Buh-bye Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, Slumber Parties. Hello Xbox 360 House Party!

The marketers at Microsoft are geniuses, and I hate them for their latest tack. In an effort to increase the Xbox 360's perception as THE family console, Microsoft, "... through an outside service called House Party which arranges in-home parties for marketers (yes, visions of Tupperware parties come to mind), over a thousand women were selected to hold Xbox-themed parties this last Saturday. The hosts were sent a package containing over $150 worth of Xbox freebies including microwaveable popcorn, a copy of Scene it, an Xbox universal media remote, three months worth of Live, and 1600 Microsoft points." [USA Today via 1up]



I've heard it said time and time again, by most females that (figuratively) surround me: "My sister/friend got a Wii last Christmas, and it really brought their family together. Harmony truly reigns thanks to their Wii." And of course they can't pass up the chance to harp on the PS3 and 360 with gems like "Jodi's/Jane's/Joan's husband never pays attention to her, and her son gets straight "Fs" ever since they got their PS3 and LittleBigPlanet. What the **** is a Sackboy?"

While I applaud the ingenuity of Microsoft's marketing team, I, a self professed hardcore gamer, am truly frightened at what the future holds...

Instead of the Avon Lady, we'll now have the Xbox Dude canvasing neighborhoods at the oddest hours. Those old milkman jokes will make a terrifying comeback...



The pink Cadillacs awarded to psychopathic lovely, double-blue-diamond Mary Kay entrepreneuresses will be replaced by the 3XTR3M3 X HUMM3R.



That one neighbor that you never talk to suddenly gets all chummy with you, and asks if you're interested in a "ground floor marketing opportunity."



Finally, our gaming man caves will be converted to fruity, craft and scrapbook-laden "country breakfast nooks." We'll have to check the Xbox Schedule to make sure the missus isn't hosting another Fondue and Fallout 3 tea party.



Hold me, it's gettin' dark. Or warm my heart and bank account cockles by visiting our Holiday site, watching us sing, and reading more blog posts.

Jasper Poll: How did You Get a Jasper 360?

iControlPad Case Turns iPhone into a "Console"

Point: Netbooks are masculine. Counterpoint: Netbooks denote high wuss factor.