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A Place For Product Placement In Games?

Posted by simoniker on from the zombies-say-drink-coke dept.

Thanks to GameSpy for its CES 2004 report, which includes coverage of a roundtable regarding product advertising in videogames. The writer points out: "The Super Monkey Ball simians gobble Dole bananas. Jet Moto features a giant Mountain Dew billboard. The alien-fighters in RLH drank Bawls", and goes on to cite research that "30% of in-game ads are recalled in the short-term, which is impressive. Even more amazing is the fact that 15% are recalled after five months - unheard of in advertising." But, of course, "if a placement ticks off the gamer, there's not much a company can do to negate that negative." What are the most appropriate and least appropriate advertising placements you've seen in games?

4 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Rush 2? by Goldberg's+Pants · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The first product placement I remember in a game was F1GP on the Amiga. They had ads for Duckhams and a few other car related companies in it, and this was back in 1991 or thereabouts.

    Hardly a new idea.

  2. EA should thank one kid by superpulpsicle · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Way back in like the early 90s there was some 10 year old kid who asked in a magazine article about advertisement (if memory serves me correct it was electronic gaming monthly).

    He said something like why don't video game companies like EA use real advertisement in the sport stadium banners and such. Not too long later I remember getting NBA live basketball with real advertisement inside. To this day I really wonder if the industry owe this kid something.

  3. Same Friggin' Price by BigDork1001 · · Score: 3, Interesting
    What is the point of product placement except to the the product more visable and the makers of the game/movie more money?

    If I remember correctly Monkey Ball sold for the same price as every other game when it came out. Movies cost the same amount to go see whether it's just one gigantic advertisement for Preperation H or an actual movie with plot.

    Perhaps if the games cost less then I'd be okay with a few little things hidden in the game but as it is they are just annoying and don't do me any good.

    --
    "Armed forces abroad are of little value unless there is prudent counsel at home" - Cicero
  4. The Best and the Worst by illuminata · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The most appropriate would have to be the Pizza Hut posters in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II. The media marriage between the Turtles and Pizza Hut was sheer genius. Everyone ate so much damn pizza during that era.

    The absolute worst would be Darkened Skye, where you use Skittles to create spells. In fact, the whole game is based around Skittles. I'm not just talking a web game, this game was released for PC and Gamecube.

    --


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