In game advertising?
by Wael Zeenni · in General Discussion · 04/08/2001 (8:29 pm) · 8 replies
Hmm...I came across this article about in-game advertising and I though to myself that this MAY be a good way to get some funding.Here's the link to the article:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/in/20010405/en/mtv_def_jam_coke_they_re_all_playing_with_video-game_product_placement_1.html
I was just wondering,how easy is it to lure sponsors like Coke into giving you money to put their ads into your game?And how much can you expect? Jeff?
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/in/20010405/en/mtv_def_jam_coke_they_re_all_playing_with_video-game_product_placement_1.html
I was just wondering,how easy is it to lure sponsors like Coke into giving you money to put their ads into your game?And how much can you expect? Jeff?
About the author
#2
04/10/2001 (8:27 am)
Have you looked into it at all? And why don't you think it's a good idea? If people here were making racing games,then I can't see why Coca Cola wouldn't love to put it's virtual billboards up in your game :) 
#3
Jeff
04/10/2001 (8:33 am)
Bottom line. We are all too small to attract them. We only have so much time, and chasing advertising based revenue is not part of our business plan at this time.Jeff
#4
I tried to get product placement and advertising in Duke Nukem 3D back in 1996, but couldn't get any interest because Duke wasn't as well known, and in-game advertising was done back then. But now, in 2001, with Max Payne and Duke Nukem Forever, there's no problem at all getting deals.
I think the key is to make sure the game doesn't look whored out to advertising, and that all product and advertising placement fits contextually within the game. This is relatively easy to do whith games set in modern times.
Big, big money awaits for games that meet the proper criteria.
Scott, 3D Realms
04/10/2001 (9:44 am)
In-game advertising is a great area of growth, but probably only for already established brands, or games by proven hit-maker studios.I tried to get product placement and advertising in Duke Nukem 3D back in 1996, but couldn't get any interest because Duke wasn't as well known, and in-game advertising was done back then. But now, in 2001, with Max Payne and Duke Nukem Forever, there's no problem at all getting deals.
I think the key is to make sure the game doesn't look whored out to advertising, and that all product and advertising placement fits contextually within the game. This is relatively easy to do whith games set in modern times.
Big, big money awaits for games that meet the proper criteria.
Scott, 3D Realms
#5
One large site I won't name recently told me that they are selling less than 35% of their ads - and they have millions of users/visitors.
So the reality is that us little guys aren't going to make any real money in the short-term from ads. Far better to look at using the ads as a creative tool and explore trading ad exposures with other small developers/publishers.
04/18/2001 (1:36 am)
Biggest problem is that no one to speak of is making money from banner ads. Look at the big folks going broke (this week's latest ad-casualty nbci.com).One large site I won't name recently told me that they are selling less than 35% of their ads - and they have millions of users/visitors.
So the reality is that us little guys aren't going to make any real money in the short-term from ads. Far better to look at using the ads as a creative tool and explore trading ad exposures with other small developers/publishers.
#6
The reason no one wants to put their ads on the web is simply because it... well, doesn't work. They stand out TO much, so people quickly learn to just look away.
Lets think for a bit here then, web ads goes away, but companies still have to advert their services. right? that's what they live on dammit. So... they go looking for something else. (at least some of them. Most will probably at least for now just go back to "traditional" advertisements like tv and such). Product placement is most likely going to be the next thing, be it in movies or games or whatever.
Don't rely on it though, it'll go away just as fast as internet ads once someone happen to come up with "research" (yea, right!) saying it sucks.
Just a note; I'm not really sure what I feel about this subject just yet. It has some potential, but I fear it can go overboard very easily so I'll hold my comments about whether this is good or bad for a few years or so =).
04/18/2001 (2:22 am)
Maybe I'm mistaken, but what you're talking about is WEB ads. The reason no one wants to put their ads on the web is simply because it... well, doesn't work. They stand out TO much, so people quickly learn to just look away.
Lets think for a bit here then, web ads goes away, but companies still have to advert their services. right? that's what they live on dammit. So... they go looking for something else. (at least some of them. Most will probably at least for now just go back to "traditional" advertisements like tv and such). Product placement is most likely going to be the next thing, be it in movies or games or whatever.
Don't rely on it though, it'll go away just as fast as internet ads once someone happen to come up with "research" (yea, right!) saying it sucks.
Just a note; I'm not really sure what I feel about this subject just yet. It has some potential, but I fear it can go overboard very easily so I'll hold my comments about whether this is good or bad for a few years or so =).
#7
Hell, its not like there arent opportunities for good products to make money. Its just getting the right approach and enough people to give a damn.
Advertising revenue is always going to be fickle and pretty rare I think. As Scott said, its only for those sure fire hits that advertisers are going to pay out real sums (i.e. games that are a known quantity and very well recieved).
I'll have to really think about this issue. If I do decide to do some small projects myself, I'll need as much return as I can get.
Phil.
04/18/2001 (9:31 am)
Hmm, I hate banner ads, always have. But looking at how we can make money as small developers, there has to be SOMETHING we can do.Hell, its not like there arent opportunities for good products to make money. Its just getting the right approach and enough people to give a damn.
Advertising revenue is always going to be fickle and pretty rare I think. As Scott said, its only for those sure fire hits that advertisers are going to pay out real sums (i.e. games that are a known quantity and very well recieved).
I'll have to really think about this issue. If I do decide to do some small projects myself, I'll need as much return as I can get.
Phil.
#8
One thing they say under their technology page is they have a trademarked viral email package. YAY, thats really what I want my next game purchase to do, go send itself to all my friends and then send data back to the maker. What a bunch of **ite.
Sorry, but I really hate junk mail and viral programs.
04/18/2001 (11:56 am)
Well here's a company that does this kind of stuff with games: www.yaya.comOne thing they say under their technology page is they have a trademarked viral email package. YAY, thats really what I want my next game purchase to do, go send itself to all my friends and then send data back to the maker. What a bunch of **ite.
Sorry, but I really hate junk mail and viral programs.
Torque Owner Jeff Tunnell
Jeff