Slim Jim Spices Things Up

I have a long-standing, highly emotional relationship with Slim Jim, those pepperoni inspired and chemically enhanced single-serve sausages wrapped in plastic and loaded with extra fat. When I was growing up in rural Minnesota, Slim Jim (and Jim’s first cousin, Beef Jerky) were staples at the local bowling alley. A low-cost treat that would tide you over until breakfast. Or maybe even be breakfast.

 

Back in the day, Slim Jim’s advertising was not nearly as spicy as the porkish product. In fact, I can’t remember a single ad. These days, things are quite different. In the last few years, Slim Jim has been spending heavily on TV. But since their major target is young men, they are also, quite logically, focusing on the Internet.

 

Their most recent effort is quite ambitious. The campaign is entitled “Spicy Side” and invites dudes (and dudettes, one assumes) to explore their spicy side in a virtual world a la second life. You create your own avatar—based on the funky animation style the brand has created and your uploaded photo—and then explore Spicy Town, where you can chat with other avatars and try to earn enough points to hit the leader board.

 

I am a bit suspicious about the other avatars actually being real folks as opposed to unreal animations, but I have not spent enough time in Spicy Town to make a definitive judgement. I do like how my avatar turned out, however, and the fact that when I return to the site my avatar is there on the opening page without having to log in.

 

While I will be curious to see how many folks join in the Spicy fun, Slim Jim gets high marks for an interesting, fun experience. And here are a few banner games that you can play to get you in the mood for Spicy Town: Game 1, Game 2, Game 3.

 

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some bowling to do.

Red Bull Gives You Wings—But They’re Hard to Control

When a number of people send me a link to the same site, there’s a good chance that it’s pretty decent. Such is the case with this new site from the energetic crew at Red Bull.

You are probably familiar with their advertising slogan, “Red Bull Gives You Wings”, and their loopy animated ads that have clearly been translated from the original German. Well, now Red Bull really DOES give you wings, of the virtual model airplane type, in the “Red Bull Flugtag Flight Lab Online Game”. The well-designed site lets you make your own plane (you choose the materials, paint it and even upload a photo to decorate it with). Then you can fly it. Or, as was the case in my personal experience, crash it into the ocean after flapping wildly around a bit.  

Apparently more skilled fliers can pick up points and come back to play again and again. I am certainly not the target, but I can see how it could be addictive for some people. Probably the same kids who are addicted to the drink.