In game advertising

[Mike 820]

Wow, I was playing NHL 11 a little earlier and noticed that one of the advertising boards now contains an advert for 'Lynx Excite'. It was nice to see a subtle touch like this being put into the game. I find it adds to the gaming experience.

Im willing to bet theres a similar thing happening with Fifa 11 as they're both made by EA sports.
Have any of you Fifa fans noticed anything like this?

[RemainAllHoof]

I think it could work with that game if it works with the real thing. I wouldn't bother with advertising in something like Battlefield 2. There are some advertising boards advertising strange Middle Eastern things but I suspect they're just fake; I only notice them because if I'm in a Vodnik or Hummer's turret, I shoot them as we whizz past. If they had something on those boards, it'd need to be pretty obvious for branding purposes as the gameplay can be very intense eg a Coca Cola logo or Nike swoosh but nothing like "Try the New Toyota IQ - it's a fun drive with low insurance, 10% off first service. The car in front is a Toyota" because that's a bit too long for you to pick up subliminally.

Was that reply too long?

[james239]

The newest Harry Potter film had posters dotted around every track on Dirt 2 on the few weeks around its release. Looked quite out of place and annoying.

Also most of the start/finish stadiums were sponsored by Kerrang (sure they never used to be). Cool to see time-relevant adverts when signed in.

[MadMullah]

dont know about fifa

but this isnt new

for the life of me i cant recall which game it was but they had in game adverts to vote for barack obama during the elections IIRC

lemme google



burnout paradise!!

imagine the new GTA the potential for advertising there...

yrs ago a game called zool came out and that was heavily financed by chupa chups lollies

[MadMullah]

stuff like second life has blatant in game advertising though its hardly a game.

i'm sure the sims had some pack sponsored by ikea too

all the stuff was items you could buy at an ikea store and similar a few big name clothing shops have done similar.

with increased internet usage when games are being played stuff like this is goin to be very very common

[davepoth]

It's much better than banner ads at least.

[Mister V]

I don't mind it if it fits in with the game I.E advertising in GTA4 would fit in as it's a realistic game set in the present day.

what I don't like is when they shoe horn it in where it doesn't belong. IIRC in battlefield 2142 (a game set in the an almost post apocalyptic future) there where ads for pentium, and a current chevy I think. that to me is wrong as it completely pulls you out of the game.

[Wax1234]

MadMullah said:

dont know about fifa

but this isnt new

for the life of me i cant recall which game it was but they had in game adverts to vote for barack obama during the elections IIRC

lemme google



burnout paradise!!

imagine the new GTA the potential for advertising there...

yrs ago a game called zool came out and that was heavily financed by chupa chups lollies

Zool the ninja ant, loved it! It had no save function though and I could never quite finish it

[MadMullah]

Wax1234 said:

Zool the ninja ant, loved it! It had no save function though and I could never quite finish it

na thats where it got me tooo

i think the fact it was advertised made it alot cheaper than normal

[hyperblue]

Haha, Zool, that brings back memories!

[RobFerrari]

There is a lot more advertising and product placement in games now yeah, I for one quite like it.

I don't know if you guys have played NBA 2K11 at all? That is littered with adverts right into the core of the game! Jordan Brand sponsor one thing and another, then you have the Gatorade adverts coming on when making substitutions and in time outs, and you also get the Sprite 'Slam Cam' and Sprite 'Spark of the Match' along with a recognised and full ESPN TV crew.

[MadMullah]

as long as it fits in with the game

no fkin hannah montana on COD billboards

I'm sure i recall seeing avatar in game adverts too

The football games are the obvious ones. Nike arena etc

[Silverbullet767]

This has been going on for years, anyone remember coolspot??

[Mike 820]

Silverbullet767 said:

This has been going on for years, anyone remember coolspot??

What I found particularly interesting about this though was that the advert downloaded and installed itself in the background of the ice rink. I had no idea it had done this so it was a surprise.

SO in theory if they continue to do this they game will be full of relevant adverts and the adverts will change as time goes on just like in real life.

[Swifty Stig]

that game Skate had bus shelters with safer scotland on em iirc?
and there was a burnout with "Axe" body spray (american version of lynx) advertised too.
i find it funny how alot of companys get there products out there in computer games. it seems right though, especially things like deodorant and other daily essentials. imagine playing fifa and seeing cravendale milk and thinking - "Oh! thats right i need milk!"
wont be long before we are reminded were short of things through our games!

eta - games like test drive unlimited where you can buy real brand clothing is awesome in my opinion - great advertising

[Bullett]

been happening for years.

But these days it's a lot more common especially in sports and games with billboards, sometimes on loading screens.
The ads should be appropriate to the area you live in, so no US products in the UK (or their ad engine is shoddy).