Alliance Films has made 323 advance movie tickets available for Canadian Hunger Games fans – but it’ll take work to win them! Fans have to search “The Hob” (better known as Craiglist) for a key phrase. Read more about it in the press release below:

TORONTO, Feb. 23, 2012 /CNW/ – 323 advance tickets have been made available to the public through an innovative one-day guerilla promotion, and thousands of online fans are already jumping at the chance to snag ‘em. Three exclusive Hunger Games fan art images were released today in Craigslist postings across the country, each containing a hidden key phrase. Die-hard Hunger Games fans lucky enough to find all three phrases can enter for a chance to win one of the first available tickets to see The Hunger Games, opening in theatres and IMAX everywhere on March 23, 2012.

Beginning at 5:30 PM EST, on Wednesday February 22, 2012, the 323 tickets were be released at random intervals throughout the day until all tickets have been redeemed. Likened to the film’s central lore, where Mentors select Tributes from The Reaping Bowl, fans will be crossing their fingers when emailing, in their attempts to win one of the limited supply of free tickets. Those wishing for success should begin scouring Craigslist (here’s a starting point:http://bit.ly/zJ10dL) early and often, communicating with Hunger Games fans for tips on where to find these images and phrases.

If you live in Canada and want to join the fun, get over to Craigslist right now

via Canada Newswire

Here’s some of their interview with Adam (he reveals that Suzanne Collins provided some guidance!):

“So as far as the setting, and the story, and the things that are in the game, these things are all sourced directly from the film, and by extension the books, and we even got some guidance on specific ideas from Suzanne Collins herself. But visually our inspiration comes from classic Sega Genesis games, especially Treasure games, and even more modern pixel art games like you see coming out of WayForward the last few years.”

… As an avowed Hunger Games fan, Saltsman had no trouble finding an aspect of the story to adapt. In fact, he had more trouble narrowing it down. “A hardcore survival simulation? A political thriller adventure game? A resource management thing? There are so many metaphors and so many ways to approach the kind of emotional or thematic core of the story that it was a bit overwhelming,” he said.

The limitation of making a “teaser game” for the first movie helped the team figure out where to go. “This placed some constraints on the game: it should be small, and it must take place BEFORE the actual Hunger Games themselves; before the actual arena event in the story,” Saltsman said. He continued, offering the first real hint of what the gameplay will be in the iOS title: “So the specific almost systemic things we decided to work off of based on those constraints were things like the heroine’s talent for archery, her tendency to go for long walks in a sort of forbidden forest area, and her brains-over-brawn approach to solving problems.” He intends for the game to carry the “urgency” of facing the consequences of the choices made by the character Katniss — after she chooses to take part in the violent, deadly Hunger Games.

You can read the rest of the article at Joystiq. There is no release date for the game, but it will be near the time The Hunger Games hits theaters on March 23. This all sounds so cool!

 
Thanks to Bianca for sharing the video!

Upcoming Thriller Eclipses “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” As Fandango’s Biggest First Day Advance Ticket-Seller

Hundreds of “Hunger” Showtimes Already Sold Out for March 23 Opening

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Fandango, the nation’s leading moviegoer destination, announced today that advance ticketing records were set by Lionsgate’s upcoming thriller, “The Hunger Games”, which has already sold out hundreds of  showtimes in advance of the film’s March 23 release date. Even though the film doesn’t open for another month, the first-day ticket sales on Wednesday, February 22 broke the previous first day advance ticket-seller record held by “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” on Friday, May 14, 2010.

“‘The Hunger Games’ is off to a fantastic start,” says Rick Butler, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Fandango. “Yesterday we saw the biggest first day advance ticketing sales in our company’s nearly 12-year history – which is especially impressive for a March release and a non-sequel.”

Theater owners are continuing to add new showtimes, while fans are scooping up advance tickets at http://www.fandango.com/thehungergames/movieguide.

Using The Hunger Games to help bring about positive change in the world is so important to us here at The Hob. That’s why we chose WhyHunger last year as our official charity partner to support their efforts to fight hunger and poverty (including through our NYC movie event). That’s also why we’re thrilled to share the following news.

The Hunger Games movie has partnered with the World Food Programme and Feeding America to help fight hunger. Here are the details from Scholastic:

Today, exactly one month before the release of the “The Hunger Games,” the cast and producers are teaming up with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Feeding America to raise awareness about hunger in the United States and around the world, with a new website and a video public service announcement. The partnership between Lionsgate®, WFP and Feeding America debuted a video spot with the movie’s stars, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Helmsworth, that urges fans to help end hunger — what they call “the world’s greatest solvable problem.”

“Unlike the characters in The Hunger Games, we do not live in a country in which food is scarce.  There is enough food to feed everyone living in the US, but it’s not getting to millions of low-income people who need it,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO, Feeding America, in the press release issued today.

Below is the PSA featuring Jennifer, Josh and Liam, and you can find out more at HungerGames.wfp.org. They even have a quiz you can take for a chance to win signed memorabilia from the cast.

Thanks to @_emdash for the tip!

The Collector’s Special issue of People magazine, called “All About The Hunger Games,” hits newsstands March 2; here’s what it’ll include:

All About The Hunger Games will introduce you to Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, Liam Hemsworth as Gale, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, and the rest of the cast.  You’ll go behind the scenes, get the scoop on how the spectacular costumes were created, and learn how the stars trained for their demanding roles.  This special issue includes tons of fab photos, exclusive cast interviews, insider secrets, and all of the style you’ll need to dress like a tribute.

In addition to their Katniss, People is also issuing two additional covers featuring Gale and Peeta.

 

 
And JustJared has this first look at a new image of Peeta from the magazine (he’s camouflaging his arm!).

If you’re purchasing the magazine at Walmart, Target, barnesandnoble.com and Amazon.com, here’s a coupon for $1 off!

The Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau put out the below press release today about various Hunger Games-related packages (from learning survival skills to visiting the places the cast hung out) they are offering as one of the locations where The Hunger Games was filmed last summer. ExploreAsheville.com has a whole page devoted to The Hunger Games in Asheville, including additional details on the travel packages available.

Asheville Travel Packages: Survival Skills, Celebrity Suites & Star Stalking

ASHEVILLE, N.C., Feb. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – With the Academy Awards just days away, all eyes will be on the red carpet this week, but Oscar buzz will quickly shift to movie predictions for 2012. Critics are touting The Hunger Games. Set in post-apocalyptic Appalachia with a gripping (read: addictive) storyline rife with star-crossed teenage romance, kill-or-be-killed drama and moonshine-induced benders, the movie is poised for box office success. Fans may soon be clamoring for a closer look at its Blue Ridge Mountain location.

Move Over Twilight

Is Asheville the next Forks, Washington? Based on the best-selling trilogy by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games is already conjuring comparisons to Twilight and Harry Potter. The hot young cast, including Oscar-nominated Jennifer Lawrence and up-and-comer Josh Hutcherson, took up residence in Asheville while filming on location in the surrounding mountains.

Hunger Games Travel Packages

Fans can follow the famous footsteps in their escapades around Asheville or get their hearts pumping with mountain wilderness adventures that puts their survival skills to the test.

• Hunger Games Movie Star Adventure Package: Relax in the mountain-view hotel where the stars stayed, have a whitewater rafting adventure like they did and explore cast hangouts. Read the Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook while you dine at their favorite local eateries.
• Survival of the Fittest Travel Package: Enjoy the zip line canopy tour that hosted Josh Hutcherson (photo) and the cast. Then, get ready for the arena with a private survival skills training session before retiring to the “Capitol Wing” of your hotel.
• See more Hunger Games Packages.