EA Gets Ads in the Game (The Motley Fool)

[cagbot]

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/nws/th/main_142.gif (http://news.yahoo.com/)

The Motley Fool - One of the intriguing things about video game publishers is their drive toward becoming more complete media companies. Part of that move includes CDs based on soundtracks of games such as Take-Two Interactive Software's (Nasdaq: TTWO - News) Grand Theft Auto series. Another facet is increasing in-game advertising placements.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/fool/20041227/bs_fool_fool/1104164940]Read (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/videogames/*[url) more...[/url]

Source: Yahoo! News: Technology - Video Games (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=index&cid=869)
Technology - Video Games

[Wshakspear]

Yeah...that works real great in the long run. I love playing SSX 3 and seeing ads for "dnL", the caffenated 7up...which is no longer available (at least around here).

[punqsux]

ads in video games is like a common sence thing, i mean there already ads everywhere else on the planet.

dislike it or not, its only gunna happen more and more, i just hope it stays primarily with sports titles, i mean frodo wasnt drinking pepsi on his way to mordor

[rapsodist]

I'm sure that a license for a pre-existing property would disallow any such advertising malarky, but I know you were just making a point.

Somehow I don't think this will stay exclusive to sports/racing titles; GTA-style games are the new breed that will take over the industry, and they will be ripe for the picking with billboard opportunities.

[punqsux]

I'm sure that a license for a pre-existing property would disallow any such advertising malarky, but I know you were just making a point.

Somehow I don't think this will stay exclusive to sports/racing titles; GTA-style games are the new breed that will take over the industry, and they will be ripe for the picking with billboard opportunities.

i wouldnt care about gta games, i they are already media whore games anyways, why not slap some ads on that whore?

im saying theres a line, you can slip a couple in subtley, or you can add 50 in everywhere, and games like the later i will not buy

[Wshakspear]

http://sportsmedia.ign.com/sports/image/article/526/526403/nhl-2005-screens-20040625110116780.jpg

nope...no ads in pre-licensed games...

[rapsodist]

What's a "pre-licensed" game?

Anyway, I fully expect sports games to have ads. As a simulation of real life sports, they should have ads plastered all over the stadiums just as they are in real life. And given the nature of ads, the game makers are also free to place whatever ads they want in those respective places. I wouldn't complain about that at all.

As for non-sports games, I think it's extremely difficult to try to get away with advertisements for real-life products in any game that isn't based on current-day reality. By that line of thought, most games on the market wouldn't be able to capitalize on in-game advertising. Then again, Devil May Cry 2 had Diesel clothing prominently featured...

[Wshakspear]

1080 Had Tommy Hillfiger...that worked out pretty good. AND it gave us one of the uglier GBC's

[worx]

I think it ads a sense of realism when done slightly-obscurely in games like GTA, but I felt that in NFSU 2 that EA over did it - I'm thinking they got a nice check and a hand job from Burger King and Best Buy.

[dafoomie]

I was about to make a point about NFSU 2, too. In that game, the ads are so intrusive and in your face, that its disgusting. That Cingular logo is right there in your face when your driving around, you can't turn it off, its part of the HUD. I would have felt better if they had actual Burger King, Bestbuy, and Cingular Wireless stores in the game where you could buy Whoppers, Car Stereos, and Cellphones for your character.

I don't own this game, my brother does, but I made sure he bought it used for about $30.

[Gothic Walrus]

What's a "pre-licensed" game?

Anyway, I fully expect sports games to have ads. As a simulation of real life sports, they should have ads plastered all over the stadiums just as they are in real life. And given the nature of ads, the game makers are also free to place whatever ads they want in those respective places. I wouldn't complain about that at all.

As for non-sports games, I think it's extremely difficult to try to get away with advertisements for real-life products in any game that isn't based on current-day reality. By that line of thought, most games on the market wouldn't be able to capitalize on in-game advertising. Then again, Devil May Cry 2 had Diesel clothing prominently featured...

I agree with your viewpoint...but let me phrase it in a different way.

Ads are okay when they add to the immersion in the game. A hockey game with blank boards or ads for made-up companys wouldn't be quite as realistic...but having Mario stop at a Burger King to heal himself would ruin the experience.

[wolfchild]

I was recently looking at game screen capture for the game, the getaway in one of the screens the Mc Donald's and TDK logo's were visible. here's a linker. http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/224317.asp

[Xtreme331]

I think most rational gamers realized that it was only a matter of time until some ad exec. said, "hey, here's a market we haven't really explotied yet." and then boom! you have ads all over games.

I think this could be a minimal change, as long as the companies who make these games don't allow the ads to get overwhelming.

I can't stand it when i watch a football game and i have to be subjected to the doritos instant replay or the chevrolet helmet cam or the budweiser drunk guy peeing in a corner moment. I just don't care who brings me the instant replay, i just want to see it.

Ok... back on topic... if video games go the way of football or other televised (televized? televizzled?) sports, with the over whelming inundation of in your face blatant ass kissing advertisement... well them i'm gonna be a sad panda.

Placement ads have been in games for a while, so as long as their in the background and i'm not forced to pay attention to them instead of the game... i have no real problem with real-life products appearing in my virtual games.

[FriskyTanuki]

I was recently looking at game screen capture for the game, the getaway in one of the screens the Mc Donald's and TDK logo's were visible. here's a linker. http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/224317.asp

That's because those places are actually there in real-life London. The developers took thousands of photos of the city to get it that life-like and it also includes all of those stores and restaurants.

[tolhurst]

So what's the first advertising placed in a game that wasn't the title's main focus (kool aid mad, spot, etc.)
Wipeout XL had Red Bull .... I'm sure there are some before that....

[FriskyTanuki]

If you want to see what companies see in the potential of in game advertising check this (http://biz.gamedaily.com/features.asp?article_id=8136#8136) out.

[epobirs]

The video game industry has been hoping for this since day 1. Us old folks can remember when home versions of Pole Position were rated by how well they reproduced the billboards for other Atari/Namco games. A lot of systems left them blank and it was regarded as a graphic triumph if they had the Centipede or Dig Dug ads. Many games would have built-in ads for the company's other products, especially those by the same programmer. (Remember when a hit game could be entirely the work of a single person?)

For instance, the earliest example I recall is Shamus II, published by Synapse Software. It contained several places in the game which served to promote other Synapse published games by William Mataga (Samurai Transvestite) like Fort Apocalypse and Zeppelin. It was very tongue in cheek but it was advertising none the less.

In the Amiga and some other versions of the TV Sports series we had several fake ads along with some other humrous interludes. (I don't think these made it to the TurboGrafx versions if that is your point of reference.)

Several other games over the years have had corporate tie-ins, like the McDonald Land game for the Genesis that was actually pretty good and spawned a sequel. This was a Dave Perry production that led up to the Sega Aladdin and Earthworm Jim in terms of the animation style and engine. This happened largely because of the UK division of McDonalds. Corporate sponsorship of games seems to have been long accepted overseas.

Nowadays, of course, with the web and Shockwave/Flash, free online games promoting products are extremely common. Any number of online games with no commercial content in the game itself do require you sit through an ad before playing or advancing levels.

[epobirs]

I was recently looking at game screen capture for the game, the getaway in one of the screens the Mc Donald's and TDK logo's were visible. here's a linker. http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/224317.asp

That's because those places are actually there in real-life London. The developers took thousands of photos of the city to get it that life-like and it also includes all of those stores and restaurants.

But did they include Lee Ho Fuk's Chinese Restaurant? I've got pictures of that place in my own collection.

[Theenternal]

i like the ones in TMNT 2 The arcade game for the nes :)

[FriskyTanuki]

I was recently looking at game screen capture for the game, the getaway in one of the screens the Mc Donald's and TDK logo's were visible. here's a linker. http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/224317.asp

That's because those places are actually there in real-life London. The developers took thousands of photos of the city to get it that life-like and it also includes all of those stores and restaurants.

But did they include Lee Ho Fuk's Chinese Restaurant? I've got pictures of that place in my own collection.

I'm not sure if they have that exact restaurant, you'd have to play it and find out. They'd at least have it in there, but maybe not with that name. I don't think they'd go around and get every single store, restaurant, and building to let them put it in the game.

[starboyk]

What surprises me, is that for all this advertising, WE, the consumer get no added benefit. Normally, it's a matter of cost, and we still end up paying 50$ a shot for new titles. How about quality? TW2K5, NFSU2, and just about every other EA game made to make a buck, is glitchy as hell, providing nothing newer than the last one. Hell, some of you may have encountered this problem with the XBox version of Madden when calling EA tech support: "Well, it is a port of the PS2 version, so problems are bound to exist."

"Problems are bound to exist"?! So, you want to monopolise a license, put fifty advertisers in a game, and deliver crap quality games- including ports of a lesser system to a more powerful system? I don't know about ANYONE else, but damn does it sound like EA is out to HOSE the market.

We got hosed, Tommy. We got hosed.
-The_K

[humidore]

So since other companies will be paying lots o cash to get more ads in games (specially EA ones I guess, cause like sports and Burnout come to mind), shouldnt the games be cheaper? That's one of those stupid questions you ask just to make a point, not to get an answer btw, hee

[Scrubking]

GTA-style games are the new breed that will take over the industry,

Doubtful seeing how we are on the third installment of GTA since it went 3d and sold millions and still no one wants to consistantly make open-ended games.

Anyway, I will tolerate ads as long as they blend in with the experience like in a hockey game. I won't buy a game with intrusive ads. It's bad enough that we now get commercials when we go to the movies - I won't tolerate them in my games, and neither should any gamer.

[rapsodist]

GTA-style games are the new breed that will take over the industry,

Doubtful seeing how we are on the third installment of GTA since it went 3d and sold millions and still no one wants to consistantly make open-ended games.

Then why do I read "it's like Grand Theft Auto" in so many damn game previews? By the next generation of systems, we'll probably be awash in these type of games to the point where we'll be sick of them. If they're all like True Crime or The Getaway, I want to stop this before it happens. :P

[wubb]

The video game industry has been hoping for this since day 1. Us old folks can remember when home versions of Pole Position were rated by how well they reproduced the billboards for other Atari/Namco games. A lot of systems left them blank and it was regarded as a graphic triumph if they had the Centipede or Dig Dug ads. Many games would have built-in ads for the company's other products, especially those by the same programmer. (Remember when a hit game could be entirely the work of a single person?)

For instance, the earliest example I recall is Shamus II, published by Synapse Software. It contained several places in the game which served to promote other Synapse published games by William Mataga (Samurai Transvestite) like Fort Apocalypse and Zeppelin. It was very tongue in cheek but it was advertising none the less.

In the Amiga and some other versions of the TV Sports series we had several fake ads along with some other humrous interludes. (I don't think these made it to the TurboGrafx versions if that is your point of reference.)

Several other games over the years have had corporate tie-ins, like the McDonald Land game for the Genesis that was actually pretty good and spawned a sequel. This was a Dave Perry production that led up to the Sega Aladdin and Earthworm Jim in terms of the animation style and engine. This happened largely because of the UK division of McDonalds. Corporate sponsorship of games seems to have been long accepted overseas.

Nowadays, of course, with the web and Shockwave/Flash, free online games promoting products are extremely common. Any number of online games with no commercial content in the game itself do require you sit through an ad before playing or advancing levels.

Nice post! One of the more valuable Atari 2600 games is Chase the Chuck Wagon (that might not be the exact title) a game obviously created for/by the makers of Chuckwagon dog food.

http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareID=917

[smellhasreturned]

i rather like seeing real company advertisements in games. it adds a sense of realisim if you will.

[Scrubking]

GTA-style games are the new breed that will take over the industry,

Doubtful seeing how we are on the third installment of GTA since it went 3d and sold millions and still no one wants to consistantly make open-ended games.

Then why do I read "it's like Grand Theft Auto" in so many damn game previews? By the next generation of systems, we'll probably be awash in these type of games to the point where we'll be sick of them. If they're all like True Crime or The Getaway, I want to stop this before it happens. :P

GTA has rubbed off a little on other games, but not like the gaming media want to portray it. They act like gta has revolutionized gaming when it really hasn't - sad too. Open-ended, emergent gaming is STILL a bad word to most publishers/developers because these types of games have a history of not being "market friendly".