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In-Game Advertising Makes Games Better?
Pretty much every time we hear about a game launching in-game advertising it sounds like a horrible idea that will only serve to detract from the experience. However JJ Richards of Massive wants you to give it a chance, claiming that if done correctly it can not only work, but actually enhance the overall experience. "In fact, according to Massive's research, gamers like ads. Here's the caveat: they have to add to the gaming experience. He describes a game that takes place in Times Square. With no ads, it's not real at all. With generic ads, it's a little better. 'Now imagine Times Square with ads you just saw on television or read in a newspaper—the latest movie release or television show or a new car model,' he said. 'Imagine further that it is up-to-the-minute, whether you played your game today or six months from now. That is much more realistic.' His argument is that gamers consume the experience of ads, not just the ads themselves. 'The ads add to and enhance that experience, and our research shows that it is highly effective for both game play as well as advertisers.'"
Most people dont realize how important advertising actually is in our day to day lives. Without advertising most people would have no idea what is going on in the world around them. You usually dont conciously see and ad think ohh Im going to go buy that right now. But 3 months down the line when you need a new pair of shoed you subconsiously think back to that nike ad you saw on TV and go look at those first. Granted there are some advertisers that take it WAY overboard! Mass mailers in your snail mail box, spam in you email box, cold calls on your cell phone using up your minutes, giant moving billboard on the freeway! Most of that stuff is just annoying. but in a free market economy you must have advertising, without it nobody would be able to have a successful business in this US and we would be a third world country.
Anyhow my point is; I dont think its a bad thing to include advertising in games. In fact I think its a great idea for advertising to gamers without as long as its done with restraint so as to not distract from the game itself. If I ever saw some kind of popup ad in the game or some kind of in game survey or some crap I would turn the game off immeditely and uninstall it, but I certainly dont mind seeing realistic stuff in the game like a McDonalds, Coke Machines, a real Toyota Yaris that I can drive into a wall! Basically if you FORCE me to look at it, or force me to accept some agreement, or interrupt my game play in anyway otherwise you lose a customer. Its a fine line for sure, but if done right I have no problem with it.
What about ad's for fake things, if the game gets enough following/sales could be made into a real merchandise item. Like fallout's Nuka Cola, or Nuka Cola Quantum. Those ads were great in game and I wouldn't mind drinking down a Nuka Cola.
Damn I wish I had mod points. You spelled it out perfectly. People love to forget about free will and would rather blame others for their poor choices.