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Enjoy the RIDEZ

Christy — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:36:28 +0000

This is one of several belated BlogHer posts. In addition to having very little time, the Internet access in my room is spotty at best.

In addition to the Summer in the City party I’m co-hosting on Friday with EA Sports, Pogo.com and the Wii Mommies, I’ve got another little shindig on my radar.

Tonight I’m hosting an early bird reception for roughly 35 bloggers and friends. It all began when some of the Ford attendees started to talk about getting together for dinner or drinks the night before. I took that and ran with it and now we’re having a small reception at Quartino’s Ristorante in Chicago. It’ll be low-key, but it will also be a nice chance to get to know each other in a small group before the main conference kicks off.

We are fortunate to have a few really great sponsors. Our first sponsor is RIDEMAKERZ. For those of you who don’t have one nearby, it’s sort of like Build-a-Bear, but you’re designing model cars instead. We had the chance to play around with one of the remote control versions and it’s a big hit in our house. The RIDEMAKERZ folks are not only sponsoring the event, but they’re sending some nice giveaways as well. Plus, we’ll have some RIDEZ on hand to assemble and play with. Fun!

Our other primary sponsor is 360 Public Relations. I’ve had a chance to work them quite a bit and am always impressed by their professionalism when it comes to working with bloggers. They work with some high profile family-friendly brands, including PBS Kids, Stop and Shop and Safety 1st and maintain the 360PR MomSquad (of which I am a member) to provide frontline feedback to their clients. They’re heading to BlogHer Business and will also be representing Safety 1st in the Expo area. They’ve given us some great giveaway items, too, including a new carseat which utilizes the new Air Protect technology for added protection in side-impact collisions. If you see them around BlogHer, please give them a warm hello and tell them I sent you!

Lastly, not so much a sponsor as a generous donor, we’ve got Eli’s Cheesecake. Andie, from the mail order division saw a plea from one of our attendees for some cheesecake. She kindly offered to send us a cheesecake tower. Yeah, pretty fabulous!

So, that’s the “Enjoy the RIDEZ” reception. It’s fitting to kick off our time with Ford by playing with toy cars and giving away an amazing new car seat.

Party With Me at BlogHer ’09! (and try Word Whomp, too)

Christy — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:21:56 +0000

I am SO excited. I’m going to party with EA and you can, too! Last winter I got to attend a preview of EA’s line of video games. Imagine a club filled with stations of all the newest games to check out. If you’re not a gamer, this may not sound like a dream come true to you, but trust me when I say that it’s an absolute blast! And, of course, there were plenty of food and beverages as well. So much fun.

I was actually at the event to meet Kathryn Peck and Jen Riley of EA Sports. I was hoping to convince them to co-sponsor a party with me at BlogHer. If you’re not a gamer, the name “EA” probably didn’t mean anything to you prior to the release of the EA Sports Active. For those of us who loves games, though, EA represents some of the highest standards in gaming. I was pretty determined to convince them that they HAD to attend BlogHer in order to promote EA Sports Active to all of the phenomenal female bloggers. As it turns out, they were already bought-in to the idea of reaching out to female bloggers. It worked out well, since the blogging project I was working on fell through. Still, it was great to meet them and watch as EA Sports Active has taken the exergaming world by storm.

While at the EA event, I also met Honey Hamilton, publicist for Pogo.com (a division of EA). She cajoled me into playing some Word Whomp with her (try it below – you’ll get addicted, too) and I had a great time. When Kathryn let me know that Honey was looking for a blogger to sponsor to BlogHer, she didn’t need to ask me twice. Pogo.com is a perfect site for me to work with and Honey and I are probably a dangerous combination. She’s now convinced me to get a tattoo with her… and that’s before I have any alcohol in my system!

So here I am, with a fantastic sponsor and meeting my original goal to co-host a party with the great folks at EA. I feel very fortunate! Better still, if you’re going to BlogHer, you get to party with us (and the Wii Mommies!) as well. Set aside some time on Friday night from 7-10pm and head on over to the House of Blues. We’ll be there with food, drink and some of the newest and hottest offerings from EA. Space is limited, to make sure to RSVP as soon as possible. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this one.

Oh, and as promised… A mini version of Word Whomp!

Casual Games and a Pictureka! Museum Mayhem Review

Christy — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:39:03 +0000

My friends at Pogo sent me a few of their download games to try out. Unlike other casual gaming sites I have used, the games downloaded at Pogo maintain a connection to the Pogo online environment. If you’re online and logged in, you can chat with others and earn tokens while you play. Even your Mini sticks around for the downloaded games. You can try most of the games out for an hour before decided if you want to buy them. With casual games, this is usually plenty of time to decide if you like the game. It’s also time to decide if a game is worth the money. There have been a few casual games (not on Pogo!) that I had halfway finished before the time ran out. That’s obviously not a good value for your money.

One of the games I received from Pogowas Pictureka! Museum Mayhem. I didn’t know anything about it, other than a vague recollection of a board game named Pictureka (which I may have to buy). I was in for a nice surprise. Pictureka! is a picture finding game. In the video game version, you have a board with all kind of illustrations on it. The pictures are all in black, blue, white and red, so there’s plenty of challenge in finding objects. The game shows you a card that has a topic like, “Things You Can Eat” or “Things that Can Swim.” You then click on pictures that match the category on the card. If the picture is a match, that illustration is removed from the board and a new one is added in its place. It’s a very dynamic game because the board is always changing. The topic cards specify a number of objects to find ranging from one to six (or maybe seven). Once you’ve completed a card, it’s removed and you get a new one. As the game progessess, you earn the right to play with up to three cards at a time with bonuses for items that match more than one card. For example, a fish is something you can eat and also something that can swim.

The backstory in the game is that you are trying to create exhibits in a museum while there are thieves trying to steal artifacts. As you complete exhibits and catch thieves, you progress through the game. Every so often, one of the thieves makes a robbery attempt. Along with other players in your room (if you’re logged on to Pogo as you play), you work through special cards to thwart the robbery. The player who finds the most pictures on the gold thief cards gets a special bonus.

Pictureka! Museum Mayhem is a fun and challenging game. I tend to be good at finding hidden pictures, but these can be tough. Sometimes you also have to use some creativity. “Something in Outer Space” might include a planet, an alient or a rocket ship. It could also be one of the many stars littered around the screen. I enjoy finding creative interpretations of the clues (looking for teeth? try a comb or a saw!) and just checking out the zany illustrations. I’m also pretty competitive when it comes to the golden thief cards. I always want to win the bonus!

The game isn’t without a few drawbacks. The backstory, which I tend to skip when I play games, is a bit tedious. You are forced to wait as the cut scenes play out and there doesn’t seem to be a way to make them go faster. Also, the thief attacks happen at somewhat regular intervals, but it’s not exact. The timer on those continues as you wait out your cut scenes, so occasionally you miss the attack, or arrive halfway through. I found that incredibly frustrating, but have become better at dragging out a game when I think an attack is about to happen. Lastly, I sometimes have problems clicking on items, especially smaller pictures. When you’re in a hurry, it’s annoying, especially when you get a time penalty for clicking on the wrong picture.

I haven’t completed the storyline, although I am most of the way through. Pictureka! Museum Mayhem has provided hours of enjoyment on my end. It’s the kind of game you can pick up and play for a few minutes and then stop, or play for a couple of hours until your eyes get bleary. As I mentioned above, I might have to run out and pick up the board game version as well. I think it would be a blast at family parties!

Disclosure: I received Pictureka! Museum Mayhem for free as part of my relationship with Pogo.com. It came with no strings attached. Although I have agree to write about Pogo as part of my sponsorship, the content matter is at my discretion. All opinions stated are mine, unless explicity stated to the contrary.

Why Would They Want to Do That?!

Christy — Thu, 07 May 2009 02:07:11 +0000

The other day I told a friend that I received conference sponsorship from Pogo.com. She stared at me blankly for a moment and then said, “Congratulations?” After another moment, she said, “I have no idea what that means.” I explained that Pogo is covering my travel expenses for my trip to BlogHer this summer, and she responded, “Why would they want to do that?”

Courtesy of Luc Latulippe

This was not the first time I received this response in regards to the work I do online. I’m sure it won’t be the last. That said, it’s a bit frustrating that I can’t celebrate my successes and failures with my friends and family. My husband, who at least understood the financial repercussions behind my Pogo sponsorship, certainly doesn’t get it.

A few months ago, as I was checking my email, my jaw dropped. And I turned to hubby to share the reason behind my state of surprise. “Ted Murphy followed me without me following him first!” Once again, blank stare. My spirits deflated a bit. “Ok,”I said, “I know you don’t really know who he is. Have you heard of IZEA? PayPerPost?” Blank stare combined with shaking of head. All sense of giddiness was slowly leaking away and I was starting to feel a bit silly for my reaction. “Well… he’s kind of a big deal in the word of social media… Never mind.”

Nowadays, most of my conversations about my work go this way. Even my mom is in on it. “Stop & Shop sent me a nice Mother’s Day gift.” Her response: “How come YOU get one?” (Uh, because I’m your amazing daughter?!) Me: “Uhm. I guess because I’m a blogger?” Her: “Isn’t everyone a blogger?!” Sigh.

The truth is that I am so often immersed in online social media culture that I forget that it still isn’t the norm. Unfortunately, the reminders tend to come just as I’m most excited about a contact I’ve made, recognition that I’ve received, or a special invitation that’s come my way. I’m a giant mystery to my family, involved in a bizarre culture that none of them understand and that seems to make them all a bit suspicious. Still, when I pay for dinner with a gift card I’ve received or give them advice on a fantastic (or crappy) product I’ve tested out, I see a glimmer of hope. Maybe I can reach them afterall…

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Win a Mother’s Day Gift Pack from Pogo

Christy — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:20:32 +0000

This giveaway is now closed. Please check out our other great giveaways!

I recently announced that Pogo has decided to sponsor my attendance at BlogHer this year. Obviously, this is good news for me! But, have no fear… I’ve got some good news for you as well. Since the folks at Pogo are all about the fun and games (and, hey, I’m a fan as well), we’re going to spread some good cheer your way with FOUR super-fun gift sets just in time for Mother’s Day. Did you know that according to an internal Pogo.com poll, at least 70% of the people playing on Pogo are mothers, grandmothers or great-grandmothers? It’s true! And that means that these baskets are likely to be a big hit for your mom. Of course, they aren’t just for women and you can certainly keep it all for yourself. That’s up to you.

Operation Mania, Photo Courtesy of Pogo.com

One thing I most remember about my mom when I was little is that she was always there for us when we were sick. She’d bring us juice and toast and soup and listen to us complain about how miserable we were. So, in honor of the women who cared for us when we were sick, Pogo has put together a special Operation Mania gift set. You remember that old-school favorite, Operation? Well, it’s back as a crazy time management game! And here I’m going to sneak in a special tip for those who actually read the contests they’re entering. The first 25 people with a valid entry (grand prize winners excluded) who say, “I want to join Club Pogo!” in their post will receive a 30 Day subscription to Club Pogo. You will receive an email after the grand prize winners are selected.

The Prizes:

These great Operation Mania-themed gift sets include one each of the following:

Copy of the game, Operation Mania
Pogo slingbag
Pogo pen
Pogo notebook
Mini headache survival kit
30 Day Subscription to Club Pogo

To Enter (once per person/household):

Visit Pogo and browse their games. Keep in mind that Club Pogo members have access to even more great games.
Leave a comment on this post (right down below) and tell me which game you think your mom (or you) would like most. You must follow this step in order to win.
Make sure you enter the correct email address so I can reach you.

Details:

U.S. households only.
Contest will end at midnight Eastern on May 7.
Winners (4) will be chosen via random.org.
I will email the winner who will then have 72 hours to respond and claim their prize.
If you’d like this by Mother’s Day, make sure to check your email on the 8th and get back to me ASAP. The lovely folks at Pogo have offered to send it overnight so it arrives on Saturday, May 9th, just in time for you to tuck in a card and hand it to your mom on the 10th.

Bonus Entries:

Subscribe to this blog (one – if you’re already subscribed that counts as well)
Blog about this contest (one)
Tweet this contest (max 1 per day, up to 5 times)
Follow Honey Hamilton (Pogo publicist) on Twitter (leave your Twitter id below so I can confirm with Honey)

To claim bonus entries, please post one comment on this post per bonus entry (include permalink or tweet url)

Questions? Contact me.

This contest is part of the Give it Away Now! Blog Carnival and the Ultimate Blog Carnival Spring 2009. Visit them to find other great prizes.

Pogo, Poppit and a BlogHer Sponsorship

Christy — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:03:48 +0000

There is some big news today at QuirkyFusion… Pogo will be sponsoring my attendance at BlogHer 2009 and teaming up to provide some cool content and great giveaways. We’re going to have a lot of fun over the next few months!

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Pogo, you’re in for a treat. Pogo is a casual gaming community with over a hundred free games, including word games, board games, puzzles, and casino games. There’s a little something for everyone. Playing games allows you to win cool prizes and earn tokens that allow you to enter cash drawings or design your own “Mini” avatar. For even more fun, you can join Club Pogo and get access to exclusive content and games, as well as special “badges” for reaching certain game milestones. And, if you’re feeling social, you can chat with other players and build up your friend list. In addition to the selection of free games, there are a ton of downloadable games you can try out before buying.

I’ve been familiar with Pogo for a year or two now and played with it now and again when I was looking for something to kill time. I’ll be honest, though… I never wanted to register so I just played as a guest. I didn’t know what I was missing by not signing on board! Then, a couple of months ago, I met Honey Hamilton, a publicist for Pogo, at a press event. She convinced me to try out Word Whomp, one of their signature word games. I was reluctant to play with other people watching, but once I started she was lucky I didn’t stay there all day! A month or so later, when Pogo started kicking around the idea to send a blogger to BlogHer, a colleague of Honey’s mentioned my name. She remembered me as her Word Whomp buddy and here we are!

So, over the next few months, there will be fun, there will be games, and there will be prizes. You can expect nothing less from Pogo! In the meantime, here’s a little taste of what’s to come. It’s a blog-friendly version of Poppit, one of Pogo‘s most popular games. Enjoy!

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