In a curious move, Best Buy is charging admission to a marketing event. The "IGN Live Event" offers gamers a chance to "Play Xbox 360 for only $15." Here are the features promised for this perverse event:

• Be the first to play Xbox 360! Play Call of Duty 2 and Need for Speed: Most Wanted at the Best Buy gaming lounge.
• Play WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2006, Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie, F.E.A.R.™, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat™, Tony Hawk American Wasteland™ and much more!
• $7,500 cash tournaments featuring Halo 2, Battlefield 2 and Counter-Strike: Source and over $40,000 in prizes in the ANA-LAN Bring Your Own Computer tournaments featuring F.E.A.R., Quake 4™ and The Lord of the Rings™: Battle for Middle Earth™.
• PokerStars.com "All-In Tournament" featuring Greg "Fossilman" Raymer 2004 World Series of Poker Champion.
• Dolby® HD Theater featuring exclusive trailers showcased in High Definition and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
• Event coverage on MTV2.

I know there are few things more gratifying than getting a chance to be on MTV2, and the game tournaments might tempt some, but ... they are charging admission! Those shamelessly consumerist enough to sell their own time to be marketed to can do so at "select Best Buy stores" or at ignlive.com.