The hugeness of the iPhone App Store can make it difficult for companies or developers to get their app noticed. Thus, it's no surprise that more and more developers are turning to social media to create awareness of their application and engage with their audience.
Today, iPhone developer Freeverse has announced a contest to name and describe a planet in its upcoming iPhone game Warpgate, a 3D space trading and conquest game. The game takes place in a galaxy of over 75 planets and space stations and through a new Twitter contest, is giving users an opportunity to name one of those planets.
This is how it works: simply follow Freeverse's Twitter account (@freeverse) and tweet your submission for your ideal planet name. Just make sure @freeverse or #warpgate is somewhere in the tweet. The winner will be announced on September 7th on Twitter, and will see his or her planet in the game upon release. The winner will also have a special in-game item named after them.
Check out the video below to get a sense of what the game is about:
This is a really creative use of social media, because not only does the game get advanced promotion, the winner gets to see his or her submission (and name) in the game itself. Actually integrating the contest and the game together in a tangible way offers a greater incentive for users to participate -- and anticipate -- the game.