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Google Acquires In-Game Advertising Company

Posted by Zonk on from the that-was-a-googame dept.

Firmafest writes "According to Red Herring Google has purchased an in-game advertising company called Adscape for $23 million. Is this the next logical step to delivering ads where there's sufficient potential buyers? Or is it simply a response to Microsoft acquiring a similar company?"

3 of 44 comments (clear)

  1. In Game Advertsising Done Right? by Rycross · · Score: 3, Interesting

    In game advertising is one of those things that has to be done really subtly to avoid pissing off the player. If anyone can do it right its Google.

    Hopefully this means we won't have intrusive and loud ads added to our games.

  2. If they follow what they did for web publishers... by WoTG · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Google could generate an explosion in small software shops writing cute little games to get "page" views. Google AdSense has probably done more to encourage the growth in small web sites than anything else the last few years.

    I'll call it Freeware 2.0.

  3. Re:Aren't we already carpet-bombed with ads? by Floritard · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I agree with your sentiment. I do think there is a distinction between product placement and advertising. If the trash I plow through while barrelling down the streets in my shiny race car is filled with Pepsi cans -- the little logos just barely registering in my periphery -- then yes I think that adds to the real-world immersive element of play. But if the pedestrian I run over is screaming "The choice of a new generation!" then a line has been crossed and I've been rudely distracted from the game. If you want to increase your brand recognition then to so tactfully. But the moment you begin outright pitching your product to me I'm already tuning you out, and thinking about whether I ever again want to patronize the company which produced the game.