Hasta La Creative!

McCann London has hired Theo Izzard-Brown, a planning director at Wieden & Kennedy London, as its head of strategy.

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has appointed Atelier to handle its advertising across EMEA.

Whyte & Mackay is on the hunt for an advertising agency for its eponymous whisky brand, after becoming part of the Philippine drinks company Emperador.

After more than 20 years of selling video games, Game has decided to release its own as part of a Christmas marketing campaign.
The idea was conceived by 101 and the agency will work with Freak Storm to create the product, which is called Christmas Shopper Simulator and can be downloaded for free at Game s website from today (4 December). Limited-edition copies will also be hidden in selected Game stores and can be traded for prizes.
The game is a third-person adventure similar to Goat Simulator, a surprise hit this year in which players control a goat.
In Christmas Shopper Simulator, players guide a shopper around a mall as part of a timed mission to find and buy presents.
Players can visit shops such as Amazombie.com (spoofing Amazon) and knock things down. Meanwhile, Game stores are staffed by helpful people who can restore the player s energy.
Fred Prego, Game s insight and marketing director, said: “Our customers love gaming of all kinds. This is our way to reward them. A fun, light-hearted simulator that lets you enjoy Christmas shopping from the comfort of your own armchair.”
The campaign was created by Ryan Delahanty, Erik Hedman and Ben Williams, and produced through Freak Storm. Game hired 101 in May after a competitive pitch.
Augusto Sola, a creative director at 101, said: “Game is a retailer, but it s the only one staffed by real gamers too. So they know that Christmas shopping can be competitive and stressful, and gets in the way of what they really want: game time. So they re doing what gamers would do, and making a game of it.”

Honda Motor Europe has appointed Lost Boys and Starcom MediaVest Group to lead its social media activity across Europe.

A campaign that gives classic literature “the client treatment” has been launched to promote the Winston Fletcher Fiction Prize.

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