Firms rush to place ads in computer games

Computers are going the way of TV where programs are interrupted with advertisements every 10 minutes :-(

i_XpUser

Maybe its time to find a new hobby. If I start seeing advertisements in games that’s it I stop buying them. Especially if they start doing popups during game play. Or if you have to listen to a series of advertisements before you can start the game.
They will try it.....Corporate America is capable of trying anything. And who knows gamers might not mind. You might start seeing it in regular software....or even advertising built into the bios, so you have to watch it every time you boot up.
The sky is the limit with these idiots.

Some games are already displaying an 'Nvidia' advertisement when starting a game.

Do yourself a favor BACKUP!!!
Sorry, I do not check for private messages

I wouldn't be opposed to the subtle advertisements, such as product placement. Instead of using "generic" cola cans, they use Pepsi instead. That would be OK, but if they go right into commercials, that is where I would draw the line.

Besides, you know there will be people out there that figure out how to crack the game and "disable" the infomercials!

On my old VHS player I use Fast Froward to skip the "Coming Attractions" & the big-brother FBI Warning to get to the rental movie.

Does DVD players have Fast Forward too? If it does newer players will have it disabled

What about PC DVD-ROM - will we get a Menu giving us the option to skip advertisements and get to right down to play the game?

To those Madison Ave idiots, life is all about making money & nothing else.

i_XpUser

Watch out for the black helicopters!

They have been using ads in games for some time now. Need for Speed Underground had a vast "virtual" world in which the game took place. In the game you had a Cingular phone that was an integral part of the game. And there were many Bet Buy Stores throughout the game as well. There were a little too many Best Buy stores for my liking, but it definitely added a sense of realism to the game.

"To those Madison Ave idiots, life is all about making money & nothing else"

That's just terrible. Oh, wait, that's their job. The job that the owners of their company (the public) demands of them.

Michael J

Update:

Last month, Ballmer yelled at Avenue-A Razorfish Client Summit Conference in Miami, fists pumping, It's Advertisers! Advertisers! Advertisers!

So now guess what? M$ is in it too ostensibly not just with games but with the soon-to-come Windows Vista. Read this story..

MS reportedly buying in-game advertiser Massive

I guess I should join zero244 in finding a new hobby. The days of pure Operating Systems will soon be finished.

i_XpUser

AFAIAC, life itself is full of ads, be it obtrusive, unassertive or subtle like in roberts1614's response.

I couldn't be bothered one bit if they are appropriate, well placed and done with subtlety within the media content.