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Anarchy Online will have billboards selling cars?

BuZZKilgoreBuZZKilgore Member Posts: 525
in The Pub at MMORPG.COM

Ok, putting adds in games is bad enough even when the adds fit into the game's setting. But this is just CRAZY!! AO will have billboards ingame advertising TOYOTA automobiles!!!! What the hell??

See for yourself.. here

"Massive CEO Mitch Davis called the deal "a tremendous step forward in terms of giving advertisers what they want "

Comments

  • CleffyIICleffyII Member, Newbie CommonPosts: 3,440
    I say they really know thier target Audience.  Its a good thing they aren't advertising Tampons.

    image

  • CaniguaCanigua Member Posts: 233

    Originally posted by BuZZKilgore

    Ok, putting adds in games is bad enough even when the adds fit into the game's setting. But this is just CRAZY!! AO will have billboards ingame advertising TOYOTA automobiles!!!! What the hell??
    See for yourself.. here

    "Massive CEO Mitch Davis called the deal "a tremendous step forward in terms of giving advertisers what they want "
    Someway they need to finance the horde of froobs,don't they
  • tetsultetsul Member Posts: 1,020
    It only does that if you have a free account. If you have a paid one it's just the regular billboards. Personally I think the free ones are better, it's a video.
  • OwynOwyn Member Posts: 337
    Hey, makes sense to me.  If you're playing for free, I figure you have no right complaining that they are making you see ads - for whatever they want.  ;)  Pay to play subscribers don't see the ads, free accounts do.  Makes perfect sense.

    Owyn
    Commander, Defenders of Order
    http://www.defendersoforder.com

  • AranStormahAranStormah Member Posts: 278
    To my understanding you aren't even forced to see the commercial, you have to use the actual billboard to play it. If you ask me, right after having "no commercials at all", having "optional commercials for non-paying players" seems to be a good compromise.
  • IcoGamesIcoGames Member Posts: 2,360

    For a game on life-support, it's not a bad decision at all. Players should realize that this is an attempt to gain capital. If looking at the occasional billboard means that my game may improve, I'm for it.

    Ico
    Oh, cruel fate, to be thusly boned. Ask not for whom the bone bones. It bones for thee.

  • ninjaBeaverninjaBeaver Member Posts: 158
    What's the big deal?

    All it is last time I've played ,  is just a billboard oddly placed in some walls in the cities.
    Players are not forced to stand there and watch it.


    image image image

  • ianubisiianubisi Member Posts: 4,201

    Originally posted by ninjaBeaver
    What's the big deal?All it is last time I've played , is just a billboard oddly placed in some walls in the cities.Players are not forced to stand there and watch it.

    Nor do they see it if they are subscribed to the game. In-game advertising is only visible if you are playing for free.

  • baffbaff Member Posts: 9,457
    cool
  • WolfjunkieWolfjunkie Member, Newbie CommonPosts: 985
    Actually, i think this is a natural step. And i really don't mind, as long as it fits in "decently" with the theme. I don't want a huge billboard saying "Drink Coca Cola!" hanging over my castle.
    But never the less, as more and more players enters the realm om MMORPG's, it's starting to become a mass media - And hence, a good place to advertise.


  • BuZZKilgoreBuZZKilgore Member Posts: 525
    Yes it doesn't seem too bad, but I see it getting as bad as watching TV or listening to the radio. Once they prove it is a big money maker then everyone will jump on the band wagon and there will be adds all over our virtual worlds. Sure the adds aren't out there in your face right now but how long until they are popups and spam you ingame?
  • grimbojgrimboj Member Posts: 2,102
    There is a serious flaw with this logic. The sort of people that play free accounts wont be willing to buy cars on a whim.

    --
    Note: PlayNC will refuse to allow you access to your account if you forget your password and can't provide a scanned image of the product key for the first product you purchased..... LOL

  • WolfjunkieWolfjunkie Member, Newbie CommonPosts: 985

    Originally posted by BuZZKilgore
    Yes it doesn't seem too bad, but I see it getting as bad as watching TV or listening to the radio. Once they prove it is a big money maker then everyone will jump on the band wagon and there will be adds all over our virtual worlds. Sure the adds aren't out there in your face right now but how long until they are popups and spam you ingame?
    I doubt we'll ever see popups and spam in any MMORPG. Just like, when you're watching a movie, the whole screen isn't suddenly filled with adds all the while the movie continues to run.
    But putting adds in very populated areas(Like, Ironforge in WoW for example) should give the developers some decent cash.


  • ianubisiianubisi Member Posts: 4,201

    Originally posted by grimboj
    There is a serious flaw with this logic. The sort of people that play free accounts wont be willing to buy cars on a whim.

    Cars are never bought on a whim. The entire purpose of mass advertisement is brand recognition and buzz. The more often a person thinks "Toyota" the more likely they will go to a Toyota car lot when they are ready to buy.

  • BuZZKilgoreBuZZKilgore Member Posts: 525

    Originally posted by grimboj
    There is a serious flaw with this logic. The sort of people that play free accounts wont be willing to buy cars on a whim.
    Lol, why didn't I think of that? If you can't afford $15 a month how the hell are you going to buy a car?
  • EffectEffect Member UncommonPosts: 949

    The ads actually work in AO I feel. Sure the content might be out of place but I think it actually adds to the feel of the game when you walk by a billboard and see an ad playing. Makes the cities and areas actually feel more alive since the non-payed one didn't even do that from what I remember.

  • WolfjunkieWolfjunkie Member, Newbie CommonPosts: 985

    Originally posted by BuZZKilgore

    Originally posted by grimboj
    There is a serious flaw with this logic. The sort of people that play free accounts wont be willing to buy cars on a whim.
    Lol, why didn't I think of that? If you can't afford $15 a month how the hell are you going to buy a car?
    Well, maybe you don't pay those 15$, since your happy with what you get for free? Or maybe you're saving up money for a car?
  • Unknown

    Originally posted by CleffyII
    I say they really know thier target Audience.  Its a good thing they aren't advertising Tampons.
    Hey Cleffy II...You know they're trying to get more girl games to play MMOGs, having tampon adds will bring them into the fold! And, hell, why not have advertizements for Depends brand adult diapers...bring in the senior citizen demographic!



    You any relation to Cleffy?


  • baffbaff Member Posts: 9,457

    Originally posted by BuZZKilgore

    Originally posted by grimboj
    There is a serious flaw with this logic. The sort of people that play free accounts wont be willing to buy cars on a whim.
    Lol, why didn't I think of that? If you can't afford $15 a month how the hell are you going to buy a car?


    I played AO for free, and I bought a car too.

    I can afford a car, but not AO. AO isn't worth $15 a month.

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