If there was one week this year for a health-conscious Codespotter to take a break from counting calories and eating nutritiously, this would be it. This week marks the start of the yearly McDonald’s Monopoly contest; a wildly popular instant win game that boasts, among other things, daily $100,000 cash prizes. The game’s premise is simple: selected McDonald’s menu selections come with game pieces that contain a unique 10-digit code (a “dice roll”). Each code represents a Monopoly property and a winning combination of properties yields a prize. For example, collecting the green properties of Pacific, North Carolina and Pennsylvania Avenue wins $25,000.
Players can play the game either in store, online, or via text messaging. In store instant-win prizes include McDonalds food and other smaller instant win prizes. By entering these game piece codes online at PlayatMcD.com, you can also instantly win cash (anywhere from $50 to $100,000), Shell Gift Cards, or 25 MyCokeRewards points. To play with text messaging, register your phone online and then text game codes to 96363.
Buying and eating more of those selections gives you a higher chance to win prizes. 2 pieces, plus one bonus piece, are found on Medium and Large Premium Roast Coffee (excluding iced coffee and specialty coffee), McSkillet Burritos, Southern Style Chicken Sandwiches, Big Macs, Premium Chicken Sandwiches, Large French Fries, Medium & Large Fountain Drinks, and Hash Browns.
McDonalds Monopoly is wildly popular and certainly delivers a great deal of prizes. An online ticker keeps track of winning prizes that are redeemed and when I started writing this post, the number of winners was around 17,000. It is currently at 19, 271 (edit: The game is currently at 171,005. 2:07PM, 10/08/08). Literally there are people winning almost every second. These are pretty good odds and the contest is definitely worth a play or two. The contest will be running at a McDonalds near you from October 7, 2008 to November 3, 2008. Rules and conditions can also be found on PlayatMcD.com.
October 7th, 2008
For some quick news, the annual McDonalds/Monopoly Game is going to kick off on October 7th. One of the ways for players to enter codes is via text messaging. We will be addressing the game officially next week when it actually is opened to the public, but for now, visit the contest’s website for a preview of the and for an exclusive code that enters earlybird contestants into an exclusive $100,000 pre-promotion giveaway. Be sure to check back with Codespotter soon to hear our thoughts about the game!
-JPK
September 25th, 2008
“No other campaign has done this before. You can be part of this important moment.”
I received an interesting mass email this morning from David Plouffe, Barack Obama’s campaign manager. It seems that Obama wants to make a further gesture of gratitude towards his technologically savvy supporters by alerting them to his choice for Vice Presidential candidate. Members of Obama Mobile will be emailed or texted the candidate’s official running mate before any other outlet receives the news (although realistically, it probably will all happen at the same blink-of-an-eye speed. It’s the thought that counts…)
By signing up for Obama Mobile on Obama’s website, members can opt in to recieve either a text message or email. By texting VP to 62262 (OBAMA), members can also register for a text message bearing the news. It is certainly the first time in history that a candidate has actively used SMS (see our article on Obama Mobile here). As crunch time begins for the election and the final months approach, I have a feeling that this will be the lead off to many exciting SMS alerts and updates about the campaign. Sign up today and be part of history!
-JPK
August 11th, 2008
JP at Codespotter.com talked to Stacy Geagan Wagner, Vice President of Public Relations for Limbo. Stacy gave us some history of the company and some of its plans for the future.
What is Limbo?
Wagner explains, “Limbo is a mobile entertainment company. Limbo started with text message based entertainment and then added more content that is accessible through our website www.limbo.com.” As Wagner notes, “the entire website is advertisement- supported, which means that consumers can win prizes for free.”
What are its current uses?
Wagner explains, “Limbo is both a mobile entertainment community and a social network”. Limbo has grown from being a mobile specific opportunity to being a fun, multifaceted social community. Wagner cites the launch of Limbo’s first chat board in early 2007. When the board was introduced, it became instantly popular among the site’s users.
Are there more users from the text-based arena of game play or the web-based one?
There is no real, distinct difference between the number of players who play Limbo via text messaging and the number of players who play Limbo online. Wagner notes, “Some players actually play Limbo games simultaneously on phones and online and are able to customize their experience. Our audience isn’t just gamers. A large number are people who want to win free stuff.” Interaction at Limbo happens across multiple channels and areas, thanks in part to Limbo’s popularity. As Wagner proudly says “MTV viewers are interacting with Redbook readers.” This core group of gamers and users ultimately cater to the social aspect of Limbo, spreading the word about the site and spreading it with great success.
How many players are there currently? What are the site’s plans to grow?
Limbo reached 1,000,000 members in December. The site continues to grow healthily as it spreads via word-of-mouth. People are most drawn to the fact that it is not a scam. Wagner explains, “People love to know other people who have won or who play.” As a way to increase interest in the site, Limbo works with local television stations. This shows people that winners exist, and that furthermore, they exist locally. Wagner says, “People see other players in their cities and see that people actually win. The social networking aspect plays into that because [players] see real people with whom they can connect”
“People love to play for the sake of playing. It’s very gratifying to know that you’ve created something that people just want to do.”
What are the site’s coolest current features? Is Limbo introducing new features?
Limbo frequently adds content to Limbo Lowdowns. They offer more than 30 daily text message services for mobile users, including weather texts, celebrity gossip, Bible quotes and other customized alerts. The service itself is syndicated, but is free to Limbo users (with standard text rates applying). The site also offers Spanish texts to users. This both increases the variety of content that the site distributes, but also helps bring in new users. Limbo features a robust product life cycle. For example, since April 2007, Limbo has introduced new features My Limbo, Limbo Grab, and Limbo Mingle.
Weaver explains that Limbo’s games are all created and tested in the Limbo house, in the office. Limbo’s staff gets to test the games via mobile phone and web. This method of development causes friendly competition in the office, and Limbo’s developers often find themselves competing with staff members in games. In a separate game of Limbo Unique, staff members took the hat belonging to an intern, Omar, and added it as a prize on the site. The president of Limbo bought the hat, and Omar was compensated with a gift certificate to get a new hat.
What is the most popular game? What are the most popular prizes?
Although Limbo boasts many games and features, all of Limbo’s games are, for the most part, equally popular. The popular Limbo Unique is the longest running game. There are no uniquely popular prizes, and as Wagner explains, “People love cash and cars; and even though cash and cars are very popular, the amount of players across different games is very constant. Nike shoes are as popular as $1000 in cash. People love to play for the sake of playing. It’s very gratifying to know that you’ve created something that people just want to do.”
Currently, Limbo Unique is offering a 2008 Convertible Mustang as a prize in a contest that will last from March 21 to May 23, 2008.
June 2nd, 2008
