Advertisements in games POLL

[gatti]

I'd just like to gather some feedback from the community here. If a game were free to download and play, what would your feelings be toward it if it were to have relatively quick (5 second) Advertisements inbetween stages?

[ThemsAllTook]

It would depend partially on what was being advertised, but in general I don't think I'd be bothered by it. Bonus points if the ad takes no longer than the normal load time for the next level, rather than taking time from the player's gameplay experience. Seems like a neat way to get players interested in other games from the same author.

[Frank C.]

I voted "The thought is repulsive. I wouldn't even bother playing it." but I don't actually find it repulsive, just kinda silly! Anything that makes a game less fun should be left out IMHO - I don't like the idea of sitting through commercials while I'm playing...

I think advertising in games is fine if it's done like product placements in movies for example, or in the case of online games I don't mind banners on the same page, etc. ThemsAllTook's loading screen ads would be fine too, though people might suspect the devs were artificially increasing the load times for the sake of the ads (I know I would :p). Unobtrusive ads in menu/setup screens might be acceptable as well: "Video Setup brought to you by Cracka Cola" and such.

[akb825]

I think it's a clever way to get money while giving the game away, but I think it could also get annoying. If the game is good, though, and the ads aren't too bad, I wouldn't mind it.

[Achithyn]

I feel that if the game is free and it is fun, then why not suffer through a bit of advertising? I would be more than willing to support the developer, and if in game advertising will help do that, I'm all for it. :) I'm also for the idea of advertising within commercial size games. If it helps bring down the costs, then why not? Or, if it helps produce a better game, great. :)

Advertising helps everyone if you think about it. It helps the company that is paying for the advertisement. It helps the producers bring in a small bit of money. And it helps the players get a good game for less / free / or simply provides a better game (though that is not always the case... more money does not always spell a better a game).

Well, there's my thoughts. :p

~Achi

[Zwilnik]

I think it depends on the ads.

[Skorche]

I voted that it would be annoying (if it was an annoying wait time) but I'd still play it.

An interesting idea to try out would be to allow registrations of other games to remove the ads.

[EvolPenguin]

I voted for "It wouldn't even come to mind when playing." if they were while loading or something, as I would find it perfectly reasonable.

Alex

[OneSadCookie]

I don't think the poll choices really capture the feeling here -- far too much depends on the specific game, at what specific price, what specific kinds of ads, placed specifically when and where, etc.

I think my general feeling is that if the ads are relatively unobtrusive (static banners during gameplay, pretty much anything during a loading screen as long as it doesn't increase the duration of the screen, etc) *and* the price of the game is "obviously lower", I wouldn't have a problem with it. If the ads are obtrusive, I think it'd quickly get annoying. If the game is not sold at an obvious discount because of the ads, I'd be in the "money-grubbing hippies" basket :)

[BeyondCloister]

Adverts do get very annoying - especially when 99% of them are not even for things I am interested in. I have been known to be put off a product / brand due to annoying adverts.

If the advert is for another game then it could possibly be a double edged sword. You are sitting there immersed in a game experience when suddenly the developer says -"Forget this game, how about trying this one instead?"

[Najdorf]

From my experience 80% of sites that advertise are BAD sites ( i.e. try to insall malware, deceptive offers, loads of popups... )

So I hate advertising and would be a bit concerned about a game that connects to the internet to advertise.

[Achithyn]

From my experience 80% of sites that advertise are BAD sites ( i.e. try to insall malware, deceptive offers, loads of popups... )You do realize that IDG has one big advertisement up above, right? I guess this site falls within the 20% gap? Advertising on a website is helpful when you cannot pay the hosting bills. I used to advertise on my site and I didn't have to pay anything for quite a while. However, I don't like having ads on my site and sometimes it slows things down.

Advertising, as I stated before, is something that helps everyone. However, I think there is good and bad advertising. You should try to advertise something that does not directly conflict with the current game or website. I think advertising during game play is better than during the load screen. There's a sonic game that has a Phantasy Star Online picture graffiti display on a wall or two. This type of advertising lets the player know of other good games by the same maker and blends really well into the game.

Well, I'm going to stop before I start to contradict myself... :p

~Achi

[FreakSoftware]

I like the idea of product placement in the game better than having to watch a commercial or whatnot.

[unknown]

I think it would be a terrible thing and ruin any possibility of atmosphere in a game. I really dont look forward to when there's a game out that I would like to play but is full of adverts.

[socksy]

If it's a free game as said in the OP, I wouldn't mind adverts during loading screens as long as the loading didn't take longer because of them, on shareware/commercial stuff I wouldn't mind banner ads on some gui screens (battle.net anyone?), and I feel the best would be in game product placement. Crazy Taxi did that well.

[BeyondCloister]

... in game product placement. Crazy Taxi did that well.
Obviously not too well as I've no idea what products were advertised in it and I played it numerous times on the PS 2! Sorry, now I think about it - if I did not notice them / cannot remember them then they did a very good job indeed :p

[socksy]

The shops, etc. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Taxi#Advertising

[BeyondCloister]

The shops, etc. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Taxi#Advertising

Ah, Tower Records - I'm sure there used to be one of them in the UK years ago.

The list proves my point about advertising products that are not relevant to the player. I never changed my brand of pizza to Pizza Hut as a result of playing the game, nor did I start buying Levi jeans.

I wonder what percentage of advertising actually convinces someone to buy the product?

[Zwilnik]

I wonder what percentage of advertising actually convinces someone to buy the product?

it varies according to the media, but generally very little. However, like spam, when you' advertise to 100,000,000 people, 1% of them being stupid enough to fall for it means a big gain.

[BeyondCloister]

it varies according to the media, but generally very little. However, like spam, when you' advertise to 100,000,000 people, 1% of them being stupid enough to fall for it means a big gain.

A shame such a few spoil it for the rest of us :(

[Zwilnik]

A shame such a few spoil it for the rest of us :(

The easy solution of course would be to advertise a money making, penis enlarging suicide pill.