Activision Declines Use of In-Game Ads Out of "Respect"

[Tron-tonian]

Apparently the Invasion of the Body-Snatchers has begun. Wonder when they got Kotick...

On that note, though, if it is appropriate, I have no problem with a "real" ad vs. a "fake" ad. What's "appropriate"? Billboards in cities, sideline or rink-boards in sports games, racing games. Basically any "real-world" setting where (shock of shocks) we see ads regularly. Why not have a Nike of Addidas ad on the sidelines in FIFA '10? We see them when we watch the game.

Additionally, if it helps keep a developer afloat, even better. Maybe it will mean a bit more time polishing games that need it, rather than an early, flawed release.

 

[Tdc2182]

Would someone please post the picture of the Admiral Ackbar meme?

K, thanks.

 

[Slaanax]

I don't even care about them, whats the difference if its a Pepsi Machine or a fake drink machine in a game.

 

[Doc Funky]

I haven't played that many games that even have in-game ads, so this doesn't really matter that much to me.

I think the last one I noticed was Saints Row 2...I would always line my character up in front of the billboards and take a picture with my cameraphone, because I thought it was actually kinda neat.

 

[Steppin Razor]

Nice to see that the last, best hope of humanity's increasing his Karma level.

Bobby is only level 20? I thought he would have at least been the Symbol of Order by now, if not the Messiah.

On topic: Ah, Kotick. Your ability to draw ineffectual nerd rage over the internet, even when saying something that benefits gamers, warms my cold, black heart. Godspeed you champion of bringing me my daily dose of comedy, and may you never lose your touch.

 

[mjc0961]

My case for Bobby Kotick. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.230137-Bobby-Kotick-might-be-our-last-best-hope] I had a little fun with the concept after the Extra Credits "Free Speech" episode aired.

Holy crap, that actually makes a lot of sense and I can't believe I never even considered that before.

Also I'm a bit frightened, but I don't want to detract to far in this thread.

That or he just passed a speech check.

Rats, your Fallout 3 styled reply was better than mine.

 

[Canid117]

Run through the translator this means "The dev teams refused to put in game ads in games where it doesn't make sense and my PR department tells me we can't have another IW incident or you guys will riot so they had me say this instead."

Or something to that effect my translator program could just be paraphrasing.

 

[Tom. The Taxidermist =]]

Take note: the map pack for Call of Duty 4 was sponsored by Nvidia (for the PC), whereas the Stimulus and Resurgence map pack cost $15 apiece through Steam.

By the looks of things, someone at Activision saw that sponsorships rake in far less profits than selling the extra content directly.

 

[Tony2077]

respect do they even know the meaning of the word

 

[darthmob]

Activision and respect for the customer?

Spoiler

 

[Thorvan]

I would honestly prefer him getting his stupidly large amounts of extra money through advertisement than fucking with developer's design to make it more like Call of Duty.

 

[Rayansaki]

So taking more money from players is ok, but in-game ads that could actually increase immersion like those on prototype are not? ok.

Kotick just earned some points, now how is he going to flush them down the toilet?

He said it would be ok to take cinematics from, say, Starcraft 2 and sell them as stand alone movie. I think thats 100 times more negative points than this ?

1 step forward, hit by a truck and gets thrown 3 miles back.

http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/112/1120940p1.html

 

[obisean]

I wouldn't mind in-game ads as long as they meet 2 conditions:
1) Do not look "forced"

This is how I am. If you were to recreate, say, Time Square, I wouldn't mind the ads, because that's what Time Square is; one giant ad. But when you have a wall dedicated to a Pepsi ad in a game like Halo, or CoD, that's when I start to get a bit upset.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Maybe this guy isn't so bad after all. ...I said "maybe".

 

[instantbenz]

So one time a new radio station started up and it had no ads and it was amazing just non-stop music. Then they got greedy and ... well ... ads are a necessary evil in most cases ... a very evil evil but necessary.

This could backfire, but I like respect ... if it's not a load of horsepucky.

 

[ArmorArmadillo]

You find it disrespectful to the customer? How about charging 15 dollars for a map pack you assholes, one of them having 2 maps from and old game.

Well, no. Because you don't have to buy it if you don't want to. In-Game ads are something you don't get a choice on. I'm totally with Kotick on this one...product placement is one of the most disgustingly forced things in television right now and none of the revenue from it is going into helping the consumers or reducing ad time.

 

[Schlagwerk]

Gonna have to do more than that to make me believe he's in it for the audience.

 

[The Bandit]

I'm so glad to see my fellow Escapists are completely unbiased.

 

[Snotnarok]

You find it disrespectful to the customer? How about charging 15 dollars for a map pack you assholes, one of them having 2 maps from and old game.

Well, no. Because you don't have to buy it if you don't want to. In-Game ads are something you don't get a choice on. I'm totally with Kotick on this one...product placement is one of the most disgustingly forced things in television right now and none of the revenue from it is going into helping the consumers or reducing ad time.

I'd rather see dumb ads in a game instead of being charged stupid amounts for games or updates.

 

[Carlston]

Honestly in game adds or say a soda machine don't bother me. Nice little bit of familiar feeling of the world around me.

What I do mind is a Burger King Billboard on EVER billboard for 500 miles nonstop.

A Coke machine, cool...but i don't need to see piles of coke cans from a broken one like they just magicly only stocked the machine with one flavor/brand.

Oh and anytime someone talks "Here I got you a Bushmaster 5.56." cool but if I see "I got you a bushmaster 5.56 (tm) with fine corinthian leather butt stock, and the upgrade optional for a low price sony (tm) laser pointer..."

You just turned it into a infomercial or a joke scene from Wanyes World.


Moderation is the key, but advertisers never think that they want saturation.

Because honestly I don't mind a Burger King in a GTA game, but realism would say a McDonalds is around it within about 600 yards.