A recent study—the opening words to every Men’s Health article ever—shows that gamers aren’t put off by in-game advertisements. The study, commissioned by one of the largest ad networks and carried out using EA and Activison games, found that 82 percent of gamers said that games were just as enjoyable with ads as they are without ads. Even more valuable to advertisers, and surprising to me, was that 70 percent of those “most opinionated” about in-game ads said they came away from their session feeling better about the brand.
In-game advertising is set to grow to a $2 billion industry by 2012.
In racing games and the like, I suppose there’s no harm in seeing a McDonalds billboard. But if I’m walking around Azeroth and see an ad for Cialis, well, I’d be a little confused.
I think that the in – game ads should reduce the price of the game.
The cost of game production is going UP, not down, or remaining the same. The in-game ads are subsidizing your $60 game, rather than it being an $80 game.
If I see an ad in Azeroth I’m getting my damn 15 dollars back.
I agree, if you are playing a racing game or another type of sport that there is advertising on in real life then it is fine. I also think it would be fine to see it on the Sims, as it is more realistic. However if it is a fantasty game then the point of the game is not to be realistic, so should have no advertising.
I also agree with the fact it should make the games cheaper, if not free.