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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.""

20 of 68 comments (clear)

  1. Spelling nazi by c4thy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Grammer Nazi!!! the word is "grammar". eh?

    --

    i am convinced that "/.ers" are homosexuals and imma make that my "sig"
  2. 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 tepples · · Score: 3, Informative

      I'll deal with it effectively, by dropping all packets to or from the ad server.

      Error: No response from authentication server. Please make sure you are connected to the Internet before playing this game.

    3. 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?
  3. Re:This is Crap by Jesrad · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, yes, it is illegal. Seems we have a winner business strategy here:
    1) invest money in a game studio
    2) cripple the newly acquired asset's value by making its games install adware
    3) go to jail and lose all your money

    --
    Maybe we deserve this world ?
  4. uhmmmm.... by omibus · · Score: 2, Interesting

    AAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

    Mandatory Penuts reference needed.

    How about the game companies teaming up with Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. Actually do something usefully with the 2 gig of space they are using on my harddrive.

    "Congradulations: you have 23 kills and we removed 3 spyware applications for you"

    --
    Bad User. No biscuit!
  5. Huh? by jkujawa · · Score: 2, Funny

    "...has buying purchased a game developer..."

    Huh? WHAT? THAT'S NOT EVEN ENGLISH. NOT REMOTELY.
    What do slashdot editors do? It's clear that "editing" isn't part of the job description.

  6. 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.

  7. The real question... by Chrontius · · Score: 4, Interesting

    is whether the game will still work when you strip out the spyware.

    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?

    1. 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.

  8. Not the end all by pat_trick · · Score: 2, Informative

    Have you looked at http://www.fullarmorstudios.com/ at all?

    None of those games look like something I'd want to play anyway. I think we're safe from any of the huge game companies falling into this situation.

    As for Full Armor Studios...well, I think I just heard their profits choke and die.

    And the company to look out for is Zango, according to this press release: http://www.fullarmorstudios.com/news/180solutionsA cquiresFullArmorStudios.pdf

  9. 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
  10. Re:This is Crap by ps_inkling · · Score: 3, Informative
    Drive-by downloading of ad-ware is illegal. Installing ad-ware after "acquiring" a "business relationship" with you is perfectly legal. Read your EULAs carefully.

    From what I remember eGames was (and their older releases still are) pulling this type of stunt. If you were using some of the free ISP connectivity, your "spare" CPU time was sold to the highest bidder.

    The illegal act is not notifying the end user of the software and its purpose. As long as you are notified, its legal. (The notice could be similar to the "privacy statements" from financial instutions -- "We value your privacy.... We share only with [highest bidding] business partners your confidential information.")

  11. The games sound TERRIBLE. by hai.uchida · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Some of the games the company offers:

    "Library of the Ages is a puzzle game of sorting ancient books before time runs out. Listen to masterpieces of classical music and take in the top-notch rendered graphics as you play, but beware: the pace quickens as your candle burns away."

    That sounds like work, not entertainment...

    "Welcome to the world of Manna Munchers! It's all about chowin' down and powerin' up! Meet Chuck. He likes to eat. Help him eat as much food as he can, but watch out for Mr. Teeth...he'll crash the whole party!"

    And the sleaziest move of all, if there really is spy/adware attached:

    "Want more games?
    Our parter, Games4Good, offers top games that are safe and fun for the whole family. They donate $1 to charity for every game you purchase. "

    --
    my password is private, but unchanged.
  12. 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.

  13. 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.
  14. Vote with your dollars... by Gailin · · Score: 2
    Just remember the name of the studio:

    Full Armor Studios

    When you see a game that is produced by them, do not purchase it. There are too many game companies putting out great games that are failing. I do not believe a company putting out a corrupt product will last very long. It will take care of itself in time.

    Gailin

    --
    I wish there was a fscking blue pill
  15. 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
  16. religous angle by kisrael · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Huh. Actually, it looks like "Full Armor" is one of those "sneak in bible lessons" kind of places..."Full Armor" is probably a biblical reference to the "Full Armor of God": Ephesians 6:10-18, "Manna" is a biblical miracle food, etc. I'm not going to download anythin further to confirm that.

    Most ironic, from their Company Info Page:
    Our beliefs? They're simple!: quality, trust, respect, integrity and the golden rule.

    I'd say they're about 0 for 5 there.

    --
    SO YOU'RE GOING TO DIE: The Comic for Dealing with Death