In Game Advertising

[leon86]

Hello,

This is something that we have seen an increase in over the past few years, to the extent where Media agencies (such as Massive and Double Fusion) have been created for the sole purpose of selling and buying ad space in games. This would suggest that advertisers and brands are becoming aware of the amount of power that putting a brand into a game can have. Games such as Skate where it is literally tattooed with different skating brands (and one mobile tariff company) and Gran Turismo which feature the latest car. Does this bother people? Have you ever seen a brand in a game and then found yourselves purchasing that brand?

 

[Divinegon]

As long as it isn't intrusive, I don't mind. But take Gran Turismo for example. Sure it has the latest cars at the time (dismissing it also possesses classics and common cars), but it's not like they're shouting at you "Hey! Buy from this brand. We have great cars". Besides, it is a car driving simulator, so it's supposed to have real brands to look more realistic.

The moment I see games actually having ads, though, at the start or in the middle of the game that isn't related to a charity company or actually forces the game to come to a halt for a few seconds to see that shiny new dishwasher, is the day I'll battle myself between slowly leaving games or keep my will strong.

But to your question: No, never felt like buying anything from a game other than the game itself. Because we associate everything in the game to be not real, even if it includes actual existing products, so it diminishes our will to get out of a non-real setting to buy something from that non-real setting in the real world (Unless they're character models).

 

[richasr]

Doesnt bother me too much, depends how loud and colourful it is. Playing Rainbow Six:Vegas recently I've seen quite a few adverts.

There's been the new Alien V Predator film and Assassins Creed that i've really noticed. I think they shouldn't because it's shameful and surely they advertise enough in the real world anyway. Not to mention when you buy most games... there's always a small leaflet from the producer containing other games that are out or coming out.

 

[Fire Daemon]

Well if I was playing a racing game I would expect some ads for tyres and car parts on the sidelines. But some ads like the ones in GRAW and crackdown are just stupid. Why is it that in the future they are advertising modern phones, cars and deoderant. And what was with those random taco bell ads in PGR. Like hell buildings have a random sign on the side of them for taco bell.

 

[Swenglish]

It doesn't bother me the slightest to be honest, and I have never felt a sudden urge to go and buy twenty copies of some random product that I've seen in a game. However, the day that they will put advert breaks in the middle of the action every hour (like they did on the handheld console with GPS Gizmondodid that failed miserably) I'll go ahead and do the same thing Top Gear did when they were on their American Roadtrip.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cScZFAqsn6M&feature=related

 

[REDPill357]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cScZFAqsn6M&feature=related

I REALLY wish I could watch Top Gear. Amazing show.

I object to product placement if it gets in the way. For example, look at Fight Night Round 3. YOU CAN UNLOCK THE BURGER KING AS A TRAINER. It's that kind of gross product placement that annoys me.

 

[Geoffrey42]

[a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/71566-Its-OK-to-Advertise-If-We-Like-You]Its OK to Advertise If We Like You[/a]

On topic article from several months (year?) ago. Along with a fair amount of discussion.