Xeko Mission: Costa Rica Bottle-nose Dolphin

Ocean Fact: An estimated 50-80% of all life on earth is found under the ocean surface and the oceans contain 99% of the living space on the planet.

Xeko Adventure Game - Top Ten Best Eco-Conscious Gifts for the Holidays

Green Realty’s Top Ten Eco-Conscious Holiday Gifts:

1. Plantable Journal – Beautiful paper has flower seeds in it! Plant it when done.
2. Organic Cotton Stuffed Animals – Adorable, safe, and 100% natural.
3. Xeko Adventure Game – Eco-friendly, totally green, and fun for the whole family.
4. Organic Cotton Blankets – Snuggly, warm and sustainably made.
5. Beeswax Candles – Gorgeous, long lasting, smells great, no petroleum!
6. Reusable Mug – Get a colored mug that fits your personality! No more paper cups!
7. Unique Ginger Body Lotion – Soothe your skin with the best all natural lotion.
8. Radio Flyer – Unique take on a classic: 100% recycled, durable, wagon for kids.
9. Monkey Sock Puppets – Designed and made from organic cotton crew socks.
10. Earthopoly – A fun game about sustainability made from recycled materials!

Read the full announcement here and visit the Xeko catalog to get Xeko for green families on your list.

Creating World-Class Products and Media that Entertain and Inspire People to Make a Difference

ATLANTA, December 7, 2009 – Founded on the premise of Good, Xeko (pronounced “zeeko”) and Elf Island have merged their companies with the vision of creating and marketing world-class products and media that entertain and inspire the kid in everyone to make a difference. The Xeko Motto: Be a Force For Good!

Bringing together their award-winning product offerings, the unified brand, Xeko (www.xeko.com) instills positive social and environmental values into the world’s future stewards while empowering kids to make a difference today. The new company is co-founded by Xeko creator Amy Tucker and Elf Island co-founders Craig and Liz Kronenberger.

Xeko - Be a Force for Good

“It’s the perfect marriage. Elf Island brings an immersive online virtual world and Xeko brings an amazing brand, offline trading card game and eco-friendly toys. Combined, we have a powerful, integrated product offering that delivers enriching entertainment that kids love and values parents feel good about,” said co-founder and CEO, Craig Kronenberger.

Kids make a difference in the real world by playing in the Xeko virtual world, as well as with Xeko games and toys. On Xeko.com, Xeko partners with nonprofits to promote causes through online games called GoodQuests™. By playing and meeting a collective goal in game, kids activate a donation to the nonprofit. Xeko calls it Gaming for Good™, which is a new trend in the gaming world.

Kids also make a difference by playing the Xeko eco-adventure trading card game and by adopting Xeko Pal endangered animal toys. Based on the Legend of Xeko and endangered animals from the world’s conservation hotspots, Xeko games and toys connect players to the online virtual world and are made from recycled and/or sustainable materials. By playing with Xeko Pals, Xeko Trading Cards and the Xeko Virtual World, kids become Xeko Agents on a mission to help change our world.

Xeko Pals allow users to care for an endangered animal online by nurturing them until they are well enough to be released back to their natural habitat. The better players care for their virtual animals, the more proceeds that are given to support endangered animals in the real world.

Xeko Trading Cards allow kids to play offline and, soon, to log-on to Xeko.com to play with others. Kids can collect and play with each other in highly competitive game play but with one big twist. The more you master your Xeko skills through the trading cards the more you are helping endangered animals in the real world.

”I’m over-the-moon thrilled,” said co-founder and CCO Amy Tucker, “the Xeko virtual world is an amazing space for bringing the Legend of Xeko to life and expanding the Xeko community where our players—Xeko Agents—are real world heroes. The positive difference Xeko players are making is huge!”

In addition to GoodQuest donations, Xeko also makes a donation with every toy purchase to Conservation International (www.conservation.org) in support of its work to save Earth’s biodiversity hotspots.

How kids have helped others through Mirrored Gaming:

• Built eight homes for eight families in Honduras
• Repaired six boats to protect sharks and other wildlife from poachers
• Planted 2,000 trees in Niger
• Helped scientists track polar bear migration in the Arctic
• Fed 100 under served families healthy produce in Sacramento
• Adopted a panda from an earthquake-affected area in China
• Built one camp in Uganda for kids living with HIV

Xeko’s products are created for tweens and teens but welcomes kids of all ages – especially those who care about changing our world.

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About Xeko:
Xeko, rated “G” for “Good,” is the award-winning kids’ entertainment brand specifically created to instill positive social and environmental values into the world’s future stewards while empowering kids to make a difference today. At the heart of Xeko is a virtual world that turns online gaming efforts into real-world results through non-profit partnerships and Mirrored Gaming™. An eco-adventure trading card game and line of Earth-friendly toys provide positive play and connect players online. To further its mission, Xeko invented Gaming for Good™, Mirrored Gaming, and GoodQuests™ and in December 2009, Xeko and Elf Island combined their forces for Good to create world-class products and media that entertain and inspire the kid in everyone to make a difference (www.xeko.com).

Awards

• 2008 & 2007 Outstanding Product Award, iParenting Media
• 2008 Mom’s Best Award
• 2008 & 2007 Game of the Year, Creative Child Magazine
• 2008, 2007 & 2006 Seal of Approval, National Parenting Center
• 2007 & 2006 Recommended Award, Parents’ Choice Foundation
• 2007 & 2006 Amazing Toy Award, Parent Zone
• 2007 The Toy Man Award of Excellencev
• 2006 Top Toy of the Year, Creative Child Magazine

Xeko’s investors include Stone Gossard, Pearl Jam guitarist and conservationist and Dan Gilbert, chairman and founder of Quicken Loans Inc., the nation’s largest online retail mortgage lender and one of the five largest retail mortgage lenders overall. Gilbert also is the majority owner of the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team and operator of the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

This is a post in honor of Global Week of Action (last week) a week devoted to farmed salmon awareness and other issues. Watch this video from YERT to meet the amazing Mark, Ben and Julie, hear Xeko creator Amy Tucker’s ideas on salmon super powers and learn about keeping salmon habitats healthy.

In honor of our ocean friends, HQ gathered these earth-friendly fish tips:

1. When ordering salmon, ask if the salmon is wild — if it’s not, go for the pasta. When is it okay to eat farm-raised salmon? At this point in time, never. (Other types of farm-raised fish are okay… See tip #4.) Read this release from the Pew Environment Group to learn more about Global Week of Action and keeping salmon healthy for generations to come.
2. Help keep our water and oceans clean. All things are connected, especially water systems. The stuff we pour down the drain and that washes down city gutters eventually makes it into our water system and into the sea. Be mindful of what you put down the drain.
3. Wow your friends with fish facts! For example, the Bullseye Electric Ray featured in Mission: Costa Rica (XCR) produces shocks of up to 220 volts (shocking, we know!) and the Giant Whale Shark, also featured in XCR, is bigger than a Texas school bus. Happily, whale sharks eat plankton and not students.
4. Be a picky eater and know the fish on your plate. If you eat fish, choose sustainable fish. The Monterey Bay Aquarium provides a xekotastic (and free) Seafood Watch Guide. Carry it with you at all times.
5. Become a champion of the sea! Build a Xeko water deck: the Sawfish (XCR) has a whopping 15 Eco-Points and the Pygmy Seahorse, featured in Mission: Indonesia (XIN), is one of the cutest critters (and trading cards) on the planet. Start with the Xekopedia and filter for subtype “fish” and then look up sea turtles and ocean mammals.
   

   The Xeko Pigmy Seahorse (XIN) is less than an inch long when fully grown—that's smaller than your pinky!

6. Ask for turtle-safe shrimp (think dolphin-safe tuna) — sea turtles are some of the most critically endangered species on the planet and many fishing practices kill sea turtles, as well as dolphins, seals, whales and even seabirds, as “bycatch.”  If you’re not sure, follow Mr. Leatherback’s example and don’t eat shrimp.
7. Speaking of Mr. Leatherback… get to know Mr. Leatherback — champion of sea turtles and a Xeko hero!
8. Visit your local zoo or aquarium.
9. Have a beach party! If you live near the ocean, invite friends, bring garbage bags and gloves, and have a beach garbage pick up party.
10. Last, but not least, learn how to swim!

Xeko Pal Orca made from certified organic cotton

Do you have a tip for saving our seas? For a chance to win the a Xeko Pal Orca organic cotton stuffed animal toy, just post a comment with your tip for protecting our oceans and underwater friends.

Be a force of nature!

Starting tomorrow at 3:00 AM ET and running one week is Fathead’s Four Seasons Sale: Buy 1 Get 50% OFF on a 2nd item of equal or lesser value. Use code 4SEASONS at checkout. Ends November 10, 2009.

Xeko Dolphin Fathead sheet with the other creatures that are included. Just peel and stick.

The small print: This code is good on all Fathead products, including Xeko products, except for Furniture, SM/ART Squares, Gift Cards, E-Certificates, and already discounted items.

For example, you can buy a Xeko Dolphin at regular price for $59.99 and get a Xeko Humphead Fish (or Xeko Sea Turtle!) 50% off, or just $29.99 and make a cool underwater room.

Xeko Sea Turtle Fathead sheet with loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles, bubbles and jelly fish.

/end Fathead Four Seasons Sale Info

Thanks, Fathead!

Knowledge Boost

HQ gets frequent fan mail asking if you can play the Xeko Trading Card Game (TCG) with more than two people. The answer is YES and the more the merrier! Following are the official multiplayer rules, also available in the Rulebook included with the Xeko Mission: China starter set, as well as in the TCG section of Xeko.com.

Multiplayer Rules for Three Or Four players

A multiplayer game is played much like the two-player version of Xeko. When in doubt about a rule, refer to the two-player rules.

Decks should contain exactly 40 cards, unless all players agree to a different deck size.

A multiplayer game will take longer than a two-player game, so if you have limited time consider playing with 30-card decks.

Play proceeds clockwise from the starting player.

Play Species cards facing you.

When a card specifies an “opponent,” you may choose any other player still in the game.

Xeko TCG Multiplayer

Turf Wars in a Multiplayer Game

Species cards that link to more than one Species card get a Multi-link bonus as normal, even if the Species cards are controlled by different players.

Your Species can only be in a Turf War with one other Species. When you have a choice of Species to begin a Turf War with, you may pick any adjacent Species that is not controlled by you.

Boost cards are only played by players who are involved in the Turf War.

Ending a Multiplayer Game

A multiplayer game ends slightly differently than a two-player game. Players are eliminated from the game as they run out of cards until there are only two players left.

When playing with three players, the first player is eliminated when they run out of cards in their draw pile.

When playing with four players, the first two players are eliminated when they run out of cards in their draw pile.

Any player who is eliminated takes all of their cards out of the game, including Species cards in the field. This can create holes in the field, which can later be filled by the remaining players. Cards controlled by the remaining players do not leave the field, even if they are no longer linked to any cards.

Eliminated players do not score any Eco-points and therefore cannot win the game. The remaining two players finish the game and tally their scores normally.

Multiplayer FAQ

Mission: Madagascar

Q: How do I use the Warning Sign Boost card?

A: Choose a single player and count the number of cards in that player’s hand to determine the amount of the Energy-point increase.

Mission: Costa Rica

Q: How do I use the Treetop Scout Boost card?

A: Choose a single player and count the number of Species cards controlled by that player to determine the amount of the Energy-point increase.

Q: How do I use the Swipe Boost card?

A: You may choose any player and make them discard. The player you choose does not have to be the other player in the Turf War.

Got a Xeko TCG tip? Send it to hq@xeko.com or post it here!

Download

Xeko TCG Multiplayer Rules.

I think I’ll be a hairy-eared dwarf lemur… What will you be?

Monkey Halloween courtesy of Species Guy, Scott Bright. Check out Species Guy’s Website for more fascinating and fun endangered animals videos, books and info.

Don’t know what you’re going to be for Halloween? Visit the Xekopedia to find an endangered animal for you!

Play Xeko — Be a force of nature!

Madagascar Flying Fox, Xeko Card #88, Endemic to Madagascar

Halloween’s just around the corner and with 36.1 million estimated trick or treaters, according to the 2006 US Census (that’s a lot of wrappers!), 1.1 billion pounds of pumpkins grown in 2008 by major pumpkin farmers, according to the USDA (imagine the compost!), Halloween doesn’t need to be scary for the environment.

Gobble up more Halloween stats here and check out these 10 tips for going green this Halloween:

Greening Your Halloween

1. HQ favorite: Trick or Treat for Unicef and help kids around the world
2. Green Halloween – THE definitive list for a green Halloween and a diverse list of eco-friendly treasures and treats
3. Eco Huddle suggests fabulous non-edible treats to hand out this Halloween (including Xeko cards!)
4. Download World Wildlife Federation wild animal pumpkin carving stencils and get WWF’s top 10 tips for a green Halloween
5. “Orange and Green for This Halloween” Greenzer gives great tips for reducing Halloween’s eco-impact
6. “Eco-friendlier Halloween candy choices” from Mother Nature Network
7. Make your own natural face paint with this recipe from the Baltimore Sun
8. Tips for Green Halloween Costumes, Green Halloween Decorating and Green (Healthy) food Ideas at Squidoo’s Green Your Halloween
9. Hand out Xeko trading cards for an eco-friendly and healthy treat
10. Make like a bat and let your Xeko Alter-Eco shine this Halloween!

Be a force of nature!