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Massive Ads In Matrix Online

Posted by Zonk on from the because-they-make-the-game-better dept.

Gamespot has the word that ads from Massive, Inc. will now be incorporated into The Matrix Online. The ads, like those in sister-MMOG Planetside, will be in the form of billboards and signage. From the article: "One big difference that players will notice is that the Massive ads will be refreshed and updated with greater frequency. Sony notes that current ads in the game for fictional products and services will continue to remain a part of the game. Sony has also said that the ads will not be animated, and will not affect the game's performance. Another effect of the inclusion of Massive ads into The Matrix Online is that player advertising in Mega City will be possible, and Sony might run contests in the future to select player-generated ads and incorporate them in the game. "

2 of 64 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Did IQs just drop sharply while I was away? by Kaimelar · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Who would pay for a game with ads?

    The same people who pay for cable television with ads?

  2. Re:Why should I be bothered by this? by forkazoo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    While your analogy to cable TV has some merit, I'm going to overextend it as a means of disagreeing with you. :) I think that paying for cable TV is basically just paying for access, sort of like ISP fees. I am okay with seeing ads on web pages because the web page doesn't get a cut of my ISP bill. Likewise, sci-fi channel doesn't get a cut of the cable bill, so they need ads to pay for battlestar galactica.

    Now, an MMORPG is a premium service. In this analogy, I'd compare it to HBO or Showtime. I have paid for basic access, but then I pay extra for a premium service, and the content creator gets a direct cut of the extra fee. Sony bills me directly for the MMORPG, HBO gets added to my cable bill, but it is still similar.

    So, if I actually played TmO, I'd be annoyed at the ads. Sony is double-dipping. They set a fee, where they thought they would turn a tidy profit. I play TmO because I'd rather avoid all the ads on television and whatnot. Now, Sony is making more money - I have to deal with more ads - and the fee I pay doesn't go down. If HBO started carrying ads, people would be pissed, and they wouldn't be likely to pay extra for it. Personally, I think real-ads in a matrix world would sort of hurt the illusion that it is a fantastic netherworld of the imagination. If the fantasy world is exactly like our world, why do I have to pay extra to be in it?

    Though, obviously, the Matrix is a much more appropriate setting for real ads than WoW or Everquest. "Dial Ye Olde Telephone ..." just wouldn't see quite right in a traditional fantasy setting. :)