Jamie McNair with his closed parcel
Perth's St John’s Shopping Centre recently ran a competition called "Young Jones and the Temple of Lost Treasures" which saw local kiddies chasing around the place getting high street brands seared into their brains... whoops... looking for treasure.
See, loosely tied into the Indiana Jones movie of late.
The winner - according to the shopping centre - was "Young Jamie McNair, 6, from Auchterarder" - crazy name, crazy town. Anyway, fresh-faced young Jamie saw his name "pulled out of the hat by his namesake, and St John’s Shopping Centre’s Administrator, Jamie Nie!" No freaking way?!
And his prize... "The prize, a Nintendo Gamecube, was won after Jamie completed his treasure hunt entry for Indy’s lost items, which were hidden inside retailer windows in the St John’s Shopping Centre."
Jamie said, “I can’t wait to get home and start playing with it. My big brother also entered but I’ve beaten him to the big prize. He’ll have to ask me nicely if he wants a go!”
Mr Nie commented “I hope Jamie enjoys playing with his prize. It’s a perfect start to his school holidays.”
Yes, we said it - a GameCube. A bunch of retailers managed to get lots of kids running in and out of their shops collecting 'treasure' using the Indiana Jones IP in order that one of them could win... a GameCube.
Our gasts are flabbered. Unless, maybe... the whole "Temple of Lost Treasures" thing cleverly refers to the fact the GameCube is like, really old and really a treasure? Nope, our gasts are still flabbered.
PS: that's Perth in Scotland not Western Australia.
St John's Shopping Centre
See, loosely tied into the Indiana Jones movie of late.
The winner - according to the shopping centre - was "Young Jamie McNair, 6, from Auchterarder" - crazy name, crazy town. Anyway, fresh-faced young Jamie saw his name "pulled out of the hat by his namesake, and St John’s Shopping Centre’s Administrator, Jamie Nie!" No freaking way?!
And his prize... "The prize, a Nintendo Gamecube, was won after Jamie completed his treasure hunt entry for Indy’s lost items, which were hidden inside retailer windows in the St John’s Shopping Centre."
Jamie said, “I can’t wait to get home and start playing with it. My big brother also entered but I’ve beaten him to the big prize. He’ll have to ask me nicely if he wants a go!”
Mr Nie commented “I hope Jamie enjoys playing with his prize. It’s a perfect start to his school holidays.”
Yes, we said it - a GameCube. A bunch of retailers managed to get lots of kids running in and out of their shops collecting 'treasure' using the Indiana Jones IP in order that one of them could win... a GameCube.
Our gasts are flabbered. Unless, maybe... the whole "Temple of Lost Treasures" thing cleverly refers to the fact the GameCube is like, really old and really a treasure? Nope, our gasts are still flabbered.
PS: that's Perth in Scotland not Western Australia.
St John's Shopping Centre
Companies:
Nintendo
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Comments
Gramsy 1 Jul 2008 15:32
1/18
poor kid lol, Have they stopped making game cube games? They could of atleast got him a PS2, Gamecubes were like the aids of that generation.
Golden Gamer 1 Jul 2008 15:55
2/18
It may be an old system, but it is still a nice prize considering they didn't need to have a contest or prizes at all. And anyway, the kid is 6. He should be playing Mario and the games that we all might not even consider anyway. The writer of this story really sounds like a brat.
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adam 1 Jul 2008 16:01
3/18
poor kid? you jaded idiots. did the kid sound disappointed? No, he got a free console! The gamecube has some awesome games. yes by all means a ps2 might have been a better prize as they still make games for it, but come on! SOME FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD CONSOLES, and it simultaneously warms and breaks my heart to know that there are still appreciative kids out there, but there are people like you who s**t on something free because "pshh, its like, old". shut up already!
TimSpong 1 Jul 2008 16:09
4/18
Golden Gamer wrote:
It may be an old system, but it is still a nice prize considering they didn't need to have a contest or prizes at all. And anyway, the kid is 6. He should be playing Mario and the games that we all might not even consider anyway. The writer of this story really sounds like a brat.
Yes they did 'Need' to have a competition. For gods' sakes, the competition was to get kids into retail outlets. With kids, come parents. When kids and parents get together in stores, kids say, "Maaaaaaam, can I have that? And that? Can I? Can I? Can I?"
It is called 'pester power'. You do not seriously think that the competition was put on for some altruistic, 'we love the kids' reason do you? I can't really imagine that stores saying, "Let lots of kids run around our stores? Sure, why not.... we don't mind losing custom." Do you?
I am the writer of the story by the way. Me, Tim Smith.
Cheers
Tim
ozfunghi 1 Jul 2008 17:57
5/18
Aids of that generation huh?
Metroid Prime (GOTY)
Smash Bros Melee (GOTY)
Zelda WindWaker (GOTY)
Resident Evil 4 (GOTY)
Viewtiful Joe
Animal Crossing
Pikmin (II)
Zelda Twilight Princess
Eternal Darkness
Paper Mario II
F-Zero
...
yeah; aids of that generation. As a kid i was taught to shut my mouth if i had no idea what i was talking about. Too bad not all of us got to be that lucky.
Metroid Prime (GOTY)
Smash Bros Melee (GOTY)
Zelda WindWaker (GOTY)
Resident Evil 4 (GOTY)
Viewtiful Joe
Animal Crossing
Pikmin (II)
Zelda Twilight Princess
Eternal Darkness
Paper Mario II
F-Zero
...
yeah; aids of that generation. As a kid i was taught to shut my mouth if i had no idea what i was talking about. Too bad not all of us got to be that lucky.
TimSpong 1 Jul 2008 18:00
6/18
ozfunghi wrote:
Aids of that generation huh?
See, I was really hoping she meant 'Aids' as in "Things that assist you"... hence the lower-casing.
Am I a naif who only sees the best in people?
Cheers
Tim
PS: Nah... I'm not.
headcasephil 1 Jul 2008 20:28
7/18
i think if i was 6 and given a gamecube i would be very happy i remember being i think 5 and getting a zx spectum i did not no how it worked and only got games runing about 1 out of 100 times but i loved it even thow it was pritty much dead as i am 25 so cam to this world in 1984 when it stoped but still realy loved it if some one gets somthing and thay love it dont nock it hay i still love playing my nes and hum the last game that came out on it was Wario´s Woods wich came out in 1994
Golden Gamer 1 Jul 2008 21:04
8/18
You make a point. I certainly do not think that the contest was exclusively for the love of children, but I think that you missed the point I was trying to make, that any prize in a contest is nice, and that he will enjoy it whether it cam out three days ago or three years ago.
Also, sorry if I hurt your feelings when I called your article bratty. Some people can get really defensive when you critique undeveloped writing style, and I suppose you are one of them. Keep practicing and sticking with it.
Cheers
Yes they did 'Need' to have a competition. For gods' sakes, the competition was to get kids into retail outlets. With kids, come parents. When kids and parents get together in stores, kids say, "Maaaaaaam, can I have that? And that? Can I? Can I? Can I?"
It is called 'pester power'. You do not seriously think that the competition was put on for some altruistic, 'we love the kids' reason do you? I can't really imagine that stores saying, "Let lots of kids run around our stores? Sure, why not.... we don't mind losing custom." Do you?
I am the writer of the story by the way. Me, Tim Smith.
Cheers
Tim
Also, sorry if I hurt your feelings when I called your article bratty. Some people can get really defensive when you critique undeveloped writing style, and I suppose you are one of them. Keep practicing and sticking with it.
Cheers
Tim Smith wrote:
Golden Gamer wrote:
It may be an old system, but it is still a nice prize considering they didn't need to have a contest or prizes at all. And anyway, the kid is 6. He should be playing Mario and the games that we all might not even consider anyway. The writer of this story really sounds like a brat.
Yes they did 'Need' to have a competition. For gods' sakes, the competition was to get kids into retail outlets. With kids, come parents. When kids and parents get together in stores, kids say, "Maaaaaaam, can I have that? And that? Can I? Can I? Can I?"
It is called 'pester power'. You do not seriously think that the competition was put on for some altruistic, 'we love the kids' reason do you? I can't really imagine that stores saying, "Let lots of kids run around our stores? Sure, why not.... we don't mind losing custom." Do you?
I am the writer of the story by the way. Me, Tim Smith.
Cheers
Tim
TimSpong 2 Jul 2008 12:26
9/18
Golden Gamer wrote:
You make a point. I certainly do not think that the contest was exclusively for the love of children...
It's not even slightly for the benefit of children let alone for the love of them. I don't agree that rousting up custom for your stores using the Indy IP to encourage pester power should result in the kid getting a console that can't even play the LEGO Indiana Jones game on.
I'm sure the wee lad is happy with his GameCube. That's never been in contention. However, being happy that someone has stopped kicking you in the face doesn't get away from the fact that your face was being kicked.
The point here is that the retailers could and should have clubbed together and got a more up-to-date console as a prize.
Golden Gamer wrote:
Also, sorry if I hurt your feelings when I called your article bratty. Some people can get really defensive when you critique undeveloped writing style, and I suppose you are one of them. Keep practicing and sticking with it.
You're either being disingenuous for the sake of it or you do consider the statement, "The writer of this story really sounds like a brat", to be a 'critique'.
Also, the idea that responding to a forum post is defensive strikes me as a massive misunderstanding of the function of a forum. The idea is that posts do get responded to.
Golden Gamer wrote:
Keep practicing and sticking with it.
I most certainly will. Hey, thanks for the encouragement - it's a real day-maker.
Tim
Retro 2 Jul 2008 12:45
10/18
Well it is Scotland, I expect that was all they could afford after a whip-round.
SPInGSPOnG 2 Jul 2008 13:41
11/18
Golden Gamer wrote:
Keep practicing and sticking with it.
Hey, this is pretty cool. The guy who's sat in his (probably dirty) underpants, in mother's basement posting anonymously to internet forums is patronising the guy who gets paid to write for a living.
I'd pay for this kinda thing, but here we have it for free.
You guys should have a spell-off. Or maybe a grammar slam. We could make a webisode of it, call it "Step Up 2 Tha Keyboard".
TimSpong 2 Jul 2008 13:55
12/18
Rod Todd wrote:
You guys should have a spell-off. Or maybe a grammar slam. We could make a webisode of it, call it "Step Up 2 Tha Keyboard".
Shurely (sic), "Step Up 2 Da Keebord" unless - out of respect for the Yorkshire heritage and location of SPOnG - tha's adopted the Yorkshire argot?
Anyway, I'm up for 'Step Up 2 Da Keebord'. How would you structure this Rod?
Is there a prize? Maybe a SEGA MegaDrive?
Cheers
Tim
SPInGSPOnG 2 Jul 2008 14:46
13/18
Tim Smith wrote:
Anyway, I'm up for 'Step Up 2 Da Keebord'. How would you structure this Rod?
I is suggestin' (oh forget it, I can't do that street talk, as had already been adequately proven. And while I am well travelled, I have only been to Yorkshire - Leeds IS in Yorkshire, yeah - once)
The anonymous underpant wearing pretender comes to the keyboard first, and has just 90 seconds to type his put down. No use of the DEL, backspace or cursor keys are allowed.
After this, you Step Up 2 Da Keyboard, and have your 90 seconds.
Points are awarded for ferocity of put down and quality of grammar. Points will be deducted for repetition, deviation and hesitation. And typographical errors.
There will be three rounds, with each round adjudicated by the audience, who will show their appreciation by cheering and shouting "Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!".
Is there a prize? Maybe a SEGA MegaDrive?
The loser must give HIS own MegaDrive/Genesis to the winner. And buy him a drink.
TimSpong 2 Jul 2008 14:59
14/18
Rod Todd wrote:
The anonymous underpant wearing pretender comes to the keyboard first, and has just 90 seconds to type his put down. No use of the DEL, backspace or cursor keys are allowed.
After this, you Step Up 2 Da Keyboard, and have your 90 seconds.
After this, you Step Up 2 Da Keyboard, and have your 90 seconds.
I am, as I believe the kids say, "Down with that schizzle".
Rod Todd wrote:
The loser must give HIS own MegaDrive/Genesis to the winner. And buy him a drink.
There is very slight chance, Rod, that neither Grammariator owns a SEGA MegaDrive... how about a t-shirt with a suitable slogan?
Cheers
Tim
SPInGSPOnG 2 Jul 2008 15:10
15/18
Tim Smith wrote:
There is very slight chance, Rod, that neither Grammariator owns a SEGA MegaDrive... how about a t-shirt with a suitable slogan?
This is a typing slam for gaming honour. If one of the prospective participants does not own a MegaDrive/Genesis, they clearly have no gaming honour! They therefore forfeit the competition, and for a week must wear a T-shirt (or underpants where applicable) that says, "I iz a l4m3r cuz I dont own a M3G4Drive, lol" on the front, and "T-sirtz with slogans iz 4 lam0rz" on the back wherever they go, even if that is just to the toilet in their mum's basement, and to the phone to call for more Domino's pizza.
Tricia Fox 2 Jul 2008 19:25
16/18
Hello - picked up your flabber and gasts on the forum. For the record, I handle the PR and Marketing for St John's Shopping Centre in Perth (and yes, that's Scotland). Couple of things to clear up that you have got wrong: Jamie Nie is, in fact, a woman (the one in the picture with the little boy) and the prize was purchased by me, and was not the product of a collection of cash from the shopping centre retailers.
Sorry if my choice of prize selection has offended any hard core gamers but several small children were consulted in the purchasing decision and it was, I might add, their console of choice.
And for those in doubt, I can assure you that Jamie (the young one) was VERY excited about his prize when he recieved it.
But glad to see something harmless has generated such debate ;o)
Tricia
Sorry if my choice of prize selection has offended any hard core gamers but several small children were consulted in the purchasing decision and it was, I might add, their console of choice.
And for those in doubt, I can assure you that Jamie (the young one) was VERY excited about his prize when he recieved it.
But glad to see something harmless has generated such debate ;o)
Tricia
Wee Jock Poo Pong McPlop 3 Jul 2008 05:21
17/18
We'd gathered it was Perth in Scotland when we saw how cheap the prize was. ;0)
DoctorDee 3 Jul 2008 07:15
18/18
Tricia Fox wrote:
Sorry if my choice of prize selection has offended any hard core gamers but several small children were consulted in the purchasing decision and it was, I might add, their console of choice.
I don't think you've offended anyone. You have surprised one or two though!
The debate here is caused not so much by the fact that the prize is so cheap, which has stirred up some allusions to the reputation you Scots (and us Yorkshiremen) have for thrift, but more by the fact that the console you chose is discontinued, and has been for some time.
The fact that kids actually chose this prize flabbers our gasts even more. Kids are usually so on the ball about what's hot and what's cool, and we don't know any kids who would choose a GameCube over a Wii.
And for those in doubt, I can assure you that Jamie (the young one) was VERY excited about his prize when he recieved it.
Young Jamie may be very excited now, but we fear that his excitement may diminishing rapidly as he discovers that none of the newly released games he sees on TV, or on the shelves of the stores in your shopping centre, will work on his new toy.
We are also a little surprised that you could even find a GameCube for sale anymore.
But glad to see something harmless has generated such debate ;o)
And thanks for joining that debate.