Ian Bogost - Water Cooler Games - Even Christmas Trees have Advergames

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Water Cooler Games served as the web's primary forum for "videogames with an agenda" — coverage of the uses of video games in advertising, politics, education, and other everyday activities, outside the sphere of entertainment.

The site was maintained at watercoolergames.org from 2003-2009, where it was edited by myself and Gonzalo Frasca. It is now archived here in full.

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Even Christmas Trees have Advergames

by Ian Bogost November 29, 2004

categories: Advergames

I had no idea there was a National Christmas Tree Association. But there is, and they've sponsored a game over at Kewlbox, Attack of the Mutant Artificial Trees. I'm not making this up. According to the press release, NCTA "is using the game to educate players on the positive points of having a real Christmas tree this year." The game also links to NCTA's Help Santa Find the Perfect Real Tree contest. The game itself is pretty forgettable, whack-a-mole with angry mutant trees.

Comments (2)

Since I'm not a big fan of the whole Xmas hewhaw, I had to check out this one. I found the "educational" portion of the game very questionable. I mean what's with the nationalist/regionalist discourse?

"North American *REAL* christmas trees are grown in all 50 states and Canada. 85% of artificial trees are made in China."

Also it might just be me but the elf proclaiming "Wood is Good" is just asking to be rediculed by Beavis and Butthead, even though they've outplayed their role in popular culture.

Great fun getting the elf with the snowballs though.

Tore Vesterby on November 29, 2004 5:33 PM

Weirdly, the NCTA seems to be a trade association for North American Christmas tree sellers and growers. So, I guess that's the logic behind the regionalism. It's still mighty odd that the Christmas tree folks have a trade association.

Ian Bogost on November 29, 2004 5:55 PM