Duece Bigalow meets Planetside

[Flashman]

SoE signs agreement with Massive Incorporated in deliver appropriate context sensititve ads to Sony's games.

http://mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm?loadNews=3318&fp=1024,768,1237906312,20050810004030

First up...Planetside. An ad for Duece Bigalow because you know.... its all about the immersion.



I think the following link is now subscription only:
http://psforums.station.sony.com/ps/board/message?board.id=psdiscussion&message.id=660569&view=by_date_ascending&page=1

Here's it being discussed on the EQ2 forums where "currently" there are no plans for ads in EQ2.
http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=Non-Gameplay&message.id=158454#M158454

EDIT - cleaned up the links

[Evangolis]

Can we blow it up?

[Flashman]

Can we blow it up?

Sort of. 

[Trippy]

Can we blow it up?

Sort of. 

Can an engineer cover up those panels by sticking stuff on them?

[Mesozoic]

PS was one of those games that I kept installed on my HD and resubbed to every once in a while, but not any more.  Uninstalled.  Its not immersive to have a 21st century movie pitched to you as you fight a war in the far future.  Where exactly are the movie theaters and Fanta vending machines in PS again? 

Sometimes I feel like its just me, but the constant intrusiveness of advertising is a genuine quality-of-life issue to me.  I can't stand it.  Up till now, I've enjoyed online games as a respite from the constant TV commercials, the in-show bottom-of-the-screen commercial graphics, the product placements, the magazines filled with ads and sprinkled with articles, the pop-up ads, the interstitial ads, the banner ads, and - at least in Maryland - the advertisement trucks that drive around blaring music and carrying billboards.

Damn if I'm going to pay $50 plus a monthly fee just to have to stare at Rob Schneider's face while I grab a Lasher and a handful of grenades.  Shit, maybe they just throw explosive Pepsi cans at each other now. 

(This post sponsored by Bennigan's)

[Sky]

I hate advertising. But PS is the best mmo imo, and it desperately needs some love. So I'm actually ok with this. It suprises me, but if the game benefits, I'm cool with it. If the game doesn't benefit, I'm cancelling.

I gotta get back into playing PS, BF2 was such a let-down (not the game itself, which is cyborg jesus imo, just rusted shut with tears wept persistently). At least the majority of the folks playing PS are on-mission, which lifts it way above BF2, despite teh shiney.

[Mesozoic]

You honestly believe that the presence of in-game advertising is going to result in demonstrable improvements to the game?  That you're trading ads for improved gameplay? 

That's cute.

[Soln]

SOE must be getting desperate.  Is this full scale or just a test?

[Merusk]

SOE must be getting desperate.  Is this full scale or just a test?

Knowing McQuaid, this is a test.  If they don't suffer from mass cancellations, and there's positive feedback from the advertisers and more seem willing to sign-up this will bein ALL SOE games in short order.    This is the guy who's selling you extra character slots, tons of "only .99 extra a month" bells and whistles and has started-up the first publisher-run secondary marketplace.  If you think this is about anything other than finding more revenue streams from an MMO, (which is his theme whenever he talks about MMOs in a larger sense) you're delusional.   

[Sky]

You honestly believe that the presence of in-game advertising is going to result in demonstrable improvements to the game?  That you're trading ads for improved gameplay? 

No. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, because I think it's a worthy trade-off, if that's what it's going to take to improve PS. As I said:

If the game doesn't benefit, I'm cancelling.

Time will tell.

[Mesozoic]

I'd like to see a list of the things that the PS devs want to do, but can't do because they don't have the cash. 

[Merusk]

I'd like to see a list of the things that the PS devs want to do, but can't do because they don't have the cash. 

I wouldn't blame the Devs. I'm sure this is handed-down from on-high, forcing the devs to have to deal with the PR.  Also, having the smallest user base with the fewest cross-overs between the other SOE games (that's a guess, but how many do you think play PS AND EQ1/SWG/EQ2 or hold a Station Pass?) they're an ideal test bed.  If you lose customers in droves you're not killing anything but an already small (and declining) game.

[AcidCat]

I guess I must be naive because I actually find that hard to believe.

I had wanted to resub to PS at some point in the future before it disappears entirely ... now I'm not so sure.

[Krakrok]

I played last night. The ads aren't in the game yet.

The reason why this is stupid is that they went about it the wrong way. If they really wanted to promote the products in the ads they would have build vending machines in the bases and put the ad on the front of the vending machine. Then you would go to the vending machine to get a buff (quad damage?) or a special weapon or something (which everyone would want). Product placement vs. billboards.

And lastly their choice of advertisements makes me puke. Deuce Bigalow? Fucking A. The movie is by Sony Pictures though which is probably the reason. In that it would make sense for Sony Advertising to pay another one of their companies (SOE) for advertising. Circle jerk. Maybe it is just a sample ad or Sony is really really stupid for giving Massive Inc. a cut of advertising for themselves.

[HaemishM]

SOE must be getting desperate.  Is this full scale or just a test?

Knowing McQuaid, this is a test.  If they don't suffer from mass cancellations, and there's positive feedback from the advertisers and more seem willing to sign-up this will bein ALL SOE games in short order.    This is the guy who's selling you extra character slots, tons of "only .99 extra a month" bells and whistles and has started-up the first publisher-run secondary marketplace.  If you think this is about anything other than finding more revenue streams from an MMO, (which is his theme whenever he talks about MMOs in a larger sense) you're delusional.   

Not McQuaid, he hasn't been with SOE for years. I believe the pigfucker you are looking for is Smedley.

Again, I don't have a problem with appropriate in-game ads. Of course, not only are these not appropriate, they are for a shitty movie that should NEVER HAVE BEEN MADE. I mean, the first one could not have made that much money. Oh wait, it did, only it probably made it in selling the broadcast rights to USA and TBS, because it sure didn't make it in the theaters. And since it's a Sony picture, it's just another example of a corporation that has learned how to suck its own collective dick.

SELF-FELLATIO FOR THE WIN.

And yes, Sky, after all these years, do you think there is the remotest possibility that the extra revenue will be used to improve the game?

[Soln]

you know it's funny with SOE, because all during the lead up to Episode3 while I still played SWG, I expected massive on-the-boards and email advertising for the movie/softdrink/teatowel/collectibleX thing.  Instead, there was barely anything.  Seriously.  There was no in-game celebration at all once the movie launched.  Nothing in-game or advertised by SOE to motivate you to see it X times.  What they did do was the CombatUpgrade (pwnt) and launch a WookieWorld expansion that featured some very minor tie-in's to the movie (e.g. a reconstructed version of grievous, the same mounts Obi-Wan used).  All infinitely forgettable, from a marketing point of view.

Jesus -- if they couldn't make coin off the last Star Wars movie while being the "operators" and having the franchise for SW, I mean what hope do they have?? 

[Merusk]

Not McQuaid, he hasn't been with SOE for years. I believe the pigfucker you are looking for is Smedley.

Fuck. You're right, I am.  The two have just fused together into the portion of my brain that produces the same kind of hate you have for that .exe problem.

[HaemishM]

you know it's funny with SOE, because all during the lead up to Episode3 while I still played SWG, I expected massive on-the-boards and email advertising for the movie/softdrink/teatowel/collectibleX thing.  Instead, there was barely anything.  Seriously.  There was no in-game celebration at all once the movie launched.  Nothing in-game or advertised by SOE to motivate you to see it X times.  What they did do was the CombatUpgrade (pwnt) and launch a WookieWorld expansion that featured some very minor tie-in's to the movie (e.g. a reconstructed version of grievous, the same mounts Obi-Wan used).  All infinitely forgettable, from a marketing point of view.

Jesus -- if they couldn't make coin off the last Star Wars movie while being the "operators" and having the franchise for SW, I mean what hope do they have?? 

Have ya SEEN Episode 3? I wouldn't want any connection with that living abortion either.

[shiznitz]

[softpitch] If Ep3 was a living abortion, what the hell were 1 and 2? [/softpitch]

[HaemishM]

Fetal alcohol syndrome?

[schild]

I think if games want to have advertisements in them, particularly futuristic games, they should stylize them to fit the atmosphere a la the fake advertisements in Fallout 2.

[Furiously]

Man - AO's had those Fanta and Duce Bigalow adds for weeks now. The Batman Begins one was kinda stinky.

Interesting note - rather then have the "fake" ads paying customers get, most of my paying guildies in AO, turned on the ads.

[Yegolev]

I think if games want to have advertisements in them, particularly futuristic games, they should stylize them to fit the atmosphere a la the fake advertisements in Fallout 2.

Should be easy to do, and might be coming along.  Note the special ads that have been running on Adult Swim, particularly the 1-800-CALL-ATT starring ATHF, and one I saw recently where Space Ghost is silently drinking a Coke with Zorak looking on.

[Soukyan]

Man - AO's had those Fanta and Duce Bigalow adds for weeks now. The Batman Begins one was kinda stinky.

Interesting note - rather then have the "fake" ads paying customers get, most of my paying guildies in AO, turned on the ads.

I kinda dig the ads. As a consumer, that is...

[Sky]

And yes, Sky, after all these years, do you think there is the remotest possibility that the extra revenue will be used to improve the game?

C'mon, Hammy. I expect better reading comprehension from you. Don't make me repeat it a third time.

[eldaec]

Can we blow it up?

Sort of. 

How long do you reckon before the stealth nerf to prevent bullet decals appearing on ads?

[HaemishM]

And yes, Sky, after all these years, do you think there is the remotest possibility that the extra revenue will be used to improve the game?

C'mon, Hammy. I expect better reading comprehension from you. Don't make me repeat it a third time.

Oh, I know you said if it doesn't improve the game, you will quit. I was just surprised that you even thought for a second there was a chance that extra revenue would be used for game improvements as opposed to stockholder money hats and propped up spreadsheets at board meetings.

[Zetleft]

Thank jebus the mech addon already soured my affection for the game or this would have really pissed me off.  Now I can just sit back and laugh at the stupidity of it. 

[Flashman]

For your further reading pleasure

http://nationalcheeseemporium.org/

These guys basically analyzed the ad system in place in SWAT4. The ad system in SWAT4 is done by Massive as well so I'm guessing its done in the same way, unless theres some difference because PS is an MMO. Basically they track you by a unique ID and log everything...what level you are on and for how long, how long you look at each ad, what ads you look ad, what angle you are looking at the ads from, etc. Pretty interesting stuff.

And by adding a couple lines to your hosts file you can block the ads for now.

[Sky]

I was just surprised that you even thought for a second there was a chance that extra revenue would be used for game improvements as opposed to stockholder money hats and propped up spreadsheets at board meetings.

Hey, man. It's Planetside. The only mmo I consider worth playing, currently. I have to have some kind of hope for something somewhere. Doesn't mean I believe it, just that I'll hold out until I see the results.

[HaemishM]

Mmmmmmmmm, delicious, vain hope. It tastes so sweet.

[Mesozoic]

I'd like to see a list of the things that the PS devs want to do, but can't do because they don't have the cash. 

I wouldn't blame the Devs. I'm sure this is handed-down from on-high, forcing the devs to have to deal with the PR. 

Yes, thats exactly what I'm suggesting.

[Llava]

I just have to say:

GRIZZLEBEE'S!

You'll wish you had less fun!

[tar]

I'd like to see a list of the things that the PS devs want to do, but can't do because they don't have the cash. 

Since you ask, i think the closest thing to this would be this post:

Official forums link - probably not worth reading past the initial post.

The most interesting being the command abilities stuff, put together by players.

[Mesozoic]

Yeah, looks like the stuff people pay $15 a month for.