Obama: First Candidate to Advertise in Video Games

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WASHINGTON (AP) - Too busy playing video games to watch presidential ads on television? Barack Obama has found you, too, by becoming the first presidential candidate to buy ad space inside a game.
Nine video games from Electronic Arts Inc., ranging from the extremely popular "Madden 09" football game to the street racing "Burnout: Paradise," feature in-game ads from the Obama campaign. The ads—they appear on billboards and other signage—remind players that early voting has begun and plug a campaign Web site.

The idea of embedding advertising temporarily inside a video game is relatively new, having only begun about 18 months ago, and Obama is the first presidential candidate to buy space, company officials said.

The Democrat's ads are aimed at gamers who like sports, including NASCAR, NBA, NHL and skateboarding, meaning EA Sports' motto, "It's in the game," now applies to presidential politics as well.

EA spokeswoman Holly Rockwood would not say how much the ads cost, but she said they are running on the Xbox Live versions of the game through Nov. 3. They began earlier this month.

The timing of the Obama ads within the video game varies from state to state. Players in smaller states may see the Obama ads for the whole month, while users in bigger states may see them for a shorter period.

"It reaches an audience that is typically hard to reach—young males, roughly 18 to 34," said Rockwood. "That's very appealing to our advertisers."

For those who still associate video games with clunky "Pac Man" or "Space Invaders" consoles, here's how in-game advertising works: The Xbox 360 console connects to the Internet, so it can be updated with new features, including ads. In the case of "Burnout," the game came out in stores in January, but the Obama ads were only inserted this month.

Rockwood declined to say how much revenue the company generates from selling ad space in its games.

"What we're trying to do is offer ads in games where we're simulating a real-world environment, so our racing games, our sports games lend themselves to that," she said.
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http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D93QF82G0&show_article=1

I thought this was pretty cool. I wonder if we will see McCain ads... I'm guessing this will be much bigger the next election, especially with the expansion of in game ads.
 
This is interesting. And no doubt, in four years time, the political ads in games will indeed be larger.
I'd love to race Obama-Biden 2012 presidential limo in Burnout Paradise 2 (or 3 or 4)
 
[quote name='Friend of Sonic']This is interesting. And no doubt, in four years time, the political ads in games will indeed be larger.
I'd love to race Obama-Biden 2012 presidential limo in Burnout Paradise 2 (or 3 or 4)[/QUOTE]

Free Obama/Biden truck with pre-order at gamestop!
 
[quote name='RAMSTORIA']Free Obama/Biden truck with pre-order at gamestop![/QUOTE]
:lol: I'd definitely consider it, but Best Buy would probably be giving out the Subway 45 dollar foot long bike (adjusted for hyperinflation) for preorders.
 
McCain advertised in pinball games 30 years ago.

"Escape for Hanoi Hilton" was the worst pinball game ever. Flippers were always broken. Bumpers gave out state secrets. Multiball caused napalm burns in some cases. It even blinded one pinball wizard named Tommy.
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']Sweet, I hope it's one of the billboards you can launch your car through.

Why can't that billboard be in Crackdown so I can shoot at it?[/QUOTE]
Racist
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']Sweet, I hope it's one of the billboards you can launch your car through.

Why can't that billboard be in Crackdown so I can shoot at it?[/quote]

Did you play GTA:SA. They had a pretty humorous scene where you bust through a billboard :lol:

One of these games should put whacko jacko billboards in easy to get at areas
 
[quote name='RAMSTORIA']this is sarcasm... right?[/QUOTE]
Yep. I see someone got the automatic email notification from Newegg about the restock on sarcasm detectors AND decided to order one AND use one.
Cool.
 
[quote name='Friend of Sonic']Yep. I see someone got the automatic email notification from Newegg about the restock on sarcasm detectors AND decided to order one AND use one.
Cool.[/QUOTE]

the free shipping sold me.
 
For all the trying to get new voters to vote stuff, voter turnout thus far (early voting numbers) have been extremely low. I don't know why Obama thinks he has to advertise to a crowd that, as a majority already adore him (most of them don't have a clue of what's going on anyway), and by a wide margin DON'T vote (18-32 year olds). It's really a wasted effort.
 
[quote name='KingBroly']For all the trying to get new voters to vote stuff, voter turnout thus far (early voting numbers) have been extremely low. I don't know why Obama thinks he has to advertise to a crowd that, as a majority already adore him (most of them don't have a clue of what's going on anyway), and by a wide margin DON'T vote (18-32 year olds). It's really a wasted effort.[/quote]

I didn't know John Stossel posted here.
 
Obama wants to make sure he wins. He will be advertising like crazy these next few weeks until election (even in states he is winning and demographics which favor him). He is running a pretty good campaign.
 
[quote name='fatherofcaitlyn']Obama is also stocking up on bacon. Just in case they stop counting votes and resort to counting bacon.[/QUOTE]

Bacon? I thought it was nuts. Specifically Acorns....
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']Bacon? I thought it was nuts. Specifically Acorns....[/quote]

That's just stupid. Why would we count nuts to determine who won the election?
 
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