Curse

Inde · Jul 22, 2009, 10:48 PM // 22:48

Let me give the summary of this article, it's a patent filed by Microsoft:

Quote:

These advertars work as in-game advertising in your common MMO game. This advertar could be controlled by an advertiser or another player "working" for the advertiser,

MMO players or virtual world netizens may wear an advertiser-generated avatar and interact with other players, sort of like a walking billboard. Why would you want to do this? Microsoft plans to offer 'compensation as payment for interacting with other avatars.' It might also include objects. Open a chest and get not a game item... but an ad for a George Foreman Grill. Or a trailer of the next big upcoming movie. Compensation and payment for doing this could be real money, in-game money, in-game items, or "points."

The avatar may be compensated for either displaying the advertising or allowing the advertising to display the avatar. Examples of compensation include, but are not limited to, real world currency, virtual world currency, real world objects, and virtual world objects. Another example of compensation is an avatar enhancement. For example, after the critical goal is shown on the large video screen, the avatar may be provided with enhanced skills (e.g., running faster, jumping higher) or other fanciful attributes (e.g., a colorful glow, or footprints in the shape of the advertiser's logo), for a limited period of time. In this way, the avatar is rewarded for being shown on the advertiser's video screen.

By consuming the advertising, the participant may receive some benefit. In one example, an avatar may be seen in the virtual world drinking from a particular brand of soda can. After the contents in the soda can are consumed, the soda can is discarded or otherwise removed (i.e., becomes unavailable) from the virtual world. In this case, the soda may be consumed by the avatar to enter a promotion or contest, for example. In another example, an avatar may be seen wearing a clothing item, such as a t-shirt, that displays a particular advertisement. In this case, the advertiser may provide the avatar access to the t-shirt for only a short time. To encourage the avatar to wear the t-shirt, the advertiser may also provide compensation for wearing the t-shirt.

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/20326/...rated-Avatars/

Diddy bow · Jul 22, 2009, 10:53 PM // 22:53

Adverts in games arn't really new, seen some on billboards in saints row 2 and Pes 09, a bit strange.

But THIS sounds pretty strange, i see it being interesting and cool at first but could be very very annoying in the long term.

And yea, ill go ahead and say it, ads are taking over

Winterclaw · Jul 23, 2009, 02:36 AM // 02:36

This is why I don't have an xbox 360: I can't support MS beyond windows.

If this becomes common I can see the game companies forcing you to pay extra just so your LOTRO/WoW/AoC avatar isn't forced to walk around with a iPod ad t-shirt.

Kerwyn Nasilan · Jul 23, 2009, 04:46 AM // 04:46

"Hey man what you get from the end chest last night?"
"You missed it I got a RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOing +5 George Foreman of Juicyness!"
"RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOing baddass!"

arcanemacabre · Jul 23, 2009, 06:10 AM // 06:10

This is fine in games like Second Life and Free Realms. But action or RPGs? Yeah, go ahead and ruin the immersion, and watch everyone leave in droves. The very minute my promotional Coca-Cola shield actually says Coca-Cola on it, I'm outta here.

Arkantos · Jul 23, 2009, 06:56 AM // 06:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcanemacabre

This is fine in games like Second Life and Free Realms. But action or RPGs? Yeah, go ahead and ruin the immersion, and watch everyone leave in droves. The very minute my promotional Coca-Cola shield actually says Coca-Cola on it, I'm outta here.

This.

THERE IS NO COCA COLA IN AZEROTH, TYRIA, OR OTHER FANTASY WORLDS.

Ghost Omel · Jul 23, 2009, 12:15 PM // 12:15

Battlefiled 2142 Or whatever it is has advertisements for upcoming movies and such. Even though its not an "In Game Avatar" it is still there for players who play Online to see. Nothing new except now we will have "Bots" running around trying to make a good impresion and advertise their new "cwappy" OS system, still ill support MS regardless. =)

subarucar · Jul 23, 2009, 12:28 PM // 12:28

This is alright if not overdone. Say a game like GTA, its alright if occaisionally there is a Pizza Hut deliverer driving don the road, when there is a Pizza Hut deliverer ever 5 vehicles is where it becomes annoying. This should also be kept away from Fantasy style games. And also kept away from futuristic games aswell unless logo's are modified to fit the style of the game, e.g lots of chrome etc.

Shursh · Jul 23, 2009, 01:48 PM // 13:48

i'm against this and probably would not play a game with blatant adverts, since for most MMO's it would totally ruin the feel of the game.

is it not enough that we are forced to see company adverts in nearly every mass media application, now they need MMO's too??

Winterclaw · Jul 23, 2009, 06:02 PM // 18:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arkantos

This.

THERE IS NO COCA COLA IN AZEROTH, TYRIA, OR OTHER FANTASY WORLDS.

With a large enough ka-ching, it'll be invented soon enough.

JupiterStarWarrior · Jul 23, 2009, 08:30 PM // 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerwyn Nasilan

"Hey man what you get from the end chest last night?"
"You missed it I got a RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOing +5 George Foreman of Juicyness!"
"RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOing baddass!"

Win for the LOLz!

On a serious note, I'm not surprised. Disgusted, yes. But not surprised.

Null-Cobra · Aug 18, 2009, 11:29 PM // 23:29

"John hits you for 7-up!"

"You hit John for Dr. Pepper!"

That is £50.

Now.

Evasion Twenty · Aug 18, 2009, 11:43 PM // 23:43

Wow....wait for duncan the black to wear a Hooters T-shirt.

Or The Lich king to eat a free-z-pop.

Lord Sojar · Aug 19, 2009, 03:19 AM // 03:19

Pretty sure the Lich King won't wield Frostmourne anymore, but rather a giant inflatable sword that has "Intel Inside" written down the side. EPIC LOOTZ R EPICZ!

awesome sauce · Aug 19, 2009, 03:53 AM // 03:53

Oh, I'm sure they'll find creative ways to discretely immerse the advertising into the game, like adding the Extenze longsword, or the females eating hydroxycut.

Let's just hope, for sanity's sake, that head-on doesn't get involved.

Rocky Raccoon · Aug 19, 2009, 12:48 PM // 12:48

I can't wait to have "Drink Coke" on my cape.

distilledwill · Aug 20, 2009, 01:38 PM // 13:38

One of the latest events in Chinese Aion was sponsored by Coca Cola. You could get an item which turned you into their "Coke Bear" symbol (Never heard of it myself, but apprently its one of their mascots) and there were other coke themed things.

Marvollo Gaunt · Aug 20, 2009, 02:35 PM // 14:35

It would be nifty at first, for like a week.
After that, people would get annoyed. I mean, honestly. People get annoyed when you have to watch the little like 30 second ad video on some websites before they can actually watch their video, or continue what they were trying to do, and this kind of the same concept. I feel like they would start out with small things and after time passes, you have to watch an ad before you can get your loot out of a chest.