Report: Obama Ads in Burnout Paradise
Report: Obama Ads in Burnout Paradise
October 9, 2008
We've only gotten one report of this, which seems a bit odd, but an Xbox Live gamer who goes by Dragunov765 has posted photos of what appear to be in-game ads for Barack Obama.
Dragunov (we know his real name, too) says he came across the ads while playing Burnout Paradise earlier this week and posted them on his Rooster Teeth journal page. We were tipped to the pix by a GP reader who vouches for the guy. In turn we contacted Dragonuv, who commented on the ads:
Here's the photos I took while playing Burnout: Paradise on the XBox 360. I don't know how often they rotate the in-game advertising, but I imagine they are still up.
I gotta give [Obama] credit for covering all the bases. I also think this is an interesting endorsement for adults as gamers (or maybe he's planting the seeds for a re-election bid in 4 years...)
The ads mention that early voting has begun and reference voteforchange.com. That site says that it is "Paid for by Obama for America" and helps voters find early voting locations in states that permit the practice (which has indeed begun).
EA reps did not respond to several attempts by GamePolitics to verify the ads.
GP: Bottom line? If the ad pix are Photoshopped, ya got me, Dragonuv. But I don't think they are. Dragonuv is no kid and my gut tells me he's on the level.
And in any case, why couldn't - why shouldn't - a candidate make use of in-game ads? After all, it's the new, new thing, and Obama has been courting the youth vote all along.
The concept of in-game political ads does raise some issues, however. Does the campaign get to choose the games in which their ads appear? We have to think they do. Having one's campaign ad appear in GTA IV, for example, might hand an opposing candidate an opportunity to sling mud.
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Posted 11/07/09 at 07:07am
Austin_Lewis: That officer did a great service and shot him four times, even though she was shot herself.
Austin_Lewis: That officer did a great service and shot him four times, even though she was shot herself.
Posted 11/07/09 at 07:05am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: It's true, AP ammo isn't available to those oustide LEO/Military fields. The round is smaller than most pistol rounds, but even a pistol round will pierce police soft body armor, especially at close range.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: It's true, AP ammo isn't available to those oustide LEO/Military fields. The round is smaller than most pistol rounds, but even a pistol round will pierce police soft body armor, especially at close range.
Posted 11/06/09 at 10:12pm
JDKJ: No. Reports from the gunshop are that he purchased the gun but did not purchase any ammunition for it. But I understand that AP ammunition in 5.7 X 28mm isn't readily available to those other than law enforcement and military.
JDKJ: No. Reports from the gunshop are that he purchased the gun but did not purchase any ammunition for it. But I understand that AP ammunition in 5.7 X 28mm isn't readily available to those other than law enforcement and military.
Posted 11/06/09 at 10:08pm
chadachada321: For sure. I can't wait to go to the range again, I'm gonna pay to rent the .460 S&W. >:D do u kno if the shooter used AP round?
chadachada321: For sure. I can't wait to go to the range again, I'm gonna pay to rent the .460 S&W. >:D do u kno if the shooter used AP round?
Posted 11/06/09 at 10:02pm
JDKJ: @chada: If you're asking me to spend $1000 on a handgun, it ought to be "awesome."
JDKJ: @chada: If you're asking me to spend $1000 on a handgun, it ought to be "awesome."
Posted 11/06/09 at 09:56pm
chadachada321: Shot 6-7-ish different types of ammo in 5-6 different guns, ranging from .22 to the freaking .44 Magnum.
chadachada321: Shot 6-7-ish different types of ammo in 5-6 different guns, ranging from .22 to the freaking .44 Magnum.
Posted 11/06/09 at 09:55pm
chadachada321: Damn. That's an awesome gun. I actually went to a shooting range for the first real time yesterday. =D
chadachada321: Damn. That's an awesome gun. I actually went to a shooting range for the first real time yesterday. =D
Posted 11/06/09 at 09:13pm
JDKJ: No, it uses the very peculiar and expensive 5.7 x 28mm round. That's why it's call the "Five-Seven." It's smaller than a 9mm round, allowing the magazine to hold 20 rounds. And, in some variants, is armour piercing (hence sometimes called "Cop Killers").
JDKJ: No, it uses the very peculiar and expensive 5.7 x 28mm round. That's why it's call the "Five-Seven." It's smaller than a 9mm round, allowing the magazine to hold 20 rounds. And, in some variants, is armour piercing (hence sometimes called "Cop Killers").
Posted 11/06/09 at 08:50pm
magic_taco: Sheesh,Dont FN five-seven use .32acps?
magic_taco: Sheesh,Dont FN five-seven use .32acps?
Posted 11/06/09 at 08:20pm
JDKJ: BREAKING: Hasan reportedly armed with FN Five-Seven, legally purchased at Killeen, TX gunshop. For more insight on this weapon, once the subject of a failed federal ban attempt, we turn to GamePolitics' firearm expert Austin Lewis. Dr. Lewis?
JDKJ: BREAKING: Hasan reportedly armed with FN Five-Seven, legally purchased at Killeen, TX gunshop. For more insight on this weapon, once the subject of a failed federal ban attempt, we turn to GamePolitics' firearm expert Austin Lewis. Dr. Lewis?
Posted 11/06/09 at 06:34pm
magic_taco: Im better though he's going to make an excuse if news stations call him, or if he has CNN,FOX,NBC on his speed dial list.
magic_taco: Im better though he's going to make an excuse if news stations call him, or if he has CNN,FOX,NBC on his speed dial list.
Posted 11/06/09 at 05:43pm
PHX Corp: @M_T oh you mean Mr garbage man(really wanted to say that because he spews garbage out of his mouth on TV stations willing to get more money)
PHX Corp: @M_T oh you mean Mr garbage man(really wanted to say that because he spews garbage out of his mouth on TV stations willing to get more money)
Posted 11/06/09 at 04:34pm
magic_taco: Im betting JT has his face glued to the TV right now.
magic_taco: Im betting JT has his face glued to the TV right now.
Posted 11/06/09 at 04:20pm
ZippyDSMlee: what about casaul linkage between mass shooting and gun owners :Phip?
ZippyDSMlee: what about casaul linkage between mass shooting and gun owners :Phip?
Posted 11/06/09 at 01:56pm
JDKJ: Sooner or later, the causal connection between every mass shooting and video games becomes clear.
JDKJ: Sooner or later, the causal connection between every mass shooting and video games becomes clear.
Posted 11/06/09 at 01:54pm
DarkSaber: Well there you go, he wouldn't have been injured if not for vidja gayms
DarkSaber: Well there you go, he wouldn't have been injured if not for vidja gayms
Posted 11/06/09 at 01:40pm
JDKJ: From an interview of a Ms. Johnson which just aired on HLN, it appears her son, Justin, who was injured but not critically so, was playing a video game in the Readiness Center when the shooting commenced.
JDKJ: From an interview of a Ms. Johnson which just aired on HLN, it appears her son, Justin, who was injured but not critically so, was playing a video game in the Readiness Center when the shooting commenced.
Posted 11/06/09 at 01:38pm
wehrgeist: @A_L yeah.
wehrgeist: @A_L yeah.
Posted 11/06/09 at 01:34pm
Austin_Lewis: Does anyone else find the Orlando mayor's nickname an interesting reminder of Bud Dwyer?
Austin_Lewis: Does anyone else find the Orlando mayor's nickname an interesting reminder of Bud Dwyer?
Posted 11/06/09 at 01:10pm
ZippyDSMlee: no wonder hiipes love pot...tis the sandles man.... >< I need to start wearing better shoes ><
ZippyDSMlee: no wonder hiipes love pot...tis the sandles man.... >< I need to start wearing better shoes ><
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Comments
Well, that's one way to reach out to the youth vote.
"Can We Burnout? YES WE CAN!"
It was a nice idea and added an effect touch to the kit, but EA's Essay Writing | Buy Essay | Custom Essay probably in a lot of hot water over this. The brass knuckles probably should have been fake, like rubber or plastic. Perfect Writing | Writing Help | Essays | Essay Help
I'm a little creeped out by advertisements in games, especially as the cost of games themselves have not been offset in the slightest bit. That said, if there are going to be ads in games, may as well be political ones, too.
I was going to say that I don't want to be FORCED to watch ads (like in a pre-loader), but that's a statement that is as true of regular ads as it is of political ones.
Well the only problem with political ads is that they become dated very quickly. In one month the obama ad in burnout would be completely pointless as the ad will no longer have anything to advertise. The ads are only useful for as long as the election is going on; and by the time the next election comes around the game with the original ad will probably be dead.
Ads for stuff like coca cola, pepsi, beer and all that other stuff however will be around for years... as such the ads will always have something they can push and sell us.
The in-game advertising "feature" in Burnout Paradise isn't permanent. They rotate sponsors in and out according to however much ad space is purchased. When I went back to play it today all of the billboards had shifted to Burger King ads...
The only reason it stands out and breaks us from the game is that we're not quite used to seeing them yet.
laser hair removal surreyFucking ads...I am so fucking tired of this encroachment.
First we have ads in between shows. Not so bad, it gives a person the chance to take a piss or get something to eat.
Then we have comercial interuptions. Still not too bad, and it does allow for the mid show cliff-hanger...
NOW we have pop up comercials DURING the fucking show, combined with all the other shit, and NOW we are getting ads in our videogames...soon there'll be advertisements during every loading screen! Imagine playing HALO, and all of a sudden there's a fucking ad for Enzyte or some shit!
This madness must stop!
-Remember kids, personal responsibility is for losers!
I think it's creepy to have political ads in a game- politics is a more sensitive subject than the discounts on Wendy's and Subway's sandwiches. Aside from that, I don't mind the in-game advertisements in Burnout Paradise because Criterion has been raising the bar for free downloadable content in console gaming. The latest update was basically an expansion pack for the game.
Political ads in video games, do not want! Actually any ads in video games, do not want!
Thanks for taking an interest in it. I can understand your skepticism (especially since they changed out all the billboards again in the game) and I appreciate your candor on its validity being suspect. The best answer I can give you is that I'm not that good with Photoshop and I'm too lazy to commit any time to a political campaign.
The photos were taken Oct. 6th, 2008 in my living room with an Olympus 550UZ. The .jpg images should still be tagged with all the camera data (shutter speed, ISO-whatever, etc). I downsized them because Photobucket won't handle any images over 1Mb and I generally shoot in super HQ (ends up around 2.1-2.4Mb per photo). Beyond reducing the file size for posting to the internet, no other adjustments were made to the images. I would have taken more, but I didn't even have the memory stick in there because I'd just completed downloading some other photos and hadn't put it back in.
The funny thing is that I had already played through 97% of the game months ago and it was collecting dust on the shelf. I had only tossed it in because we just bought the new TV and one of my daughter's friends wanted to see the motorcycles in action. We'd been buzzing around the city in various vehicles at high speed for about half an hour before I happened to crash right in front of one of the billboards (Burnout's in-game camera induces vertigo if you try to manipulate it so you normally have to get a car airborne before you can actually read any of the signs close up). It was a genuine "WTF?" moment.
Personally, I figure that EA put the billboards in there specifically for this purpose - anyone who has the money is welcome to buy the ad space...just like in the real world (which the game is supposed to emulate). Considering the cost of game development, why wouldn't a company work to bring in some extra cash?
On Obama's side, it's getting a lot of bang for his buck because there is no way he could have put up that many billboards across the country in such a short amount of time.
Granted, I'm still not voting for him (or McCain, for that matter), but I'm forced to respect the attempt.
Hey, Mr. D - bottom line is, you're a believable guy! I never would have posted the story if I thought otherwise.
Well done!
Oh man, they finally put the motocycles in? Time to get this back off the shelf....
I find this ad... creepy. I don't think it's just me though.
Actually, I'd be more than happy to have ads in video games if they don't interrupt the flow of the actual game or disrupt gameplay and they lower the cost of the games since they should be making a small fortune off of putting ads in their games. It'd be nice if they took some of the burden off of the fans, but I doubt that'll happen.
We're going to get lots of in-game ads. That is not likely to change, because it's practically free money. With that in mind, the Burnout ads are well done as they mimic real billboards in an urban environment. The only reason it stands out and breaks us from the game is that we're not quite used to seeing them yet.
So, under the so called "Fairness" Doctrine, don't they have to make sure McCain gets equal rotation?
~~All Knowledge is Worth Having~~
When asked if he would be willing to do the same, McCain simply replied, "What is an Xbox?"
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/10/18/
Seems appropriate =)
Im gonna comment on this in retrospect past politics. Now ya know the radio they have advertising for the canidates a lot, same with the TV. Now we have ads for our canidates in video games. Give us 8 or 12 years and well see them all over the place in gaming(i can imagine Halo with elites holding up signs lol) . On the other hand, video game bring a whole lot more of interactivity so i understand why it may be creepy. Either way im still voting for mccain. from shobidoo
Companies buy ad space or place products in games all the time. This is especially true in racing or sports games, where there are billboards or areas which, in a real life situation, an ad would be located. bad credit payday loans
This post makes no sense to me
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