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Obama campaign has a presence in Madden 09, change coming for Chiefs fans
10:44 AM on 10.15.2008, Brad Nicholson 38 comments

Obama campaign has a presence in Madden 09, change coming for Chiefs fans photo
     Madden

The other week, we brought you a story about an Obama ad present on a billboard in Burnout Paradise. While we were skeptical about it, it has been proven true. This morning, I was greeted with the same ad in another game. This time, it’s Madden NFL 09.

The ad is the same one that was featured in the Burnout billboard, except in Madden, it appears on drive summaries in the lower right-hand corner. The ad reads, “Early voting has begun,” and at the bottom features Obama’s campaign logo and his name.

After the Burnout piece, I found myself wondering the impact that political ads can actually have. Have any of you been swayed to vote early, or consider Obama over that other candidate? Do you consider this intrusive? Personally, I enjoy this ad much more than a Nike one because it at least has a message that is important. I like sneakers and all, but politics and blueberry pie are higher on my priority list.


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killias2's Avatar
killias2 at 10/15/2008 10:45
Haha. Meh. At least they aren't Mountain Dew ads or something.
rpbowlinggod's Avatar
rpbowlinggod at 10/15/2008 10:49
i play games to get away from the normal world. I sure don't want ads in general in my games. If there are going to be ads, at least have it be relevant to the game(Nike in Madden seems appropriate, I can handle that)
MrSadistic's Avatar
MrSadistic at 10/15/2008 10:50
They could have at least gave the ad its own segue.
falinter's Avatar
falinter at 10/15/2008 10:54
Well I for one didn't know early voting started (my nose has been in video games and news of video games not news of the world)
So I am thankful for the reminder.

I also in the future wouldn't mind games giving me ads that tell me Heroes is about to start in 30 minutes.
CelicaCrazed's Avatar
CelicaCrazed at 10/15/2008 11:02
It's a smart move of moving in on a territory that scares and confuses your opponent.
20 Sided Death's Avatar
20 Sided Death at 10/15/2008 11:06
i probably wouldn't want ads in my games if it was for Mccain but since I'm an Obama fanboy i'm okay with this. I guess thats hypocritical? I dunno. normally I would hate this stuff but I've been reading campaign news everyday. I'm very much into this election. EXCITED.
Menelaus's Avatar
Menelaus at 10/15/2008 11:10
^ Wow, a partisan fanboy for Obama, how unique. ^
killias2's Avatar
killias2 at 10/15/2008 11:23
^ Wow a cynic on the internet who criticizes others for their lack of uniqueness, how unique. ^
nukka jdav's Avatar
nukka jdav at 10/15/2008 11:30
^ I like turtles ^
AaronLindes Neighbor's Avatar
AaronLindes Neighbor at 10/15/2008 11:44
I would smash my game disc if I saw an attack ad from a candidate which I loathed.
For example:
Player scores touchdown, screen goes dark, scary voiceover comes on -- "My opponent lets violent sex offenders go unregistered on the street to stalk your children and take the Fizz out of your soda, vote values in 2012". This message paid for by rich corporations all up in ur vidyo games.
akathatoneguy's Avatar
akathatoneguy at 10/15/2008 11:50
I would actually rather see product ads than political ones in games...at least that would mirror real life, since when you watch an NFL game there are ads everywhere. I don't mind ads as long as they're not in Oblivion or something, where it destroys the feel of the game.

At first I thought this was okay, but then I realized I was just being biased. If this was a few years ago and had been a Bush ad, I would not be pleased. So in all fairness, it's probably just not a good idea.
preciousdeath's Avatar
preciousdeath at 10/15/2008 11:51
Heck, our schools are already filling our children's minds with liberal bias, why not our videogames too? What's next, Obama baby bottles?

Oh and, rpbowlinggod, your icon is what I would consider NSFW.
20 Sided Death's Avatar
20 Sided Death at 10/15/2008 11:51
@AaronLindes Neighbor

Agreed. At least this is just a reminder with the hope that you will vote for the candidate putting out that reminder.

I would be equally okay if Mccain had the same kind of thing going on (guess I'm a flip flopper). No attack ads in my games! I can't stand to watch attack ads on T.V. either for that matter.
BoBoTheChimp757's Avatar
BoBoTheChimp757 at 10/15/2008 11:55
I just threw up in my mouth. I can't go anywhere without seeing bullshit from "The Messiah". Now he is invading my video games! I wonder how people would be covering this if it was McCain pulling these hijinks. I guarantee it wouldn't be taken so lightly.
free touch's Avatar
free touch at 10/15/2008 12:00
I love it that they are getting away with free advertising in game... I mean, advertising is supposed to pay for their part, making the thing cheaper. last time I checked those games are still $60 new. Why is no one saying anything about this?
F Whipple's Avatar
F Whipple at 10/15/2008 12:05
I don't like this. Nike makes sense with madden. This is just propaganda
Kalakaua's Avatar
Kalakaua at 10/15/2008 12:06
I like it. Doesn't say vote for me or anything like that, just simply states, Hey FYI... early voting has begun. Naturally who is giving the message but it doesn't say vote for me bitches!

I hope it encourages people to freakin vote. DO IT PEOPLE!
Xhumation's Avatar
Xhumation at 10/15/2008 12:06
Yeah I saw it and wondered what was going on...

I for one find it intrusive. probably because I'm not an american and I'm not living in America so I'm still wondering exactly why I'm getting this ad.

While I understand the importance of american politics to the globalized we live in..It still seems like too much for me.
Sharpless's Avatar
Sharpless at 10/15/2008 12:07
Actually, I like in-game ads in sports games. I mean, it makes it more realistic, so long as they're no more invasive than real in-game ads.

@Menelaus
Oh, how dare he have a political opinion! Fuck him in the neck.
20 Sided Death's Avatar
20 Sided Death at 10/15/2008 12:13
free touch, the ads are supposedly what keeps the games from going up to $70 new, right? Or are they what allows the DLC to come out for "cheap" or sometimes free.

@preciousdeath -- Yeah I guess I'm biased. I hate to admit it but thats what it seems like it comes down to. I try to read up on everything both sides are doing but its hard to find good news about mccain. I agree that if this was a few years ago and it was a bush ad I would be angry.

Im starting to feel old now. I just remember being in the range of 18 - 22 and I was either apathetic or just resistant to things that were popular to the masses. Now that I'm almost 30 I find myself trying to convince my 19 year old friends why its important to vote regardless of how they vote.

Oh, and thanks everyone, now Im a rock the vote ad. dammit!
MYL0R's Avatar
MYL0R at 10/15/2008 12:26
There are 3 topics in life that I love.
Video Games
Religion
Politics
Oddly enough, 2 of those 3 are things you normally don't talk about with people.
And I must say, I don't like when any of them mix together. I don't like it when Religion is discussed on DToid. I don't like it when ones Religion is brought up in a Campaign. And I certainly don't like the Obamas in mah gamez!(McCain stay out too. I like to be fair and balanced)
deiga-the-semivaliant's Avatar
deiga-the-semivaliant at 10/15/2008 12:54
I'm voting for Nader.

Running for President when everyone hates your guts takes some steel cojones.
Grapefruit Juice's Avatar
Grapefruit Juice at 10/15/2008 12:54
Hmmmm ads in games from a guy that says that games are part of americas educational problem.
Sweet, sweet Hypocrisy.
PixelJunky's Avatar
PixelJunky at 10/15/2008 12:59
That's fine he runs the ads, I just hope people don't vote for him, or even McCain in this election. How is it possible you ask, aren't they the only choices?

No, VOTE THIRD PARTY......let's get rid of this 2 party system. It's killing this great country.
ArrestedDeveloper's Avatar
ArrestedDeveloper at 10/15/2008 13:07
The ad should say "Early Voting Fraud Has Begun" with all the community organizing teams caught registering felons and dead people.
Prince Ghidorah's Avatar
Prince Ghidorah at 10/15/2008 13:24
@Pixeljunky

Yeah, they have like 30 parties in Italy and it democracy works just fine there. Of course, legislation is constantly gridlocked by schemers and deal makers looking to gather up a big enough coalition to have a majority, but that's the price you pay for 31 flavors.
cbebop007's Avatar
cbebop007 at 10/15/2008 13:27
You just had to dig the Chiefs, didn't you?
BattyAdroit's Avatar
BattyAdroit at 10/15/2008 13:40
@ArrestedDeveloper: Don't worry, broham.

I'm sure there will be scores of conservative lawyers out there to make sure voter suppression covers any amount of voter-fraud, and then to challenge legitimate, but undesirable, people from being allowed to vote.

And by "undesirable", I mean: young people, black people, poor people, women, ex-convicts with their voting rights restored, etc.
Scottyman's Avatar
Scottyman at 10/15/2008 14:04
Well I voted earlier today, but I can't say Madden had anything to do with it.

It is good to see that someone in the Obama camp at least understands the medium to some extent.
ZonerDude's Avatar
ZonerDude at 10/15/2008 14:09
Oh wow, the broken ass American political system spreads to gaming. I wonder if the rest of the world has to view this crap too.
vrplumber's Avatar
vrplumber at 10/15/2008 17:18
Voting only validates this massively corrupt and bloated system of government. No real change can be realized through such a passive act. We have only one more option than a dictatorship; how progressive.
Archanai's Avatar
Archanai at 10/15/2008 19:23
Adverts like that don't change who people are going to vote for, it simply reminds them to vote in general.

What changes opinions are debates, and policy.... Well... one can hope, lol.
TrailerParkJesus's Avatar
TrailerParkJesus at 10/15/2008 19:26
It doesn't fit in a football game. I don't like it.
Sharpless's Avatar
Sharpless at 10/15/2008 20:07
Just for the record, Obama has never insulted or put down video games. Read the quotes with an unbiased, thoughtful mind for once, and you'll find that his point is that children should focus more on their education and growth, than on video games. He's right. Any sensible person should know that video games are not the most important thing in life.

It does almost appear to make them an unnecessary scapegoat and use an outdated cliche, but it's hardly as bad as most gamers treat it.
kara's Avatar
kara at 11/11/2008 12:41
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