Advergaming to Hit $4 Billion in 2008

Next Generation reports the somewhat disheartening statistic that advergaming is likely to break $4 Billion by 2008. From the article: "TWST points out that gamers are much more receptive to 'advergaming' than other potential consumers who block pop-up Internet ads or mute television commercials because in many cases, ads in games provide realism. However, many gamers would disagree with that notion, saying that ads can often be intrusive." We recently reported on the poorly thought-out Counter-Strike Subway ads. Here's hoping they're more well considered that than those ads.

Comments

It's ok if we reap the benefits too!

[gasmonso]

If the advetising doesn't detract from the game and the revenue reduces the cost of it, then I'm in. If it doesn't than what's the point from a gamers perspective?

http://religiousfreaks.com/

It's most uncool

[Firehed]

I'll tell you, that's the one thing that REALLY pissed me off in Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. Otherwise, the game was awesome. But when the computer screensavers are showing ads for upcoming movies and restaurants (War of the Worlds comes to mind), it's just not right. I suppose if they can predict what movies are coming out in mid-2007, that's one thing - the context would (almost) work. I don't know too many people who set movie ads for screensavers, but I could deal with billboards, even if I do hate the idea. What really gets me is they do update over time - if that's built into the game, sobeit, but I'd be very surprised if they don't "phone home" for the latest update (unless that's what the patches are really doing). And the cronies that I had to lay to rest talking about how the next Prince of Persia would probably be game of the year... don't get me started. I was happy to let them meet my stealthy KnifeOfDoom.

Someday, companies will realize that advertising is more or less ineffective now (or is certainly losing it's usefullness). Make a product that stands out from the rest, not burn it into our retinas. I never use ads to choose which products to buy, but I constantly decide who NOT to buy from based on their ads. Anyone that tries popups, flashy annoying crap or annoying background music (on the rare occasion I watch TV anymore) instanly goes on my ever-increasing brand shitlist. And unlike a lot of people, I stick to it. I'm almost to the point that anything less subtle than a GoogleAd is too much. Luckily I don't see ads -ever- online, but I stick with it for any advertising form. Places that put out-of-place ads in games are no-nos for me.

Re:I smell a fresh load of bullshit

[Red Flayer]

"Almost non-existant yet somehow in a mere two years it will be worth 4 billion? "

Yes. Considering that 2006 advertising spending will be over one Trillion USD, as it was in 2005 and 2004, just for media advertising, why not?

TNS report on 2005 1st-half advertising

Add in the fact that the video game industry is now by some methods of calculation now larger than the movie industry, why not?
There is a tone of advertising money out there desperate to find its way into that prime market of young males with disposable income.

Re:If the gamers still play...

[ultranova]

Personally...I'm not throwing my support behind any game that puts in ingame ads. I'll stick with console games if I have to.

Why ? I doubt that console game makers are less likely to turn away extra profit.

I wonder if pirates will start providing no-ad patches, on top of no-cd patches, and therefore increasing their already valuable contribution to the gaming community ?