So this is the reason the Mini-Mobfeed went crazy. Awesome. Lol. My guess is that Matthew Hunter has an early lead.

Looks like the mobfeed will be crazy this month.

Questions:

For Canadian residents too?

For staff too? ;)

Ugh, so much for original posts for awhile. Still, it's probably too nice a prize not to write an entry.

 

Make sure to call me a hypocrite when I post mine.

But, I don't own one. That's why I want to win it. Sooo, the best 360 game is... I don't know, Kameo? I guess I'll just make up bs. I'm good at that.

@Chase Nothing's stopping you or anyone else from writing something original under these requirements. 

@Jason I know, but just looking at the Mini-Mobfeed makes me a little uneasy about the whole thing. I love the 360 and Bitmob as much as anyone, and I get that you need to make some money, but you have to admit, this is getting away from what the site is all about.

@Chase Thanks Debbi Downer. ;-) There is nothing in the rules saying that you can't be original. Just wait till you read what I have planned. I may be disqualified. I hope don't I don't get deleted this may be funny.

@Nick I'm probably overracting, but I just love this site so much and would hate to see it lose sight of it's original mission. Good luck in the contest.

I was a little remiss to write all those posts, but I tried to make them the most entertaining 200 words I could!  But, I realize that won't always be the case.  I understand where Chase is coming from, it's hard to take things seriously when everyone has the same title.  But sometimes, staying alive is as important as staying true to your mission statement.

@Matthew I certainly don't blame you. That's a mighty tasty carrot they've got dangling from a stick. How could anyone resist putting together a couple hundred words for an entry?

I don't own an Xbox (or any current-gen consoles, really). So I don't know how I'm supposed to enter this contest to win an Xbox. I know complaining will get me nowhere, so I better get brainstorming on something I can write.

Good luck everyone ^^

@Meghan - Do what I'm doing, Meghan! Just make up random bullshit! I mean, the rules don't state many things. 1.) We don't need to define why something is our favorite. Meaning that the fact that we don't own the system we are trying to win doesn't matter. Anything can be your favorite thing for whatever reason you want! 2.) Opinions can be extremely stupid and ill-informed. They're just opinions! Just make up what games are your favorites! I mean, what's the worst that could happen? They'd give it to someone that already owns a 360 and thus can enter this contest much easier given the means of entering? Psssshhaw, I say!

I totally understand why you guys have to run prompts like this, and given a role reversal, I would do the same thing if given the opportunity. It IS a little weird, basically giving a system to someone who likely already has one, but I can see why it makes sense, in a way. The system isn't the prize. The hype and SEO for Microsoft are. Bitmob and Microsoft are the winners, here.

So, I understand why this is happening. I'm just scared to even load the mobfeed for awhile.

Is someone really going to write a review on Vampire Rain as the best shooter?? I actually would LOVE to read that, if someone's up for it.

@Michael The carrot for me at least would having Wi-Fi access without the $100 adapter and a harddrive with exponentially more space than my 20 gig one. I don't plan on participating in this anyway though.

I'm another one of those poor folks who doesn't already own a 360, and therefore would love to take a crack at the contest. 

What to do, what to do...

"Sponsor reserves the right to make determinations of suitability in its sole and absolute discretion, and to disqualify any entries it determines to be inappropriate for any reason."

That's from the official rules, so I guess I'll try to wing a creative entry, and hope that it passes muster with the Sponsor.  :)

@Ryan - Jesus christ, I guess my entries definitely won't count then. Now I'm pissed off all over again, especially because the staff hasn't even responded to anyone saying how ridiculous it is to make a contest to win a 360 specifically for people that already own a 360. I'd love if they'd acknowledge our discontent and at least tell us that it does indeed kind of suck, and what sort of bullshit entries we could make up to possibly be entered as well.

To peeps that want to enter the contest that don't have Xbox 360s: Maybe write about a multiplatform game that you played on a different system, but write about it as if you played it for the 360. Loopholes, people!

Man, Alex...leave it up to you to find a way to complain about a giveaway. If you don't like it and you don't want a chance to win free stuff...don't enter it. Simple!

There are a TON of 360 owners who would love to win a new one to upgrade their personal system, to keep and give their old one to someone else, to sell, to give to a friend...whatever. And like Nick said, you don't have to be a 360 owner to enter. There are a billion third-party games to write about.

Anyways, it's a SPONSORED contest that MICROSOFT is specifically running with us...so yeah, it's going to be geared toward 360 stuff. You absolutely don't have to participate, sheesh.

I would've definitely entered this if A) I had the ambition to throw together some words and B) if I could honestly pick favorites.

I also agree that it's not entirely impossible to write about good games on the 360. Many games are multiplatform (the best ones, usually) and you wouldn't have to enter EVERY contest.

@Everyone I think we all should have oatmeal cookies and enjoy the moment ..  

free 360? oh, its on

@Shoe - Leave it to me? Am I known for complaining about things, because I'm mostly extremely encouraging about everything the site does. And besides, I was not the first to complain about this contest, everyone else just stopped because there was no response. How about this: http://twitter.com/feitclub/status/17685687311

I can't believe that's your response. Making me feel like I'm being ridiculous about it. I realize I got pretty vicious about it, but it feels like a slap in the face. I work my ass off every single day of my life to support my family and barely get by paycheck to paycheck, and the video game industry is just leaving me behind. What's the surest sign I'll never be able to catch up and be able to write about video games, the thing I love doing the most? Now contests for current gen systems are aimed specifically at current owners of those systems.

You know what? Fine, I AM being ridiculous about this. I'll never attempt to raise any concerns about anything again. I've already pissed away a chance at you ever hiring me I'm sure because this whole thing upset me and it escalated further than it probably should have. And what other game site would ever hire me when I'm so far behind the times? It's becoming stupid for me to even try, and this contest cemented that fact for me.

Leave it up to me... I guess I know how I come across now. Yeah, I was annoyed, but I was trying to make sure it came across as playful ribbing just as much as slight frustration. Nevermind.

Alex, it didn't sound like playful ribbing to any of us. You were swearing up in down in your post...that's an angry rant.

The thing is, from our point of view, we just find it hard to believe that anyone could complain about something that's given away for free. It doesn't cost you anything, and it's totally free. Maybe the contest isn't for you. Maybe the prize isn't for you. But like other people have pointed out here, there are plenty of ways to win it without you having to be a previous 360 owner.

I DO understand that specific complaint (what you and Daniel and others have said)...but if there are other ways around it that opens up the contest for everyone (and I didn't even mention the possibility of borrowing or renting the system if you you want to participate that badly)...and if just about every old-360 owner would be thrilled to get a new one (heck, I would be, too...I would've been happy to keep it for myself if that'd be ethically acceptable)...it seems like the contest is pretty win-win to us.

It's just frustrating for us to hear an anger-filled rant about this purely optional, no obligation, free giveaway.

I had to message you in the past about something you were complaining about, so maybe I that was on my mind as well. And I absolutely don't want to get into a fight with you -- you've been with us through thick and thin, and we appreciate the support. But we just didn't see this warranting that sort of reaction from anyone....

It sounded like playful ribbing to me, and I personally think that Alex has a decent point and was presenting it in his own way. You have your own point and your own reasons for doing it and those are also valid. I don't really think that belittling alex's opinion just because he didn't present it in a way you personally like accomplishes anything but make it look like you are out to alienate people who don't fit into your personal opinion of public discourse. Don't assume a person's intent by their word choices any more then you want other people assuming your intent by your site's actions.

Jeff: Well said, and you're absolutely right. But I didn't assume Alex was pissed...he said outright that he was "pissed off...again"  :)

@Dan Well speaking from personal experience it's perfectly possible for something you say on the internet to sound much less threatening or insulting in your own head when you compose it. Text is much more open to interpritation then speech. A fact that has bit me in the arse more times then i'd care to count. In my opinion It's best to just assume that someone doesn't mean things as an attempt to sabotage or hurt until they take active steps in that direction.

@Jeff: Fair enough. I guess I'm from the school of: say and write what you mean. Because once it's out there, it's out there.

@Dan well it's easy to say that but you also have to consider the emotional fluctuations of people. Some people aren't capable of treating every situation in a completley calm and measured way. I've often found myself saying something in the heat of the moment that I had to apologise or back pedal on because I worded them too strongly or took something too personally. I'm an emotional and passionate guy for numerous different reasons but that fact doesn't make my opinions any less valid. To act like everyone is held to the exact same high standard when people are motivated by factors of high stress, frustration with their own situations, and even mental disorders is just unfair. If you were to limit the discussion to only people who never made diplomatic mistakes in their discourse you would be limiting the content of the discussion as well because you would be removing entire thought processes and personality types as 'undesireable'.

As long as someone doesn't mean serious harm and is willing to try to keep themselves respectful it's not unreasonable for those people to be given some forgiveness for having a strange or imperfect way of expressing themselves.

I am with drawing my submissions ... I hope someone with out or who has not ever bought one wins 

Alex and I hugged over email, so we're all good! I apologize for coming off so brash in my initial response. Tell you what, when I become a multibillionaire from Bitmob someday...free Xbox 360s for everyone on this thread!

It's Oprah Shoefrey!

"...when I become a multibillionaire from Bitmob someday...free Xbox 360s for everyone on this thread!"

Damn...I uh...well damn. lol.

Oh my god, Jason. That's going to give me nightmares! Sexy nightmares....

How narcissistic is a person when they think a picture of their face photoshopped onto a woman's body is sexy?

 

 

Okay, fine...it's a damn hot picture.

Little-known fact: Shoe actually wore his hair like that in college.

Science fact.

James did the Photoshopping. I just came up with the idea. 

@Jason - That makes so much more sense. I was trying to imagine you photoshopping something so ridiculous and my mind just couldn't comprehend it. James doing it makes perfect sense, though.

It figures I miss out on all the interesting stuff the one weekend I take a break from the internet.

@Jeffrey- No comment, since I'm obviously biased in your favor. :)

@Alex- We need to get you a 360 or PS3 soon!

@Shoe- That picture is HOT! I may need to get a perm now.....

What do we put for racing games as the title? Best Xbox 360 Racer? Best Xbox 360 Racing Game?

Go with Best Xbox 360 Racing Game.

Because this contest is sponsored, will entries with "colorful language" be disqualified?

New desktop picture!

had to post a comment on the off chance Shoe becomes a billionare and has to live up to his promises...

This might be the incentive to write my first piece on Bitmob. I need a 360 and if this is my chance to play ME I'll take it.

So the grand prize winner will be emailed sometime soon. How will the rest of us know when to stop holding our breath?

When we pass out.

We should have a follow up post on the site by the end of the week. Thanks to everyone who entered!

AWw crap, forgot to enter. D'oh!

Running out of breath! Making way for the surface now!

Are you going to just LET Guybrush win?  Don't give up, Larry!