Apple and Product Red have been doing annual promotions now for ten years, which honestly, really makes me feel old as it doesn’t seem like that long ago. If you’ve never heard of this whole (RED) thing before, the Wikipedia page does a good job of detailing what it’s all about. Basically, all these massive global brands all get together to put out (RED) products (which are typically red, believe it or not) to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS in Africa. Considering how global this effort is, it’d actually be pretty impressive if you’ve never heard of it, but, hey, whatever.
Anyway, Apple has a whole bunch of red stuff you can buy, and they’ve got a bunch of other ways to contribute such as using Apple Pay at an Apple Store, or buying stuff in a whole ton of games that have added (RED) promotions. Apple provided us with a full list, which, quite honestly is pretty exhaustive:
In Angry Birds 2, you can purchase the (GEM PILE)RED from the in-game shop. In addition to the (GEM PILE)RED, there is a special spell, and a set of custom superhero masks that you can use in the game through December 6. (Rovio)
In Angry Birds POP!, you can purchase a special bundle, (BUNDLE)RED
from the in-game shop. In addition to the (BUNDLE)RED, there is also a special character, and a (RED) themed community challenge you can take part in. (Rovio) In Best Fiends, you can purchase the game’s red Fiends, including a brand new hero, the SUPER RARE FIEND Bam, with all proceeds going directly to (RED)’s fight against AIDS. (Seriously)
In Best Fiends Forever, you can purchase the special Slap Damage boost or the unique (FOREVER)RED Bundle in-game, which includes a unique Souvenir, (THE RED HERO!), a special 2x damage bonus to all red Fiends, and limited-edition Stickers with all proceeds going to the fight against AIDS. (Seriously)
In Boom Beach, you can purchase the (PILE OF DIAMONDS)RED and you will earn a special decorative Golden Medic statue to watch over your base for a limited time. (Supercell)
In Candy Crush Jelly Saga’s exclusive (TREASURES)RED event, you can battle bosses and steal treasures for a limited time while also picking up the (MARVELOUS MIX)RED bundle that includes boosters. (King)
When playing Clash Royale, you can purchase the (HERO PACK)RED which will give you a (POUCH OF GEMS) RED and a limited time red King tower! You can also continue to purchase the (POUCH OF GEMS)RED. (Supercell)
In Clash of Clans, you can purchase the (HERO PACK)RED and earn a Mighty Hero statue and for a limited time a red shoulder armor for the Barbarian King. You can also purchase the (PILE OF GEMS)RED. (Supercell)
In CSR2, you can purchase a unique rare car, the Bugatti Chiron, which has been specially created for CSR 2 and (RED) by the design team at Bugatti. This very special Tier 5 car is one of the fastest cars in the game and owning one gives racers access to a variety of (RED) race events with rare prizes. You can also receive a daily, free crate containing Bugatti fusion parts and rewards. (Zynga)
Episode is unveiling brand new Games for (RED) Demi Lovato and Mean Girls stories that include special (PRODUCT)RED outfits. (Pocket Gems)
In Farm Heroes Saga you can match Cropsies, and fireworks will fly during the game’s exclusive (FIREWORKS)RED event for a limited time. Purchase (HUNTER’S PACK)RED for gold bars to help you progress. (King)
In FarmVille: Tropic Escape, you can purchase 3 different premium Hero packages, including the (GEMS)RED Bundle, (
LIFEGUARD)RED bundle and the (PARROT)RED bundle, which also unlock exclusive tropical-themed decorations and rewards. (Zynga) In FIFA Mobile, you can purchase the (ASSIST PACK)RED to unlock limited-edition items. You will also receive higher value players with this special pack including 4 Gold and 2 Silver or better players. In addition, you will get an exclusive (EA SPORTS)RED kit and ball to use in-game, along with the new (PROFILE LOGO)RED to show off their participation in Games for (RED). (EA)
In Hay Day, you can purchase the (BAG OF DIAMONDS)RED and you will earn a special decorative Mr. Wicker statue including the ability to decorate your Roadside Shop with an exclusive RED theme. You can also continue to purchase the (BAG OF DIAMONDS)RED, to place more Mr. Wicker statues on your farm. (Supercell)
When you purchase the (POWER PACK)RED in MARVEL Contest of Champions, you will receive 3-Star Daredevil (Classic), 3-Star Elektra, 2x Tier 5 Skill ISO-8 and a (POWER PACK)RED TICKET to access a special quest from MARVEL Contest of Champions. (Kabam)
You can purchase the (SUPER BUNDLE)RED in Plants vs. Zombies Heroes containing rare cards with a collection of red teammates and premium cards from the game, including exclusive access to Plants vs. Zombies 2 favorite character, Red Stinger. You can even join forces with Plant Hero Rose and explore exciting new Games for (RED) missions and quests to earn rewards.(EA)
In PewDiePie’s Tuber Simulator, you can purchase a pack of exclusive items that will allow you to decorate your in-game room and help get more votes in our events! (Outerminds)
In SimCity BuildIt, you purchase the new (SIMCASH)RED Pack, earn the right to vote on the new bridge type and get exclusive Games for (RED) Collection buildings for your city. This collection includes the limited-edition (HANGAR)RED, (BALLOON PARK)RED, (HELIPORT)RED and more. Plus, discover a new quest to earn a one-of-a-kind Park. (EA)
War Dragons is turning the skies red with an all-new dragon, Raetrix, as well as animated hero avatars. (Pocket Gems)
In YAHTZEE With Buddies, you can purchase the (PACK)RED, play in YAHTZEE with Buddies’ (HERO TOWER)RED Dice Master Showdown, or participate in the (COMMUNITY)RED event to join with the rest of the community to earn exclusive prizes such as the (HEARTFELT)RED Custom Dice set. (Scopely)
If any of this seems like something you need, be sure to jump in and grab it, as a lot of this stuff is exclusive to this particular promotion. You’ve got until December 6th until this is all over, so don’t delay.
I don't get this. It's not even a game, it's more of a photo app and a pedometer simulation than anything else.
Gotta measure those pedos somehow...
Steps!
I mean steps!
Never played it, I guess if they go by sales it's a winner but it never interested me (shrugs)
Don't shrug away a child's sense of wonderment and ability to make wise financial decisions on a fixed income, Timmy Tim! Those toppins belong in the bank! Careful investment! They should be playing the stock market instead of subsiding the colorful fauna of Kanto! They're violating the terms of our trade embargo!
There's no arguing with the impact of Pokémon GO as a cultural phenomenon, or with its innovation. Even if it were more of a retooling of Niantic's previous game than an entirely original concept, it was the perfect match for the IP. Also, it was probably played by more people than any other mobile phone game this year - even if that was not for very long.
For me? Pffff... Although I respect the concept of the game and find the reaction to it interesting, I'm not that interested in actually playing it. Pokémon GO deserves recognition for what it's achieved, but it wouldn't even make the top 10 of actual playable games for what has been a pretty great year for mobile. Actually, it wouldn't make my personal top 20. But I appreciate it should be in the conversation.
Like you said, I agree.
It does deserve recognition or trying to mix up gaming and outside activities, its a novel idea and definitely a good thing for a lot of people.
As a game though, its very lackluster, I dont understand why this is getting such awards... smh
I see Pokémon Goas one of the best innovations of 2016. Not because it was the firs game to use augmented reality (it wasn't),but because it created an experience with AR that was a amazing match to the Pokémon IP.
I don't think it deserves game of the year as there is fundamentally very little to do in the game compared to other games and what is there isn't that much fun to some (most notably when compared to the IP and previously released games). That said, love the controversy and conversation these types of awards bring up, especially to focus on these dialogues instead of the recent election.:)
Correction - meant to say mobile game of the year
If it were a game I'd be alright with it getting an award. However it's not a game. The Pokémon are nothing more than badges you earn for walking. You can't battle them, level them, trade them, or really anything.
Seriously it's like adding a camera button to Google maps and saying it's now a game because pictures. Which may I ask why isn't Snapchat a game at this point lol.
Actually it's more like Google added pictures of little details of buildings on Maps and then said "go find them".
Treasure hunting is a game, and so is PoGo.
Snapchat has stickers you can collect so does iMessage, I guess those are games by your standards.
Why, you have to search around your city, walking and talking to people with similar interests, noticing corners you didn't see before because you are too busy naysaying a game you clearly don't know to collect stickers in Messages or Snapchat?
Uff...
Except that you can level them up and battle. Have you even tried this game?
Yep and you can't battle them. My coworker and I tried. You don't level them either, you drop stickers on them. The more you spend the higher that one is rated. It's no more a game than Zombies, Run. It's an exercise app. There is nothing wrong with an exercise app, but calling them games is a bit of a stretch.
Are we playing the same game? You've never done a gym battle?
You can level yourself up. You can power up Pokémons and evolve them. You can battle them in gyms.
It may not be what you want, but it is a game.
Game Of The Year... For Moron.
Imo hand held games and mobile games should be separate categories. The eco systems and consumer expectations are totally different. I also don't think pokémon go was really innovative at all. Shadow Cities was a better GPSMMO, not to mention pokémon GO is a copy/paste of ingress with the kanto dex super glued on as a veneer. If GO wasn't a pokémon game I'd be surprised if it was even remembered for anything other than being extremely broken for the first few months after launch.
Ya'll know, consider the fact that this game was every little kid's pokémon fantasy come to life. It's the closest people got to go out in our world and catch the monsters. It got people walking around. It impacted a lot of people far more than any other mobile game this year. If that is not a game of the year, then I don't know what is.
Word.
It's telling that the game awards are in early December when a few heavy hitters are yet to release. Kinda shows the whole thing is not really an attempt at identifying the most quality titles of the year but rather just a big fancy infomercial.
I don't think it's semantically possible to say a thing is justified in winning hyperbolic awards (based on its own merits), because it's like you're saying this thing is both legitimate but also exaggerated, the two can't intersect, unless there was a moral reason for hyperbolizing an award going to a video game and they were justified in stretching the truth...
Hyperbolic - exaggerated
Justified - just or right, well grounded <- neither can apply to winning something it technically doesn't deserve
All I'm trying to say is obviously verification is necessary. I sense Putin's hand in this...
#AuditThePokes!
Just wanted to add one more post saying this isn't a fair award. Pokémon GO is barely a game and there are far better titles that deserve the award
Congrats Niantic! Congrats Pokémon Go!
WE WANT RPG not some stupid AR game
What a scam.
Video games are no longer the old, single machine, antisocial medium they were 15-20 years ago. While they are becoming more connected and social and not just played by 'gamers' but by almost everyone, people are becoming more concerned about the impact video games have on our society.
As much as the controversies that came about from PokemonGo, I cannot even remember if there ever was a game that brought entire families together, engaged in a single recreational activity. From the grandchildren to the grandparents, everyone was playing it. The effect wasn't long, but the impact of PokeGo was definitely felt across the world. The judges may have considered that when giving it the award.
And as far as some would argue that PG is not a 'game', what is a game? Games have evolved over the years, this could be the next evolution of games. 'That Dragon, Cancer' just won an award from Game Awards 2016, and many called it a "walking simulator". It's like FPS lovers calling RPGs' "pointless number crunching" and RPG lovers saying that FPSes are "mindless murder simulators"
That's not new, it has happened before. It was called the Tamagotchi.