Sony, IGA Bringing In-Game Ads to PlayStation 3

[Simul4ti0n]

This morning Sony announced their intention to allow third-party companies to bring dynamic, in-game advertisements to the PlayStation 3 console.
Additionally, Sony has revealed "leading independent dynamic in-game advertising network" IGA Worldwide as the first group given permission to inject ads into PlayStation 3 games.


"The PS3 platform is primed to leverage the high growth potential of the in-game advertising market," said Sony Computer Entertainment America senior vice president Phil Rosenberg. "Ads that are organic to the environment not only benefit developers and advertisers, but also create a richer experience for gamers."


No word on when these in-game ads will start popping up in your PS3 games, but expect them very soon.

What? So now if you want to play a games you have to deal with ads there too? I'm sure it won't be like a commercial, but still... everything has ads nowadays and I'm getting sick of it.

Sony, IGA Bringing In-Game Ads to PlayStation 3 | Game | Life from Wired.com

[Afrodisiac]

IGA is a chain food supermarket here in Montreal LOL. Imagine how surprised I was when I saw this. And in-game ads make me sick. Like the Core 2 Extreme logo in BF2142 (on the first map).

[Gneisenau]

I suspect most of them will be in the form of billboards and posters. They may even add to the abiance of the game. You see stuff like it in games now. The only difference is the stuff you see now is for fake items. What's the difference if it's real or not?
If it comes in the form of a commerical, then all bets are off.

[TSIMonster]

As long as it makes things cheaper for the consumer, then I'm in. If it just adds to sony's profits... then screw em.

[The_DJax]

Why Sony? This is just another way for them to make money, and alienate their fans.

[Clue69Less]

Sony should have partnered with Hooters, Deja Vu and Penthouse on this deal.

[SuperFly03]

I read this earlier.... now games have gone to hell.

[randomizer]

What's new? They've had ingame ads for years.

@Afro: Same here. Independent Grocers of Australia.

[MagicLess]

IGA is a chain food supermarket here in Montreal LOL. Imagine how surprised I was when I saw this. And in-game ads make me sick. Like the Core 2 Extreme logo in BF2142 (on the first map).

I've inventoried a number of their stores. Can't say I shop there too often.

[YMAA]

The second I see ads in the form of a nag screen I'm turning my PS3 off and selling it on eBay. But if they're in the form of signs you can walk up to and read, that may be cool. Like when you're driving on a road in a game and see one of those large billboard advertisements companies put by roads in real life. That could actually add to the realism if the signs update every once in a while.

[suprnova74]

You see this in movies already (not before the movies, that's annoying to see 10 minutes of true commercials before even the previews...) , why not video games. Like main characters in a movie drinking a can of Coke or Pepsi instead of some fake soda brand or driving that new corvette, etc... If it's like that, it should enhance realism.

[MeltDown]

Product placement I can deal with, although it's annoying. I don't think this is as simple as product placement as that's already in games (see all the Dodge ads in Rainbow Six: Vegas for example) and would therefore probably not be newsworthy. Dynamically updating in-game billboards I wouldn't mind, but if this is equivalent to TV ads where I have to watch 5 minutes of ads every time I play 5 minutes that will be the death of the PS3. For example, look at the free (ad supported) version of Far Cry for an example of unacceptable (except in free versions) use of ads.

I wonder what happens if you don't have an internet connection on your PS3?

[Eurasianman]

It'll automatically turn on the built-in wifi and look for an open internet connection

[Simul4ti0n]

If it's not intrusive to gameplay then I'm okay with it. The in game ads as of now are just the sponsors of the game itself. So it's not a continuing revenue but simply helped with development costs.