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Advertisers Exploit Video Game Secrets
iwon News ^ | January 5, 2007 | RACHEL KONRAD

Posted on 01/05/2007 6:18:16 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Crouched in military fatigues, you peer through night-vision goggles and brandish a semiautomatic gun as you hunt down terrorists who've overtaken Las Vegas.

Incongruously, while patrolling a neon-decorated side street in the video game "Rainbow Six Vegas," you spot a jar of body wash. You spray the container with bullets, and voila! A 60-second video of whimsical bloopers pops up, and billboard advertisements of scantily clad women hawk Unilever Corp.'s Axe shower gel: "Score with Axe."

Welcome to the new world of video gaming, where software companies are becoming more imaginative in wringing money from gamers.

In-game advertising has been going on for years as marketers try to reach people who've largely stopped watching television.

But beyond running crass advertisements on billboards written into the gaming landscape, many game developers now accept product placements for milk, DVDs and other wares, embedding them deep into the game's software codes. You'd need the type of secret tips and tricks long circulated for unlocking special powers and other bonuses.

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews1.iwon.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: computers; games; playstation; videogames

1 posted on 01/05/2007 6:18:18 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
When TV content totally sucks, they've gotta pull all kinds of stuf like this to get to us.

I don't even OWN a TV, fail to recognize major celebrities...and I love it.

2 posted on 01/05/2007 6:31:42 PM PST by gaijin
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To: 2ndDivisionVet


"Welcome to the new world of video gaming, where software companies are becoming more imaginative in wringing money from gamers."

Well, no. They are 'wringing' money for advertisers who wish to purchase gamer eyeball time. The gamer's money was 'wrung' from him when he voluntarily spent his money to buy the video game. AAMOF, the advertising might just have 'unwrung' some of the gamer's money be allowing the game to be sold at a lower price.


3 posted on 01/05/2007 6:51:21 PM PST by gcruse (http://garycruse.blogspot.com/)
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To: gaijin
I don't even OWN a TV

But ... But ... But ...

What do you attach your X-box to?
Or you Wii?

4 posted on 01/05/2007 7:23:42 PM PST by Tanniker Smith (I didn't know she was a liberal when I married her.)
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To: Tanniker Smith

'Puter only, for me...!


5 posted on 01/05/2007 7:33:38 PM PST by gaijin
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To: gaijin

"I don't even OWN a TV...."

If you are so poor, how do you have internet access? Or are you one of those folks I see/smell at the library?


6 posted on 01/06/2007 2:37:12 AM PST by dakine
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To: dakine
My time isn't cheap enough to blow on TV, but I have the feeling that yours IS.

Why do you even GO to libraries...?

7 posted on 01/07/2007 9:52:04 AM PST by gaijin
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To: gaijin

I GO to libraries for the internet access...


8 posted on 01/07/2007 10:09:29 AM PST by dakine
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To: dakine

If you are so poor, how do you afford TV access?


9 posted on 01/07/2007 11:26:39 AM PST by gaijin
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To: gaijin

When/where did I say I have TV access? I'm following the football game on Yahoo...10-10 nearing halftime, but NE threatening....


10 posted on 01/07/2007 11:29:40 AM PST by dakine
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