More In-Game Advertising on the Way 50
jizziknight writes "Wired has an article up detailing the many types of in-game advertisements and product placements on the way to future games. Advertisers and developers might actually be starting to think it through, rather than just slapping the company's name on everything. Adidas Basketball will be sponsoring some unlockable 'features' in Electronic Arts' NBA Live 07 on the Xbox 360 and the PS3 that showcase its new 'It Takes 5IVE' slogan. The features include 5 players with special uniforms and an exclusive arena. In Fight Night Round 3, Burger King is sponsoring an unlockable boxer as well as an avatar of The King that joins your entourage when you win a Burger King-sponsored event. There are also a few details about an ad-supported MMOG by Acclaim, in which sponsors offer to buy items for you when you go shopping in the game. Another interesting tid-bit from the article: A comScore survey showed that 'Thirty-seven percent of heavy gamers (those who play games at least 16 hours a week) agreed that featuring actual products or companies in games make the games feel more realistic. About one-third (27 percent) of medium gamers (those who played less than 11 hours per week) agreed that in-game ads can add to a game's realism.' Of course, we've all seen instances where ads make the game less realistic."
The new TV? (Score:4, Interesting)
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3.Profit!
Now all you have to do is figure out how to sell advertising on underpants.
Oh, wait. . .
KFG
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Grand Theft Auto: Hot Coffee, a PC game from Rockstar, sold only through Rockstar's online store.
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Publishers will make a lot of money on the big title games (Grand Theft Auto and the lot), but will have to take a gamble with other titles by investing a lot of money they are not garneted to make back. So when they do make a lot of money on one title, some of those profits will go to help fundin
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It's going straight to the Ferrari dealership down the street from the developer's office...
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This has always been one of my prefered gaming models. If the MMORPG's worked my way, that potion of strength would be a Starbucks Latte.
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I hear a lot of hate from gamers that think advertising is evil no matter how it's done. But I just don't see it that way. When done properly, as the examples in the summary, it doesn't detract from the experience.
Burger King has been doing the unlockable thing for quite some time. I believe there's been 2 or 3 race games that they had an unlockable vehicle already. Having 'The King' be in your entourage is hilarious to me.
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I wouldn't mind having a BK King bot in UT 2007 so I could blast his friggin' ass off the planet.
This can be done well. (Score:4, Insightful)
I don't have any problem with ads in game on principle. If it keeps the prices of games from going up as quickly as they would otherwise, then so much the better.
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Re:This can be done well. (Score:4, Insightful)
Nobody wants to kick in a door in a FPS and find a flashing "$10 off your first $50 in electronics at Buy.com" ad plastered on the wall, but since I drink branded soda, I don't have a problem with kicking in the door and finding my target sipping an ice cold Coca Cola. I'm more bothered by the knock-offs seen in movies/games without sponsored products. They're even MORE distracting.
Art echos life. Life had ads.
Seen this coming since 1983 (Score:3, Insightful)
I'm a fantasy game freak (Score:2, Insightful)
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You got a problem with serving wenches named Taco Belle?
KFG
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That would be redundant. I've already seen them.
KFG
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KFG
It isn't that hard... (Score:2)
"Four out of Five Greenskins Agree! Diet Coke really does taste Better than Diet Pepsi!"
"Ask your local Apothecary about the new Diet Dr. Pepper restorative potion. Restores more mana with less wait time!"
"This year, vote for change. This year, vote for Edward Johnson (AKA: Endwyl the Just)"
See? It's not that hard!
does your sword talk? (Score:2)
Every once in a while doesn't it suggest some food? Snicker Snack!
for what it's worth, it hurt to type this
Screw in-game ads (Score:2, Insightful)
My $0.02 (Score:2, Insightful)
If I have to pay $50 for the game and $14.95 a month for online gameplay, I better NOT see any online ads.
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KFG
Only one thing to point out... (Score:2)
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Ah this old chestnut again (Score:2)
Gamers might think that these are simple deals when you get some money towards dev costs in exchange for the odd billboard. this is NOT the case. I've wo
e-Sports (Score:1)
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I think the distinction of both markets is important because from a casual gamers persp
statistics (Score:2)
37 percent and 27 percent aren't high percentages. More than 60 percent of gamers don't think that real ads make a game more realistic, but the way the numbers were stated in the write-up made i
Be realistic (Score:1)
How to make ads work better (Score:1)
This epic brought to you by... (Score:2)
http://wow.blupp.net/item.php?id=339344 [blupp.net]
Advertising spoils the atmosphere (Score:1)
But every time I see advertising in a game, it pulls me out of the experience because I know that billboard/spray-on/conven
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That is true today because games are shipped on DVD and have static content, but the next generation of consoles will all be online capable, thus things might change quite a bit. Advertising would no longer be limited to a few sponsors, but the advertising space would become something dynamic where everyb
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There are such a small number of games where advertising could be added in in a seamless way. We have pretty much named them all here already; Sports games, and FPS games that take place in the 20th century in an urban setting. That is IT. Sci-fi games, either MMO, RPG, or FPS won't work with ads, Fantasy games same thing. Any FPS game taking place ANYWHERE other than a modern day urban setting will look odd and out of place with ads in it. To be honest, even the game
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But I think ads COULD work beyond just 20th century scenarios, certainly products exist in nearly every form of human life and advertising has probably been around as long as products have. I agree that some games it wo
Oh the irony (Score:2)
Maybe mechanically recovered head-meat from steriod enhanced cows fed on bits of other cows is actually really good for you?
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The target audience is what matters, not the subject matter. Do you think real boxers often stop and pick up a gamepad and play Mike Tyson's Punchout? I doubt it. Advertising boxing gear in the game doesn't make sense, because the audience isn't there. The entire audience for this game is
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Easy (Score:2)
Right.
Look, whoever buys these EA Sports games obviously are not in a very high league. They do not care about adverts. They watch TV, lots of it, with adverts in it. They wear t-shirts with advertising on it. Their shoes have company logos (more advertising!) on their side.
To them, (freely) advertising a large sports company means that they appear sporty - w
It takes 5ive (Score:1)