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In-Game Advertising Breaks Out

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the now-its-a-real-medium dept.

UID1000000 writes "MSNBC reports that companies like Nielsen are implementing tracked advertising in video games. Viacom is also considering in-game advertising. I can't wait until your first person shooter stops and drinks a nice cold refreshing soda."

3 of 513 comments (clear)

  1. We already there by Jarnis · · Score: 4, Informative

    Anarchy Online already has billboards advertising Alienware computers :)

    (This is a tie-in to a marketing campaing related to the launch of AO expansion titled 'Alien Invasion')

    I doubt any gamer would mind much for (paid) advertising in the form of (animated) billboards or 'holograms' in first person shooter levels, but the stuff should *fit the theme*. Futuristic shooter such as Unreal Tournament would be easy - just stick in some billboards to suitable levels, but if someone would start selling McDonalds stuff by planting ingame ads into something like Everquest, gamers would go berserk over it...

    It all depends how it's done. I think Sims Online and The Sims 2 also have somekinda marketing/product placement deals already set up.

  2. Re:Well... by kfg · · Score: 4, Informative

    I'll bet you believed the clerk at the store when he told you that it was against the law to take back underwear too.

    It isn't. It's against the law to resell returned underwear not in the original package. It is simply company policy to not accept the return.

    Notice that you too used the word "policy"? If there were such a law as you suggest that word would not appear on the sign. The word "law" would replace it. When the sign says "policy" that's exactly what it means.

    They are perfectly free to give you a refund, they just don't want to. Same as the underwear.

    Only in the case of computer/video games the store is also free to resell the title.

    KFG

  3. Almost had one in Quake by John+Carmack · · Score: 4, Informative

    We had a pretty good money offer to put a sponsored add in the Quake 1 entry level. We decided not to just on the basis of it being tacky, which was for the best, considering the company (some random early internet company) dissapeared into obscurity.

    I don't have any fundamental problem with product placement in games, but it isn't something we pursue. I would just as soon have real brands in realistic settings instead of made up ones.

    John Carmack