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Valve Pens In-Game Ad Deal for Counter-Strike
Making the (now fondly remembered) Subway Counter-Strike ads a reality, Valve has inked a deal with the content pusher IGA. An article at GamesIndustry states that this may be the biggest in-game ad deal ever, as this still insanely popular title racks up something like '5 billion player-minutes each month' From the article: "'As the world's premier online action game, Counter-Strike's player minutes exceed its closest competitor by more than 100 per cent,' said Doug Lombardi, marketing director for Valve. 'Additionally, Counter-Strike rivals many of the current top ten watched shows on American televisions. For instance, a top ranked, one hour, weekly program garners 20 million viewers and results in approximately 4.8 billion viewer minutes per month. Conversely, Counter-Strike generates over 5 billion player minutes in the same period of time. And, nobody fast-forwards through any part of Counter-Strike,' added Lombardi."
Advertising just short of spam is generally a "good" thing. In our market system you need some method of becoming aware of similar products as a basis for making informed buying decisions. You don't have to stop and read each ad so like the majority of advertising it will be relegated to the ignore bin for most players. At the same time if something catches your attention and introduces something new that you really do want then good. Besides as Data said, "Television? That didn't last much longer than the 2040's...".
Shh.
You work for an ad agency don't you?
;) would object to environmental advertising. In a range of 30 years from now when TV viewership is seriously on the wane because more and more people are interested in participating in virtual environments then the advertising will follow people into those environments. It's inevitable because of the money involved. Now to why I consider this a "good" thing is as I said, the market effects. People need advertising to educate them of their choices. You don't have to pay attention to it. The economical-benefits and progress-creation of our free-market systems depend on the movement of money and like a pump advertising performs that function. 8^p
I worked as a telemarketer for about a week (including training) and I quit because I couldn't stand to always be bugging people when I phoned them. So I am definately against intrusive or unwanted advertising.
It's understandable that an old-codger like yourself
Shh.
My roommate tells me I'm "full of flying bullsh*t" sometimes. ;)
:p
I respond that the operative word is "flying".
Shh.