I’m sure you’ve seen this ad online at some point in your Internet travels. It’s for the game Evony, an online Civilization clone that, while it doesn’t outright stink on ice, it isn’t the best, either. But the game’s quality is irrelevant, for today we’re looking at the game’s rubbish ad campaign. Basically, it consists of a pair of breasts plastered all over the Internet.
So the game isn’t anything to praise. It’s developed by Universal Multiplayer Game Entertainment, which has links to Chinese gold farmers, and, again, it’s basically a Civilization clone. (It used to be called Civony.) The ad campaign, however, almost entirely consists of busty maidens inviting you to play the game.
Please note that there are no princesses to save in the game. She’s just there to get you interested in the game.
I could go on a longish rant, “this is the dumbing down of society,” etc. but perhaps CrunchGear should adopt a similar ad campaign? Just hire a bunch of busty models holding Palm Pres and Wii remote controllers?
Well, it worked…I clicked the link to see what was up once upon a time.
Chicks with Palm Pres though? That’s crazy.
Yes. Please hire busty models… to do anything.
I’m ok with busty chicks. Yes, I’m single and dig the cheap thrill of sexy pixels.
Best. Idea. Ever. Guru3D likes to do it with their system guides but I say that’s not enough. Every CrunchGear Article should have at least one busty Model involved.
Ha! Someone finally wrote about this. Nice.
treg
These ads are EVERYWHERE. …and I’ve clicked every one of them. :(
lmfao that’s fucking jokes
For me, when this article appeared in Google Reader, your Google ad unit below the post was another ad by the same company. I figured you had just posted a 3rd image, but nope, it was an ad.
Sneaky.
Wow, Google’s getting savvy.
The tech industry already has ads like that. They’re called “trade shows.”
There are two Evony ads on THIS VERY PAGE right now.
those are screenshots dumbass…
Still an ad, dumbass.
Best reason to install AdBlock EVER.
Except AdBlock doesn’t work on sites like YouTube.
Actually AdBlock does work on sites like YouTube. How do I know this? I use it and I never see any ads on YouTube.
Do you have something against breast. And what do you mean by “this is the dumbing down of society.” Like that hasn’t happened already. Sure the game is sub par. But it is still fun.
Hey, an online Civ in and of itself might be pretty cool; I used to be a massive Civ addict. No boobies required to sell that.
But, to quote the title of a Bloodhound Gang album, “Hooray for boobies!”
It’s since gotten even worse – now they’ve stooped down to a close-up of a photo of breasts only (no fantasy art element at all).
I think Evony DESERVES a longish rant of “this is the dumbing down of society,” etc
With the amount of money and low-down tactics used for this campaign, my conspiracy theory is that some billionaire/corporations have clued in on how easily people can be exploited through MMORPGs and they’re going for it full throttle.
Hey Roman, you want a rant about dumbing down of society? You may like my response. I certainly like yours. After all how could I not appreciate the truth?
First of all, if YOU clicked on the link YOU proved that you’re nothing but a pervert-crazed individual who got disappointed because his “lust” wasnt met upon arriving in the so-called “website” where YOU’re expecting some big breasted woman to pamper or entertain YOU.
Its a game.. web based.. wether or not its “the best” or “the worst” doesnt change the fact that YOU only clicked on it because of YOUr perverted thoughts. Good Job, YOU proven yourselves to be a bunch of whining idiots.
To me, seeing Evony ads pop up everywhere using sexually-provocative pictures to entice people to play the game is… lame, to say the least. Especially since this game has nothing sexual about it.
The fact that they can put these ads everywhere only shows that they’re gaining some kind of profit from them.
I agree though, it’s sad that the majority of these people probably ARE expecting to see big-breasted women at one point when they play the game. Otherwise, I don’t see this ad campaign working out at all.
If you looked into the game, everything is overpriced.
You literally have to pay 30 cents to talk in the public chat. It’s 30 cents per line, by the way. So much for “Free Forever.”
I spent $10 thinking that 1000 points is 1000 cents, you know something like that, and it only got me 100 points. Tough, because they falsely noted how much $10 would get me at the time, which has since been fixed.
I never got my money back, even though I was unsatisfied (and ripped off). It’s sad that one item in the game is worth $10 in the first place. Maybe they’d make better business if they didn’t inflate the prices.
of course it’s fine to complain about it, but you’re still allowing the ads to serve on the site.
If you really cared I’m sure you’d make an effort to block them…
noticed that the ads are gone now or at least many of them have been yanked.
too bad
[IMG]http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac290/Greenedout/Evonyfail1.jpg[/IMG]
It made me not want to play it because I’m a straight female. I had to research what it was just in case I was getting myself into some sort of porno game.
The women don’t even look like fantasy characters, I mean one I saw just looked like some hooker you’d see out on a night.
Boobs are alright.
I’ve seen one before where the “princess” was kneeling down and just out of nowhere there’s a sword sticking out and pointing to the princess’ boobies.
Talk about phallic.
how hypocritical – the evony ads in crunchgears banner ad sections – if they are gone, which might eventually happen check out the photo http://s1003.photobucket.com/albums/af155/socialmedium/?action=view¤t=crunchgear.jpg
I was wondering when someone would write about this. Some of the people on my msn are wasting their time trying find the names of the girls who are in the ads for porn. Are they even real people or just well drawn?
My (limited) understanding is that they’re real people, but probably not porn actresses. One of the girls in the ads (the one in the hot fairy costume) is actually an image stolen from a costume-selling magazine.
You guys got something against breasts? I’ll look at the breasts you play your stupid games. What a waste of time!
And staring at a pair of boobs that you’ll never touch isn’t a waste of time? O.o Masturbation only goes so far, my friend.
Ahaha… wow … yah, had to comment how AWESOME that reply was … yeah :D
I’ve had sex while playing WoW. Top that.
Lol, so you know…
You most likely had cyber sex with another dude, a dude that claimed to be a girl… and you fell for it…
Go take a hot shower and use some steel wool…
Wow.. Are some of you guys really that desperate that boobs can still manipulate you into visiting whatever site they happen to be supporting?
Seriously.. You DO realize it’s possible to be a straight male attracted to breasts and NOT be a mindless penis looking for any and every attractive lady out there, right? Honestly, it sounds like most of you are just after the ladies because you think you’ll be called gay if you don’t fall for it.. It’s really kind of sad.
Couldn’t agree more. Words taken straight out of my mind.
Are you a Gray?
There is also the Queen of Evony competition!: http://www.bruceongames.com/2009/07/31/queen-of-evony-competition/
Ive seen pages with up to 4 or 5 ads of this crap one ONE page! Nice photos but they absoloutely nothing to do with the shity game.
I remember Civony and I did not play it because of the female on the page. Like someone else posted, I thought it was a porno game. When I found Evony, they did not have the female with her boob looking like its about to drop page yet. The home page is actually different than the page that loads. I play the game without all the other drama. I saw the queen of /evony contest, which I thought was a stupid thing. I like strategy games so the other drama I tend to tune out. They didn’t need to place a model and her boobs to play the game. I think if they just stuck with whats on the actual home page, it would have sufficed. Some of the other things that are in the game I could do without also. Spend $30 dollars to get a bonus package, why. If the game is for free, keep it that way. Make folks earn those bonus packages. I’m not doing it. To me it takes away from the game itsself. If the company had have used some basic marketing practices, this game would have drawn people to it anyway. Kept the scantly clothed women out of the picture, to include the contest. Like I said before, I started playing before the latest page came into existance. The real homepage would have sufficed for most people. It is the same one I show to potential players now. Could the game be better? In my mind, yes. I dont get into the legal wranglings of business and other companies so i will leave it here.
I SO AGREE WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!
Oh and btw, im on evony as darkslaya272 and anyone who wants to give me free stuff, pm me
The ad campaign is pathetic. It’s angled towards prepubescent boys getting their thrills by combining 2 things that are known to appeal to them – the fantasy genre and boobs.
I for one enjoy online gaming, but I refuse to let these campaigns win by clicking on a single banner. By clicking on these ads, you are showing corporations that you really are stupid, and will click on anything if it is sprouted in front of your face on enough web pages.
Dumbing down of society…? I don’t think that is possible – Gen Y rules the internet, and you can’t get much dumber than that.
it’s funny because I’ve noticed those closeups of the boobs and I was really curious whether or not it was an adult game so I googled “what is evony” and it gave me the answer with screenshots and all that. The game doesn’t look all that impressive and by reading the description I found out it wasn’t an adult game. The ‘play now secretly’ made me think it was.
See, I think these guys got the idea from that 3d sex mmorpg where it says ‘play secretly’, etc, etc.
It’s funny because not one game I’ve worked on had chics with huge tits on the ad. Some hot girls, but usually dressed like Sarah Connor with a shotgun.
Good idea…I like busty maidens…whatever site or hardware they are promoting :-D
personally i dident like the add’s, cause one i knew it was a scam or sumthin and two if it was a game like that i dont have money to pay fr it cause i know it wouldet be free. and i never clicked on an add cause i know the site hosting the ad would get money for it, instead i googld it as i do with all ads or things i would like to check out
This game rakes in money for the owners of it, period. Its daily revenue is phenomenal.
The really isn’t free if you want to keep what you have after the 7 day no-fire policy. Everything in the game cost game cents. Your Credit card or Pay Pal account will cost you $5 per 50 cents of in-game currency. Items cost between 50 cents to 400 cents, and only last from 24 hours to 7 days. Some people may spend nothing, but eventually lose everything they have to an invasion with those spending real money to buy items.
To do the math, the game collects on average $5 a day from players. Some spend nothing and others spend a lot. At $5 a day, with 5750 players on each continent, and 30 continents per server, and 46 servers in operation, that’s a pretty good scam I think. Yes, almost 36 million dollars a month. The game owned and operated by an actual Gold miner, who realizes he can make much more money this way than having to discover, claim, mine and refine actual gold.
I am sick and tired of seeing the ads on almost every single site I go on. It’s just obnoxious … even if I heard the game was really great, I wouldn’t play it (and I love mmo’s). Do these horny teenage boys that click the ads in hopes of seeing huges breasts really play once they realize the game has NOTHING to do with voluptuous women?
Where can I buy the poster?
Listen, the success of this marketing campaign is HUGE !!! Why ? Because of all the publicity that it has caused, take this page for example … a wide view of pro’s and con’s being discussed about the ad campaign ! Which makes you want to do what ? Go and have a look @ what the hell all the fuss is about and check out http://www.evony.com ! I doubt putting a picture of a grandad in piss stained y fronts would of made you check out evony.com and i doubt a fat old granny that hasn’t shaved for 10 years would of pursuaded you to have a look either. This sort of advertising goes on accross TV, Cable and Sky adverts day in and day out and none of you complain about it … companys hiring Kate Moss, David Beckham, e.t.c just to promote their merchandise !!! Grow up all of you, if you don’t like the ad’s dont click them …
Apple is the smartest of this lot – does what I do, never click ads. I check if their URL shows in the Browser’s status bar or right-click. Else Google it.
& ‘Geogre’ is the fattest pretentious prick of this lot – imagine! not even able to spell his own name properly!
Totally. I mean, how fucking stupid do you have to be to think that a game that requires that many tits to sell is worth playing? Simple — it isn’t.
Hi people!
I have been playing this free game, called Evony. It is really fun… If anyone wants to check it out, here´s the link:
http://albuquerquesil.evony.com/
Join in, and let´s have fun!!
shut up.
read the title of the blog.
“Busty chicks with Palm Pres” wouldn’t be so far out. British consumer tech mag T3 does something like that every month!
I read some of the responses and a number of them point out some folly that they think the writer of the article made or questioned the writer’s reasoning. Of the responses I read, these examples stood out.
In one response, the question is asked “Do you have something against breasts?”
The point isn’t whether or not the writer has something against breasts. There are many men married or not who are perfectly ok with breasts but still know that it’s wrong to take something that is meant to be shared in a personal expression of love between a husband and wife and cheapen it by using that idea to advertise. Why is it that whenever someone stands up against the exploitation of sexuality that people assume they have something against sexuality. Did it ever occur to you that those people in fact appreciate sexuality in such deep, personal and respectful ways that they hate to see it cheapened by exploitation in advertising or in anything. It’s foolish to criticize someone for knowing and standing up for the fact that sexuality is something more than cheap eye candy. This person also asked what the writer meant about the dumbing down of society. The writer is stating the core reason for why the society has been dumbed down and will continue to get dumber. I will explain, If people are going to play a game because they think there might be some explicit stuff to look at on some level, one thing eventually leads to another with those tendencies and we will find ourselves in a society that cannot control it’s thoughts or feelings and makes every choice based upon whatever fleeting desire they have at the moment which will eventually lead to a society that hasn’t the ability to think critically and make wise and prudent decisions. I recommend the person who asked about what the dumbing down of society means to take this to heart because our society and the world has been doing this more and more as time goes on and the results of it are seen plainly everyday in the tragedies reported in the news. This commenter seems to think that since the society is already dumb why not just give it up and throw it all away. Good idea, that’s one of driving forces of “logic” many criminals use before they become criminals. From the petty thief, to the murder and the rapist.
This next comment from Xith I will quote because it is one of the most ridiculous of the ones read:
“First of all, if YOU clicked on the link YOU proved that you’re nothing but a pervert-crazed individual who got disappointed because his “lust” wasnt met upon arriving in the so-called “website” where YOU’re expecting some big breasted woman to pamper or entertain YOU.
Its a game.. web based.. wether or not its “the best” or “the worst” doesnt change the fact that YOU only clicked on it because of YOUr perverted thoughts. Good Job, YOU proven yourselves to be a bunch of whining idiots.”
Alright this person is making all of the classic assumptions about someone writing against the perversion of something good by accusing the writer themselves of being perverted. This person assumes that the writer clicked the link in order to see more breasts, and is himself perverted and unqualified to be saying anything.
First I must say, Sorry Xith if the writer did click the link to see more breasts, that doesn’t change the fact that you admit the whole thing is perverse so why would you be bashing the writer? Oh! Maybe because YOU are perverted and clicked the ad or just looked at it a few seconds longer and didn’t like the writer pointing out your folly. Nothing more classic than pointing the finger at another so you don’t look so guilty! Lets face it there’s not a man on this planet that isn’t guilty of lust, it takes a real man however to, despite that fact, stand up and say to themselves and to others that it is wrong.
Second, if the writer wanted to prove his point about the game he might click the link to gather more information. I know, it’s strange to do research when you want to write a thesis isn’t it. Did it occur to you that what the author has done is taken the draw out of clicking the link out of lust in the hope that there is a saucy maiden to see in the game. Any man who reads his article can stave off their natural tendency to click the link to see more breasts. Instead of being perverted, he can click the link to play the game, or perhaps just avoid the game altogether because the ad campaign is sleazy.
Third, the fact that you can describe the writer’s supposed sin in such detail doesn’t prove that the writer is perverted, it merely proves that you, like the rest of us men are guilty of lust and know full well the thought processes involved in the attempts to feed that lust. In other words your attempt at pointing a finger at him to either prove him wrong or make you feel better only served to confirm your own guilt and that fact that the writer is essentially correct that the ad is wrong because it can draw people to make the wrong decision about the game which probably 90% of the people who play the game did before they discovered that it is just a strategy game and not a chance at eyeing female anatomy.
I played the game myself and unfortunately I had come to the realization long before I saw this article that part of the reason I ended up playing it was because I saw the ad and did not soon forget it. We’re all guilty Xith, people don’t have to air their dirty laundry to the world in order to stand up for what’s right. If the writer did click the ad because he was drawn by the picture, that matter is between him and God the important thing is that you understand he knows it is wrong and wants others to know it so they can avoid making a stupid decision or to keep them from making the mistake he did. It is foolish to criticize someone for doing that and the fact that you have done so likely proves that you do have a conscience about what you did but are uncomfortable admitting that it is a problem. To that I just have to say, if you feel convicted deal with it, you won’t feel better by pointing the finger at another. If you don’t feel convicted but are just angry because someone thinks your wrong, (and they would be right to do so) you’ve not done a good job of proving your good standing and should examine your convictions or try to have some to begin with.
Here is another response:
“of course it’s fine to complain about it, but you’re still allowing the ads to serve on the site.
If you really cared I’m sure you’d make an effort to block them…”
If the writer of this comment is accusing the writer of the article they are commenting on for putting the ads in their article well, that’s a waste of time. One could argue that the pictures are a demonstration of what the writer is talking about, that’s called a presentation, it is a useful tool in making a point and everyone from the high school senior to the high up business executive uses pictures to support their findings. You can also argue that people can get the point across with words thereby minimizing the exposure to unwanted content. Either way has it’s merits, and to accuse the writer of not really caring essentially means that you think he wrote the article because he just wanted to put those pictures up for others to enjoy but doesn’t really mean what he said about them. Most people don’t operate that way. It so happens he may care more than you think. Enough to put those pictures there to impact the people who care into action. That’s why ads run for the homeless pets and people often show the severity of the conditions that these people and animals live in because the sight of something happening that we don’t want to have happening drives us more to action than just reading about it.
This is the longest comment I have ever seen 0_0
Regardless, I didn’t read it either. XD
LOL. I stand by my comment: “YOU clicked on it because you wanted to see more of what’s on the ad”
-and You can add yourself to one of these whining idiots as well.
P.S. I didnt “assume” anything. I pointed out a fact.
You read the comment but failed to understand any of it. You seem to feel justified by ignoring your own faults and feel safe as long as you can point out other’s. Nothing else seems to matter to you.
You can’t prove that your “facts” are facts because you can’t be sure what another person’s motivations and thoughts are, any more than I can be completely sure regarding my assumptions about you. They certainly are likely, but I can’t prove it. As I illuded to in my response, your assumption that the writer of the article was a pervert could be true. However, that doesn’t mean that he has failed to understand his own imperfection and as a result pointed out what was wrong with the ad campaign based upon his own experiences, in an effort to prevent someone else and even himself from falling into lust again.
You are not winning some battle here by pointing out his or my own mistake. I have already admitted my shortcoming and pointed out the fact that any man out there would likely click that ad. It’s the wise and prudent ones that admit they were wrong and then decide to do something about it in their own lives and help others do the same. I fear I’m wasting my time writing this again. Read closer and pay more attention to the meaning of the words I wrote.
Your right my motives were not originally pure, I’m not perfect. The difference between me and you is I am willing to say that and make a change, while you will continue to point out other’s faults without acknowledging the same fault within you.
Xith,
It’s really quite sad that life has beaten you down like this. You are so damn jaded that you think you can pull everyone else into the cesspit that is your existence.
Fuck moral fibre, eh? Social responsibility gets trampled underfoot. If it pleases YOU, screw everyone else.
There is no definition, then, by which you are a worthwhile, critical and discerning member of society, except perhaps a purely mercantile one where you are “the good little consumer”.
Consume some more little buddy. Eat it all. Eat till you explode.
(Brave New World, anyone?)
We did a little parody of it ourselves here:
http://toblender.com/comic/?p=438
The ads… my goodness the ads! They are everywhere! I had to find out how these folks make their money, so I signed up and the business model is simple and effective. Build times for EVERYTHING in the game become progressively more insane until you have two and three day waits for a bit of research or a building upgrade. Of course there is an easy way to keep from going insane: Give them money, and they let you reduce or eliminate build times altogether… if you have the cash and are willing to part with it. My advice? My free advice? Bring your patience or your wallet, but either way you should expect this game to fold up as quickly as it exploded onto the scene.
I agree. I figured it was 100% free by what I’ve read. How lame that they’d trick people like this.
Ya know, not to be racist but I’ve noticed that the asian games mostly have a subscription attached like warrock, combat arms, evony, etc..
They say they are free but what do you do when you play for free? Get your ass kicked. How gay.
It IS possible to make a completely free game and still make money. I just think no one believes it.
My husband started playing this game. It took him a couple of days to cyber with chicks/women/young girls. Needless to say I am getting a divorce! WTF is wrong with people today? You would throw away a life, kids, home and everything else to chat and webcam young girls who could be your daughter!!!!! I HATE EVONY AND WISH I HAD A TRUSTING MAN IN MY LIFE!!
Well good luck anyway and I’m sorry to hear you’re getting a divorce, but obviously it’s for better and I’m sure you’ll get over it and find a better man.
Believe it or not, guys dig chics with kids.
I’m sure now you’ll realize though that men are incredible whores. You’ll find one that’s not, promise.
unfortunate. yes, very unfortunate.
Wait… There are women on Evony? Please tell me they’re not called Swynthethah or Mullheadron or something pseudo-Tolkienesque.
Yes there are women playing evony… check out the “Queen of Evony” contest. Some are very nice, and some are very not nice.
Well, I just couldn’t resist a comment. I was looking for further instructions to help my team and came across this. I’ve been playing Evony since there were only 2 servers and am totally addicted….along with thousands/millions of others.
I have a reasonably wonderful RL, but oh how I love the Evony life with all it’s wonderful Lords and Ladies. We find much to entertain ourselves with the game itself and ingame chat.
The breasty babes? Bring them on! I’m straight, but I think it’s hot! Now if they just had some men in the ads too.
One more thing, this game attracts all kinds of people…young AND old(er); young students, college students, blue collar workers, white collar workers; male & female; bed ridden, wheel-chair bound & healthy…from all across the globe! The wonderful people are what make this game so much fun and entertaining. I have grown quite fond of the people i’ve met in Evony. ~Francine
Most of whom, due to thorough brain-washing of the general populace, are now so attracted to breasts that they can no longer prevent themselves from clicking on one…
As good old Bill Hicks (bless ‘im!) would say:
“By the way if anyone here is in advertising or marketing… kill yourself.
No, no, no it’s just a little thought. I’m just trying to plant seeds. Maybe one day, they’ll take root – I don’t know. You try, you do what you can. Kill yourself.
Seriously though, if you are, do.”
Also there is the very real possibilty that Evony is malware: http://www.bruceongames.com/2009/07/16/is-evony-malware/
Advertizing sells, and EFFECTIVE advertizing sells a LOT.
I give the marketing manager 10/10.
I’d give him a suggestion to kill himself.
When I started playing the game there was no breast peaking women. I started playing to play with other friends. I have played totally free, and have not had my ass kicked. What gives the author the right to even care what they use for advertising? Sounds to me like he say an ad, thought it was going to get his rocks off, clicked and got disappointed. Give it up, there will always be some sort of “sex” in advertising, it sells, the end.
Get a grip. What gives the author the right is the same thing that gives Evony’s authors the right — freedom of speech, freedom to think for yourself and speak out against what you don’t like. Without that, my little friend, you would be living in a communist dicatorship today. Think about that.
And think about the fact that, if somebody makes a law that discriminates against YOUR age/gender/race/profession whatever tomorrow, you would be pretty pissed off if you didn’t have the right to speak your mind.
lol i think they put those pics there because somewhere in the players city there has to be people getting it on in the cottages…
Oh guaranteed!!! ;)
Glad someone wrote about this! I hate these adds!!! They are so bothersome! Is there anyway i can like block them forever? haha
There’s more to Evony than crappy ads (which really disgust me). I wrote an article on my blog, which is more of a patchwork of facts I found on the web.