Ads in gaming...

[Schwarz]

The first online game to adopt this system isn`t the least popular, no on the other its a quite popular game wich I beleive anyone as at least tried once.
Yes of course I am talking about Counter Strike: Source.

Valve last month has signed a contract with Engage Advertising, based in San Fransico.
The first ads visible came from the Eat Fresh Subway !
Why subway.
Well obviously the age margin for online gamers are usualy in between 18 and 34.
In the year 2005 12 percent of these people have spent less time watching TV then 2004.
In that same slice of time these people have spent 20 percent more time on gaming.
So where do you think advertising would be optimal...
Anyways the ads could be seen all over big panels covering buildings and a lot of the gaming space making the game a little more unrealistic.
Even though that this is what is actually happening in our society...

http://www.pcinpact.com/images/bd/news/23641.jpg

For now the publicities have affected only San Fransico, Las vegas and Sacramento.

Now I would like to have some input on this.
Are you guys thinking its a good idea or are you agaisn `t it.

[liqnit]

my point is if ads in game will get the game lower price then it is great
what do i care if on the wall i'm going shot there a fake ad or somthing real?
if that get me to play more games because i can afford more then let it in.
what i will not like is getting like jumping ads between scenes or break in the game for ads

[pc_man_iac]

I guess its true on that perspectiveif games are cheaper, and the adds dont disrupt the game in any way than why not. As long as it saves us money, the adds arent in the last boss level, and it doesn't affect gameplay its all good.

[pym]

In global, there are games that ads can add to the fun, in others, it sucks...

The good:
* This will lower the prices, no doubt, and that's a good thing!
* Can give a sense of reality and in certain games, this means a lot.

The Bad:
* Ads ???? Again ??? don't we see enough for a day?
* In certain games, this can ruin the atmosphere.

[3D_Mind]

Here is my take on this matter:
Advertising is a fact of life. As such, games that try to be realistic and mimic life would benefit from real life ads by adding realism, if implimented in a logically consistant manor. The added atvantage of lower prices for games is also attractive.
For games that would not logically contain advertising, such as World of Warcraft or any game based in pre-modern times or an environment that does not properly contain ads, ads could disrupt the atmosphere and realism of the game. For example, it would not make much sense to see a vending machine for Coca Cola placed in the Forest of Nightmares in some medevil game. However, having said that, a side mission or quest or mini-game containing ads, prehapes used in a humorus context, could allow for a non-contaminated game to still have advertising.
Having said all of that, I usally do not enjoy advertising in general, unless it is amusing, so more ads cluttering up my media (whats next, 30 second audio ads in music CDs?!) is not a bright prospect. I would vote no on this trend, unless it is specifically relevent to the game.

[Null]

I disagree that advertisement inclusion will necessarily reduce the cost of gaming.

My cable bill does not appear the decreasing as the number of infomercials increases.

[tomato]

BAD IDEA!!! Leave the ads at home! :evil: These ads will distract the player and rip them out of the experience of the game and bring them crashing back to reality... :(

[werty316]

I say leave them out if you get distracted by it. When you are running around shooting people in the head ads can distract the lesser skilled.