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In-Game Advertising Moves Towards Testing
Thanks to HomeLAN for the news that Activision and Nielsen will be testing in-game adverts starting at the end of the year. Though we've mentioned this previously, the press release would seem to indicate things are moving into their final stages. "The two companies announced that they are launching a groundbreaking test using the newly-released Activision video game, Tony Hawk's Underground 2 to determine how long and how often players interact with brands. The test will feature Nielsen's watermarking technology that uses audio encoding to uniquely identify when players are exposed to product placements within the game."
For the most part I am very annoyed with game companies starting to introduce ads into games, especially if they pause the game. If ads were short and funny, it would be alright, but I dont think there is any justification for advertising in games.
When I pay for cable TV, I expect advertising, because I am paying the cable company to deliver me feed from the networks. The networks themselves need to make money somehow. I dont pay them directly.
But, when it comes to games, I pay for the game. The extra money they make off of ads does not benefit me, the viewer, at all.
If I was to get a game for free because it included ads, then I wouldnt complain. But if i become forced to watch Joe Scateboarder 'drink coke because its better then pepsi' every time I do a trick, I'll chuck the game out the window.