Support NeoGAF

[gofreak]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040617/tc_nm/media_viacom_dc_4

Personally, I'm worried a lot of publishers will adopt advertising standards in games and will bombard us with ads in the same way we're bombarded with ads on the web. I mean, in some games it'd be fine - like in sports games, with pitch or track-side advertising, or if a game featured a big city, you might have billboard ads up around the place etc. That's ok, because it's a natural part of the environment. But if they started to interrupt games to "bring you a message"......... You pay 50 quid for a game already..it'd be like putting TV ads into DVD boxsets of programs. On the flipside, in-game advertising could be a good way for smaller developers and independents to make their efforts more worthwhile. Any thoughts?

 

[Shogmaster]

Ummmm........ What's a quid?

 

[cybamerc]

Pound sterling

 

[gofreak]

Or just a pound..so use to saying it, still say it now even with the euro.

But anyway, yeah, in-game advertising

 

[MightyHedgehog]

It's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out. It's not really all that bad if the advertising is integral to the game's intention, but I don't see it being much beyond that. The Gran Turismo series is an example of this, already.

 

[gofreak]

Yeah, I'm probably overreacting here with thoughts of regular breaks for ads etc. If that DID happen, though, I'd quite possibly give up gaming altogether, or at least limit myself to those publishers who don't adopt such ads. We'll see where this goes..

 

[jenov4]

Very disgusting, but once one developer does this, I have a feeling this type of thing will catch on like wild fire. Imagine playing GTA with a nasty "Sponsored by Coke C2" logo at the lower left screen (like on American Idol)

And if you're connnected to the internet, you'll get bombarded by different types of ads also.

/me pukes

 

[Panajev2001a]

Never played Adidas Power Soccer by Psygnosys I see .

 

[BuG]

Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow. The part where some guy shows you a photo he snapped on his camera phone, which is a Sony Ericsson, which gets right in your face when the camera angle changes to a nice close-up, and which may as well be a break for an ad. When I remember that part of the game I keep thinking of the 'commercials' in the Truman Show where they try to slip it into normal conversation but fail miserably.

 

[MightyHedgehog]

Imagine playing GTA with a nasty "Sponsored by Coke C2" logo at the lower left screen (like on American Idol)

No worries there. Coke C2 will likely be forgotten by next year...it tastes like unwashed liquified ass-cheeks.

 

[neptunes]

I wouldn't mind if advertising made the cost of games lower.

I would be all for it if they placed ads in mmorpg's.

only if it got rid of the monthly fee.

 

[sc0la]

doesn't sam fisher drink Coke™?

I guess I ultimately don't mind stuff like that If it isn't too blatant. Especially if it helps float a games cost, or even better yet reduces price point on the game.

 

[DCX]

Shenmue did it nicely, with Timex, Coke/Sprite...i mean if they can sponsor whats in the games already then it's all good...but to create game elements for sponsors, no good.
I mean i would be nice to have GTA fully sponsored by clothing companies, car companies, some stores, radio stations, shoe companies, food and drinks...it would just add to the realistic feel to it...but if they have a mission where you go around and collecting Timberlands from the inner youth in under 60 seconds, then we would have hit an ultimate low in advertising and gaming as a whole.

DCX

 

[Mashing]

Oh, great... now Xbox Live is going to need a spyware checker

 

[radios shipping overview]

I mean i would be nice to have GTA fully sponsored by clothing companies, car companies, some stores, radio stations, shoe companies, food and drinks...it would just add to the realistic feel to it...

I hope that GTA doesn't take that path. I like the fake advertisements. They add a lot to the satirical nature of the game. The GTA series embracing commercialism like that would be a little too ironic.

 

[sprsk]

product placement is one thing. but bigass advetisements that are like commercials must never be introduced into gaming.

 

[LakeEarth]

Lest we forget

 

[SolidSnakex]

I hope that GTA doesn't take that path. I like the fake advertisements. They add a lot to the satirical nature of the game. The GTA series embracing commercialism like that would be a little too ironic.

I don't think GTA could do it even if they wanted to. I don't think too many companies are going to sponsor a game that allows you to do what GTA does. Just look at how fast sponsors will drop stuff on TV if they see something they don't like. GTA is just filled with stuff that usually doesn't sit well with them.

 

[WasabiKing]

This was something I called at least a year ago. It's as annoying as the commercials in front of movies, especially since I'm paying more for tickets and I see that crap. Banner ads in games are nothing new though, Battle.net anyone?

 

[jenov4]

Who can forget the great adventures of Pepsiman?

http://www.ex.org/4.5/55-game_pepsiman.html

I actually had a great time playing this game. Go Pepsi!

 

[neptunes]

They would do good in MMORPG'S

 

[Mr. Lemming]

If it's like how advertising has shown up in Sega games (Crazy Taxi, Shenmue, Monkey Ball), then thats cool and all. I feel it actually adds to the experience a little bit. But I know they will start to push the limits and that will piss me off.

 

[suikodan]

As long as they don't replace cutscenes with advertisements and that the actors don't plug products like in The Truman Show.

Advertisements like those in Crazy Taxi are ok IMO.

"Snake! Use that box labeled McDonald Fries to hide from the guards! BTW, the fries contain only 1 calories in fat!"

 

[BuG]

doesn't sam fisher drink Coke™?

Ubisoft signed an advertisement deal for the original Splinter Cell with SoBe (owned by Pepsi), are there still SoBe vending machines in SCT? I haven't finished the game yet so I have no idea.

 

[DCX]

Didn't Microsoft do the same with Munch? I could have sworn they did...i do remember there being huge garbage cans full of them at the XBOX launch party at WWE NY.

DCX

 

[TAJ]

>>>No worries there. Coke C2 will likely be forgotten by next year...it tastes like unwashed liquified ass-cheeks.<<<

What exactly is the market for C2 supposed to be? Soda has so much sugar that even when you cut the amount in half, it's still hell and gone from being low-carb.
Why didn't they just start making a Diet Coke with Splenda instead of Nutrasweet?

 

[DCX]

I tried C2...don't like it...bring back Crystal Pepsi

DCX

 

[Agent X]

If it's like how advertising has shown up in Sega games (Crazy Taxi, Shenmue, Monkey Ball), then thats cool and all. I feel it actually adds to the experience a little bit. But I know they will start to push the limits and that will piss me off.

I agree with this. I don't mind a bit of advertising here and there, and like you I feel it could enhance the experience by seeing "real-life" products in video game situations. I just don't want the advertising to be so overbearing that it detracts from the core gameplay.