Posted Dec 18, 2006 at 04:00PM by Alaric S. Listed in: Nintendo DS, Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Games for Windows Tags: Double Fusion
Ó

advertising


Don't look now but those pesky commercials are about to really invade video games. Double Fusion just got US$ 26 million from its investors. All that money will go to the company's plan  for more aggressive in-game advert sing. Turns out in-game advertising offers new ways for product peddlers to get the money in your pockets. Serves you right for tuning out TV and radio.


"Videogames are providing a new advertising vehicle that...delivers a highly engaged audience... [and] changes the way consumers....interact with brands," said Double Fusion. "Advertising... creates new business models for game companies.... continue to accelerate the growth of the gaming audience."

Oh, its for your own good after all.


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14 Comments


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   by Spector - 2006-12-18
 » oh noh

I can see it already

"Snake you look fatigued"
"Well I guess I am feeling a little slow at the moment"
"Why not drink a cold refreshing Sprite"
"You know what Otacon I think I will"
(cue music and show snake chugging now can of sprite)

In certain games it is nice to see real stores and restaurants to add to the realism... otherwise please never show these kinds of plugs in games as I mentioned above.

   by Alakahkid (Unregistered) - 2006-12-18
 » So... we can expect discounts?

Since game developers are now getting a huge chunk of development costs handled through "in-game advertising", we should all expect the cost to the consumer to go down, right? Right...

Now, I get to pay $50 to be told who's soda/chips/car is best... at least if I buy a movie, I can choose to skip trailers/ads and Tivo is STILL the best $100 I've spent!


   Re: Ghost (Unregistered) - 2006-12-18
 » This out of control!

Gieco now presents Halo 3!!!
   by . (Unregistered) - 2006-12-18
 » .

lol, Spector thats hella funny

im curious as to how the advertisements will tie in with the game. i'm thinking every time you see the loading screen, a few advertisements will play. that would mean you'd see the avertisements EVERY TIME YOU LOAD UP THE GAME, which is not a bad strategy.

or, during a cutscene, you'll see the main character eating a burger at mcdonalds while drinking a coke.

you can never be too sure, but i'm pretty convinced that they won't be as drastic as what spector said.

   by Wicked Insider (Unregistered) - 2006-12-18
 » Hmmm???


I wonder if this is harmless activity or not?

I notice Adrotation in other games like Diablo II
(Lord of Distruction) but has only seen it only in
server rooms or channles, which ever you prefer
to call it.

To me, I don't mind it. It keeps me informed of
other games like Worlds of war craft and other
games by the same company including offers
like... you know the one, it's a mouse for gaming!

On the other hand, this is a (Gateway) to start the
(standard) where in the future (all) programs will
start to apply ads and possibly other reasons to
access a users personal data, and if left (unchecked),
could possibly lead to violations of consumers rights).

It does happen but, to me it seems pretty harmless
at the moment, instead of screaming "The Sky Is Falling"!
But don't turn away, because now, you know it might!

This is something we all should want to keep a close eye
on because it's on games right now but could spread
outword into other fields of programing, no wait...
thats already happend. : )

   by beefsack (Unregistered) - 2006-12-18
 » boycott

to be honest, if a game has in game advertising and it isn't free, i wont buy it

   by AzaMcWazza (Unregistered) - 2006-12-18
 » Does this mean

That as the screen fades out on Link and princess Zelda as they start to embrace, subconsciously you'll notice the "Durex ultraribbed" sticking out of his jerkin pocket.

Please, no.

   by The Unbiased One (Unregistered) - 2006-12-18
 » Commercials

perhaps smaller things such as you walk in a house with a TV and there will be a commercial on. Or you are walking down the street low on health and you come across a subway to get a quick bite to eat with no trans fat!

   by Advertising -
   by Matt (Unregistered) - 2006-12-18
 » ?

what game is this for?! :S


   Re: Matt (Unregistered) - 2006-12-18
 » wow..

its just a company that puts ads in games!
   by CSFFlame - 2006-12-18
 » name the games

and I won't buy them.

We seriously need a list somewhere, anyone seen a site with them?

   by Matthew (Unregistered) - 2006-12-18
 » Cheaper games

They will be able to use the ads to make the game MUCH cheaper.

But... we all know they won't do that.

$$$

   by Shatterdome - 2006-12-19
 » The worst...

Will be banners and such, the like of which XBL already has. Most likely though it will be companies trying to get games to use their products on posters and signs within their virtual worlds, instead of ficticous ones.

So if gears had this. there might be a small banner in the multiplayer matches and screens. Then throughout the single player game, along with emulsion posters, you would see burger king poster, or even posters that changed ever so often....and run down pizza huts...the can's you kicked around would be noticeabley pepsi cans....the gas station you went to would be a derelict 7-11 or something......

Now I expect cheaper games forsure, not free, but I want dedicated servers or something....that is for damned skippy...

   by sausehuhn (Unregistered) - 2006-12-19
 » If used wisely...

...it's okay for me.
It should give you the "hey cool, have you seen that add?" feeling and not "adds everywhere - get me out of here!".

Good example for making it wrong: WipEout Pure Euro Version (PSP), Delta league. The whole tracks are plastered with Puma-adds. And that's just a pain to look at.
I don't understand that companies don't see that sometimes less is more...



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