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197:, "(the game is) diverting for about three nanoseconds — less, if you give in to the urge to pelt the annoying elf, for which you are unfairly punished". Despite Leonard's assessment, the game was played by 75,000 people in the first week of its release. While the game was meant as light hearted, some artificial tree producers were not amused. The CEO of
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interspersed between the garishly colored mutant trees. Mutant trees emerge from boxes that are marked "100% Fake" or "Made in China". The trees, as the game says, have "mutated and are sucking the spirit out of
Christmas". The game features an "Xmas Spirit Meter" light which dims for every mutant
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is a free online video game developed as part of a marketing campaign by the
National Christmas Tree Association in 2004. The game was meant to support the natural Christmas tree industry and received criticism from artificial tree producers. It has been described as similar to
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Company, a U.S. artificial tree manufacturer, said he was surprised at the negativity of the tree growers' ad campaign, adding that it was not exactly "warm and fuzzy".
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to press their message that natural trees are the way to celebrate
Christmas. The game was released for free download or online play in November 2004.
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tree missed or elf hit by mistake. Between rounds the game provides "facts" about
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Attack of the Mutant
Artificial Trees Ho! Ho! Whoa! Holiday Game Fun!
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firm, Kewlbox; Kewlbox is a launching platform for games created by
225:"Attack of the mutant artificial Christmas trees -- from China"
372:(gamezone.com), November 23, 2004, accessed December 18, 2008.
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393:" Case Studies, Smith-Harroff Advertising Agency
341:, December 16, 2004, accessed December 18, 2008.
298:, December 21, 2006, accessed December 18, 2008.
290:The Fight Before Christmas: Real Trees vs. Fakes
195:Attack of the Mutant Artificial Christmas Trees
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391:Client: National Christmas Tree Association
447:Video games developed in the United States
317:, Winter 2007, accessed December 18, 2008.
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26:Attack of the Mutant Artificial Trees
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166:National Christmas Tree Association
256:Barrett, Rick (December 3, 2006).
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168:, a trade group representing the
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258:"Tree sellers let the fir fly"
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152:The game was developed by a
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422:Artificial Christmas trees
263:Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
129:artificial Christmas trees
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442:Video games about plants
295:The Wall Street Journal
288:Munoz, Sara Schaefer. "
172:industry, commissioned
170:Christmas tree farming
427:Christmas video games
135:, while avoiding the
364:2009-06-04 at the
338:The New York Times
158:Internet marketing
432:Free online games
333:Ready, Aim, Splat
314:American Heritage
307:Wohleber, Curt. "
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386:Official website
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272:. Retrieved
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234:. Retrieved
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437:Flash games
199:Balsam Hill
148:Development
116:Whac-A-Mole
62:Platform(s)
417:Advergames
401:Categories
205:References
180:Reception
133:snowballs
362:Archived
357:Staff. "
309:Fake Fir
193:said of
162:Blockdot
94:Genre(s)
46:Blockdot
189:writer
156:-based
73:Release
67:Browser
56:Kewlbox
174:Attack
164:. The
154:Dallas
99:Action
230:Salon
186:Salon
137:elves
131:with
276:2008
238:2008
123:Game
335:",
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81:WW
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
