Burger King cooking up Xbox promo?

Fast-food chain looking at making its own $4 Xbox games and selling them with value meals.

"Do you want fries or an Xbox game with that?"

Gamers might be hearing that on grub runs soon, as fast-food chain Burger King is apparently looking into creating its own line of branded titles for use on the Xbox and Xbox 360.

Pro blog Kotaku was tipped off earlier this week to a survey being sent around by marketing research company Greenfield Online on behalf of the burgermongers. The survey indicated that BK was considering offering three games--a fighting game, an action game, and a racing game--that would be compatible with the Xbox and Xbox 360. The games would also sport a bite-size price, ringing in at $4 a pop.

Kotaku then reported that Greenfield Online "confirmed" the authenticity of the survey by threatening to sue the site if it didn't remove the story and conceptual images of the games. Kotaku refused.

Today the blog is going toe-to-toe with the King again, as it apparently linked to and posted excerpts of a FAQ on the Web site of Burger King's marketing firm. The FAQ was supposedly intended for Burger King employees to bring them up to speed on the game project, but the link leads to a dead page at the moment.

Still, Kotaku has posted excerpts from the FAQ with more details about the plans. Apparently the promotion is expected to run for five weeks, with a new game being offered each of the first three weeks. Although no dates are given for the promotion, it should start later this year. The FAQ indicates that it will run concurrent with a BK Kids Dance Dance Revolution promotion (likely consisting of DDR-themed kids' meal toys).

This would not be Burger King's first foray into games. The frozen-faced mascot known only as "the King" appeared as a trainer in Electronic Arts' Fight Night Round 3.

Burger King and Greenfield Online did not return requests for comment.

210 Comments

  • chain_saw

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 11:32 am PT

    I have seen one of them, The Bumper Car one, at a retro event here in the UK.

    Philip Oliver, of Blitz games was showing us titles on the way, and showed footage, with the briefest of glimpses of the 'King' explaining that it was originally aimed as a Live Arcade title.

    Ran well, looked neon-tastic...

  • HaloONE

    Posted Oct 2, 2006 4:47 pm PT

    HAVE IT YOUR WAY!

  • ppau08223

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 10:37 pm PT

    just hope it doesnt turn out to be some crappy game released for publicity

  • shotokan_42

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 9:17 am PT

    Hell yeah!!! Xbox with my whopper, on the go. It looks like I have it my way.

  • shotokan_42

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 9:16 am PT

    Hell yeah!!! Xbox with my whopper, on the go. It looks like I have it my way.

  • orangeillini14

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 5:59 pm PT

    YES!

    ...not...

  • rctyke

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 5:23 pm PT

    Oh yeah, how about the king imitating micheal jackson "Hey little boy, u wanna be my friend?" Said king Jackson creepingly.

  • x-com

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 3:02 pm PT

    I have one thing to say about this.
    damn the kings a creepy mascot

  • weazel1838

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 8:48 am PT

    Probably a great marketing scheme for bk and microsoft. Lets just see if it happens, and what games come out!

  • Narwaffle

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 3:23 am PT

    Oh thank god I live here in Australia, where Burger King's marketing adventures cannot harm me *snuffle*. Oh wait. Hungry Jack's is a division of Burger King...

  • DoubleDragon

    Posted Apr 18, 2006 7:45 pm PT

    Interesting. I can respect innovative marketing strategies although I really don't think I'd buy something like that. It would have to be something that would really grab my attention. Whether it's 4 dollars or 40 dollars, If i don't get any enjoyment out of it, it's a waste either way.

  • jimmy-fly

    Posted Apr 18, 2006 8:27 am PT

    that sucks

  • Simba129

    Posted Apr 18, 2006 8:01 am PT

    That is the most ridculous thing i have ever heard. EVER. nobody would wanna play a greasy game from BK, or at least i know i wouldnt wanna. BK could actually be losing money on this one instead of making money. I say stick with the little wind up toys.

  • red_bear_tir

    Posted Apr 17, 2006 10:03 pm PT

    Are they going to be BK themed or just games that no one buys and they are looking to get rid of? If they are BK themed, I don't see the point in them, if it's old games that are good, I say go for it, especially if they are cheap.

  • nighterrorx

    Posted Apr 17, 2006 8:13 pm PT

    Something about this doesn't feel right....hmmm....

  • EvanO_O

    Posted Apr 17, 2006 7:20 pm PT

    I'm lovin' it.

  • pokemon777

    Posted Apr 17, 2006 6:35 pm PT

    Did somebody say "Sneakers"?

  • -AcidCobra-

    Posted Apr 17, 2006 5:53 pm PT

    Wow good idea.

  • master50nin

    Posted Apr 17, 2006 3:20 pm PT

    AAA thats what my hype

  • volumesoxxs

    Posted Apr 17, 2006 2:44 pm PT

    lol since BK cant sell food they are going to sell xbox games

  • R3last

    Posted Apr 17, 2006 10:43 am PT

    DUMB Idea...so now you have to pay for what will turn out to be just a longer advertisement for BK?

  • bsnimunf

    Posted Apr 17, 2006 8:50 am PT

    A better idea would be to give away Downloadable content ie a halo 3 map of horse armour for oblivion. Imagine that fraging friends in Halo 3 in a Mcdonalds resteraunt.

    I doubt i will pay $4 or £2 for a game. these games are probabley going to be crap.

  • gertish

    Posted Apr 17, 2006 8:21 am PT

    Hahahahaha....I will buy one just to play as the king.

  • Shadow128

    Posted Apr 17, 2006 6:40 am PT

    Remember Chex Quest?
    That was one hell of an awesome game, I hope for the BK games to be similar

  • BonelessBone

    Posted Apr 16, 2006 10:43 pm PT

    Oh boy, I hope McDonalds isn't in the game, America would be even fatter..er than ever!

  • Truthofme

    Posted Apr 16, 2006 9:51 pm PT

    I want this one.
    Hitman: Frys With That.
    The King is here to play...
    The King is tired of being competed with.
    The King don't screw around.

    Play as the King in 6 heart pounding missions to take out other mascots, including, Wendy, Ronald,Shoney the Bear, and more.
    Sneak, shoot, kill. Be the killer, be, the King.

    Oh...it is orgasmic.

  • galstyan

    Posted Apr 16, 2006 7:10 pm PT

    Weird! But also GENIUS!

  • Teddyplanet

    Posted Apr 16, 2006 6:31 pm PT

    Omigodimonfire? Not really. This sounds so bad.
    I definitely wouldn't waste an extra 4 dollars for some weird Burger King advertisement.

  • KingKevo71789

    Posted Apr 16, 2006 6:16 pm PT

    A $4 XBox game? Wow, I've always wanted to play as The King. The 10 minutes I'll spend playing it before storing it somewhere for the rest of eternity are going to be AMAZING...

  • Brotherbraak

    Posted Apr 16, 2006 5:56 pm PT

    Ninja Gaiden Breakfast Fight!!!!

  • electro234

    Posted Apr 16, 2006 3:22 pm PT

    Hopefully the games don't suck, since a lot of budget titles are really bad......

  • Spongemario

    Posted Apr 16, 2006 3:01 pm PT

    Yeah, and they featured Nintendo toys a few years ago as well.

  • Ryo_Kensen

    Posted Apr 16, 2006 2:02 pm PT

    Just as long as you get to only play as The King and not a frycook or some no name.

  • nytrospawn

    Posted Apr 16, 2006 12:47 pm PT

    So, you sit down to gorge on fast food, then sit down again to gorge on fast food video games. No, I dont think the health of the public will be affected /sarcasm

  • dcl1993

    Posted Apr 16, 2006 10:03 am PT

    HaHa......
    wow
    if it is turns out ot be a good game congrats to BK lol~!

  • Dups79

    Posted Apr 16, 2006 5:43 am PT

    lol , interesting.

  • wetzel894

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 10:39 pm PT

    wow this is the dumbest thing ive heard

  • MetalShadowX_1

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 9:48 pm PT

    $4 games are great, but I've got a bad feeling about this

  • Vortexx

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 8:28 pm PT

    Wow, they have fallen to a new low. I mean, cmon. "Would you like a game with that Whopper?" Thanks, but no thanks.

  • RAFDOG

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 6:27 pm PT

    ergh
    adds in games..at least they should be less obvious. i guess FNR3 wasnt too bad..
    but seriously...there going too far..so they should stop...
    and these $4 dollar games...not gonna be actual games...they will be either demos or .......well we've all heard of those mcdonalds games..it'll be like that ONLY for the xbox..

  • elvisiscool

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 3:55 pm PT

    boooo!

  • oogieboogie8

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 3:11 pm PT

    Woa, cool.

  • cusoker

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 1:13 pm PT

    Oh good! Now, not only will kids get fat from eating burgers, they will accellerate the process by encouraging playing the game while eating a whopper.

  • Gin_Tama

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 12:45 pm PT

    The games will be crap ones with out a doubt which will just be as good as garbage.

  • 1oak

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 11:25 am PT

    BK is a bit better than MC, but this still is NOT RIGHT................

  • magirouard

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 11:11 am PT

    Wow!!! this is a really ridiculous idea. Considering they will be selling the games for 4 bucks a piece, expect them to be fun for about 30 seconds to a minute. Please, just giving a double sized portion of fries or somethin' would be better...

  • Achilles438

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 10:23 am PT

    I can see it now "Burger King gets sued for millions because old lady chokes on cd in the food!" This is a bad idea, they should stick to what makes them successful and that making food.

  • sir_kenny

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 9:45 am PT

    Eh...Screw BK and MC...They make pll fat!

  • h2887

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 9:09 am PT

    lol seems interesting it would be funny if they have all the games with "The King" in them

  • QualityJeverage

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 8:45 am PT

    Think about it guys, this is most likely not for us older gamers. This is, as I mentioned before, the next step in the fast-food business of giving out little toys to kids. Kids are playing more video gams, so BK is taking advantage of that to sell their product. It's just marketing, get over it.

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