Palin's on fire, according to NBA Jam

Finding ways to make your brand topical is key to connecting with consumers, ensuring your product spikes throughout the year by sparking timely conversations.

Take for example, NBA Jam - a fun franchise that, while a bit long in the tooth by digital standards, still knows how to keep fans surprised by hitting consumer hot buttons.



Its latest secret reveals the code allowing you to pit Democrats vs. Republicans. It's perfectly political right down to the red, white and blue ball. But will Sarah be a team player? Only W knows for sure.

The clever code for those of you literally playing at home:
From the front end menu, press left 13 times, then press "+" for the Dems; or press right 13 times, then press "+" for the GOP.

Google's 2-bit idea

It's so easy to Google, users don't even have to go to Google to do so. Maybe that's why the e-juggernaut has upped the ante on playing with the word 'Google' on their home page.

Celebrating Pac-Man's 30th birthday, Google has turned their word mark into the game, so people can waste countless hours playing it at work today (and a few minutes blogging about it.)

Hopefully, Galaga can't be far behind.

HRW purchases Broad Ripple Avenue

We're playing with Monopoly money here at Casa de Hoot. Or at least trying to.

The new Monopoly City Streets is live, though it did take forever to get it to work even with the shortcut around the cool slow intro animation. So much for considering the user experience.

This online iteration of the take-home version of the game turns Google Maps into the largest Monopoly board imaginable, so you can find your street, buy it, then literally walk around like you own the place. When the servers are up. Which apparently isn't all that often.

We just hope we can get back on to buy Coil Avenue, so we can have all the Rene's and La Piedad we want.

So in the battle for 9.9.09, it appears that Beatles Rockband is winning, especially with this sweet Pandora station customizer.




But restaurant.com's 'ninety' percent promo is a close second.

Tax time stress relief

Rollover your cursor.
Feel marginally better.

Bracket busted? Try March Adness

All right, so we're a little late coming in on this one, but Adweek has their own take on bracketology in the form of March Adness. Spots are pitted against each other, ado y ado, in a popularity contest to the death. And to make things a little juicier, you can even put your vote on the 3-point line to make it count triple or nada depending on if you make or miss. (Which has to explain some of the upsets.)




Nike and Mountain Dew have the next dance today to decide who fills out the Elite Eight. So if your basketball bracket's already busted, see if you can't pick the winners in something you actually know something about.