StarCraft 2 is Going To Have In-Game Advertisements

[Anyone00]

Link

But WoW isn't the only ace up Blizzard's sleeve. There's StarCraft 2, which is coming to PC (eventually). The first title in the revered real-time strategy game franchise launched in 1998 and is still one of Korea's most popular games 10 years later. Maxing out revenues related to such popular franchises will be a priority for Activision Blizzard.

"On the Blizzard side, [we need to] really be figuring out things like the StarCraft business model for the future, with in-game advertising and sponsorship, [which have] really not been something that has moved the dial for anybody in the videogame industry, but that we think presents tremendous opportunity for the future.

"[Blizzard] has been thinking about how StarCraft, because it is a short-session experience, can actually be the model for in-game advertising and sponsorship and tournament play and ladder play for the future."

If it's like little banner ads in the lobby (no sound, no video) I'm O.K. with that. If some of the Terran tile set doodads that have fictional advertisement are changed to have real products advertised on them I thinks that's passable as long as the advertiser puts some effort to make it fit in the setting.

I realize this is going to be mainly a multi-player thing and I'm mainly into single player so it won't effect me much but still if feels kinda'... well... iffy

[Charlie]

Mountain Dew, the Zerg's one weakness.

[Anyone00]

Mountain Dew, the Zerg's one weakness.

Why do I suddenly get the mental image of Master Chief being overwhelmed by a Zergling rush?

[Charlie]

Why do I suddenly get the mental image of Master Chief being overwhelmed by a Zergling rush?

Because you know it would be awesomely extreme.

[Anyone00]

Because you know it would be awesomely extreme.

Awesomely extreme...or extremely awesome? :raiseeyebrow:

I just realized if no one else post this will look like a thread relating to DoW.

[Charlie]

Its a thread about Starcraft, give it time.


But I think it might work out for the better. Sure it sounds silly to have giant banners advertising Neo*Pets or Lou Dobb's new book some junk, but if done right (as in torn and beat up billboards and such on the terrain) it might add authenticity. Just as long as the developers don't go too far with it.

[Icer]

If it's in the game itself, I wont like it. But in lobbies or whatever I wouldnt care.

[GWOtaku]

Eh, it clearly just means battle.net advertising. They're not going to try to sell you Pepsi when you're playing multiplayer or something. That would be unprecedented and disliked, and it just isn't the kind of thing Blizzard would do.

[Anyone00]

Eh, it clearly just means battle.net advertising.

You are most likely correct.

UPDATE March 6th: Blizzard has offered an answer to clarify recent comments by Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick concerning in-game ads in Starcraft 2.

Blizzard: "We have no plans to have in-game advertising in StarCraft II. We believe Bobby was actually referring to Battle.net, which has always included ads."

Link.

[Dark Fact]

Personally, seeing ads for Coca-Cola or Levis Jeans in a game that takes place far in the future would not only look incredibly awkward but stupid and out of place. It would be better to put ads before the startup menu screen when you see the developer logos instead.