Did Pepsi take game advertising too far?

Now wee are used to games being used as promotional material for movies... But Pepsi???

I just remembered Pepsimanfor PS(still have it somewhere), also in Bionic Commando there were Pepsi billboards and vending machines everywhere!

Does that mean there will be more commercials in games? Games are the only media where you don't get commercial propaganda crammed down your throat.

Im just worried that wee might get commercial pop-ups in games in near future. Just look what happened to internet... I hope that doesn't happen to games.

the most obvious advert i've seen in a big game was the airwaves chewing gum one in splinter cell chaos theory when sam is on the helicopter.

Anything commercial is going to have an in for companies, but I see your concern.muthsera666

I doubt there'll be "pop-ups," but we already see things in, say, sports games where you'll have the "Play of the Game presented by Honda" or something.bluezy

[QUOTE="bluezy"]I doubt there'll be "pop-ups," but we already see things in, say, sports games where you'll have the "Play of the Game presented by Honda" or something.muthsera666

The more commercials the better. Like say, offering real estate in Beverly Hills in a game like Fable or advertising Burger King in a post apocalyptic world like Fallout 3.

[QUOTE="muthsera666"][QUOTE="bluezy"]I doubt there'll be "pop-ups," but we already see things in, say, sports games where you'll have the "Play of the Game presented by Honda" or something.DeanG642

Anyone else play the 7up spot game for the snes?

Look at it this way... When television was catching on, there weren't much commercials same goes for radio and internet, and look at them now! On every website there is advertisement some more discrete than others... In games there are fictional brands licensed cars move-games and its slowly drawing us in step by step... And its only going get worse... At least i think (But i hope not)

I don't think it'll happen. Just like there aren't commercials in movies, and movies have been around for a longggggg time.

I don't think it'll happen. Just like there aren't commercials in movies, and movies have been around for a longggggg time.

cprmauldin

How about when you buy a DVD, you have to sit trough 10-15min of unskippable trailers, FBI warnings and commercials before the movie starts.

[QUOTE="cprmauldin"]

I don't think it'll happen. Just like there aren't commercials in movies, and movies have been around for a longggggg time.

xxxDirtyJoexxx

How about when you buy a DVD, you have to sit trough 10-15min of unskippable trailers, FBI warnings and commercials before the movie starts.

[QUOTE="bluezy"]I doubt there'll be "pop-ups," but we already see things in, say, sports games where you'll have the "Play of the Game presented by Honda" or something.muthsera666

Didn't Rainbow Six: Vegas have actual advertisements on billboards and such? I know some game I played had random, changing advertisements if you're online.

There is no such thing as "too far" so long as people keep supporting these companies. You vote with your wallet, so you ask for it.

I don't think it'll happen. Just like there aren't commercials in movies, and movies have been around for a longggggg time.

cprmauldin

Pretty much. The internet (most websites are free)and broadcast channels are paid for by advertising, so of course their is quite a bit of it.

But there aren't many ads on say, pay cable channels like HBO (they have a few ads inbetween movies, but they don't break uptheir tv shows or movies with ads)or in movies in the theater (I notice that unlike in the old days, ads run for at least 20 minutes before movies begin though its also worth noting that the start time of movies hasn't been pushed back or anything) because most of the profit comes from consumers.

Like in most movies (glares at Mac and Me), I expect advertising to remain relatively subtle.

Anyone else play the 7up spot game for the snes?

TheHighWind

I had it on Gameboy way back when, it was fun for awhile.

[QUOTE="TheHighWind"]

Anyone else play the 7up spot game for the snes?

Aero5555

I had it on Gameboy way back when, it was fun for awhile.

I played the on the SNES - it was fun for a time.

[QUOTE="Aero5555"]

[QUOTE="TheHighWind"]

Anyone else play the 7up spot game for the snes?

Metamania

I had it on Gameboy way back when, it was fun for awhile.

I played the on the SNES - it was fun for a time.

IIRC the Spot game was made by Shiny, a good team (they made EWJ and the Genesis version of Aladdin) who nevertheless managed to produce a lot of flops, perhaps because Dave Perry makes Molyneux look sober and well grounded (nods towards Messiah and the Matrix games).

Yes, and it will go even further because advertisement will eventually ruin everything that's good, ask Bill Hicks.

But I guess 'we asked for it' because there are enough stupid people to buy into this crap.

Not many people know about the Pepsi promotion because they attach their name to terrible games. Dates all the way back to 1994 I was playing Shaq-Fu (don't ask why) and Pepsi had thier name all over it

I don't mind in-game advertising in-and-of-itself. It depends on the particular ad and they type of game. Seeing a Pepsi billboard or vending machine or what not in a game set in a modern urban envronment is fine. It kinda adds to the realism, and it can help pay for development costs. A Pepsi placement in a game like, say God of War would be out of place and annoying.

This is a crazy idea, but what if actual sales paid for development costs? This is just a profit-grab at the expense of their customers.

This is a crazy idea, but what if actual sales paid for development costs? This is just a profit-grab at the expense of their customers.

reason58

How exactly is it at our expense?

Because now you have to play a game with advertisements in it? The more they are tolerated the more obtrusive they'll get.

Because now you have to play a game with advertisements in it? The more they are tolerated the more obtrusive they'll get.

reason58

Vote with your wallet then.

I realize this, which is why I said those exact words earlier in this thread.

I dont think ads are going to be to big in games. But I am kinda concerned about how far they could go. Well at least there not poping up in your face like ad pop-ups on the internet. Ive played Burnout Paradise and that has a lot of advertisment billboards, but this is acceptable because it makes it look like your really in the real world. Its better than Modern Warfare 2s fictitious companies like Burger Town or Taco To Go.

Pepsi man was a great game, but doesn't encourge anyone to drink Pepsi with the fat guy talking with his mouth full

with Lays chips.

[QUOTE="xxxDirtyJoexxx"]

[QUOTE="cprmauldin"]

I don't think it'll happen. Just like there aren't commercials in movies, and movies have been around for a longggggg time.

muthsera666

How about when you buy a DVD, you have to sit trough 10-15min of unskippable trailers, FBI warnings and commercials before the movie starts.

Exactly, I've never had a dvd where I couldn't skip the commercials as far as I know. I usually watch the commercials the first time I turn it on (if it's a recently released movie) but skip them every time I rewatch it. The FBI warnings are not ads, but yeah they can be annoying.

I've never had a problem with product placement in any movie or game I've ever played. Like many others have said, they add to the realism when the world is supposed to be the same world as ours. In Crazy Taxi, for example, I was actually disapointed when they removed KFC and other places from the PSP version. But if I saw stuff like this in Hyrule, ancient Greece, or another planet, then it would be extremely out of place and distracting.

Aside from the mentioned Splinter Cell one, and some EA cross promotions, I don't think I've ever noticed in-game promotions. To be honest, i think the only reason it would be jarring is because game worlds are so small and you need every ounce of space to create a believable world. Using up an important part of that space to make a real-world in-game commercial jerks you right back to reality and it's very jarring.

I would say that if developers/publishers/companies want to advertise in-game then we get those games for free like we watch free TV and when we pay for games we get ad-free content.

That said, I don't think it's an issue. It could be, though, and it shouldnt be.

the most obvious advert i've seen in a big game was the airwaves chewing gum one in splinter cell chaos theory when sam is on the helicopter.

PcGamingRig

Using up an important part of that space to make a real-world in-game commercial jerks you right back to reality and it's very jarring.

DigitalExile

Yep, i got annoyed by BestBuy in NFSU2. I prefer fictional brands.

i kind of like advertisments in games like Pepsi billboards, real movies posters in games, replay camera's being "sponsored" by Honda and things like that but only in certain games, it gives it sort of a realistic look and feel, like the world is actually aive outside of what im seeing and playing, like if i turn off the game that world and its people are still going on about their daily lives

[QUOTE="DigitalExile"]

Using up an important part of that space to make a real-world in-game commercial jerks you right back to reality and it's very jarring.

xxxDirtyJoexxx

Yep, i got annoyed by BestBuy in NFSU2. I prefer fictional brands.

Me too. I love the fictional brands in GTA with their insane commercials. Pißwasser was amazing.