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Microsoft May Purchase Massive Ad Network

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the bill-gates-in-our-games dept.

calzones writes to mention a Gamasutra article, which reports on a WSJ claim that Microsoft will be buying Massive, Inc. at some point in the near future. From the article: "The article indicates that Microsoft is expecting to acquire the entirety of the New York City based company, which currently employees around eighty staff. Microsoft is reported to be keen to control how adverts are placed within a game and to try new business models which could allow the ads to subsidize lower prices or particularly expensive titles, such as massively multiplayer online games. No specific mention was made of the Xbox 360, which already displays advertising-like banners on its dashboard operating system, but has not yet permitted in-game ad companies to stream advertisements into games through Xbox Live. However, it is implied that Microsoft would not be using Massive's technology purely for Windows based games."

3 of 44 comments (clear)

  1. One problem... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Don't we have enough spam as it is? I certainly don't need any "authorized" spam from Microsoft.

  2. Two points here by CogDissident · · Score: 2, Insightful
    One: Microsoft has purchased other ad companies in the past (Ad Gator, I believe) and then specifically allowed that ad program their their new ad-filtering program.

    Two: Why? Just why? Do consumers need yet another reason to not purchase crap-tacular M$ games? (with the notable exceptions of games that they bought from other companies)

    Ads in games: Bad Idea

    Ads in utility software: Despised and hated by everyone, even more so than gaming ads.

  3. Re:did you read the _summary_? by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    That's not spam?! I think my game experience will take a nose dive if I see an in-game ad for Windows Vista.