why is games using real life brands a bad thing?

i see in gamespot reviews all the time about blatent in game advertising. why is this a bad thing? i can remember years ago with gta and how cool it would have been to see billboards for real brands like coke and other big names like that. when im playin games its cool to see phones and computers with brands like apple on them and all that why do gamespot review it as a bad thing?

I never really cared until I started to play Prototype. Kept seeing ads for Gamestop and Game Crazy.

It all depends on the game, it would work perfectly inside GTA as it would create a sense of reality which would pull you into the game even more. However in most games it just doesn't work, like Wipeout HD, it stands out like a sore thumb and instantly pulls you away from the game.

It's more of a matter of how in-game ads are implemented rather than the sole fact that it's used. When it's natural part of the environment, like a billboard in GTA, and fits in, it's fine. It's a problem when ads are thrown in just for the sake of advertising and no regard to how it's placed in, which can ruin the immersion of a game's world. jt4mtb

I always found that ironic - the one game where you would expect in-game ads has never had them before, but you see them in some of the most unlikely games now.

For me it depends on the game. I liked the use of them in Burnout Paradise, because billboards in real life have ads and it makes sense, but Splinter Cell Conviction (360 I know..gah!) had an ad for Kick-Ass and to me that felt weird, because the world that Sam Fisher inhabits doesn't have a movie called Kick-Ass. At least to me anyway. There was another game too that had an ad for a real car, but the game took place in the future, where that car couldn't have existed….it was either GRAW or Battlefield 2142.

I wouldn't mind advertising real brands in GTA but I'd rather Rockstar keep in the parody advertising because some of it is good especially the True Grime: Street Cleaners billboard from San Andreas which Rockstar were making fun of Activision's True Crime series and it was funny to see that. Sometimes advertising in games is annoying especially Prototype the amount of advertising for GameStop. Then Bionic Commando full of advertising for Pepsi and Nvidia which was annoying. I think if you were to have advertising in a game at least put a variety around the city. I think if Rockstar had advertising in the GTA games it would good to display billboards with releases from Rockstar Games and other Take2 Interactive games but still keep the parody advertising like Sprunk a parody of Sprite but they should not have them all together spread them out around the city.

I really don't care about in-game advertising, but I do find it a little sad that it's done.

It's more of a matter of how in-game ads are implemented rather than the sole fact that it's used. When it's natural part of the environment, like a billboard in GTA, and fits in, it's fine. It's a problem when ads are thrown in just for the sake of advertising and no regard to how it's placed in, which can ruin the immersion of a game's world. jt4mtb

Agreed. I wouldn't be surprised if commercials actually cut into gameplay soon, much like a TV show. Since people have the audacity these days to actually request you (the consumer) pay money for a commercial, I wouldn't be shocked if that actually happened:evil:

It's more of a matter of how in-game ads are implemented rather than the sole fact that it's used. When it's natural part of the environment, like a billboard in GTA, and fits in, it's fine. It's a problem when ads are thrown in just for the sake of advertising and no regard to how it's placed in, which can ruin the immersion of a game's world. jt4mtb

Name brands in games for the win!

Do you know how different the level in MW2 would be if you didn't have to hear "RAMIREZ! Enemies coming from the Burger Town!"

i see in gamespot reviews all the time about blatent in game advertising. why is this a bad thing? i can remember years ago with gta and how cool it would have been to see billboards for real brands like coke and other big names like that. when im playin games its cool to see phones and computers with brands like apple on them and all that why do gamespot review it as a bad thing?

d_ano

There is a huge difference between in-game advertising that feels realistic in the way it is used (ie. GTA billboards), and "blatent" advertising which actually takes you out of the game experience. When you are playing a game and the world seems to have 20 red-bull machines on every block...that distracts you from the game. When you are playing a game set in the future, or in space, and you see car ads, it doesn't fit with the world the game is presenting and so it is distracting.

I think when game reviews complain about in-game advertising, they are complaining about the distracting, over-used advertising that doesn't fit in the game. I don't think they are talking about the city in Burnout having billboards which occassionaly show real products.

Name brands in games for the win!

Do you know how different the level in MW2 would be if you didn't have to hear "RAMIREZ! Enemies coming from the Burger Town!"

brickdoctor

I think it would've been fine if there weren't any BS politics involved. Stupid stuff like "can't say our name without paying us first!"

I remember when anime shows and movies had logos around simulating every day life. I've always thought those were kinda cool. I wonder if they made a stink about those too.

It's people makin a fuss over nothin. In fact I think it makes the game more realistic when you see Burger King or McDonalds ad in the game (or any other real life ad that is right for whichever suits the mood). I hate it when the names used in the game are blatant rippoffs like MurgerKing or McRonalds.

I prefer the real deal..I remember people makin a fuss over an Obama ad in a racing game. Society today complains about the most ridiculous things ever..there's people starving to death all around the world and we're mad because of Obama ads in games pfft!! :roll:

If they want to advertise in-game, then they should do what Ubisoft did and offer the game for free and instead get their revenue from the people placing adds in their games.verbalfilth

This^^^game companies make millions on in-game ads but game prices keep on rising.