Advertising In Computer Games?

[IBBoard]

Its not something I've ever noticed before, but I just read this article on the BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3727044.stm.

Now advertising on the hoardings in F1 games etc is fine to me, because thats what the real thing is like. But the Worms pic? thats just taking things too far.

When you played Duke Nukem 3D it looked real enough with billboards and posters that were fake, you didn't need real adverts. Unreal Tournament would just look so cheap and tacky if they put real company's adverts in there. There are some games where it'd look OK though (Hitman for one, and the newer GTAs where they're set in modern day/recent past)

What do other people think? should powerups in Worms be branded drinks? or is advertising at that level degrading to the game?

[TGSC]

most games get away with either making ads up (such as UT, DN3D etc) or spoof real ones (a la GTA) the worms thing is a bit odd but it gets the message accross for what the weapon does, its recognisable like FedEx, but maybey taking it a little far as its not quite got to that stage.

It all depends on the context of the game, like F1 is ok, but I think worms is taking it just too far although it is more tounge in cheek than advertising

[IBBoard]

No, games producers are getting paid by the companies, so I assume Works is done on paid advertising and isn't tongue in cheek - it really is "drink our drink and your little pink thing will jump higher and shoot better"

[TGSC]

"drink our drink and your little pink thing will jump higher and shoot better"

a woman walked into a bar and said

"I'd like a double entendre"

so the barman gave her one




Plus after a few red bulls you have problems standing up/aiming cos you're shaking so much :blink: