a continuation of a cross promotion that saw MotorStorm RC including the Scion iQ as an in-game vehicle option as a limited-time free download to PS Vita owners in March.

Source: Scion.com/psvita

Girls Aged 8-12 Gaming More Than Ever

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According to a Spil Games study of 7.6 million U.S. users, 8-12 year-old females are increasingly gaming. Their gaming time has gone up from 38 minutes to 1 hour and 18 minutes. They’re more likely to play online during Saturday afternoons for games that focus on cooking, dress up and quizzes.

Additionally, 54 percent of these mobile players are using an iOS device, compared to 46 percent using Android. For iOS users, 24 percent said they use an iPad, 19 percent use an iPod and just 11 percent use an iPhone.

Microsoft Finds A Nook With Barnes & Noble

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Microsoft announced that it will make a $300 million investment in Barnes & Noble. This will allow the book retailer to better compete with Amazon, while Microsoft will gain a foothold in the business of e-books and college textbooks.

This deal will see Microsoft and Barnes & Noble’s create a subsidiary for the e-book and college textbook businesses, with Microsoft taking a 17.6 percent stake. The companies said Monday that they are exploring separating the Nook e-book business subsidiary entirely from Barnes & Noble, provisionally dubbed “Newco”.

Microsoft will own a company that sells tablet computers based on rival Google’s Android OS. A Nook application will release for Windows 8 tablets this Fall, though Nook software will continue to be available on the iPhone.

“We have been circling the relationship for quite a long time,” added Microsoft president Andy Lees. “When you think of different types of reading and what’s going to happen when that goes digital, it’s really quite dramatic to be bringing that to Windows customers.”

The Nook has managed to take up about a quarter of e-book sales, reducing the share of Amazon’s Kindle to around 65 percent. “The whole reason the Nook business is expanding so rapidly is because bookstores are committed to it and know how to market the product in that environment,” said Michael Norris, an analyst at Simba information.

Source: AP

Free Realms Turns Three

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Sony Online Entertainment has announced that Free Realms is celebrating its third anniversary. As part of this event SOE will be rewarding all players with a special birthday hat and will be hosting a number of in-game community events, and offering birthday items for purchase in the in-game Marketplace including a party Piñata pet, birthday furniture, and more.

“We are so very thankful for all of our Free Realms players,” said John Smedley, President, Sony Online Entertainment. “We believe our players are our extended family and celebrating this birthday is a great testament to them. As the Free Realms community continues to grow, our goal will always be to find new ways to keep our players engaged and give them fun experiences to discover and enjoy. To further support this goal, in the next few weeks, we will be bringing players an opportunity to go even deeper into the world of Free Realms, and I can’t wait to see and hear their reactions.”

Free Realms has over 20 million registered users acquire over 59,000 in-game items such as customizable pets and unique clothing (like the popular “Skeletal Hoodie”) and players have started more than 112.8 million collection quests.

Art Dissected For Art School

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MASP Art School is running a series of ads called “Dissected.” These ads seeking enrollment cleverly portray famous artists with the organs in their chest displayed in their own unique styles.

Source: Ads of the World

2012 Wadiyan Games Are Calling You!

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The Dictator: Wadiyan Games, the animated game, voiced by General Aladeen, lets players step into the shoes of the General and compete in his four favorite events – running, swimming, fencing and boxing. In each event players, as General Aladeen, attempt to destroy the competition by any means necessary to advance to the winner’s podium where they’ll receive a gold medal and the love and adoration of Wadiyan’s subjects. The iOS app is free to download through the Apple iTunes store and available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

In addition to the competitions, the game features several backdrops for players to upload a headshot and pose alongside the General that can be shared with friends on Facebook, Twitter and email. The game also features several hidden boosts giving players an even greater edge over their opponents. Additional sporting events and backdrops can be unlocked with in-app purchase.

General Aladeen’s motion picture The Dictator opens in theaters nationwide May 16, 2012.

Halo 4 Gets Live Action Series

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Microsoft has revealed plans for a live-action Web series called Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn. The full creative team will be revealed at Comic-Con in San Diego this July, though there will be five weekly installments around 15 minutes each.

“Every time we do a live-action commercial the audience says, ‘We want to see more so that we can explore the ‘Halo’ universe a little bit more,” said Frank O’Connor, franchise development director at 343 Industries. “Demand grew more and more out of the two little vignettes we’d previously produced.”

The series will be about how Master Chief inspired a young UNSC cadet who will eventually become a leader aboard the UNSC Infinity spacecraft, showing events both before the Halo series started and leading into Halo 4. “We wanted to go way beyond that and transform this live-action exploration from advertising into a full standalone product that people will enjoy,” said Matt McCloskey, director of franchise business management at 343 Industries, who added about setting up a full movie, “I don’t think anybody needs any reminding of (the potential). Everyone keeps reminding us of that.”

Source: Variety