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Gamers would welcome in-game ad exposure for cheaper games

Posted Nov 6, 2008 at 12:31PM EST by Glenn M.

Listed in: PS3, Wii, PSP, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS Tags: Coke
Ó

A study conducted by Frank N. Magid Associates found that gamers are willing to welcome in-game ad exposure in exchange for price cuts in games. We've already seen a lot of these in games, especially sportswear in titles such as NBA Live.

Gamers were found to be receptive to the idea. After all, 60 bucks take a lot of wind from your gaming sails. In fact, only 20% said that they would be less likely to purchase a game at half the price but with more ads. 31% said it won't make a difference. 15% said they'd be much more likely to do so, while 28% said they'd be somewhat likely.

Even more gamers showed favor for the idea if the games were free, but bombarded with ads. 29% were "much more likely" and 24% were "somewhat likely." Again, quite a large group (25%) said it won't matter, and only 15% said it would make purchases less likely.

Charts from Frank N. Magid Associates, Inc. - Image 1 Charts from Frank N. Magid Associates, Inc. - Image 2 

I really won't mind seeing a Starbucks shop on every block in GTA if the price would be halved. I would even think it adds realism to the game. Heck, it'd even be funny if Coca Cola asks Niko Bellic to smoke a Pepsi guy, then you get a Coke Trophy. I won't mind Snake wearing a McDonald's camo (if it can be called a camo at all), either.

But for pete's sake,  publishers shouldn't go as far as Tekken moves being called "Quaker Oats cholesterol-free stomp" or RPGs getting Coca-Cola Swords, Jolly Rancher fruit bombs, and especially Verizon Wireless Fireballs. Hell no. A LittleBigMac is out of the question.

Amount of ads vs. game pricing should be balanced. Publishers would do well to regulate ad volume and appropriateness when it comes to advertising. There are also times when we'd rather pay to get those ads off. Tastefulness and moderation is key.



Related articles:


Via Game Daily



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Comments 


 
# -APerson 2008-11-07 00:43
I would like cheaper games, but most of the time adverts in-game don't give me cheaper games. Burnout, Tony Hawks etc all had ads in at one point but was the game cheaper? Was it hell.

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# ..C0ns0Lo 2008-11-07 02:07
I definitely don't want ingame-ads. A Coca Cola bottle would be nice, because it could make the game more authentic. But banners on loading-screens etc are defintely not welcome! To think that they would make the games cheaper is very naive ;D

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# um...Uplink 2008-11-07 02:19
What about The massive Free bike xpac for burnout? I dunno about tony hawks but im sure most of the burnout updates are funded by adverts.

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# 60 is the new standard, it's not gonna change now.zero298 2008-11-07 02:58
Biggest problem is that this study just lets developers know that if there are in game ads, we'd still buy their products. I know that the study gives a condition of them being half priced but marketing doesn't here that. They'll still charge you an arm and a leg and just take the bigger profit.

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# this isn't how it worksKoru-Kun 2008-11-07 04:15
developers and producers use sponsors with in-game advertising to reduce production costs, not consumer prices! So if you see McDonalds, Ford or prescription drug ads strewn throughout the game world, you can be assured that you paid the same amount for that game that you would've for that other brand new game that just came out as well.



The only people that benefit from these ads are the sponsors and the producers/developers..... the gamers have to suffer through the ads.

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# I wouldn't mindHekynn 2008-11-07 04:24
Ya I wouldn't mind look how Obama got to be elected President cause of ingame ads :)

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# mmemcp 2008-11-07 07:00
More ads, might change that



this study is correct as it does what its supposed to do, to research if gamers would buy games with ads if the price was reduced



developers can change this method anytime they want



it would be like using a tape player for the next 50 years



things change and this is about changing it



also



>>> C0ns0Lo



whats wrong with ads during loading screens, nothing, you not doing anything, so you might as well get a reduced price



fair enough if it spoils the mood of the game, then no, but remember theres loading screens even before you start playing and while playing online, most games dont have a story to online, and if they do its pathetic



so basically i welcome loading screen ads, as long as its not during campaign, and that it doesnt take away from information, such as mission breif etc



i dont want or not want ads

however ads can be benefical, stick a bilboard up in a game, get hungry, walk over to the dominoes bilboard activate it, choose your pizza and using PSN ID it withdraws money from your card, and delivers the pizza to your door, win win win



however one ad i do not want, is something i think activsion and google were considering, about having characters blutting out the most random of ads, keep ads to visual not audio, make it have a purpose in game, like all things dont force it into a game, and if you other a feature such as the dominoes bilboard then players and advertisers will be much more happy, and youd be getting more money

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# i wouln't mind much....mikal_rokz 2008-11-07 08:34
because if big companys are sponsering game developers, it would lead to better quality games becasue they have so much more money.

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# Inconclusive survey, no majority voteuserw12w 2008-11-07 08:41
And ads are rarely appropriate in games. Games last several years while an ad campaign would only last a few months. Plus they are rarely subtle and blend in with the game world, understandable from the point of view of the company paying for the ads, but it ruins the experience for gamers.



Look at BF2142 published by EA, play in low detail mode and the ads are rendered in hi-res mode making it look out of place. Other than that the amount of bill board prefabs added to the maps was over the top. I mean would you really find billboards in your local power station!?

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# Cheaper games?BloodMachine 2008-11-08 12:22
I don't think we'll see cheaper games. That's just now how it goes, the publishers would rather reap the benefits.

I do however think games are too expensive. How do they expect to stop piracy when lackluster games are $120? Games that feel like the developers never even played them, or only last a couple of hours. How can we be expected to pay full price for those? Therein lies the problem.



What's more, I hope they realise it's possible to clog games with ads. I love ads in games, think it's a great idea if it lowers prices or results in better games, and it adds to realism. But a starbucks on every corner will make it seem overdone. I reckon the advertising in games like ProStreet, where it was a legitimate racing event that had advertising everywhere, was good. In those kind of events there ARE ads everywhere, it adds to the feel of it.

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# yeahweirdpeople 2008-11-16 11:55
In that situation it would be nice to have adds because it would add too the realism but like having a McDonalds or Starbucks on every corner that would kill it

Reply
 

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