At first blush, EA Legend sounds like a collection of the publisher’s finest games. The reality is EA Legend isn’t a game at all. EA Legend is actually a platform that is designed to help advertisers become more effective at their jobs. The only thing that’s required of you as a consumer is to keep doing what you normally do with EA products.

Last week, we had a little fun talking about the premature departure of Sony’s favorite made up vice president Kevin Butler. Butler announced on Twitter he was becoming president of a flooring company and that there may be a commercial to support that. Sony also told us to stay tuned for more information. Today, Sony revealed a new marketing campaign called “Long Live Play” that hoists Kevin Butler back into the limelight.

Kevin Butler is one of the best things to happen to the PlayStation 3. During a time when a lot of people were wondering what advantages a PS3 had over a Xbox 360, Sony came up with the “It Only Does Everything campaign.” At the same time, it hired an actor to play the role of vice-president of darn near anything PS3 related. Kevin Butler starred in a number of funny and very approachable ads that no doubt increased sales of PS3 hardware and software. Today, our favorite fake VP is moving on, or is he?

Throughout this week there have been hints and rumors that Valve is going to unleash Portal 2 to the hungry masses earlier than its April 19, 2011 release date. Some speculated that it would be today. Early this morning, a countdown appeared on the Aperture Science Website that further hinted at this. But when it went down to zero, the result was not quite what was expected.

Putting Subway subs in your stomach might soon mean some free Playstation products in your home before they are in stores.

Subway and Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) announced today (August 16, 2010) a giveaway that will include more than $1 million in prizes given at the (average) rate of one prize per minute during the promotion which begins August 16, 2010, and ends at midnight on October 17, 2010.

The promotion is called Fiery Footlong Frenzy Fueled by PlayStation and will focus on Subway’s lineup of spicy “Fiery Footlong” sandwiches that includes the a Turkey Jalapeno Melt and Buffalo Chicken. Game codes will be included on 32 oz. drinks, specially marked SunChips Monterey Jack and Sundried Tomato bags and certain Subway Breakfast sandwiches. Codes will need to be entered at the Subway Fiery Footlong Frenzy web site. The companies are also using the slogan, “WIN IT BEFORE YOU CAN BUY IT!”

THQ publishes franchises such as Red Faction and Saint’s Row. Games with expensive development costs such as these need marketing to make as many consumers aware of their existence. THQ just feels television isn’t the way to go about promoting the games.

And I mean that literally.

After unpacking my groceries a few days ago, I went to prep a banana for consumption. I peeled off the stickers and noticed that there was a cute little monkey on the sticker instead of the usual “Chiquita” lady logo.

I checked the other bananas and there was one with a friggin’ MonkeyBall logo on it. Super MonkeyBall: Step & Roll for Wii to be precise).

Sure, the monkey makes sense but a Nintendo game tie-in? Where will the marketing end!? OK, so it’s sly, it’s subtle and it’s actually related (and for a healthy food item). Damn you, Sega (and Nintendo)…

Due to the high demand of Nintendo’s Wii console, Nintendo will pull the holiday ads for Wii and replace them with ads for the Nintendo DS until New Years. This switch is to help push the DS and give the company time to restock their Wii supplies as reports mount of expensive bundles, eBay price more »

The Halo 3 feeding frenzy has begun…literally. Microsoft announced today (August 9, 2007) that Burger King will be part of the all out marketing offensive for Halo 3 alongside other venerable brand names such as Pontiac, Mountain Dew, and 7-Eleven. Look for the Master Chief’s battle hardened visage to be staring at you from the sides of drink cups, french fry containers and bags of your favorite synthetically flavored corn chips. Get this — limited edition aluminum bottles of Mountain Dew featuring special designs by Bungie. 7-Eleven is even issuing special Halo 3 themed Slurpee cups. Can you say overkill?

GameDailyBiz periodically features a missive about videogame journalism. Aside from trying to help educate its own writers and the many bloggers who look at the site, the articles offer pretty good summaries of things all new writers should keep in mind. In the most recent advice article, by writer and author Scott Steinberg, he offers the standard advice to writers which can be whittled down to, “Read a lot, write a lot, be patient and make a lot of friends who can pay.” It makes a nice primer for a beginning freelance writer …