Microsoft May Purchase Massive Ad Network 44
calzones writes to mention a Gamasutra article, which reports on a WSJ claim that Microsoft will be buying Massive, Inc. at some point in the near future. From the article: "The article indicates that Microsoft is expecting to acquire the entirety of the New York City based company, which currently employees around eighty staff. Microsoft is reported to be keen to control how adverts are placed within a game and to try new business models which could allow the ads to subsidize lower prices or particularly expensive titles, such as massively multiplayer online games. No specific mention was made of the Xbox 360, which already displays advertising-like banners on its dashboard operating system, but has not yet permitted in-game ad companies to stream advertisements into games through Xbox Live. However, it is implied that Microsoft would not be using Massive's technology purely for Windows based games."
One problem... (Score:4, Insightful)
did you read the _summary_? (Score:1)
Re:did you read the _summary_? (Score:3, Insightful)
Two points here (Score:2, Insightful)
Two: Why? Just why? Do consumers need yet another reason to not purchase crap-tacular M$ games? (with the notable exceptions of games that they bought from other companies)
Ads in games: Bad Idea
Ads in utility software: Despised and hated by everyone, even more so than gaming ads.
Wait a minute. (Score:2)
Re:Wait a minute. (Score:2, Interesting)
http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,2180,18
Spyware-removal != ad-blocking (Score:2)
I think you'd have a harder time winning that antitrust case than if Microsoft were doing the latter. Personally, that's an antitrust case that I don't even want to go to court on the slim possibility that it could be ruled that MS had to let all spyware through.
Re:Wait a minute. (Score:2)
Re:Wait a minute. (Score:2)
Re:Two points here (Score:2)
I believe you're referring to the Microsoft/Claria Tryst [eweek.com].
(Related Slashdot article here [eweek.com].)
Correction (Score:2)
Sorry...here's [slashdot.org] the related Slashdot article.
Re:Two points here (Score:2)
Irony... (Score:1)
Is it true? (Score:2)
Re:Is it true? (Score:2)
that would be annoying (Score:1)
- In between innings of a baseball game, I get thrown ads
- After I pass a level in a 1st person shooter, I get thrown ads
- When I complete a puzzle in an rpg, I get thrown ads
Re:that would be annoying (Score:1)
Re:that would be annoying (Score:2)
They seem to have failed in the "were going kill google" search engine wars, so they a trying a new direction, in the never ending, unceasingly annoying, marketing 24/7 gambit, just wait, some git will patent free p
windows vista spam... (Score:2)
like how you pay to be on the subway, pay to go to a movie etc and then get bombarded the entire time with ads and ad placements..
everywhere ads..
Re:windows vista spam... (Score:2)
Think back (or forward, knowing the typical
Re:windows vista spam... (Score:2)
so.. most of the ads there get defaced fast though..
movie theatres are losing money because movies for the most part have really sucked for the last couple years..
the *main* reason people pay for "premium" channels like HBO and Cinemax etc (thus your paying more stmt) is because they don't have to deal with ads.
All the good stuff is on these channels now..
Network tv is all reality shows now..
Re:windows vista spam... (Score:2)
That is a sad thing. It's sad because I haven't been on a subway system in the US yet that is anywhere near an equal to those of Germany. I think if any public transit system in this country has any surplus money, they owe it to their patrons to improve their service. It's just embarassing sometimes. So, I'll give you this one.
the *main* reason people pay for "premium" channels like HBO and Cinemax etc (thus your paying more stmt)
Re:windows vista spam... (Score:2)
if ads didn't interfere with your use of your operating system would you still want them there?
so, you open up your vista control panel and there is a flashing ad for a singles site there.. technically that would have no impact on your use of the product?
I suppose it is the difference with using something like gaim (linux user here) or icq in windows.. icq has a popup advertising window, and ads at the bottom and all over when you are trying to talk with people.. Sure they are not "in the way" but I
Re:windows vista spam... (Score:2)
if ads didn't interfere with your use of your operating system would you still want them there?
so, you open up your vista control panel and there is a flashing ad for a singles site there.. technically that would have no impact on your use of the product?
Two things:
First, it's not a matter of want. Of course, in general, I don't want to see ads, and I want them not to take up extra space on my TV, in my newspaper, etc. It is a matter of economics - in general, I would rather spend the money I do and
Re:/. editors need to play their positions (Score:1)
the copy of Windows they are running isn't genuine (Score:1)
No, well could I interest you in some top notch perfume, direct from the makers?
Your wife would like it, I would be lying if I said I was making money from this.
But wait, theres more....
Quick on the buzzer (Score:2)
Undoubtedly we'll be seeing ads in full priced games, but I sincerely hope MS uses this leverage to make full versions of free games (like Geometry Wars) profitable.
Re:Quick on the buzzer (Score:2)
AnarchyOnline (Score:1)
Re:AnarchyOnline (Score:2)
Again. (Score:2)
Bid for DoubleClick (Score:1)
Anyone else heard this rumor too?
___
Allways remember, women will always forgive what you did to them, they sure won't forgive what you didn't do to them.
Chäïnÿ
bypassing the HOSTS file... (Score:2)
Connecting the dots (Score:2)
Next, MS nags when you didn't register.
Now they buy an adware spammer.
Is it me or could it be that there's a connection somewhere?