It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that a single nerd in possession of a great collection of video games must be in want of a Kirby Ball. Those are the immortal words of Jane Austen, and she knew what she was talking about, because Target's new promotional installation has got dorks across the world hot under the collar.
As teased on Twitter on Tuesday, 22nd March by someone who appears to be an installation specialist, Target stores have been putting up spherical, friend-shaped bollard covers to celebrate the imminent release of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, much like they did with Mario and Luigi back when Mario Kart 8 came out. Obviously, the Kirby balls are much more appropriate, because Kirby is round, and Mario and Luigi are not.
But the part that's upsetting people is that the instructions for installation include a request to "toss" the Kirb-balls after April 10th, despite the fact that everyone loves them.
We don't condone stealing, of course, mostly for legal reasons, but if one of those Kirb-balls ends up falling out of the bins and into our hands, we certainly won't complain. Well, we might wash it first, but then we won't complain.
Here's the Kirb-balls in their natural habitat, for now:
Have you witnessed these blessèd orbs? Let us know in the comments.
Comments (55)
IM SORRY THEY WANT TO WHAT.
This is so precious. Nintendo and Target have a really weird relationship of great advertising, and I just don’t get why it’s specifically Target, but I like it!
Everyone dumpster diving on April 10th
@Fizza Don't think about it for too long
It's so frustrating that people would think it's a good idea to throw away things people want. Should we really be creating more trash just to keep people from having something they want? All this and Target still says they are an "environmentally conscience" company.
This is why i wish Canadian Target was still a thing.
Hoo wow those would not last more than a day.
The IRS will come for Yoshi’s come tax season.
Note: They are not throwing away the Bollards underneath, which are heavy and concrete. So unless you have a giant concrete sphere of your own, it would be difficult to display the Kirby ball you "acquire" properly.
Seems like a perfect time to make friends with a local Target employee.
Why would they want to toss them? 😢
Off topic but can you do a Review of Imp of the Sun? I'm really curious about that game and want to know a bit more about it. Thanks.
@SteamEngenius Sometimes these displays are setup by a third party, typically through a mystery shop company. May want to figure out what company they’re using and try to grab the local mystery shop. This type of gig typically pays about $12.
@RubyCarbuncle They're probably made out of a cheap material and will most likely end up all dirty and manky. I suppose they don't find it worth their time and money to keep these.
I understand people wanting to play with the Kirby balls, but you can't just lift them. If you're familiar with Target, then you should know they have multiple red cement spheres attached to the ground in front of their main entrance. These are just wrapped around those, so it's not possible to throw them unless you're the Hulk.
@Eel I guess but still they're so cute aren't they? and there's always a collector out there that would look after them.
@Pak-Man You could simply put one on a beach ball.
Mario and Luigi balls should have been for Mario Pinball Land GBA Target!
@Link-Hero Why would people think they are tossing the balls themselves, the email clearly states covers.
@RubyCarbuncle I’m sure there’ll be several collectors looking to salvage them
Time to check my local Target to see if they have these because they look glorious.
This is just the sad state of promotional material. I remember when Toys R Us closed down I wanted the display cases and the Nintendo signage but found out that they were being sent back to Nintendo.
When I worked at Kmart years ago we had all kind of signage and stuff like cardboard cutouts for various games, I remember seeing one of Lara Croft for the release of Tomb Raider III just sitting in a store room. Every six months or so a representative would come by and collect all the old advertisement materials. I asked several times if I could have any of the stuff but was told that it had to back with the representative and if it didn't Kmart could get in trouble to the point as the publisher would cancel advertising deals with them.
I am sure a few will get stolen and pop up on eBay and sites like that in a few years. Heck maybe in 10 years we will get a new user here asking what the value of a Kirby ball cover is that they happen to find in an attic.
Almost as good as the inflatable Wrong Chomp NGamer magazine gave away years ago heh.
No the Kirby balls are just going to a nice farm after April 10th, nothing else
Hmm what are the camera positions outside my local target?
I need to get my hands on one of these somehow lol... 🤔
You know darn well employees will wisely abscond with them in search of an eBay payday
Well shoot, time to come up with a plan.
I have not witnessed the bléssed orbs but I now desire to
Reminds me of the Target Mario Kart 8 promotion where they played the 3/2/1/Go signal when you walked in the store and the shopping carts were decorated to look like Mario Karts.
Gotta get me those ballz
RIP Mario 3/31/21
RIP Kirby 4/10/22
RIP F-Zero 10/21/04
Also, @Astral-Grain, I love that meme and that movie.
@Thomystic
@Fizza You heard them.
I am always so happy when the video game community is embraced this..sure it to promote a video game but I think it’s a positive thing,who doesn’t smile when they see that I am looking forward to playing Kirby tomorrow. Happy Kirby GhostWireTiny Tina and all the rest Day. No sleep this weekend ❤️😃❤️😃
I don't need it...
I Don't Need It...
I NEED IT
@IronMan30 I just called my closest target to surprise my 7 year old and no dice 😫
Cute. Hey Target, let's not be wasteful kay?
@GannonBanned that sucks. I drive around mine enough to check so I'm going to today.
You just know some Kirby fans be out there at 2AM, looking behind their shoulder, ready to snatch some Kirby balls to dress their yoga ball with lol
@Cheez only private citizens and homeowners are supposed to save the planet. For everyone else it's AirCon with open doors and never turn off the lights throw everything away.
@Pak-Man I do own a concrete ball(s) of various sizes for my garden. Not as large as the target ones but pretty close.
So who's joining me April 9?
Not in my neighborhood Targets 😂 They'd be gone before you could even take a picture.
@Pak-Man I’d be making beanbag chair with it personally! 🙂
I wonder if I went nicely and asked them if I could have one they would oblige. I may end up doing that!
@Mamabear They definitely won't give you one. Also it would fit nicely on a yoga ball
I guess people don't grasp the mountains of signage and packaging retail chains like this order, ship, and throw away every month. Not to mention fully functional product. And at the office supply store I worked at, we did literally zero recycling. These Kirby bollards are a drop in the ocean to them.
My local Target doesn’t have the signature red balls ;-;
@swoose yeah I work at Michael’s arts and crafts store and the amount of paper, cardboard, plastic, styrofoam, and MORE plastic that gets tossed in the trash every week makes me sick to my stomach. I just think about how our store is ONLY ONE of 1000s of large retailers in the country where the same crap happens.
My store didn't get these 😭
I must admit they are cute, but I'd have no use for them in my house.
the government doesn't want you to know the Kirbys at the target are free
(after April 10th at least)
I own the kirby ball from target
@everynowandben I got the kirby ball
These Target employees all think they have all this power being rude to people by throwing out items people would like. You wont see me giving them business especially being so wasteful....
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