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[Reaper527]

QUOTE

Real as in streaming advertisements piped dynamically to games like EA’s forthcoming Madden 2008, NASCAR 2008, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008, NHL Hockey 2008, and Skate. An extension of Microsoft’s game ad company Massive Inc. (purchased by the Redmond software leviathan last year for $200 million), the new EA/Microsoft deal will allow advertisers to feed changeable ads live to virtual billboards or other promotional in-game constructs. Goodbye static, built-in, quickly outmoded huckstering, hello voguish virtual real estate with advertising space for sale by the hour, day, week, etc.

It’s working by tracking the number of seconds players have seen an ad, and then switch it every 10 seconds. 10 seconds of ads view in a game would cost 10$, to be view by millions of players around the globe. Yeah, it’s more advertisements (and who needs those?), but it will also make car-driving video games much more “life like”, when you’re driving through town and the billboards are advertising things that are actually relevant, or at least produced in this decade.

“We’re thrilled to be EA’s trusted partner for dynamic in-game advertising for these products,” said Cory Van Arsdale, Massive Inc. CEO. “The addition of EA’s leading titles to our network represents a tremendous opportunity for brands targeting the youth demographic and sends a clear message that in-game advertising has arrived as a compelling medium for marketers,” he added.

Yankee Group estimates indicate around $26 million was spent in 2006 on dynamic in-game advertising, with the number expected to rise up to $100 million before the end of the year - and up to $650 million within three years.

i wonder if we'll end up getting error messages once the ad servers are gone, as well as what will happen if you play a game while disconnected from live.

[grim_d]

i swear crackdown already did something similar, those big billbords used to have different ads on them.

[xess]

Bet they dont put the games down in price when they start making even more cash from ads.

[grim_d]

QUOTE(xess @ Jul 27 2007, 04:42 PM)

Bet they dont put the games down in price when they start making even more cash from ads.

would you?

[xess]

Of course I would, I'm Scottish and very generous!!!

[cerealkillajme]

And EA goes even lower...

Not that I buy EA games anymore, but I wouldn't if I still did now. Making more money on advertising in games is wrong. We pay for Live and they've been starting to do it/have been doing it for a while now too. BS to pay for a service and get spammed with ads.

Games and Live should both be cheaper if they are going to advertise on them. I don't want advertisements and they are forced on me, even when I pay for the service.

EA may have a right to choose whether to put them in or not, but I also have just as much a right to refuse to buy their product too.  

[Reaper527]

i suppose the big thing is the context. if it is in a place that the ads would be in a real life stadium, i'm ok with it, however i know EA will probably go overboard with them. also, i wouldn't be surprised to see them putting more ads in non-sports titles as well.

as far as the "would you lower the prices" comment, i'm going to say maybe. it depends on the marketing spin. if lower prices sold more games, they could potentially make more money from the advertising sales as it is a larger audience.

[grim_d]

QUOTE(xess @ Jul 27 2007, 04:51 PM)

Of course I would, I'm Scottish and very generous!!!

i'm sure that line works wonders when your using it on someone non scottish

[ILLusions0fGrander]

cant wait to see.

"this now loading screen is brought to you by..."

how about intelligent ads, that check your game history and scores along with a background search on your name for relevant adverts to market products you...

or how about, xbox live silver have the ads, and can play online. people that pay for gold, get ad free.

[Knasen]

Another reason not to buy any EA games, all they do is mass-produce cheap, boring sequels.