Google Confirms Ads for Online Games

October 8, 2008

Dean Takahashi reports in VentureBeat that Google will begin offering a service that will place ads into online games.

The search giant's beta launch of AdSense for Games will initially target Flash games. Takahashi cites figures showing that 200 million games of this type are played online each month. Sony Pictures, Sprint and eSurance are among advertisers participating in the rollout.

Game publisher Konami is on board and will reportedly publish Flash versions of Frogger, Track and Field and Dance Dance Revolution with Google ads included.

Where does Google go from here? Not surprisingly, Takahashi sees further expansion:

Google’s entry into Flash web games is likely just the first step. After this, you can expect to see the company move into PC downloadable games, console games, and then mobile games. Rivals in those markets include NeoEdge Networks, Microsoft’s Massive, Double Fusion, IGA Worldwide.

 

This is one more ad market where Google and Microsoft can duel... The Yankee Group predicts the market will be worth $971.3 million by 2011. Proponents of in-game ads believe that gamers will embrace them because the ads can be integrated into storylines or environments. You can, for instance, put an ad into a billboard inside a game. That ad can change every time the user passes by the billboard. Of course, it’s hard to do that in genres such as fantasy games.

Comments

Re: Google Confirms Ads for Online Games

Submitted by jasonglades on Mon, 03/30/2009 - 07:53.

Online gaming is very harmful for college and university students who have no time to write their academic papers.

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Re: Google Confirms Ads for Online Games

Submitted by mikese on Mon, 03/16/2009 - 10:34.

If i'm paying to play a game i don't expect to see advertisements. Maybe with some free game downloads or something like that but not a game i pay to play.

Re: Google Confirms Ads for Online Games

Submitted by VideolandHero on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 15:28.

I don't mind ads in video games, as long as it's not annoying and it fits the game.

--- Official Protector of Videoland!

--- Official Protector of Videoland!

Re: Google Confirms Ads for Online Games

Submitted by DeepThorn on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 08:00.

When ads get into my games and slow down the gameplay, I get pissed off.  So how about we keep the ads to the side and all around the flash games, and let me waste my time in peace, looking over at the ads during load times, and not being part of the load screen unless it is a game that all on its own is an ad for Coke/Pepsi, a tractor company, or something that puts a theme to the game.  Other than that, just leave it alone.

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Re: Google Confirms Ads for Online Games

Submitted by Overcast on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 11:03.

yeah, I'm with you on that - the three most annoying things in Video games are: Slowness, DRM, and Dependancy on the Internet. Mix the three and you have major suckage.

Re: Google Confirms Ads for Online Games

Submitted by DeepThorn on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 22:11.

Google Ads + Game = Would you like some gaming with the advertisement you are watching?

Slowness + DRM + Required Internet = Would you like some gaming with your peice of shit?

Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
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Re: Google Confirms Ads for Online Games

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 07:19.

Proponents of in-game ads believe that gamers will embrace them because the ads can be integrated into storylines or environments.

I had a dream once. In this dream ingame advertising went too far. I was playing one of the latest Zelda games and I picked up the "Wikipedian Shield of Wisdom". That is the one that stood out, but basically every item in the game had a real world sponsor.

I would really hate to see the video game equivolent to product placement. But that is all in the past now, unfortunately.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: Google Confirms Ads for Online Games

Submitted by Brokenscope on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 22:51.

What bothers me is when an advertisment isn't affected by anything happening in the world around it, and it breaks the experience.

Re: Google Confirms Ads for Online Games

Submitted by HurricaneJesus on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 07:18.

Fuck advertisments in video games.

 

Fuck advertisments of any kind.

Re: Google Confirms Ads for Online Games

Submitted by cutetei on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 07:24.

Then how would know about great products with low low prices? /sarcasm

nah, if it would make the games cheaper, then maybe I'd tolerate it. But alas, they'll still charge full price (or overprice here in the uk) for the game.

 

But I don't want to picking up a packet of skittles in a high fantasy game. Or a "Sword of Cola +3 delicious-ness"

Re: Google Confirms Ads for Online Games

Submitted by tallimar on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 06:19.

this is nothing new, Anarchy Online has in-game ads already. i remember seeing video commercials, billboards and such when i played it about two years ago.

Re: Google Confirms Ads for Online Games

Submitted by Deamian on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 06:03.

True enough, it's always smirk-inducing to see a real-life ad in a videogame. But I'll be damned if I get a pop-up while saving the earth one day! :P

Re: Google Confirms Ads for Online Games

Submitted by King of Fiji on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 05:45.

So essentially now that Google is doing it its earth shattering news?  

 
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E. Zachary Knight: If the videos are of sufficient quality that people subscribe and watch regularly, then those let's players are providing a service that people want. That is the heart of capitalism. That is not something that should be shamed.05/17/2013 - 8:06am
E. Zachary Knight: I have no idea who either of those people are. However, I still don't see why making a business out of creating let's play videos is somehow evil or wrong.05/17/2013 - 8:04am
MaskedPixelante: It sure is if you're just doing it for the money. See Tobuscus and/or Pewdiepie for what happens when people get into it just for the money.05/17/2013 - 7:30am
E. Zachary Knight: Why is it wrong to make money doing LPs? Why should that be something that should be shamed?05/17/2013 - 6:20am
MaskedPixelante: https://twitter.com/PsychedelicSA/status/335183893214924801 Now here's an interesting, glass half full thought about the Nintendo LP thing. It outs the people who are just doing LPs to make money.05/17/2013 - 5:56am
E. Zachary Knight: I responded in writing to all this "let's play" stuff Nintendo Started. No need for my permission, I won't give it. It's not mine to give. http://divineknightgaming.com/?p=29205/16/2013 - 2:21pm
E. Zachary Knight: Lars Doucet of Levelup Labs has a Reddit going on game companies that allow monetization of Let's Play videos. http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/1egayn/lets_build_a_list_of_game_studios_that_allow/05/16/2013 - 1:04pm
Sleaker: @Imautobot - yah I wouldn't use an emulator as a good first run test of how stable the console is, haha.05/16/2013 - 11:47am
E. Zachary Knight: The 50th person to jump off a bridge is just as dumb if not dumber than the 1st.05/16/2013 - 10:03am
MaskedPixelante: Yeah, let's all jump on Nintendo for doing this, even though they're hardly the first company to do this...05/16/2013 - 9:47am
E. Zachary Knight: Wow Nintendo, this is wrong. http://kotaku.com/nintendo-forcing-ads-on-some-youtube-lets-play-video-50709238305/16/2013 - 8:44am
Imautobot: @Sleaker, further gameplay has revealed that the controller button do stick under the faceplate. Also, The NES emulator (Emuya)keeps crashing on me, though I think a bad ROM is causing it.05/16/2013 - 7:10am
Papa Midnight: AE: I wonder if any other publishers will follow suit.05/15/2013 - 8:12pm
Andrew Eisen: EA is ditching Online Pass. http://venturebeat.com/2013/05/15/ea-kills-its-controversial-online-pass-program/05/15/2013 - 7:20pm
Avalongod: @Zach and quicnkold...I've read the bill and the intent of it is to fear-monger. It's not a balanced message. I don't recall the ESRB being mentioned at all. It's more "keeps your kids away from these movies/games or they'll become violent"05/15/2013 - 4:35pm
E. Zachary Knight: quiknkold, The big problem with that legislation is the amount of misinformation out there. Who is going to ensure that the information in the pamphlet is accurate?05/15/2013 - 3:25pm
quiknkold: REBeardogg : I'm on the fence about this. on one side, I want parents to be aware of the ESRB, and even Movie Ratings. On the other hand, I feel this will be used for nothing but Propaganda. The ESRB does a good job.05/15/2013 - 3:07pm
IanC: Frostbite is coming out on iOS devices. Yet the Wii U cant handle it? *coughbullshitcough*05/15/2013 - 2:31pm
BearDogg-X: http://www.politickernj.com/65515/lesniak-ruiz-bill-limit-children-s-exposure-media-violence-clears-senate - Bill requiring schools to publish pamphlets with anti-fake media "violence" propaganda clears NJ Senate05/15/2013 - 2:03pm
quiknkold: I am thinking of writing a musical about videogames, violence, and the first amendment. Would need a collaborator though and would kickstart it after the script is written. was thinking off broadway.05/15/2013 - 2:00pm
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