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Google AdSense coming to a game near you

2:36 PM on 07.30.2008, Brad Nicholson 18 comments

Google AdSense coming to a game near you photo
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According to VentureBeat, Google has developed and already begun testing an “in-game advertising technology” that will stream ads into popular videogames. A demo of the technology revealed a seamless integration for developers and appears to be ready to go whenever Google decides to launch it. The service will be called “AdSense for Games” and will be available for nearly every game medium including “console games, disk-based PC games, web-based PC games and cell phone games.”

Even though all of this seems a bit mysterious, some Google representatives did attend Casual Connect this year, although they were unwilling to talk about AdSense for Games. I’m of the mind that ads should stay out of games that I pay for. There’s nothing as unsatisfactory as booting up a game fresh out of the package and being greeted with billboards and pseudo-commercials.

There has yet to be any official word on when the service will hit, so there’s still some time to game with a few less intrusions. This news post has been brought to you by Malt-O-Meal.  Malt-O-Meal is committed to providing the best tasting rip-offs ever conceived.

[Thanks, Jonathan!]


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Barcode's Avatar
Barcode at 07/30/2008 14:54
I can see this happening to an extend.

Sure, no one wants to load up their game and be bombarded with ads.

I think google will be smart about the idea and not exploit it.

I can see the ads scrolling across the bottom of the screen or a still at the bottom of the screen during a NBA replay or another sport game.

In other games like, GTA, or others, it might be a bit different.

Just as long as they don't exploit it.
Alexradl's Avatar
Alexradl at 07/30/2008 14:54
Tired of overpriced big-brand cereals? Cereal and milk lovers of the world UNITE. Malt-O-Meal® offers value alternatives to Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies®, Quaker® Cap’n Crunch®, General Mills® Lucky Charms® and Kellogg’s® Apple Jacks®.
Scary Womanizing Pig Mask's Avatar
Scary Womanizing Pig Mask at 07/30/2008 14:54
Is ad-sense the one in Gmail where it gives ads based on the context of you're emails?
casualweaponry's Avatar
casualweaponry at 07/30/2008 14:56
Seriously, Malt-O-Meal is hella cheaper than name brand cereal. And the aftertaste isn't THAT bad.

Also, in-game ads for games I fully paid for = FAIL. If the savings isn't passed on to the consumer, then what's the point? Oh yeah, more cash in everyone's pocket except mine.
mix's Avatar
mix at 07/30/2008 14:57
So we can have ever changing bill board ads in our video games or have randon pop-ups for Viagra blocking our view?....DO WANT!

This is another way for Google to make some $$$, they should pass some the of profits made onto the people who have to watch them, most likely, unwillingly by making the games a bit cheaper or something.
CaptainApocalypse's Avatar
CaptainApocalypse at 07/30/2008 15:31
I call bullshit on this. The idea of in-game ads is totally ridiculous. I'm shelling out money, usually $60, to be immersed in an experience. If I ever have to use a Red Bull to refill my party's mana, I'm gonna blow up the damn world.
king3vbo's Avatar
king3vbo at 07/30/2008 16:04
So lame
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 07/30/2008 16:26
Random pop-ups? Booooo. Do not want.
protomark's Avatar
protomark at 07/30/2008 17:29
@ scary womanizing pig mask
yes, it's there, as well as everywhere else in the cyberwebs.

if i have to see ads in my final fantasy, my final fantasy better cost ten dollars brand new.
The-Excel's Avatar
The-Excel at 07/30/2008 17:42
Google "HOSTS file". Problem solved.
Sueng's Avatar
Sueng at 07/30/2008 18:13
expect Sony to be the first to jump in on this FAILtrain.
DaedHead8's Avatar
DaedHead8 at 07/30/2008 18:59
"There’s nothing as unsatisfactory as booting up a game fresh out of the package and being greeted with billboards and pseudo-commercials."

Tell me about it, I just started playing Skate. >_>
Rusty Ghia's Avatar
Rusty Ghia at 07/30/2008 19:11
Nope, not coming to a game near me. I won't touch ad-riddled games with a ten-foot pole. Just like I don't watch TV or listen to the radio (mostly) because of the ceaseless ads, I will go to purely retro games if the new stuff has ads. If I pay full price for a game, I had damn well better not get any ads with that.
ninjikiran's Avatar
ninjikiran at 07/30/2008 20:17
Ad's don't bother me if they are transparent. Meaning they mesh into the game world and don't try to bombard my face forcibly. Some games have fake advertisements, it really wouldnt be that much of a deal to have an advertisement for "Brando Cola" replaced with Coca Cola. Stuff like that are completely transparent to the player and MAY pursuade them to grab a coke on urge. I know if I saw a pizza hut box near the trash can of a game I might get an "urge". Once again this is stuff that is natural to the game world but never intrusive.

The day when an advertisement pops up in my face or forces me to watch commercials between load time is the day I will call farce but anywhere before that it doesn't really matter. Long as immersion is kept in tact.
Ambulance-Y's Avatar
Ambulance-Y at 07/30/2008 20:58
will it work just as good as regular ad sense? on another tab i have open ad sense thinks I (a straight male) would want to go on a lesbian vacation.

more like Ad(makes no)Sense.
Keriaku's Avatar
Keriaku at 07/31/2008 00:39
It was my friend's dad who sold the AdSense product to Google :O Now they're millionaires that live in California.
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