Xeko: Mission China

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

CONGRATULATIONS TRACEY (NON-BLOGGER)!

Madagascar, Costa Rica, Indonesia...now China! What am I talking about? Xeko Eco-Adventure Games!! They are now launching their fourth edition of the series: Mission: China!

Beijing, China is home to the 2008 Olympic Games (which is taking place from August 8 to 24 2008). How much do you know about China? How much do your kids know? With Xeko Mission: China, you will all have the opportunity to learn about China’s ecosystems and meet the endangered species that live in them.

Mission: China is the newest edition of Xeko, the award-winning trading card game that introduces kids to threatened species and the world’s conservation “hot spots.” This mission includes animals like the beloved Giant Panda, critically-endangered Snow Leopard, and ferocious King Cobra. The Xeko Mission: China starter set comes packaged in a stunning pagoda box decorated with animals from China’s habitats and dragon illustrations that capture the mysteries of ancient Chinese culture. Piquing kids’ interest in endangered animals and environmental conservation, Xeko seeks to inspire the next generation of eco-leaders through enriching and exciting game play.

Like the blockbusters Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh, Xeko involves collecting trading cards to create a custom library—or in this case a “Xeko-system”—and using the cards to match wits against opponents in exciting game play. Instead of monsters and fantasy, Xeko takes its cues from nature and science, casting actual animal species as the heroes and basing game play on fragile ecosystem relationships. Designed for fun and realism, the number and types of cards in each set match real-world species’ populations and bio-region attributes. Eye-popping artwork makes the cards especially fun to play with and collect. You can even go online to join Club Xeko and get insider tips, newsletters and "other cool stuff!"

Every Xeko game features remarkable plant and animal species from one of Earth's 34 biodiversity hot spots, first identified by Dr. Norman Myers and recognized by Conservation International, Xeko’s non-profit partner and recipient of 4% of net game sales. These hot spots contain 75 percent of the planet's most threatened mammals, birds and amphibians while covering just 2.3 percent of the Earth's surface. An estimated 50 percent of all vascular plants and 42 percent of land vertebrates exist only in these hot spots.

Dedicated to “a bright green future,” Xeko produces the games in an Earth-friendly way. Not only are the cards and packaging made of 100% recycled stock, but all printing is done with eco-friendly inks. While younger children can play and enjoy the game, Xeko is best suited for kids ages 8 years and up.

You can take a closer look at all the individual cards here and see a demonstration on how the game works here. The game comes with a sample set of larger cards to help you learn the game before you start with the real set of cards - it was remarkably easy to pick up on the rules, even for this non-gamer of a mom!

Bonus!! Go Green with Xeko! That link not only has tips for "living green" but Xeko Green Stars Program - a program that includes recycling of empty Xeko Booster Pack wrappers ("The details are still a secret, but the more Booster Pack wrappers you send in, the more points you'll get, and more points equals more cool stuff — like access to cool downloads such as screen savers and wallpapers that we're reserving exclusively for the Xeko players with the most Green Stars.")!

Mission: China’s MSRP is $24.99; 9-card booster packs are $3.99. Consumers can buy the games at specialty toy and game stores nationwide, and Mission: Indonesia and Mission: China will be at Barnes & Noble stores nationally in August.

About Matter Group, LLC – By creating children’s toys and games that turn kids into eco-adventurers, Matter Group, the maker of Xeko, hopes that kids will have fun while being inspired to preserve and protect our planet. The Seattle-based company launched Xeko in 2006 and is currently working on projects to extend the Xeko entertainment property into television, film, and merchandise. For more information, visit http://www.xeko.com/.

**WIN IT!! Win your very own Xeko: Mission China game. To win, go to the Xeko website and leave a comment here telling me the name of one of the many awards they've won. LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WITH YOUR COMMENT - many, many people missed out on winning the last giveaway because I had no way to contact them!! Giveaway is open until 11:59, EST, July 31, 2008. Good Luck!**