I would say that the effect you describe is actually much greater than users with multiple accounts. Since your character allotment is vitually limitless, the primary reason someone would want several accounts is for multiboxing. That is, playing two (or more!) characters at once. The only other reason I could think of is if you wanted cross-faction characters on a PvP server.
I think dev studios (maybe not publishers; EA, I'm looking at you) are aware of the impact poorly placed ads have in their game, and try to avoid it. I just can't see in-game advertising reaching the level of saturation that you describe.
Whenever an otherwise fine game ships that is significantly hampered by advertising, the resultant uproar (and consequently, poor sales) will cause others to think twice about selling out for a relatively small advertising check. The lost sales probably won't make it worthwhile, not to mention the bad PR.
Having said that, I approve of advertising that fits within the setting of a game. (product placement, mostly) Who doesn't think it would be cool to drive a BMW in GTA4, rather than a "Cheetah"? What really needs to happen to reach this outcome is for advertisers to allow their ad assets to obey the "rules of the game". (Want to shoot up that BMW? Go ahead.)
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I would say that the effect you describe is actually much greater than users with multiple accounts. Since your character allotment is vitually limitless, the primary reason someone would want several accounts is for multiboxing. That is, playing two (or more!) characters at once. The only other reason I could think of is if you wanted cross-faction characters on a PvP server.
I think dev studios (maybe not publishers; EA, I'm looking at you) are aware of the impact poorly placed ads have in their game, and try to avoid it. I just can't see in-game advertising reaching the level of saturation that you describe.
Whenever an otherwise fine game ships that is significantly hampered by advertising, the resultant uproar (and consequently, poor sales) will cause others to think twice about selling out for a relatively small advertising check. The lost sales probably won't make it worthwhile, not to mention the bad PR.
Having said that, I approve of advertising that fits within the setting of a game. (product placement, mostly) Who doesn't think it would be cool to drive a BMW in GTA4, rather than a "Cheetah"? What really needs to happen to reach this outcome is for advertisers to allow their ad assets to obey the "rules of the game". (Want to shoot up that BMW? Go ahead.)