microsoft

Visit Sheylara for regular updates (LOL)

- Sheylara 8 Comments

Sponsored

So so so… did any of you win an Xbox 360 yet? I’m still waiting for someone to report on their big win here! =D

There are four weeks remaining in the contest, you know? Don’t let the chance slip you by! Got friends in the market for a new phone? Tell them!

If you missed my previous post about this contest, here’s a refresher:

So nice, right? Someone made a Flash thingy for me to embed on my blog! Whee! (It’s a bit hard to read cos it had to be resized to fit my blog but still readable lah.)

See, it says: Visit Sheylara for regular updates.

Indeed, yes. I update you on many, many things. For instance:

Contests and promotions! (Yes!!)

Microsoft promotion

My travels! (Which I hope to do more of.)

Travelling

My gaming addiction! (Which I hope not to do more of.)

Gaming

Now, I shall attempt a bit of subliminal manipulation: Visit Sheylara.com for your daily dose of delicious abuse entertainment!

Did it work?

Okay, fine. It’s not subliminal at all.

Well, I don’t care.

Sheylara

Win an Xbox 360 Arcade every week

- Sheylara 8 Comments

Sponsored

Yay for Microsoft! For the win! =D

I’m not gushing just because of my affiliation with the company. Really. I was a Microsoft fan way before joining the Xbox team. Ask anyone!

Microsoft

Well, okay, ask the Goonfather. Cos I doubt anyone else really bothers to know that I’ve been using only Microsoft mice and keyboards since I was old enough to buy my own mice and keyboard (but dad pays… wahahaha) and, of course, I love Windows, and Microsoft Office, and my Xbox 360, etc.

Sheylara loves her Xbox 360

Is that too much gushing?

Okay. I’ll stop. (Not really.)

The reason I’m writing this blog today is to bring you an all-important announcement from Microsoft, HTC and StarHub.

Ooooh all the big names!

It’s an all-important announcement because *jeng jeng jeng* Microsoft is giving away an Xbox 360 Arcade every week till April 30!!

Xbox 360

Yes. Yes! It’s very exciting!

Of course there’s a catch. There’s always a catch, duh. But it’s a very appealing catch, nevertheless.

You’ll need to go to the nearest StarHub store to buy either a HTC HD2 or a HTC Touch2. When you do that, you will receive two things!

  1. Two free pre-loaded hit games: Guitar Hero 5 and Diner Dash: Flo on the Go. (Only available till April 30.)
  2. A chance to win an Xbox 360 Arcade. (One awarded every week!)

Microsoft promotion

After you buy either of the phones, go to this page and register for the lucky draw.

This is a pretty great deal, if I may say so. I would buy the phones if only just for the two free games! But, more importantly, being able to win an Xbox would be just awesome.

Sometimes, I have to literally fight with the Goonfather for the Xbox. He would be, like, “GO BUY ANOTHER XBOX LAH! I NEED TO PLAY BAYONETTA NOW.”

Most of the time, I give in to him because he’s such a poor thing, having to go to the office to work every day, while I can work from home and slack off to play games if I feel like it.

But, you know, just sometimes (and if you’re a gamer you would understand), you MUST play a certain game NOW and you just cannot wait! Right??

Xbox 360 games

Anyway, keep this Microsoft-HTC-StarHub promotion in mind. It’s ongoing till April 30, 2010. I’ll be back with more updates on, like, winners and things.

Here’s a closer look at the phones.

HTC HD2:

HTC HD2

HTC Touch2:

HTC Touch2

I might try to persuade the organisers to give me one of these with the two games so I can play them and write you some reviews.

Pleeeeeease.

One must always have hope, right? ;)

I played Ninja Gaiden 2 in Microsoft’s office

- Sheylara 17 Comments

Ninja Gaiden fanboys are probably gonna want my blood for this, but I hope they will wait patiently for the game’s release in June. That game’s gonna satisfy all bloodlust, I assure you!

Here’s a photo of me playing Ninja Gaiden 2 on the Xbox 360 in a small office room in Microsoft:

[Sheylara plays Ninja Gaiden 2]

Well…

That’s all I can photograph. Haha. I wasn’t allowed to photograph or film the game, but that’s nothing new since we all know that Team Ninja enjoys weaving its shroud of secrecy and Microsoft enjoys playing along with that.

So, here’s another photo showing the same thing. *lol*

[Sheylara plays Ninja Gaiden 2 again]

I have to be very honest. I’ve never played any of the prequels, so I quite sucked at playing NG2.

But I’ve watched the Goonfather play Ninja Gaiden. I enjoyed watching the blood and gore fly fast and furious and I enjoyed laughing at him when he got pwned or when he fell down trying to scale impossibly tall walls.

The Goonfather hates me for getting to play the game instead of him. Wait, that came out wrong. I mean, the Goonfather is immensely jealous that he doesn’t get to play the game because he is a #1 Ninja Gaiden fanboy.

Actually, he’s a #1 fanboy of countless games. He’s so greedy. But it kinda helps me because whenever I don’t want him to bug me, I’ll just have to remind him gently, “Hey, Zhao Yun is waiting for you in Dynasty Warriors,” and he’ll be like OMG OKTHXBYE.

It’s great having a gamer partner.

Back to Ninja Gaiden. I love Ryu Hayabusa! He’s so so so cool!! I have a ninja fetish, don’t you know?

[Ryu Hayabusa in Ninja Gaiden 2]

The version we got to play in the Microsoft office was the almost complete build. Ninja Gaiden 2 opens with Ryu Hayabusa on the roof of a building in Sky City Tokyo. It is late in the night and he’s set upon immediately by black-clad men.

That really proved a challenge to me because Ryu is also in black (although his arms are bare, unlike his foes).

Because the action is so fast, I would fight halfway and lose track of Ryu and then I’m just mashing buttons not knowing where I am and whether I’m doing the hitting or being the hittee.

Told you I never play before lah!

But it was really fun and it gave me a thrill to get multiple hits in a row and see the blood spray. Yeah, yeah, bloodthirsty.

We get sticker name tags when we visit Microsoft. So cool!

[Name tag]

I was at Microsoft to get briefed on the Ninja Gaiden 2 launch campaign, which will involve me dressing up as a ninja. Cool or not?! Shhh, don’t tell people. It’s a secret!

So, while we were there, we were shown the game and allowed to play it to get a feel of it. How nice of the Microsoft events people!

Can’t wait for the launch! If you want to take part in the event and win some cool Ninja Gaiden 2 premiums, go camp this page (have to register and log in) and wait for updates!

Or you can keep checking back at my blog for updates because I will certainly be blogging about it. At least you get to read fresh content here every day and not just see the same old teaser page day after day. Heh.

It was Xbox 360’s birthday, but we got presents

- Sheylara 15 Comments

And the parties just keep coming. I could really get used to this!

Xbox 360 celebrated its second birthday on Thursday by inviting a group of bloggers to The Screening Room to play games.

Can anyone even think of a better way to celebrate a birthday??

It was a really exclusive party during which we were shown (and even allowed to try) upcoming highly-anticipated Xbox 360 game titles.

(The first part of my games preview report is out here.)

[Bloggers at Xbox 360 party]

I could really get used to this.

When we first arrived, we were tagged. I was told I was a ninja. Awesome blossom. We later found out that we had been split into groups for the gaming competition. Exciting.

(I was faintly disappointed that we didn’t get ninja costumes to wear but I guess I’m alone in this. Haha.)

Anyway, the first thing we did was just to mingle around and talk shop (games).

[Talking shop]

We posed for pictures.

[Posing for pictures]
(Blogger Farinelli, Microsoft rep Ian Tan and blogger Sheylara)

We watched “live” game demos.

[Watching demos]

The photo above shows me videotaping the Dragonball Z game which I embedded in my earlier blog. Now you know what lousy equipment I’m using for my videos. Haha.

We tried out Rock Band and Guitar Hero 3.

[Being rock stars]

Although I should say “they”, because I already have Rock Band and Guitar Hero 3 at home.

We ate yummy food!

[Being gluttons]

That mini burger is to die for, man. I love it! But I only ate one (and a stuffed chicken wing) because I was so so busy talking about games and playing games!!

We drooled at divine yummy host Oli Pettigrew.

[Ogling Oli]

At least I think the women did.

Oli’s a gamer, too, which makes him perfect for the job of hosting the party.

There was so much to do at the party and so little time.

There was a competition!!

We had four teams of 4-5 members each. Our teams had cool names like Ninja (my team!), Rockstar, Covenant and Ghost.

The games being competed in were Bomberman, Guitar Hero 3 and Project Gotham Racing 4. One or two representatives from each team were sent to play each game and wins were tallied at the end.

Jerrick and I represented our team for Guitar Hero 3!

[Guitar Maniacs]

Well, we didn’t score the highest on GH3. I’m actually much better at drums.

But… OUR TEAM WON in the final tally!!

I could hardly believe it!

Team Ninja won!!! Haha. Cool or not? Team Ninja, like the developer for Ninja Gaiden.

Okay lah, fine, I have no shame.

Anyway, we won this.

[Team Ninja posing with prizes]

Grand Theft Auto IV long-sleeve t-shirts! OH-MY-GAWD.

I am such a game freak, getting excited over such things.

And this is, like, the third t-shirt I’ve won within a week!! (One is for the Ping.sg game and another was at an event I haven’t blogged about yet because I have too many things to blog about recently!)

Actually, I was a very lousy team mate. While my mates were competing in the other games, I was busy elsewhere chatting, eating, playing games, talking shop, instead of cheering them on. Haha. Sorry lah, guys!

But I love my team! You all rock!

There was a birthday-song-birthday-cake routine at the end. But the birthday cake was really special. It was a bunch of mini cakes! *lol*

[Xbox birthday cake]

Very innovative, and no messy cake cutting, either!

We were each given one to hold while we sang the birthday song. And all of us blew our own candle out. Cool, huh?

[Happy Birthday Xbox 360]

So we all had our cakes and ate it, too!

[Having our cake and eating it]

Microsoft very kindly gave away a Limited Edition Xbox 360 for the lucky draw.

And Farinelli won it!

[Big winner!]
(Lucky draw winner Farinelli poses with Microsoft’s Alan Chou and host Oli Pettigrew)

I am so jealous of him because it’s a special Halo 3 edition!!! But I’m also glad he won because he’s my team mate! And I already have an Xbox 360, anyway.

Way to go, Farinelli!!

It was Xbox 360’s birthday, but we all got presents, instead! This is my favourite kind of birthday party!!! Hahahaha.

[Goodie bags]

Let’s see what’s in the goodie bag!

[Our presents]

Two t-shirts, one of which is a limited edition Xbox 360, only 60 pieces made!

One Xbox 360 black wireless controller.

GTA4 stickers and coasters.

Fantastic!

I realise I have tons and tons of exclamation marks in this blog entry which makes me sound like a bimbo!!!

I’m sorry!! But I can’t help it because I’m so happy and excited!!!!

More parties, please!!!

Okay.

Bimbo-geek Sheylara signing out.

Bzzzt.

Behind the scenes of Microsoft media event

- Sheylara 37 Comments

I was a photo opp today.

What’s a photo opp?

Short for photo opportunity, it means I was a decoration piece for photographs. You know, like how, when you go to the zoo, you get to take pictures with a pony or a snake or Ah Meng, and then bring the photo home as a souvenir?

Microsoft hosted a media party today to introduce some new products, not the least of which is Halo 3.

When I arrived at Fashion Bar, where the event was held, the product models were rehearsing their parts in showcasing cool stuff like keyboards and mice.

Master Chief was at the back, being helped into his armour.

Since no one was free to take photos for me, I took it myself.

I must say my photography (camwhoring) skills are improving quite drastically.

Today’s job was easier compared to the other Halo 3 launch events I’ve blogged about.

Well, it certainly doesn’t take very much to be a photo opp. Even a pony or a snake or Ah Meng can do it, right?

First, we paraded and preened to impress the press.

Then, we marched on to the photo corner, where they’d set up an instant shoot-and-print service.

Interested parties came forward to pose for pictures with the three of us exhibits, and then the photos were immediately printed out and stuck on Halo 3 photo frames for guests to bring home.

Pretty cool, eh?

We were there for two sessions. First session was for press, second was for retailers.

In between sessions, we took photos for ourselves. Aren’t the models’ costumes cute? Of course, the models themselves are very cute, too, which is why I arranged for this group picture to be taken.

Events like these are really quite fun. Of course, I would much prefer it if there were actual acting involved. Well, I did try to act like a badass UNSC Marine while parading around, so I guess that’s better than nothing.

After all these events, I’m getting quite hyped up about Halo 3 myself. I hope Microsoft gives us a copy of the game when it launches because I want to play it! ;)