14 DAY TRIAL // 2K Games has announced a series of three initiatives for the social space designed to promote Mafia II, the gangster themed open world action adventure title that the company will be launching on August 24 on the Xbox 360 from Microsoft, the PlayStation 3 from Sony and the PC.
In a world that gets more and more connected by the minute video games developers can no longer promote their wares just through normal advertising channels and through word of mouth from early buyers.
Facebook and other social networks are increasingly becoming crucial to the pre launch effort and 2K Games is aiming to make fans of Mafia that are on Facebook and Pandora support the game in its social promotion.
On Facebook Mafia II introduces the Hit List application and allows fans to put out hit contracts for both friends and enemies, with the toughest of the virtual mob bosses appearing in two lists, one for the Top 5 Hitmen and one for Top 5 Most Wanted.
On Pandora those who are interested in the setting of Mafia II, the American late '40's and early '50's as it is boiled down in Empire City, will be able to listen to a Mafia II mix tap, with offered songs including: “Ain’t that a Kick in the Head” by Dean Martin, “Boom Boom” by John Lee Hooker, “Mambo Italiano” from Rosemary Clooney, “It Don’t Mean a Thing” performed by Duke Ellington and "Rave On" from Buddy Holly.
On the weekend before the launch date Made Man parties will be hosted in cities like Chicago, hosted by SFX-360, Miami and New York, with Gamertag Radion playing host.
Mafia II will tell the story of Vito, an Italian American war veteran who returns to a country that has changed and where his only way to the top is becoming a Made Man and enforcing the will of the Mafia