Ads in videogames for videogame items, why? I guess the better question would be: why not? Apparently, in ‘Second Life’ such an animal actually exists:

Underthorn’s advertiser clients are enterprising players who produce clothing, vehicles and other items for sale within the game environment. His publisher clients operate venues in the game where avatars congregate. He typically lets advertisers name their preferred CPM rate and leaves it to publishers to accept or refuse that rate.

Making money from videogames is a topic I’ve pondered before, but not written about here in any real depth. I think it’s great for anybody who can make a business out of playing games, heck I’m a huge videogame fan. We have a room full of every major game console created since the Atari 2600, as well as some that aren’t so mainstream (like the NEO-GEO home system). I also have played and enjoyed many games online, but I do not really have — or make — the time to get into games that are too immersive like Everquest. Doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy playing them, though.

Now as to the specific subject of advertising in games? As long as it doesn’t ruin the gaming experience, I don’t see a problem with that. Why shouldn’t games that are trying to emulate real world backgrounds have real world advertising? Makes sense to me. Along with this realism comes commercialism. Why not let the players, fans and others who evangelize their favorite games make money?

Purists who don’t like advertising seeping into things they enjoy have a choice: vote with your feet. If enough people complain about a situation it can change things. Somebody else could come out with a game in the same genre that doesn’t have advertising.

Some people think consumers are powerless to change businesses, but I don’t subscribe to that. It takes a very small number of people to change something. I remember from my days in the restaurant business that we used to get these “secret shopper” reports. One person could totally bring down the Powers That Be upon us. Just one person who was paid to be critical about their dining experience. Some folks I worked with hated what they referred to as “secret spies” but hey, every customer is an opportunity and any single opportunity squandered could be a big mistake. You just never know.

What do you think about advertising inside videogames? Do you like it? Dislike it? Please leave your comments or trackback from your blog. I’d like to read what others think about this.

Did this post make you go hmm?

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