In Game Advertising - a potent idea for publishers but is it a good deal for Gamers? One side gets a larger revenue stream and the other side still pays the same for the game. The question is - do gamers get more game because of this or do we just get advertising that gamers really care less about and in fact would rather not see.
In latest polls 82% of gamers said they don't mind in game advertising which in the mind of developers and publishers is the same as saying that 82% of people approve of in game advertising. Extra revenue streams are also welcome in the game business due to tight budgets so giving ourselves license like this is a means of gaining return on investment.
OTOH I think this is a wrong equation we are making as developers - just because something doesn't make you hate it does not mean you like it. The idea of a survey like this is to judge what may or may not work in sales and if you word the survey one way you get a different result then if you word it another way.
I would bet that if the question was not:
"Do you mind in game advertising ?"
but
"Would you prefer to play a game without in game advertising?"
the results would be much different.
Since the idea that you don't mind in game advertising is the question that is asked the assumption made by those who publish games is - that if they don't mind they of course will buy it (see BF2142 or Planetside). My feelings about how to properly implement In Game Advertising since it is coming in order of Importance are given in the next section. (and I hope you all agree) I personally don't like in game advertising at all but if we must (and my employer assures me we must) then something like the below should be implemented to protect the gaming consumer.
Gamer's In Game Advertising Manifesto
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