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Advergames

Posted by michael on from the america's-army dept.

Anne_Nonymous writes "Here's an interesting story on the use of video games as advertising. They claim 'advergames could be a $1 billion industry by 2005'."

8 of 302 comments (clear)

  1. I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing... by addaboy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    hell it might bring the prices of games down to a more reasonable $20-$30 per game. I like it. I know we're already innundated with advertising everywhere, but this could save you money.

    1. Re:I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing... by Tofuhead · · Score: 4, Interesting

      That's not a very strong endorsement for the idea. Besides being logically flawed, it just sounds to me like, "We're surrounded by crap, but more is always welcome."

      This article is about games developed for the sole purpose of being distributed as ads, not retail games that contain ads in them. I recommend at least skimming through it.

      Note, to add to this off-topic preach: Ads can help subsidize the cost of production, but it doesn't necessarily lower the cost of purchase for the end user. Regardless, would the idea of ads in games, movies, and books fly in the actual retail market for such items? My idealistic confidence in the American buying public wants me to say no, but I know that the answer, as demonstrated in part by your post, is actually "Yes, most likely." And society is worse off for that fact, IMO.

      < tofuhead >

      --
      It is still the dark of night.
  2. Here's a couple more. by Blaede · · Score: 3, Interesting

    7-UP had their "Cool Spot" game for Genesis(?) back then. It essentially was one big advertisement for 7-UP. There a small sub-industry that caters to building niche games for companies who want their products placed in them, from the online based Flash games to full CD based installed versions.

    Of course you also have my favorite gaming genre, racing simulations From open wheel (F1, CART, IRL) to fendered cars (NASCAR, Trans-Am, etc). the entire foundation of the real sport depends on advertising, from the car textures to the track graphics. The players of these games go to great lengths to make sure the correct advertising in in the game. There is almost no other genre where having advertising as part of the experience is important.

  3. Greeeaaaaattt... by swasson · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The Getaway (PS2) is already doing this kind of thing. They got licenses to use brand names for cars (BMW, etc). and there's a billboard type thing in the game that has Samsung, McDonalds, Sanyo, TDX, and Coca Cola plastered all over it.

    Screenshot can be viewed here

    --
    "Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" -- Homer Simpson
  4. Re:Sims Online? by PepperedApple · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There was a lot of backlash against the inclusion of McDonalds, including talk of picketing the in-game kiosks

  5. Re:Sims Online? by qoncept · · Score: 3, Interesting
    It's a bad thing. It causes writers/developers to add things to their work not because they add to the quality or enjoyment, but because they can make extra cash. Such things cause a work to seem dated just a few years later when sponsors go out of business or change their logos.

    I asked my high school government teacher, who was telling us how important it is that everyone vote, "If I don't take the initiative to vote, I probably haven't followed the election and have no clue what is going on. Do YOU want me voting?"

    Point being, if someone is willing to have advertisements put in their art, it probably isn't of much artistic value to begin with.

    --
    Whale
  6. Worked for me by KurdtX · · Score: 4, Interesting

    After playing the origninal Gran Turismo, I became fixated on the Mitsubishi Eclipse as a relatively affordable performance car that matched my driving and personal style. Enough so that a year out of college (when I had the $$) I dropped it on one of them (0%/$0 down/$0 for a year helped as well). And anyone who knows me knows I drive it just like the video game - I can't imagine driving anything else in it's price range.

    Right now, I'd say it's the best way (for manufacturers or consumers) to compare head-to-head dozens (hundreds) of cars in different conditions (and not get kicked out by the dealer) - given that the game does not falsely favor one car over others. Hey, if they make it real enough, it might replace illegal street racing (big problem here in San Diego) to an extent. I know among my friends we've settled whose car is better with a few sessions of GT. Needless to say, I am not happy to see that the Eclipse was left out of GT3.

    --

    Kurdt
    I'm not anti-social. Just pro-technology.
  7. Remember Snowcraft? by artemis67 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    For those that don't know, Snowcraft was a really cute little Shockwave game that came out around 1997, I believe. The object was, simply, to win a snowball fight against the opposing team. The game was distributed as a standalone app, and was emailed EVERYWHERE. When you lost the game, a message came up that said, "Merry Christmas from..." (sorry, forgot the name of the web design company that produced it), along with an email link.

    That design firm got swallowed up by a bigger web design firm less than a year later. I've tried to guess at what they spent to produce the game ($15k, maybe?), and this was right at the time that Shockwave and Flash were becoming hot properties, but the talent was in short supply. No doubt they recovered their investment many times over, especially when they principals sold out the business.

    Online advertainment has been around for a long time, it's funny that it's just now getting recognition.