All About the AllSpark
We now have a web game hosted on a web site based on a game based on a movie based on a cartoon.
Published: April 27, 2007
For years now, marketing departments have strove to provide more than just the usual snippets of information or regurgitated marketing materials on a static flash-based promo site for an upcoming movie or game. Exactly how much more than the basics can range from some video clips all the way out to full-on alternate reality games that have people stalking payphones all over the world. Somewhere in between are web-based games based loosely on the events that take place in the game -- or in this case, based loosely on the events that take place in game based on the summer blockbuster movie.
"The Transformers: The Game website gives fans a unique and interactive way to experience the Transformers universe," quipped a vague Will Kassoy, SVP of global brand management for Activision. "Fans will become part of a global community where they can join forces with other players, chat live with Transformers fans, as well as watch and engage in battles to capture power of the AllSpark."
The fanny fan fannage stuff might be a little confusing if you aren't quite up to date on what the game is all about. Luckily, we've gone to the trouble of tracking down an early build of it, and have the full skinny right here (yes, because we love you just that much). If you want the gist of it, though, both the goodie-two-shoes Autobots and the evil-but-cooler Decepticons are looking for the AllSpark -- in a nutshell, the genesis of the Transformers essence -- and this is where you come in.
By jumping into the Battle for the AllSpark, you start a basic game of Risk -- in effect staking your claim to a chunk of the world, then battling it out for little pieces of that chunk non-stop. Winning battles, though, nets you experience, which then allows you to gain new moves (by default all you have are a melee, a ranged and a offensive/defensive effect move). We hopped in and poked around for a little bit, picking a 'bot from the list according to his strength, defense and speed attributes (an advantage in one means a deficit in at least one other) and jumped into a few battles. We even had a little fun while we were at it. Go figger.
The big draw, however, is likely in garnering the most points for wins; weekly drawings net you prizes for the top points earners on both the Autobot and Decepticon sides. Some of the bigger prizes include a Wii and an HDTV. Not bad for just clicking a bunch, eh? Head on over to the official site to get the full deets on rules and registration, and if you happen to see one Keeyaw McPunchKick, feel free to challenge 'im! Easy points!
"The Transformers: The Game website gives fans a unique and interactive way to experience the Transformers universe," quipped a vague Will Kassoy, SVP of global brand management for Activision. "Fans will become part of a global community where they can join forces with other players, chat live with Transformers fans, as well as watch and engage in battles to capture power of the AllSpark."
The fanny fan fannage stuff might be a little confusing if you aren't quite up to date on what the game is all about. Luckily, we've gone to the trouble of tracking down an early build of it, and have the full skinny right here (yes, because we love you just that much). If you want the gist of it, though, both the goodie-two-shoes Autobots and the evil-but-cooler Decepticons are looking for the AllSpark -- in a nutshell, the genesis of the Transformers essence -- and this is where you come in.
By jumping into the Battle for the AllSpark, you start a basic game of Risk -- in effect staking your claim to a chunk of the world, then battling it out for little pieces of that chunk non-stop. Winning battles, though, nets you experience, which then allows you to gain new moves (by default all you have are a melee, a ranged and a offensive/defensive effect move). We hopped in and poked around for a little bit, picking a 'bot from the list according to his strength, defense and speed attributes (an advantage in one means a deficit in at least one other) and jumped into a few battles. We even had a little fun while we were at it. Go figger.
The big draw, however, is likely in garnering the most points for wins; weekly drawings net you prizes for the top points earners on both the Autobot and Decepticon sides. Some of the bigger prizes include a Wii and an HDTV. Not bad for just clicking a bunch, eh? Head on over to the official site to get the full deets on rules and registration, and if you happen to see one Keeyaw McPunchKick, feel free to challenge 'im! Easy points!
