In-game advertising is becoming more and more popular nowadays. I have to say that I don't like this trend. It is already enough that product placement has invaded movies - but at least in most cases it fits the imaginary world. It seems logical that Bond drives Aston Martin in Casino Royale, but Intel and Pepsi commercials in Battlefield 2142 are stretching it a bit.
I would like to show you a little case study concerning a great PSP game Wipeout Pure and a well-known brand Puma to make a point why it is so :
In my opinion it takes away the credibility of the game universe - imaginary as it may be, it has to be coherent. Introducing a connection between the fictional world and the real world in form of advertisements that we can see behind a window destroys whatever illusion of realism the game had. Even more so if the ads are plastered all over every surface available, which is the case here.
The advertisments of futuristic corporations that created the vehicles player drives in Wipeout Pure fit well the atmosphere of the game, especially due to the fact that their color-schemes go well with the graphical style of the tracks. Bright red and white Puma logo slapped all around the tracks with subtlety of heavy-weighed boxer does not. In fact, it becomes quite annoying after a while.
Unfortunately, we probably won't know what effect this ads had on their target demographic, but at least there is one positive aspect to it : only one game add-on pack was Puma-infected, so it is relatively easy to avoid.
I would like to show you a little case study concerning a great PSP game Wipeout Pure and a well-known brand Puma to make a point why it is so :
In my opinion it takes away the credibility of the game universe - imaginary as it may be, it has to be coherent. Introducing a connection between the fictional world and the real world in form of advertisements that we can see behind a window destroys whatever illusion of realism the game had. Even more so if the ads are plastered all over every surface available, which is the case here.
The advertisments of futuristic corporations that created the vehicles player drives in Wipeout Pure fit well the atmosphere of the game, especially due to the fact that their color-schemes go well with the graphical style of the tracks. Bright red and white Puma logo slapped all around the tracks with subtlety of heavy-weighed boxer does not. In fact, it becomes quite annoying after a while.
Unfortunately, we probably won't know what effect this ads had on their target demographic, but at least there is one positive aspect to it : only one game add-on pack was Puma-infected, so it is relatively easy to avoid.
3 comments:
Hopped over from Kotaku, great slideshow very informative!
This is a very bad example for in-game advertising - good thing I didn't buy the game.
Thank you very much Georg!
Actually the game itself is great it's only this one bonus pack that is Puma-infested. Give it a chance and you won't regret it.
I do appreciate a lot you leaving a comment.
When I go online again after Christmas holiday again I'll keep on posting - so expect some new content showing up.
Thanks again!
[Sorry for lack of commas but in internet cafe where I'm typing from the keyboard is... ahem... quite used]
Must...wear...Pumas...
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