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Adware Companies Buying Game Developers

Posted by Zonk on from the no!-anything-but-that! dept.

miller60 writes "At least one Adware company has purchased a game developer, hoping to use game downloads to install advertising software on gamers' computers. 180solutions, which recently received $40 million in venture capital funding, says its purchase of Full Armor Studios is the "first of many gaming relationships the company will forge over the coming months.""

9 of 68 comments (clear)

  1. I wouldn't worry too much... by sgant · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Very simple...any game that also installs adware on my system doesn't get installed on my system nor does it get bought to put on my system.

    Very easy...

    Their game will fail. No one will buy it. The reviews will be out there and they won't be able to sneak it past us. I mean, come on...do they REALLY think we'll let them get away with this?

    --

    "Leo Fender was in a 'state of grace' when he designed the Stratocaster." -- Paul Reed Smith
    1. Re:I wouldn't worry too much... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Actually, if the game is really good, the morons will still buy it. They are already getting away with this. Kids don't care, because parents don't teach them that ads are bad and the kids must make up their own minds when they buy products.

      Ads are bad because they try to tell you what to think and kids don't know how to think for themselves yet. You have to teach them to think for themselves. Children learn by mimicking others. You must teach them to learn on their own.

    2. Re:I wouldn't worry too much... by filenabber · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It may be that they are going to give the game away for free (and you get adware for free too)

      --
      Are you a Candy Addict?
  2. Its just like the Sims 2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Its just like games like the Sims2 where even well known publishers know that spyware means profit, so are jumping on this bandwagon.

    Technological solution: A VMWare-like interface to install newer games that do this junk, so the game runs in its own jail, although this kills performance.

  3. Geared to the gullible consumers... by jangobongo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Looking at the games listed at the Full Armor website, I'd have to say that the adware companies are taking advantage of the most gullible consumers: children. Granted, $20 is kinda steep for these games, but if the adware is bundled with the "free" demos...

    Kids are not so picky about whether or not sneaky programs slide into their computers via these "trojans". They won't read the user agreements, just click the buttons to get to the game faster. It's the same thing that happens with the free screensavers. The kids just go for the "fun" or the "cool" factor and don't realize that there is a price.

    --

    Sig cancelled due to lack of interest
  4. mod parent up by muel · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Parent hit upon the whole point of this business deal, because that's the target market this company is shooting for - idiots who will foolishly click "yes" to install a "free" product and wind up with adware galore. There are still plenty of people who assume they use computers safely only because they "don't open attachments in email." That's a lucrative market for marketing companies, like it or not.

  5. similar games to wild tangent? by hopemafia · · Score: 3, Insightful

    They weren't adware...but still damn annoying...came preinstalled on my laptop, and using the "uninstall" option didn't really uninstall, as Ad-aware was needed to clean it out.

    In any case, the types of games involved aren't going to be played by computer gamers on /., even if there wasn't adware attached. These companies are aiming for the non-computer savy (and cheap) people out there, who play low quality "free" online games and couldn't tell adware from from underwear.

    --
    If God had had a computer it would have taken him 7 months to create the earth...if he even bothered to do it at all.
  6. This might work... by copykit · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ... for kid's games, online gambling, and other games that not-so-tech-savvy people will play. I can't see Doom 4 including pop-ups or adware. It's sad that marketing has been reduced to a dog-eat-dog race for saturation. They're just going off of the pure statistical likelyhood that X% will click an ad. How about making a decent product/service that I actually want?!?!?!?!?

    --
    kitm
  7. Re:The real question... by legirons · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "Also, will using AdAware be enough to get these slimes to invoke the DMCA? "Circumventing access controls" and all that? And if they do, could they succeed?

    If you think that's a problem, simply sue them for circumventing the access controls [adaware] to copy copyrighted material [your personal details] on your computer. What's good for the goose is good for the gander, and in this case, the game developers are behaving significantly more illegally than you are.

    Don't bother with funny mods here, this is how the law is supposed to work, and those who crack your computer to "steal" from you are in the wrong, EULA or no.