EA and Massive ink in-game ad extension
by Xav de Matos 
{ Mar 18th 2008 at 2:15PM }
In-game advertising. Just saying the words invoke anger to Bruce Banner proportions for some gamers. Today EA and Massive announced a two-year extension you should probably go shopping for purple shorts.
Bringing advertising to such EA hits as Burnout, Madden, NBA Live, NHL and Nascar to the Xbox 360 and PC means that Microsoft owned in-game ad firm Massive and EA will continue to mask our gaming worlds with ads marketed for 18 to 34 year-old males. Gamers from other consoles shouldn't consider themselves lucky though, soon enough Xbox 360 owners will be able to download the Burger King Whopper Launcher in Army of Two for a mere 250 MS Points*!
*Oh, I hope that joke doesn't come back to bite us.
[Via Joystiq]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
OwningXylophone @ Mar 18th 2008 2:36PM
I don't see the problem with in game advertising if it's done right... In fact it adds to some games. Being able to walk round a city and see real billboards and posters, or the trackside boards at race tracks. These things make the games feel more real.
What I don't want is "Burger King Whopper Launcher's"
Josh @ Mar 18th 2008 2:37PM
mmm... whoppers.
knight667 @ Mar 18th 2008 2:54PM
Great more ads; oh well, at least they're not too overt and obnoxious.
schiavonir @ Mar 18th 2008 3:02PM
I agree that it's okay to put "relevant" ads in-game, especially if it makes the game more realistic - what would a city look like without billboards, or an ice rink withouts ads on the boards? But, in the web world (and network TV) adding advertisement usually means the content is free. While I don't expect games with advertising to be free, it would be nice to get a little something back in terms of the price point. Bioshock was $60. If Bioshock 2 manages to work ads into it, it seems like the publisher can afford to reduce the price a little bit instead of pocketing all the extra profit. Or they could do more work, like adding more maps/stories/characters, etc. but that's a bit hard for the consumer to guage if they're really getting the value. "In exchange for viewing in-game ads, we're including 5 additional maps." Sounds great, but did they really do 5 extra maps, or is it just marketing spin?
Anyway, the gamers are the reason that in-game ads bring in revenue for the pubs/devs, so it would be nice if we benefitted from that somehow.
Tony @ Mar 18th 2008 3:06PM
At some point games just need to ship, but I agree with the general concept that the ads should go to revenue to at least partially support the game. Funding DLC development, for example.
ZEBRA NINER @ Mar 18th 2008 3:07PM
I disagree. If you want to have a whopper launcher, it should be available. However, I don't think it should be forced upon you. It should also be free.
ZEBRA NINER @ Mar 18th 2008 3:18PM
I disagree. If you want to have a whopper launcher, it should be available. However, I don't think it should be forced upon you. It should also be free.
CarpeD1em500 @ Mar 18th 2008 3:33PM
a) I agree that it adds to realism as long as its not too aggressive and in your face.
The dynamic ones are pretty cool. Like in GTA, say, if they were to put a new billboard sign up in October (way after the game launched) for a movie debuting in November, that would be really cool!
b) I wish all these ads would help to bring prices down. If developers can get all of these extra dollars out of their games for practically no cost to them, pass it on to us!!
Tom @ Mar 18th 2008 5:29PM
I actually had no idea that a new Harold and Kumar movie was coming out until I saw an ad in Crackdown. If the ads are done right then I don't mind at all--but if they're too flamboyant then I'm just gonna get ticked off.
Whitedragon101 @ Mar 18th 2008 5:56PM
Well gee, ad supported content is usually free or at least really cheap, is it not? So we should get madden ad nauseam for 20 instead of 60 bucks then right? No? Why oh why?
Boo EA
Boff @ Mar 19th 2008 6:15AM
In an ideal world the advertising revenue would reduce the costs of the games, but come on be honest, we all know that's not gonna happen. Just MORE profits for the game companies.
And I'd have a Whopper Launcher only if I could have a McFrag Grenade to go with it.