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Massive to supply ads for several games this fall photo

Prepare for a Massive intrusion. Microsoft’s glorious videogame advertising company is set to supply in-game ads for a host of THQ, Electronic Arts, and Activision Xbox 360 and PC titles this fall. The list of targets includes every EA Sports title and Need for Speed Shift, as well as Guitar Hero 5, DJ Hero, and Band Hero. Tony Hawk: Ride, Blur, UFC 2009 Undisputed and other ad-less titles are to entertain Massive advertising, too.

But, wait, that’s not all: Massive will provide stuff -- possibly "Be a Chompion” reminders -- for Battle.Net whenever it’s released in the year 4040 (or 4041 according to some analysts).

Massive is already involved with Madden NFL 10, so there's your taste of the new stuff. While some of it seems out of place, it doesn't detract from the total experience. Ads means money is being made, and in this economy especially, we can’t scream our displeasure from our ultra-awesome pedestal.

McDonald’s would like to remind you to “Make Café your day” with an iced mocha or a cappuccino, available only at select McDonald’s locations at an excellent and competitive price.

[via Edge, via Joystiq]


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19 comments | showing # 1 to 19

PKNugget's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 11:44
PKNugget
If Microsoft is making money elsewhere hopefully the extra ca$h will keep the prices for XBLA games and Xbox live where they are. I'm not saying any of it is cheap, but hopefully we won't have to pay more by supporting ads. On a side note, it pains me to have to give in like this. :X
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 11:45
Jon B
As I always say, provided they fit in the game, I don't care.
I actually find the fact that the billboards in Burnout Paradise AREN'T ads actually quite annoying.

Mainly cause the replacements are hilarious until you see them for the 501st time.
laika one's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 12:00
laika one
@the reborn... You have no idea about the pricing everything you said is covered by the single gold subscription fee, except the netflix sub, which you'd have to pay regardless of what you watched it on. There's no "extra fee" for fb or twitter. Go back under your bridge.
Timmeh's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 12:03
Timmeh
You can't scream your displeasure at a game that costs $60 being stuffed with advertisements? Why not? Seems like exactly the thing one should be able to voice displeasure about...

Maybe developers and publishers could, y'know, stop making and marketing so many shitty games. That would probably make far more financial sense than tryng to offset some of the cost by whoring out their products to advertisers.
Tron's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 12:11
Tron
i don't give a shit either way, so long as the ads aren't a static screen forcing me to watch it before i can play a game.
laika one's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 12:14
laika one
reborn: that's not how you put it.

Also, yeah... Ads suck, but so do most of the games above. And at least they're games where it would fit in.

Also, also... This is about a deal with the publishers, and the ad firm massive. Chances are the ads will show up in the ps3 versions too. So really XBL pricing is irrelevant to this story...

Perhaps you should read the post before you mouth off next time.
laika one's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 12:17
laika one
*sorry, PC
ill will's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 12:38
ill will
It absolutely does detract from the experience. Putting ads inside the actual game changes what game designers are considering when they're making a scene, an environment, etc. It alters the reality of the game at an advertisers whim. For a good discussion on why in-game ads are cancer, see: http://braid-game.com/news/?p=337

@ Tron:

I think I would prefer that. That way the ads would be compartmentalized and wouldn't affect the game developer's decisions, unlike in-game ads. I prefer watching some commercials before a movie to watching an Xbox transformer appear on the screen in the middle of the movie for no good reason.
JDigital's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 12:41
JDigital
Ads better stay out of my PS3. I was planning on buying Shift when it releases... if it has ads, I'll save $60.
NostalGeek's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 12:46
NostalGeek
Well obviously I wouldn't want an ad in Braid or Bioshock but I think in sports, racing game it actually enhances the game.
GoldenGamerXero's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 12:51
GoldenGamerXero
Yeah things like that don't matter unless they really get it the way. Still it is uncomforting that they want you to pay for the game, then pay for Xbox live then still have ads in-game. If they're going to put in ads then don't charge for XBL.
JDigital's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 13:00
JDigital
Speak with your wallets people... DO NOT buy ANY game with ads in it, or soon, EVERY game will have ads.
Leathersoup's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 13:39
Leathersoup
I agree with NostalGeek. For games that are supposed to take place in present time, updated ads can actually make a game feel fresh. Kinda strange but it does.
Everyday Legend's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 13:44
Everyday Legend
Ba dap pa pa paaaaaah...

...We're whoring it.
Broken Cage's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 13:48
Broken Cage
Ads on Billboards are fine. Pre-designed buildings of major corporations is fine. Massive copy and paste ads aren't fine. The issue is, are these advertising agencies going to put in the time to mix in cycled advertisements in a sublte fashion or are they going to copy and paste to minimize manhours and maximize profits?

All the UFC 98-102 advertisements in Undisputed 2009 never bothered me. Neither did the "Sponsor" logos, or Harley Davidson corner padding. However, one day I hopped on UFC to BRIGHT YELLOW advertisements for some MTV show, including a pop up box during the between round replays. It was so distracting that I couldn't get into the game anymore. So even games that generally provide non-intrustive ads can wind up with one of those blinking "you've just won an Ipod Touch" banners, if these current ads aren't kept under control.
whormongr's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 17:33
whormongr
I am fine with in game advertising SO LONG AS THEY LOWER THE PRICE OF THE GAME seriously why do we need to pay exorbitant prices to buy advertising? This is just like the "pre order to get a demo" retardedness... here is something people can learn about business...

you pay for promotions to sell a product and gain recognition-
you do not sell your promotional materials in order to sell a product and gain recognition-
also
@JDigital
Personally I would be in favor of not just boycotting the games but the products in the games
that1dude24's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 20:14
that1dude24
Game publishers are getting too greedy. :\

If this is true, why am I paying 60$ for a game with advertising, when I can get over 250 channels from a cable company for ~60 a month?
dmb6200's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/01/2009 21:48
dmb6200
There is zero incentive for gamers in the whole in-game advertising system, yet people stand up Microsoft. It makes no sense. I understand the benefits and good for Microsoft for being able to squeeze extra money for ads that I barely notice anyway but why stick up for a huge corporation that only wants to take every last dollar from you.
I think people should realize that they are getting screwed. First, we had to pay for dlc that could have easily been included for launch and now developers are whoring out different pre-order DLC to every retailer ever. We shouldn't have to pay an extra fifteen dollars for launch DLC because we didn't pre-order at gamestop.
ill will's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2009 01:46
ill will
dmb6200 has it right. Ads destroy media. Look at any medium with ads and tell me it isn't SIGNIFICANTLY worse because of them.
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