Gamers would welcome in-game ad exposure for cheaper games

A study conducted by Frank N. Magid Associates found that gamers are willing to welcome in-game ad exposure in exchange for price cuts in games. If it means seeing a Starbucks shop on every block around GTA if they’d sell the game for half the price, why not?

A study conducted by Frank N. Magid Associates found that gamers are willing to welcome in-game ad exposure in exchange for price cuts in games. We’ve already seen a lot of these in games, especially sportswear in titles such as NBA Live.

Gamers were found to be receptive to the idea. After all, 60 bucks take a lot of wind from your gaming sails. In fact, only 20% said that they would be less likely to purchase a game at half the price but with more ads. 31% said it won’t make a difference. 15% said they’d be much more likely to do so, while 28% said they’d be somewhat likely.

Even more gamers showed favor for the idea if the games were free, but bombarded with ads. 29% were “much more likely” and 24% were “somewhat likely.” Again, quite a large group (25%) said it won’t matter, and only 15% said it would make purchases less likely.

I really won’t mind seeing a Starbucks shop on every block in GTA if the price would be halved. I would even think it adds realism to the game. Heck, it’d even be funny if Coca Cola asks Niko Bellic to smoke a Pepsi guy, then you get a Coke Trophy. I won’t mind Snake wearing a McDonald’s camo (if it can be called a camo at all), either.

But for pete’s sake,  publishers shouldn’t go as far as Tekken moves being called “Quaker Oats cholesterol-free stomp” or RPGs getting Coca-Cola Swords, Jolly Rancher fruit bombs, and especially Verizon Wireless Fireballs. Hell no. A LittleBigMac is out of the question.

Amount of ads vs. game pricing should be balanced. Publishers would do well to regulate ad volume and appropriateness when it comes to advertising. There are also times when we’d rather pay to get those ads off. Tastefulness and moderation is key.

• The politics of in-game advertisements
• Sony to open up PS3, in-game ads coming to PS3 games
• Nolan Bushnell says typical in-game ads do not work
  

Via Game Daily