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Ap: Products Placed Liberally In Video Games

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Please take our . AP: Products Placed Liberally in Video Games Posted May 21, 2005, 12:27 PM ET by Vladimir Cole Related entries:

Motorola, Puma, Pizza Hut, Ericsson, Jeep, Chrysler: theyre all advertising their wares in games, sometimes requiring players to interact with their products in order to advance to the next level.

Its all part of the in-game advertising trend that weve been watching closely here at Joystiq, and which is finally gaining traction in the mainstream media. And you know once they get their hands on it the trend only tends to accelerate.

This could actually be good for the industry if it becomes a significant revenue stream that supports more varied and more daring projects. Publishers are currently unwilling to take risks on titles that dont have a strong likelihood of selling enough copies to recoup development costs and then some.

If advertising revenues prove to be a viable way of earning money on a wider array of titles, then we could see more innovation (and more ads). Finding new sources of revenue is especially important with the costs of development for next-generation consoles expected to reach stratospheric new heights.

This all assumes that the advertising can be done in a way that doesnt hurt the gaming experience. Knowing where to draw the line is difficult, however. Does Everquest IIs /pizza command interfere with gameplay because it is incongruous with the fantasy world or does it actually deepen and enrich the experience because it means that players never need to leave their seats to order food?

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» (5/22/2005) » (5/22/2005) » (5/21/2005) » (5/21/2005) » (5/21/2005) () Reader Comments Posted May 21, 2005, 12:54 PM ET by Tomas L. Martin

But is advertising in games (meaning the developer gets paid more) going to result in a cheaper game for us, the consumer? Is it hell. Posted May 21, 2005, 12:57 PM ET by

Not bloody likely. Though it does open the possibility for games that are free and purely ad-supported. Just take a look at Anarchy Online. It's now free for the base package because the game is ad-supported.That's a pretty huge development. Posted May 21, 2005, 1:10 PM ET by Rare Hare

more advetising. gee, i can't wait. it'll be great saving your game at the local Pizza Hut in Prince of Persia 3. Posted May 21, 2005, 2:34 PM ET by Rare Hare

more advetising. gee, i can't wait. it'll be great saving your game at the local Pizza Hut in Prince of Persia 3. Posted May 21, 2005, 2:52 PM ET by

I like the idea that with microtransactions you can pay to advertise or publicize your own stuff.Jason Posted May 21, 2005, 2:56 PM ET by

I don't think EQ2's /pizza command cheapens the exprience, but I don't think it enriches it in any way. You don't have to get out of your seat to order a pizza, great, but you still have to get out of your seat to go answer the door and pay the delivery guy/girl. It's a very minor thing, really.I wouldn't have any problem with free (or mostly free - e.g., a MMORPG where you pay $50 to buy the game, but no monthly fee) games that were supported with ads if the ads fit in with the game. "Fitting in" with the game meaning it doesn't seem completely bizarre in the virtual world (e.g., an ad for a Toyota Camry in the middle of a Star Wars game) and appeared on billboards or such in the game (as opposed to some sort of in-game pop-up). Just my two cents. Posted May 21, 2005, 9:22 PM ET by Craig

Sony is going to offer a free wi-fi hotspots around the country for the PSP but we will have to deal with some advertising.But I think that it's worth it. Posted May 21, 2005, 10:02 PM ET by Cpt Spaulding

So much for microsofts war on spam. Lets not forget advertisers like their products shown in a favourable light so dont expect adverts to contribute realism. (We all remember the Gran Turismo fiasco) Lets hope Nintendo pull through with their push on games mean gameplay because otherwise it will truly be a sad day for gaming. Who the hell let the business graduates take control of the IT ones anyway. You'll all be really happy when you get to play the 'kill the crazy frog' level (plus exclusive soundtrack!!!) in the next instalment of your favourite game. Posted May 22, 2005, 3:44 AM ET by Doug

I find product placement the least offensive kind of advertising. If that's all that happens, I'm fine with it. Product placement doesn't break the flow of the narrative. And if it helps game companies re-coop their investments, great. But if we start seeing 30 second spots in games, say between levels, that I'm not okay with. I want uninterurrpted gaming, not a story peppered with commercial interruptions. Network television is a horrible model for anything. Advertising on TV is totally out of control and patently offensive. I hope the internet swallows network television whole, chews it up and spits out the bones. Add your comments

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