VISI Launches Online "Pizza Express" Game

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (Gawkwire.com) VISI, Minnesota’s largest managed hosting and connectivity provider, has launched a new interactive marketing campaign for business managers and information technology professionals which features an online computer game called “Interstellar Pizza Express.” The objective of the Interstellar Pizza Express game, which can be found at www.visi.com/pizzagame, is for players to “be an IT hero” by making as much money as possible while running an online pizza delivery company based in outer space.

As the “IT Commander” of “Interstellar Pizza Express,” the game player must choose between hosting an in-house e-commerce Web site or working with VISI. In each round, the participant can spend his or her available budget on server upgrades and safeguards as well as price settings for pizza and toppings.  The better the game player’s pizza business performs, the more money made and the more pizzas sold.

The “Interstellar Pizza Express” player with the highest score each month from October 2008 - March 2009 will receive a 16GB iPod® Nano from VISI.
“Our goal was to make ‘Interstellar Pizza Express’ a realistic business learning experience, yet a fun game with an outer space theme,” said Mike Kelly, program director of Pixel Farm Interactive. “For example, one of the possible game disasters is that a landscaper’s backhoe disables Internet communications.  If the game participant purchases redundant ISP connectivity safeguard then his or her business is safe. If not, the player won’t enjoy any pizza orders for a week.”

“’Interstellar Pizza Express’ is an interactive way for business owners and IT executives to explore the benefits of VISI’s managed hosting services,” added Gary Elfert, director of products and marketing for VISI.  “This online game showcases the security and up-time practice of our data center services in a fun, visually-engaging way.”

The game, launched at the Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association Summit (www.mimasummit.org) on October 1, 2008, is part of a larger promotional campaign designed to raise awareness of VISI’s managed hosting and colocation services.