Not content with PopCap sending over mere cookies, Microsoft has taken things to the next level in its effort to promote this week's release of Valve's Portal: Still Alive through the Xbox 360's online Xbox Live Arcade platform.

That's right, Microsoft sent over an Aperture Science-branded box of Delicious & Moist Cake Mix, bundled with a hand-written note that promises, "The cake was not a lie."

Of course, leave it to Aperture Science to be a little on the shady side. If you read the fine print for that "Get Your Own Weighted Companion Cube" ad, it's revealed that "this limited-time offer is a complete fabrication." And I'm pretty confident that Aperture just took a box of Betty Crocker Cake Mix and threw a new label on top.

Then again, when it comes to cake, do you think Aperture really cares about ethics? Just look at these ingredients, some of them don't belong in a non-lethal cake... Read more

Here at Shacknews, we have just received the most delicious piece of game-related promotional material yet--well, apart from that case of Mountain Dew Halo 3 Game Fuel.

In an effort to promote its upcoming revelation of Bejeweled Twist, PopCap sent over a batch of Bejeweled-styled cookies. Sure, they probably won't disappear when I line up three of more of the same color, but so long as they sit on my desk, their existence is in danger.

A note to PR folk: air fresheners and foam fingers are great and certainly grab our attention, but when you really want to win our affection, there's nothing better than yummy consumables. Now I just have to hope that a Peggle cake is in the cards...

Remember those old Fallout manuals? The ones with the taped-over hints and 50s-style dark humor? The original Vault Dweller's Survival Guide?

Bethesda has channeled all of that in the PAX 08 swag hand-out for Fallout 3: a thick, pulpy booklet full of illustrations and informative blurbs. It's basically Bethesda's take on Black Isle's original concept, and boy, is it awesome.

This thing even has an old school map that you can fill in as you explore the world, as well as a few pages of blank note space. It's very cool--and you can check the whole shebang out below.

Remember, the post-apocalyptic RPG hits PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on October 28. While you wait, be sure to check out our new hands-on preview and video walkthrough.

Continuing this week's delightfully odd nature, retailer GameStop just sent Shacknews a series of Lavender-scented air fresheners.

The package, which was sent via UPS Next Day Air, contained a letter from "Edgar, the Gaming Ogre" in which he asked us to "please accept this air freshener as a reminder that you can trade in your old, funky-smelling games toward new titles with that new-game smell."

While game makers have oft-criticized the sale of used titles as none of that revenue is passed back to the publisher or developer, used sales made up 49% of GameStop's Q1 2008 profit despite only accounting for 23.9% of total sales.

Proving that not all UPS drivers are bad folk, the local delivery man just dropped off a package from Rockstar Games containing some additional promotional materials for today's release of Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3, X360).

Nestled underneath the packing tape and the bubble wrap were the two goodies pictured left: a Statue of Happiness replica and a Liberty City Police Department shirt. Sure, the shirt may not be the most unique piece of swag ever, but since the Statue of Happiness made me chuckle, it felt appropriate to share.

They join the boxload of amusingly suggestive items that arrived earlier this month, which included an oddly shaped foam hand, a Liberty City Swingers ball cap, and a mouse pad for the TW@ internet cafe.

Rockstar Games just sent over a number of promotional goodies for the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3, X360). And while we here at Shacknews do not typically cover the receipt of swag such as shirts and stickers, there's something about Rockstar's offerings that make this a little different.

Perhaps it's the odd shape of foam hand, meant to wave on the Liberty City Swingers. Maybe it's the baseball cap and jersey, both of which read "Swingers" in fancy cursive letters. The vanity license plate and accompanying pin may have something to do with it as well, both proclaiming Liberty City as the "worst place in America." And let's not forget about the mouse pad for the TW@ internet cafe.

Grand Theft Auto IV hits PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on April 29. For more on the game, check out the totally sweet shots of its multiplayer component.