Hasta La Creative!

I’m a huge fan of the idea behind the “original games” campaign. Cafe ping pong & street fencing are genius. The 180 Amsterdam commercial (below) produced by Stink (London) piqued my interest.

And with concept that grabs my attention as much as this one, I was hoping for a bit more than some playable computer games. And while the Skate-or-Die-style of game is cool, there’s still a bit of a disconnect for me from the true idea behind it all (or at least what I hoped the true idea would be). Still a cool execution, but I hope these games aren’t the finale of the “original games” concept… it seems to have so much potential.

(I was going to embed one of the games, but this site’s formatting shrinks it down and messes up the flash a bit, so click the image above to be taken to the Adidas site to best experience the games.)

CHICAGO (AdAge.com) — Last year, Amstel Light was the beer for foodies; this year, it's the beer for ravers, revelers and bohemians. The first campaign for the Heineken-owned brand from new agency Richards Group, Dallas, plays up Amstel's brewed-in-Amsterdam roots, with scenes from that city's legendary, lawless party scene over the tagline "Dam good bier."

Mountain Dew is morphing into a studio.

The beverage brand’s new skateboard documentary, “Deathbowl to Downtown,” follows the rise of street-skating in New York’s shifting urban landscapes from the ’70s to the present. The film took three years to make. Yet, the brand only appears at the start of a film, in the same way a movie studio is credited before the cast and crew credits roll.

According to Ad Age, the movie, set for a limited theatrical release before going to DVD, will sport additional brand-related content in the DVD’s extra features. Participants in promotional contests will also get a chance to win free gear and ride with skate legends.

“We hope to get inside the culture and tap into the influencers,” said Frank Cooper, VP-flavors, Pepsi-Cola North America. “We want the Mountain Dew brand to not only symbolize the culture, but to participate in it by having something of value to say and to bring,” Mr. Cooper said.

My jaw’s on the ground. Cooper and PepsiCo get it. Big time.

LONDON – Lastminute.com has produced its first viral ad, filmed with hidden cameras at Stansted Airport.

LONDON – ITV is to screen a 1965 lost episode of its defunct soap ‘Crossroads’ online as part of a major relaunch of its archive, which also includes shows such as ‘Rising Damp’, ‘Survival’ and ‘Joe 90’.

(TrendHunter.com) Half-boot, half-sandal, these are the perfect shoes for transitioning between warmer seasons. When you’re not quite ready to bare your whole sole, this is the best way to bootie up.

They can be worn to dress up a casual pair of jeans, or to add an element of hip to a more conservative office look. …

Al Jazeera Network has appointed Tony Burman as managing director for the Al Jazeera English channel, replacing incumbent Nigel Parsons.

Recession woes mean your can't afford the flight to Cannes next month? No need to sulk. While big shots and fancy pants swarm the French Riviera for the biggest ad awards show of the year, Madison Ave. rejects can just hop on the subway to Cha Cha's on the boardwalk, where attendees are encouraged to "stay in tightly packed groups, don't wave money around and please do not go home alone."

(TrendHunter.com) Polar Bears are officially on the global list of animals to be protected. As global warming continues, their natural habitats are threatened as global sea ice melts and their ability to survive is threatened. If nothing is done, the great white bears will face extinction.

Thankfully an initiative b…

LONDON – Ford is backing the launch of its Ford Kuga with a multi-channel marketing campaign, kicking off during next week’s Champions League Final.