How could I say good bye without giving my loyal readers some schwag one last time?

Here are the rules. Pick one item you want, leave a comment asking for it, and say why you want it. Over the weekend I'll choose the person who makes the most compelling case for each item and contact them to get their mailing address. Asking for more than one thing will disqualify you. If you've won a giveaway before or if I know you personally, you're not eligible:

-"Rogue Leaders: The Story of LucasArts"

-A "Wolverine: the Game" foam claw

-"Resident Evil 5: declassified" booklet

-"Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars" t-shirt

-"Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars" stickers (three sets)

-Tricell's "progenitor virus detection and submission kit" (if you need to ask, you probably don't want it enough)

-A "Flock" collectible art figurine (not shown in the picture

Fox's decision to not show "Street Fighter: the Legend of Chun-Li" to critics was the first sign it's not too hot on the movie's box office prospects. Now comes another: It's only opening at 1,136 theaters.

I covered box office at Variety for a while, so I have a decent sense of how studios open movies. 1,136 barely counts as a wide release. Typically you'd expect a movie that a studio, and exhibitors, think has any decent box office prospects to open at over 2,000 theaters (unless it's an indie film that slowly grows on the strength of buzz and reviews, which "Street Fighter" obviously isn't).

With that few theaters, an opening in the single digit millions is pretty much a certainty, which is certainly not what financiers Capcom and Hyde Park were hoping when they started production, even if the budget is relatively small.

But how low will the opening weekend box office be? Initial buzz amongst gamers is pretty bad and the first review out there, from IGN, is devastating ("Chris Klein delivers one of the most laughably bad screen performances of the decade" is being a favorite line), so it's hard to be optimistic. I took a bet with an industry friend last night with an over/under of $5 million. I was willing to bet $20 it will exceed $5 million, although I don't think it'll be by much.

Anyone else want in on that action? Here's an incentive: Whoever comes closest to guessing the actual opening weekend box office of "Chun-Li" will win a copy of "Street Fighter IV" (for Xbox 360). Guesses must be in the hundreds of thousands (so "7.6 million" is an acceptable estimate; "$4,423,583" is not) and you must be within at least $500,000 to win. Also, you must post your estimate by midnight, pacific time, tonight. I don't want anybody who gets access to the opening day gross cheating.

(The winner will be based on the final gross reported on Monday, not the Sunday morning estimate)

Update: Variety has a somewhat kinder review, calling the film "Neither the best nor the worst of movies derived from videogames" and noting that the "Well-adorned production... looks sharper and more colorful than the rudimentary revenge plot demands." Read the whole thing here.

Update 2: The final gross is $4.72 million. Congrats to DJ.

Got some schwag accumulated during the holidays crowding up my cubicle (now even smaller since Variety moved offices, meaning there's less room to store junk). That means it's time for a blog giveaway. The rules are below. Here are the prizes:

Gears of War 2 remote control Centaur Tank. Keep in mind mom and/or dad: The toy is fine for anyone over 8, but the game's rated M! If you've over 17, though, keep this in mind: You are an adult trying to win a remote-controlled tank.

Playstation Home t-shirt. Advertise your love for a videogame virtual world in which you can do stuff... soon. I've got two of these bad boys, both in XL.

"Rolando" t-shirt. This apparel advertising ngmoco's new iPhone game featuring adorable little rolling balls (not to be confused with Sony's trademarked "Loco Roco."  Shame on you for even thinking that!) features the logo way down on the bottom left, so you know it's cool. XL only, so if you're short, the logo will be around your hip.

Little Sister figurine from "Bioshock." For that special daughter or niece you want to give nightmares to.

How do you win? Easy. Leave a comment with the following two features in it:
-Tell me what item you want and why. If you have a good reason, I'm more likely to give it to you.
-Mention some Cut Scene post you have read in the past and why you liked it, or didn't like it. Just my way of making sure winners are people who have been to the blog before, or are taking the time to poke around.

Restrictions on winning:
-You can't have fun a Cut Scene schwag giveaway before.
-I can't know you
-Don't be greedy or indecisive. Choose one item you want and ask for it. If you ask for more than one, you don't get any.

Post your comments by Wednesday night. I'll pick a winner by the end of the week

I officially had my scariest envelope opening of the year Monday when I discovered I had been sent Uwe Boll's "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale," with its all-star cast including Jason Statham, Ray Liotta, Ron Perlman and Burt Reynolds, on Blu-ray. Perhaps there's enjoyment to be had watching the film ironically (and in high-definition, the way all Uwe Boll films are meant to be seen!), but I just don't feel ready for it.

However, I am intrigued by the director's commentary. What great insights on his filmmaking does Uwe have to share? Does he include any of his trademark thoughtful responses to his many critics? I want to know, but I don't want to have to watch the film to find out.

So... Are any Cut Scene readers up to the task? Here's the deal: Leave a comment explaining why you want "In the Name of the King" on Blu-ray. If you make the best case -- or you're the only person willing to go for it -- I'll send you the disc. But with the win comes responsibility. I'm hoping the recipient will listen to Uwe's commentary, write down the highlights, and email them to me so I can post them on The Cut Scene and share them with the world.

If you want to win and you're willing to take notes on Uwe's genius, leave a comment now. I'll pick a winner early afternoon tomorrow (Thursday, PST), so I can mail the movie before the holidays.

One thing I most certainly don't have right now is the time to invest in a MMO. So opening my brand spanking new shrink wrapped editions of "World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich king Collector's Edition" and "Lord of the Rings Online Collector's Edition" would be a total waste. Especially when there are Cut Scene readers who would probably go crazy for this stuff.

So, it's my Thanksgiving giveaway. First, for those who don't know, here's exactly what you get in each:

-Wrath of the Lich King collector's edition: the game for PC or Mac; behind-the-scenes DVD (developer intervieews; cinematic with commentary, etc.); 208 page "Art of Wrath of the Lich King" book; "World of Warcraft" trading card game starter pack and exclusive cards; Northrend mouse pad; exclusive in-game pet: Frosty, the undead dragon.

-Lord of the Rings Online collector's edition: Original "Shadows of Angmar" game and the "Mines of Moria" expansion pack; 30 days free play; 3 in-game item tokens; "Mines of Moria" cloth map; gold plated replica of "the one ring"; "LOTRO" art and music compilation; starter guide; "and more!" (hey, I'm just reading the back of the box)

Want to win? Leave a comment with the following:

-Which game you want (you can't ask for both, or just "either one")

-Tell me why you want it. Are you a "Warcraft" lover who can't afford "Lich King" right now? Is there a "Lord of the Rings" fanatic in your life who needs an awesome gift? Be sure to make a compelling case for why you deserve it

-Tell me, briefly, why you read the Cut Scene and what your favorite post, or type of posts, have been. There's no wrong answer. "I enjoy laughing at your pathetically bad writing" is even OK. It's just my way of trying to make sure the winners are people who regularly read this blog, not folks who just dropped in for the contest.

I'll pick the winners on Monday based on who followed the rules and made the most compelling case for they they deserve the game.

Just a reminder, you can't win if I know you or if you've won a Cut Scene giveaway before.

Combine the busy fall season (meaning tons of crap getting sent my way) and the impending move of Variety's offices (meaning I have to cut down the crap in my cubicle) and that means I've got stuff to get rid of. Which means i've got stuff for you all to win. Here's the goodies, followed by the rules:

Gears of War 2 package: A Gears of War shoulder bag, hoodie, real metal cog, novel, comic book and " inside look" book.

Midnight Club: Los Angeles package: A Midnight Club: LA t-shirt (men's size large), license plate holder, and, well, I have no idea what the third thing is, but it's some kind of cloth rectangle that unfolds or velcroes together.

A "LittleBigPlanet" SackBoy sack.

"Futurama: Bender's Game" in Blu-ray: Perfect for the PS3-owning "Futurama" fan.

A "Pirates of the Caribbean Online" one-year anniversary tattooed skull (how better to celebrate?).

How do you win? Leave a comment indicating what you want and why. Indicate why this schwag would be meaningful to you. Why do you love "Futurama" or "LittleBigPlanet?" What might you do with the item(s) you win? If multiple people ask for the same schwag, I'll give it to whoever makes the most convincing case as to why they should have it. Basically, I'm looking for people who are passionate about whatever they're trying to win and will make good use of it.

Leave your comment by 12:00 AM Friday, since I'll pick the winners that day.

Here are the other rules:

-You can only ask for one prize. If you ask for more than one, you won't win anything. So figure out which one you want. But also factor in which one(s) other people might be competing for.

-You can't win if you know me.

-You can't win if you have won a previous Cut Scene schwag giveaway

-You can't win the "Gears of War" stuff if you're under 18

Are you a Warcraft/Starcraft/Diablo freak? Love everything Blizzard? Then you'll probably want in on this.

I'm giving away the entire bag of goodies I got at BlizzCon 2008 (minus a very small number of items I gave to friends) to one reader. Here's a list of everything in the bag. Then I'll describe how you can win. (Some of these will only make sense to hardcore Blizzard fans)

-A "Pandaren Brewmaster" beer mug insulator

-A 15% off coupon on Logitech PC gaming gear

-A paper mask of a 'Forsaken" from WoW

-A bookmark from Brady games with a weird quest on the back (I think related to something one could do at BlizzCon)

-A Jinx-branded "Lich King" sticker

-A little necklace of some kind of symbol (sorry I can't tell what) from WoW

-A "special edition" BlizzCon  authenticator that generates a password so nobody can break into your WoW account

-A preview of the WoW comic book from WildStorm

-Some pieces from "Starcraft: the Board Game"

-A blank notebook that says "BlizzCon" on the front and has an ad for a TokyoPop WoW book on the back

-A WoW trading card game "Heroes of Azeroth" starter deck

-A Frostmourne inflatable sword

-A BlizzCon keychain

-BlizzCon-branded hand sanitizer (in hindsight, I probably should have used that)

-A "Pandaren" bottle opener

-A keychain that looks like some kind of mace, I assume from WoW

-Diablo III "sinamints" (get it?)

-A BlizzCon-branded box of tissues (could I make that up?)

-Starcraft II "zerg creep" (looks like purple goo)

-A character to use in Upper Deck's upcoming WoW miniatures game

-A WoW pin

-A WoW pen

-A Diablo III red bouncy ball

-A Lich King postcard

-The BlizzCon plastic pag it all came in

Phew, that's a long list. One of the requirements to win is that you just read the damned thing. But I imagine there will be more than one of you who do that. How do you win? Well, I want to give it to the person who's most passionate about Blizzard games, so the way to win is to prove it. Leave a comment in which you describe why you love Blizzard overall or WoW, Starcraft, or Diablo in particular. Pretend you are trying to influence someone who has spent minimal or no time playing Blizzard games (like, say, me). Your goal is to convince someone like me that they must play whatever game you are writing about, or Blizzard games overall. And you have to do it in 250 words or less.

The writer of the comment I find most compelling will win. The deadline is 12 AM Tuesday morning / Monday night. I'll pick the winner during the day on Tuesday.

Eligibility requirements:

-I can't know you

-You can't have won another Cut Scene schwag giveaway this year.

-Not that I can really check, but please be at least 13, since "Warcraft" is rated T. (Though if a 12 year-old can write well enough to win this, I will be very impressed and find something else awesome and age appropriate to give him or her)

Update: Thanks to those of you who entered. It was a tough choice, but we have a winner.

Starz Entertainment gave me three copies of "Dead Space: Downfall," the animated DVD tie-in to EA's new sci-fi/horror game, to give away to Cut Scene readers. If you don't know too much about it, or want to see what one of Variety's film critics think about it, you can read our review here.

I was trying to think of a way to give them away that requires some effort, but isn't some crazy over the top event involving you guys doing elaborate stunts just to get a DVD. So I figured, why not encourage some intelligent discussion? If you want to win, leave a comment making the case for the best ever videoggame tie-in. Maybe it's a "Resident Evil" movie, a "Halo" book, or even the old after school "Super Mario Bros." show. Or maybe you already know a lot about "Dead Space: Downfall" and are sure that this will be it. There's no right answer. You just have to make an intelligent, compelling argument. On Monday morning I'll read all the entries and pick the ones I found most convincing. Bonus points for brevity.

Just a few simple rules:

-If I know you, you're not eligible

-If you've previously won another giveaway on this blog, you're not eligible

-The movie's unrated and kind of gory, so please be 18 or older. I really don't have a way to check, but I don't want to end up pissing off some 12 year-old's parents

I spent all day Saturday at BlizzCon on Saturday doing reporting and such. I didn't think you guys needed news updates, since there are other better sites to find out about the new classes in "Diablo 3" and such. I'll have a much bigger feature story that involves Blizzard coming up next month.

For now, though, I have a bag FULl of Blizzard related schwag to give away: Postcards, notebooks, trading cards, miniature characters, inflatable balls, even (and I'm not making this up) tissues.

As always, my schwag is Cut Scene readers' gain. But my question is: How do you guys think I should give it away? In the past, I've made it first come first serve for individual items. It occurs to me I could give away the entire bag of goodies as one big prize. Would you guys rather I do that, or give away items individually?

In either case, any thoughts on how I should do it? Should it continue to just be the first person who responds? Or is there some reasonable kind of contest for people who really want the schwag to prove it by doing something? If the latter, how should we do it? Anything you guys would be excited to do? It's your schwag (or it's about to be), so I want to find the best and fairest way to distribute it.

The schwag has really been piling up here at Cut Scene HQ recently and I really need to clear it out. So, will my loyal readers help? It's time for another schwag giveaway.

The rules are the same as before. But essential. If you don't follow them all, you don't win anything. I considered making you all do elaborate videogame-themed art designs out of nickels, just to mess with Kotaku, but that seems more cruel than funny, doesn't it?

These are the rules:

-Leave a comment indicating the item you want. Only one item per person. The first person to request an item wins, so long as s/he follow the other rules.

-You must leave your email address in the body of the comment so I can contact you. Feel free to spell it out in whatever manner to avoid spam. But I have to be able to decode it so I can contact you and get your mailing address

-If you have won a schwag giveaway previously, you're not eligible. Only one win per year.

-Only ask for things you really want. Both because it's considerate to others who read this post after you but actually want the item, plus it doesn't motivate me to send you something free of charge if you write "I guess I'll take ____."

Now, here are the items I'm giving away, most of which are in the picture on the left:

-A holographic "Fracture" map. Turn it one way and it looks like the U.S. we all know. The other and it's got a big fracture in the middle. Get it?

-A "Vault Dweller's Survival Guide" pocket reference edition from Vault-Tec Industries. If you have to ask what game it's from, you probably don't want it bad enough to win.

-A notebook that says "Vault Dweller's Survival Guide" on the cover and has some promotional info about that unnamed game in the front.

-An official PAX '08 program

-A glossy brochure full of promotional information about "The Force Unleashed" (art, characters, technology, etc.)

-An "Age of Conan" keyset that plugs into your keyboard and makes it easier to play

-A "Fatal1ty" (can't forget that "1"!) branded headset that promises "precise audio positioning." Also comes with a detachable microphone.

-A black t-shirt with a drawing of Chuck Norris and the slogan "When it comes to making video games, fighting bad guys puts Chuck in a good mood." Size medium. Tied to some Chuck Norris mobile game, I believe.

-"Sam and Max: Freelance Police" the complete animated series DVD set.

"Sam and Max" graphic novel "Surfin' the Highway."

Update: Just realized I've got even more stuff, if anyone wants either of the following:

-A light blue t-shirt that says "Super Mario Galaxy" on the back and "Wii" on the sleeve

-A "Mass Effect" faceplate for Xbox 360

Update 2: The only items still unclaimed are the "Fracture" map and the "Force Unleashed" brochure. No love for LucasArts out there?

The last time I tried to give away free schwag on this blog, not a single one of the seven people who tried to win it in the comments could follow simple instructions. So let's try this again and hope my readers prove themselves a little smarter this time.

Here are the publicity items I recently received for free that I'd love to send to Cut Scene readers. All pictured on the left except the "Spore" game, which you can see here if you need to know what the box looks like:

-An Aerosmith cover for your "Guitar Hero" controller. For all of you who love "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith"

-"The Art and Making of 'Star Wars: the Force Unleashed'" coffee table book

-"Beneath the Surface: An Inside Look at 'Gears of War 2'" book

-"Spore: Creature Creator" (EA reps were handing these out at E3 as if they were crack samples and it was a dealer at a playground)

Want to win one of these items? The rules are very simple. But you have to follow them all. ESPECIALLY THE LAST ONE, which past entrants have had a really hard time with.

-You can't have won a previous schwag giveaway

-I can't know you personally

-You must leave a comment indicating which item you would like (one per person please) and indicating some genuine enthusiasm for it

-You must include your e-mail address in the comment. Otherwise, how am I going to contact you to get your address and mail it to you?

Update: The contest is now over. But look for another schwag giveaway soon.

Today's schwag giveaway... an Aerosmith faceplate for your Guitar Hero controller and "The Art and Making of Star Wars: Force Unleashed" coffee table book, complete with a foreword by Hayden Christensen, who had nothing to do with the game at all but starred in two movies set in the same universe, so you're probably all dying to know what he thinks (hint: his feelings about the game and the book are pretty positive). That aside, there is some pretty amazing art and a few "character cards" as well.

As always, the rules are simple. Each product goes to the first person who leaves a comment:

-Requesting the item

-Leaving your e-mail address so I can contact you

-Expressing genuine interest ("sure, I'll take it" does not compel me to send it to you)

You're not eligible if:

-You won a previous schwag giveaway

-You ask for both items

When you're taking notes in class or at an office meeting, have you always wanted everyone around you to know that you're a fan of a so-so videogame based on a hit movie franchise?

If so, you're going to want this "Bourne Conspiracy" portflio, complete with a notepad and lots of little pockets for pens and stuff like that inside.

I've got two of them and I'm giving them away to Cut Scene readers. Winning is incredibly simple. Just be one of the first two people to leave a comment asking for it and include your e-mail address so I can contact you.

People who are not eligible include:

-Anyone who knows me

-Anyone who won a previous schwag giveaway

-Anyone who doesn't really want it and says something like "I guess I'll take it"

-Anyone who can't remember to include their e-mail address in the comment

Trying to do some cleaning up around here and I realized I've got some GTA IV related schwag that came courtesy of Rockstar. Which means... giveaway.

As pictured here, I've got a foam finger, a GTA IV t-shirt, and a LIberty City Police Department sweatshirt. I've also got various GTA IV stickers that i'll toss into the envelope.

So how do you get them? Incredibly simple. Just leave a comment saying what you want. You can only claim one of the three. Whoever's first to claim each item will get it.

Just be sure to leave your email address with the comment so I can contact you. This contest is meant for "regular" readers. So if I know you, you're not eligible.

(Thanks to Paula Taylor for taking the pic)

Update: 7 people have left comments asking for stuff, but nobody has included their email address, as I asked you guys above to do. Sorry, but I can't ship anything to you if I don't know how to contact you. To reiterate: the first person who leaves a comment asking for one of the items WITH AN E-MAIL ADDRESS will win it. And yes, to answer one person's question, I will ship overseas. But it might be slow.

Update 2: The contest is over. The people who specified exactly what they want and provided an e-mail address first won each of the items. I'll be running more of these giveaways as schwag comes my way, so keep reading.