Gamertell

A recent ad for the Toys R Us retail chain shows several discounted games as well as a free Star Wars: Clone Wars backpack offer. The sales started August 17, 2008, and continue through August 23, 2008.

The backpack, likely meant for kids (but that doesn’t mean you can’t have one too), retails for $10.99 but is free if you spend more than $30 on Star Wars stuff by August 23, 2008.

As for the game offers the list from page 4 includes:

• Xbox 360 Arcade System (5 Games Included Boom Boom Rocket, Uno, Pac-Man CE, Feeding Frenzy & Luxor 2) for $279.99
• Wii Game System Console for $249.99
• Save $25 on Nintendo DS Value Pack for...

Click through for the full list of sales items!

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When talking about potential blockbuster PS3 titles for 2008, chances are LittleBigPlanet‘s name will come up. LBP has demonstrated its originality and creation possibilities several times over the past year and Sony is giving it a big marketing push as its release draws closer. LBP is looking to be a big time system seller for Sony because it appeals to a wide variety of gamers. Early previews have also noted LBP‘s ease of use and wide array of clever gameplay.

SCEA marketing manager Mark Valledor confirmed Sony’s dedication to the game in an interview with Advertising Age:

“We have coined 2008 ‘the year of the PS3’ and are confident that with the launch of “LittleBigPlanet,” we will continue to see the momentum build throughout the end of this year and on to the next…

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Fans of the spectacular, Robert Downy Jr.-fueled Iron Man will be able to grab the movie on DVD and Blu-Ray September 30, 2008. According to ICV2, the DVD version will be just the film and a few deleted scenes (and is intended primarily for the home rental market), a standard Blu-Ray edition is planned, and a 2-disc Ultimate Edition Blu-Ray will sport extensive bonus features, like a seven part making-of documentary and an interactive “hall of armor” feature that lets viewers play around with Tony Stark’s funky gadgets. ICV2 also states that the release is in keeping with a big push for the Blu-Ray format this fall - be prepared for some heavy marketing, kids.

The funny thing is, Iron Man is still in theaters, and still lapping up some impressive business months after its release. Remember when films took upwards of a year to come to “home video”? This news makes me feel old. No matter, Iron Man will kick some serious ass on Blu-Ray this fall.

Read [ICV2]

If you are a Batman fan, loved The Dark Knight movie and cannot wait to play the movie-based videogame, well, you pretty much have to keep waiting waiting. But, if you can settle for an online Flash game based on the movie, Comcast has posted Gotham City Street Chase for you to play.

The game is a pretty straightforward side-to-side shooter, where you dodge oncoming cars and blast vans driven by the Joker’s henchmen, who are also tossing bombs a you. Periodically crash the BatPod through crates for extra life and extra points so you can…

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As if fans really need another reason to get psyched about the upcoming animated Star Wars: Clone Wars film, Toys R Us is having an in-store midnight sales event featuring Clone Wars products and also giving away four five-feet tall Clone Wars action figures.

Doors to select stores will open at 12:01 a.m., July 26, 2007 (that’s late Friday or really early Saturday, depending on how you look at it). On shelves will be various Star Wars related items including action figures, building sets, models and, of course, video games…

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From July 21 through 27, 2008, Gaia Online will host its very own Rejected Olympics. The event is free and open to registered Gaia members.

Gaia Online is an online hangout that was founded in 2003 and has since become the leading hangout with more than 5 million visitors a month to make friends, play games, watch movies and participate in monthly activities.

This year’s rejected Olympic will have up to 100 new games and Olympic-themed…

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Namco Bandai discussed the marketing plan for Soul Calibur IV at E3, as well as mentioning that the Xbox 360 and PS3 game has gone gold. The latest title, which will feature three Star Wars characters (Yoda, Darth Vader and Darth Vader’s secret apprentice) and special characters from Japanese manga artists, will be released July 29, 2008 in normal ($59.99) and premium ($79.99) editions.

The first portion of the Soul Calibur IV marketing plan is a huge ad campaign. There will be 15 and 30 second commercials on cable stations in the US and Canada during July and August, 2008. There will also be ads online and in magazines, and supposedly retail partnerships.

Click through for a Soul Calibur IV trailer…

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Over the bast couple weeks, rather convincing scans from some popular retail circulars such as K-Mart and Circuit City were posted on the web suggesting an impending Xbox 360 price drop. Microsoft initially refused to confirm or deny these rumors. Many thought Microsoft would wait until its E3 press conference to tell the world the good news.

Instead, the hype machine has moved in its favor and Microsoft finally confirmed via press release what everyone suspected. (Sort of.)

The Premium Xbox 360 console will receive a price drop. As of yesterday (July 12, 2008) the Premium bundle sold for $349 but, beginning today…

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The headline says it all. For the next couple days (July 11-12, 2008), eCost is giving away a 2GB SD memory card for the low low price of nothing. eCost gives you a 100% discount off the original $7 price tag through a $7 mail-in rebate. Send that in, and you’ve got yourself a free SD card that’s…

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Everyone in Japan gets involved in video games. It almost seems like it is an honor to have a song included in an upcoming title. When these games are localized for North American releases, it’s a toss-up as to what happens to the original music. Many companies are including the original tracks with games, while some will substitute them with songs in English.

Hikaru Utada is one of the biggest pop singers in Japan. This means that her music has appeared in games, animes and Japanese dramas. She’s also has worked as a voice actress - one of her roles was Pinoko in the anime Black Jack.

Before we get into her relationship to video games and a few of her songs I’d recommend, here’s a brief backstory. Utada was born in New York, New York. She’s fluent in English and Japanese. Her mother’s the Enka singer Fuji Keiko. Her first album was released as Cubic U in both the US and Japan. After that, she focused on a Japanese-only career. She’s sold over 40 million records, and has released eight CDs. She released her English R&B CD, Exodus, in the US in 2004, and is currently working on a second US CD that might be released this year.

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