SPOnG 2006 Poll – The Retailer, The ‘Fusion’ man, The PR

Today from SPOnG’s poll of 2006, we have the honour and the privilege of hearing from one of the UK’s most innovative controller technologies companies, In2Games, as well of from one of our favourite PRs and one of the directors from the UK’s leading specialist retail chain, GAME Stores Group Ltd.

First up, we have Harry Holmwood of innovative peripherals/motion-sensing control specialists In2Games. SPOnG’s already told you a little about In2Games' plans for its Fusion 'Wii Killer' technology and we are sure to be hearing much more from them in 2007. Harry, rather controversially, lists Wii Sports as one of his gaming low points of 2006!

Next up, PR supremo and consummate self-publicist Kat Osman - Account Director from specialist gaming agency Lunch PR. SPOnG will let Kat get away with shameless plugging of Lunch’s 06 campaigns for two reasons. Firstly, she is lovely and one of our favourite PRs in the industry. Secondly, Lunch did manage to work on some of the year’s biggest titles, including Capcom’s awesome Dead Rising and Activision’s equally awesome Call of Duty 3 campaigns. So for this, we’ll let it slide. This time.

Finally, some thoughts from the UK’s leading specialist high street gaming retailer from none other than Tricia Brennan, Commercial Director for UK and Eire, GAME Stores Group Ltd.


SPOnG: What are your (gaming and non-gaming) highlights from 2006?

Harry Holmwood, Director, In2Games

• Our R&D team cracking wireless motion sensing with our Fusion system.


• Ordering a DS Lite on import from Lik-Sang 35 minutes before Nintendo announced an imminent UK launch date.


• Many more nights lost to Singstar.


• Phoenix Wright on DS.


• Performing both the Dido and Eminem bits of 'Stan' in a Karaoke bar in Tokyo.

Kat Osman, Account Director, Lunch PR

• The Money Programme 50 Cent special.


• Dead Rising, Call of Duty 3 and Happy Feet campaigns.


• Having one of the strongest Lunch PR teams since the company was founded.


• The Wii.


• Bethesda´s Rogue Warrior press trip to Vegas and meeting ex-SEAL negative rewind.

Tricia Brennan, Commercial Director for UK and Eire, GAME Stores Group Ltd.

• Playing Wii for the first time.


• The arrival of all the pink consoles!


• The launch of DS Lite


• Winning Retailer of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards


• Getting through the third tower of New Super Mario Brothers – even if it was assisted by an eight year old!.

SPOnG: Gaming and non-gaming lowlights from 2006?

Harry Holmwood, Director, In2Games

• Delay of PS3 in Europe.


• Wii Sports.


• Closure of Lik-Sang.


• No more massive E3 shows.


• Those smug M&S ads voiced by that dreadfully smug woman, which bang on about how 'this is not just ordinary soup, this is special soup which is much more expensive than that chavvy soup you normally buy from Lidl'. What makes this worse is that, apparently, this is a massively successful advertising campaign.

Kat Osman, Account Director, Lunch PR

• E3 change news.


• The ending of F.E.A.R. Extraction Point.


• Bully not being called Bully.


• Only getting one photo with 50 Cent.


• The PS3

SPOnG: Things you're either looking forward to in 2007 or would like to see?

Harry Holmwood, Director, In2Games

• More great smaller games on Xbox Live Arcade.


• PS3 launch in Europe.


• Showing Gametrak Fusion to the world.


• Halo 3.


• More sleep.

Kat Osman, Account Director, Lunch PR

• Pikmin 3.


• MOP in concert.


• A law passed that all PRs and press should travel first class overseas.


• Resi Evil 5 (hopefully!).


• Stranglehold.

Tricia Brennan, Commercial Director for UK and Eire, GAME Stores Group Ltd.

• The launch of PS3.


• Seeing how Wii expands the market.


• The launch of Halo 3.


• The launch of Super Mario Galaxy.


• Some sleep after Christmas.

SPOnG: What two gifts were you hoping to see in your Xmas stocking this week?

Harry Holmwood, Director, In2Games

• A PS3.


• A drum kit (mid-life crisis approaching, starting to feel the need to 'rock')

Kat Osman, Account Director, Lunch PR

• Pikmin 3.


• A pair of Christian Louboutin shoes.

Tricia Brennan, Commercial Director for UK and Eire, GAME Stores Group Ltd.

• Super Mario Galaxy


• Duvet, slippers and an eye mask

SPOnG: What were you doing at 4pm on Xmas day this year?

Harry Holmwood

• Singing 'It's raining men' on Singstar.

Kat Osman

• Eating until the elastic in my shellsuit bottoms gave way

Tricia Brennan, Commercial Director for UK and Eire, GAME Stores Group Ltd.

• Losing gracefully at Wii Tennis.