Toyota Signs On to Massive In-Game Ads By Ed Oswald, BetaNews July 24, 2006, 12:42 PM Microsoft subsidiary Massive said Monday that it had launched its in-game advertising unit, with Toyota as its debut sponsor. The company will advertise its new 2007 Yaris Sedan in the Funcom title "Anarchy Online," an online multiplayer game. Gamers will be encouraged to interact with the ads to see an image of the new automobile. As well as in "Anarchy Online," the program will run across several other games utilizing Massive's technology, the company said. To promote the Yaris, 2-D in game elements and video and audio ads would support the campaign. As with all ads in the network, any placed advertising does not affect the gameplay. "Leveraging this new interactive ad element from Massive allows gamers to interact with our brand in an environment they're passionate about," Toyota corporate marketing manager Kim McCullough said.
I detest adverts with a passion! TV adverts drive me up the wall - they raise the volume much higher than the tv programmes, and they last forever too. I hate junk mail, marketing calls, adverts on everything, everywhere, and if I see another one today I will run around screaming! Low tolerance LOL. Seriously, if they start appearing in games as standard, I will give up gaming.
Ads aren't so bad, although it depends how they are delivered. An ad that interrupts the flow of a game would be an absolute no-way-Jose. Likewise an ad that has to be paid for. If I find out there's a Toyoya Yaris for TS2 then I expect it to be a free download. I would pointedly NOT buy a disc that had such on it. Might save me some money on Pets ...
