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[Business Insider] Sony is building an ad program that will let brands advertise in PlayStation games

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Kumomeme

Member
Their internal data suggests people get hungry while gaming. So instead of stopping your gaming to make an order maybe we'll be able to order a burger and fries straight from games. The next level of immersion is just around the corner.
lmao imagine playing rpg and ordered a set of mcdonald through in game weapon shop

Ryan Reynolds Ugh GIF by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
 

TidusYuna

Member
Honestly, it is at the point now that anything they(Nintendo, Playstation and Microsoft) want to push into gaming, they can do it via console wars. They(Nintendo, Playstation and Microsoft) just need a couple shills to get the ball rolling and everyone is arguing over who has the better ads or who does advertising in games better.

While these companies may be competing against each other, they have more in common with each other than they do with consumers/gamers. I'd imagine they (NIntendo, Playstation, and Microsoft) are all on the same side when it comes to ads in gaming because it will only benefit them. If we the consumer can't stand together on anything we don't want in gaming, then we won't stop anything.

Edit: for clarification
 
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ArtHands

Thinks buying more servers can fix a bad patch
Honestly, it is at the point now that anything they want to push into gaming, they can do it via console wars. They just need a couple shills to get the ball rolling and everyone is arguing over who has the better ads or who does advertising in games better.

*Playstation game advertise for Pepsi*
PS fans "Pepsi is better than coke!"
 
The actual popular F2P games on mobile/PC?

It's really not an issue.. and I don't see why this would suddenly change in the console space.

As it stands the console versions of good F2p games are just missing the "feature" to watch ads to earn extra credits.

Play Smite for instance on PC vs. Mobile. Same exact game, same pricing on everything.. but on PC you can earn credits while waiting for your matchmaking to finish, on console you can't.

But these platform holders have to know there are less controversial, less intrusive, less grating ways to enable earning of additional credits for such a game during matchmaking than through ads, right? I mean, we already had an answer to this in 1994:




That's a much better answer right there, and it was done in 1994. IIRC, Namco patented this specific method, but Nintendo had something somewhat similar on the Wii when installing updates where you could basically control Mario jumping around hitting blocks while data was downloading. They probably were able to do it without getting Namco on them because it wasn't a literal "game as a mini-game in a loading screen" the way Namco patented it.

I think literally 99.9% of all console Smite players would rather play a really small, short, simple mini-game or just something interactive while waiting for matchmaking to complete, versus watching an ad, if both methods could give them a means of earning extra credits.
 
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This is nothing new for Sony. Their movie division has been doing product placement for decades.
One thing Sony has made efforts to do is to leverage the abilities of their internal departments to help other departments.
They did this with their new mobile phones, which are pretty damm good now. Their camera features is light years ahead of any other phones.
So I would assume that the movie division may be showing Sony all the ways to "value add" to their games.
 

reksveks

Member
Yeah, PC hackers are a fucking disaster for games like Fortnite etc.
But it's been great for kids who want to play online with their friends but have different consoles. That more than makes up for it.
And the best implementation of cross platform play allows you to account for pc hackers.

I think cross platform play and progress/saves is the future personally.
 

cormack12

Gold Member
I just finished Directors Cut and they actually removed the sponsorship lol. Now its Strand Energy or whatever drink.

It does raise interesting points about when licensing agreements expire. For summer months it might be coke or Pepsi, in winter months it could be mulled wine or ginger beer.

Then you can carve out pricing models based on popularity of games (warzone) or even sell advance tokens based on seasonal based sales data or when general gaming hours go up (school holidays, Christmas).
 
This is nothing new for Sony. Their movie division has been doing product placement for decades.
One thing Sony has made efforts to do is to leverage the abilities of their internal departments to help other departments.
They did this with their new mobile phones, which are pretty damm good now. Their camera features is light years ahead of any other phones.
So I would assume that the movie division may be showing Sony all the ways to "value add" to their games.

This isn't regular product placement though. It's outright ad space being rented out in games, maybe as customizable billboards (for now) but could also include Youtube-style ad breaks.

That's way different than Monster energy drink cans in Death Stranding, or KFC buildings in Crazy Taxi. The things you're mentioning about various Sony departments helping out others, that's been a thing for decades and when most gamers think about it they focus on the technology aspect of it, not monetization practices. Otherwise PS3 could've had that godawful DRM rootkit BS Sony Music did on the PC back in the day.

Thank goodness that never happened.
 

reksveks

Member
This isn't regular product placement though. It's outright ad space being rented out in games, maybe as customizable billboards (for now) but could also include Youtube-style ad breaks.
Programmatic ads could be all three, product placements, more typical billboards or pre/mid-roll interstitials.

The difference between the first two is very little really, it's just the form of the asset aka a 2d design vs a 3d one.

I suspect most if not all implementation will be the first two, product placements and billboards.

eSport Boxing Club is probably a good example to look at.

Also I think that both Microsoft and Sony are probably prepping for more 'metaverse' like experiences.
 
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EDMIX

Member
I remember when EA did this for Burnout? Or was it Need for Speed?

ohhhh yea, that was with Burnout Paradise (good ass game btw)

I think ads can work in some Free To Play game or even normal games if done correctly.

Lots of games exist in some world that is like our own, like Fifa, Nascar, GT series, where having a ad on the car isn't that wild, that is literally how the sport is in real life or having on the stands in Fifa having some energy drink sign or something. I think it depends on the game and I think it should be done in a way that doesn't break the concept, immersion and idea of what the game world is.

Life if on Need For Speed Underground, if you have a bunch of car parts, have a company that really sells those 3rd party parts partner to market in the game where it would make sense for that idea to be in the game or in those UFC games where they have ads on the mats or the commentator bring up Modelo or some shit lol

If it doesn't force a scene you can't skip, stop the game to show a ad or put it in a place that would make no sense in the game, I generally don't care.
How naive

lol, well maybe, maybe not.

If its just a ad like a billboard, logo or some voice over thing on Madden saying it, I don't see how that would mess up any design thing with development, it would be like saying in Basketball when they have all those brand deals ,that its messing with design of BASKETBALL, as in how the sport is played itself or something. So it depends on what those ads really are tbh.
 
This isn't regular product placement though. It's outright ad space being rented out in games, maybe as customizable billboards (for now) but could also include Youtube-style ad breaks.

That's way different than Monster energy drink cans in Death Stranding, or KFC buildings in Crazy Taxi. The things you're mentioning about various Sony departments helping out others, that's been a thing for decades and when most gamers think about it they focus on the technology aspect of it, not monetization practices. Otherwise PS3 could've had that godawful DRM rootkit BS Sony Music did on the PC back in the day.

Thank goodness that never happened.
I remember when Sony scaled back their mobile phone department and then decided to build it back up again, they mentioned that they were now going to break down the barriers between their divisions to get the best results they could.
Sony makes the vast majority of phone Camera cells yet their own phones put out average photos.
Since they have rebuilt their phone range their camera app is alot like you would find in their DLSR camera etc.
They also invested in the 21:9 screen ratio to keep in in sync with movie screens before everyone else.
Their phones are actually quite good now.
 

EDMIX

Member
I remember when Sony scaled back their mobile phone department and then decided to build it back up again, they mentioned that they were now going to break down the barriers between their divisions to get the best results they could.
Sony makes the vast majority of phone Camera cells yet their own phones put out average photos.
Since they have rebuilt their phone range their camera app is alot like you would find in their DLSR camera etc.
They also invested in the 21:9 screen ratio to keep in in sync with movie screens before everyone else.
Their phones are actually quite good now.

They probably do have some of the best phones on the market....but at them prices? lol I could never. 1 day though.

I am thinking of getting one of those A7 Sony mirrorless DSLR's though to replace my EOS T8.....1 day too...lol
 

SLB1904

Banned
ohhhh yea, that was with Burnout Paradise (good ass game btw)

I think ads can work in some Free To Play game or even normal games if done correctly.

Lots of games exist in some world that is like our own, like Fifa, Nascar, GT series, where having a ad on the car isn't that wild, that is literally how the sport is in real life or having on the stands in Fifa having some energy drink sign or something. I think it depends on the game and I think it should be done in a way that doesn't break the concept, immersion and idea of what the game world is.

Life if on Need For Speed Underground, if you have a bunch of car parts, have a company that really sells those 3rd party parts partner to market in the game where it would make sense for that idea to be in the game or in those UFC games where they have ads on the mats or the commentator bring up Modelo or some shit lol

If it doesn't force a scene you can't skip, stop the game to show a ad or put it in a place that would make no sense in the game, I generally don't care.


lol, well maybe, maybe not.

If its just a ad like a billboard, logo or some voice over thing on Madden saying it, I don't see how that would mess up any design thing with development, it would be like saying in Basketball when they have all those brand deals ,that its messing with design of BASKETBALL, as in how the sport is played itself or something. So it depends on what those ads really are tbh.
You couldn't sip ads in nba2k
 

Leyasu

Banned
This gen removes loading times.
Also this gen "May I interest you in a mandatory 30 second ad between games of Fortnite?"
Billboard ads and an extra splash screen I can live with.

Unskippable 30-60s ads akin to watching YouTube when not logged in and on a pc without Adblock are a step too far
 

EDMIX

Member
Fanboyism isn't about loving one brand, it's about hating the other. So it would be more like: coke sucks, coke makes you sick, coke is the worst prodcut ever made.

I want to be a Psychiatrist, the first to specialize in Fanboyism. Be like "I see this at my practice many times, do not confuse his illness for love ma'am"
 

EDMIX

Member
Is that for real? If so that is probably the most bullshit thing I have seen in a game.

Thats tame compared to some of the worst offenders. I didn't mind any of that in FFXV, I felt it made the world feel more real as I can see that being a thing knowing the brand is about camping and all.

Thats not to say i wouldn't mind some business made up in the game, like some Moogle company called Moogle Camp'n'Co lol

Be like "these portable Inn's funa cost you"

MoogleFFIXConcept.png
 
Free to play games are already exactly that - free to play.

What are you talking about?
Sony and Microsoft make game consoles. On those consoles sub services cost money. Ads could potentially make those services free. If so I'd support ads in games for players who do not or can not pay for those services. It's not super complicated. I believe Netflix is planning on adding ads and lowering costs for customers who are interested.
 

GHG

Gold Member
Sony and Microsoft make game consoles. On those consoles sub services cost money. Ads could potentially make those services free. If so I'd support ads in games for players who do not or can not pay for those services. It's not super complicated. I believe Netflix is planning on adding ads and lowering costs for customers who are interested.

So now you want to talk about the impact this will have on subscription services? This was you in the other thread when it was about Xbox doing this:

This has nothing to do with Game pass.

What's changed?
 
Kazuma Kiryu approves this message:
f3J84Gs.png
 

OOGABOOGA

Banned
Thats tame compared to some of the worst offenders. I didn't mind any of that in FFXV, I felt it made the world feel more real as I can see that being a thing knowing the brand is about camping and all.

Thats not to say i wouldn't mind some business made up in the game, like some Moogle company called Moogle Camp'n'Co lol

Be like "these portable Inn's funa cost you"

MoogleFFIXConcept.png
But isn't FFXV supposed to be in the present world?
 

ksdixon

Member
If this isnt a joke mirror thread, I still don't get it. This didn't work out when Street Fighter tried adding sponsor logos to fighters outfits and shit. And I dont want any ads if im paying into something like PS+ or buying a game outright.

Patent for shouting McDonald's in front of your TV, indeed.
 

Bo_Hazem

Banned
Well, they need to get paid for free-to-play games. Problem is we're already seeing this in mobiles games. I would rather have MTX.
 
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So now you want to talk about the impact this will have on subscription services? This was you in the other thread when it was about Xbox doing this:



What's changed?
I presented a positive way ads could impact games in general. My first post in this very thread was the same position I had in the other thread.
I'm keeping the same energy. This isn't a big deal as long as it is not intrusive. News flash games have had ads for years now. There is even something to be said for clever product placement like the Pizza Huts in Crazy Taxi. It added a level of realism.
Not sure what point you are tying to make. I don't think ads in games is a doom and gloom scenario. Ads in F2P games is a non issue and ads to allow sub services to be free is a benefit to customers. I didn't see you or any of the Sony fans in the Xbox thread make that point.
 

GHG

Gold Member
I presented a positive way ads could impact games in general. My first post in this very thread was the same position I had in the other thread.

Not sure what point you are tying to make. I don't think ads in games is a doom and gloom scenario. Ads in F2P games is a non issue and ads to allow sub services to be free is a benefit to customers. I didn't see you or any of the Sony fans in the Xbox thread make that point.

Because the people who commented don't want these kinds of ads in games, period. It doesn't matter whether it's on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Nintendo or Ouya. We've already paid for a product and have the capacity to do so if necessary in F2P games (via DLC and microtransactions), so the stance is simple - no ads. Does it need to be any clearer? This has already been outlined and discussed across both threads but in case you're in need of a reminder here is my stance:

There is no benefit, especially not in games that are already free to play and have already found ways to be very profitable. Ads will not be instead of anything else, they will be in addition to the existing methods of monetisation.

They will start in F2P games, they will then make their way in to normal games. As always, F2P games will be used nothing other than as a test bed and to condition gamers to get used to the idea.

---

And the point I'm making is how quickly your stance has changed from it having "nothing to do with gamepass" to your stance now where you're talking about how this ad system could be incorporated in to subscription services.

Just because a company that you like is going to incorporate something it doesn't mean it's good for you.

We've been here before with horse armour and lootboxes. People never learn.
 
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DeepEnigma

Gold Member
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Kdad

Member
Oh of course, "Sony Too™"

So like always...who's the source? How credible are they? What's their track record? Do they have any investments in things that are a conflict of interest? And lastly, we've already seen this go around before with used games and DRM back in 2013; if Microsoft were smart they'd not push this and if Sony were smart they'd just repeat what they did in 2013.

EDIT: Also I'm just gonna come out and say it, this feels like a pretty conveniently timed leak in response to the negativity this ad program was generating on the Xbox side. Like people will accept the concept better if Sony's supposedly doing it as well. Maybe some people would; I personally wouldn't.

The only offering from any platform holder where this makes sense would be their game subscription service. That's it. And that's only because it would mirror the cable TV model. If I'm paying for my games outright, I shouldn't have to deal with ads breaking up the immersion, save that for people playing the game through GamePass or PS+ game streaming feature.

"Oh it'll just be for F2P", that's how it starts. Nope.



Those were integrated ads into the game world, where you'd have an in-game billboard as an asset on a course maybe featuring a real-world product. That kind of ad integration, I'm generally okay with, because at least it fits the context of the game world, isn't really breaking immersion, and you can easily avoid it altogether if you wish.

These ad program plans for MS (and apparently, Sony too™), just cram full-on ads in-between the gaming sessions. I'm guessing it'd be at points like load screens, when launching the game, or stuff like that. Even so, would completely ruin the sense of immersion, especially if it's for products you know would not exist in the time period the game takes place in, and you're forced to sit and wait for the ad to finish (or a few seconds to then skip like you can on Youtube).

If there's no console version of Adblock, they can keep that idea in the closet.
This isn't a 'me too' or a 'leak'...its been known for years...
 

EDMIX

Member
But isn't FFXV supposed to be in the present world?

Well no (at least I think you are saying is not suppose to be in the present world) lol

FFXV has elements of our world along with their whole fictional thing Kings and Queens etc So its hard to say what is allowed or not when its their story to tell ya know. It has PinBall lol, good ass game too. FFXV used is worth it for that Pinball game ALONE! lolz
 
Broader options for gamers who want online play but don't want to pay a fee. Just like how the XSS provides gamers on a budget with additional options to enter this generation. Options are good.
Some options are shit, like the option of turning the traditional console market on mobile games 2.0.

Mobile is still there for anyone who wants aditional options to play garbage games.
 
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Because the people who commented don't want these kinds of ads in games, period. It doesn't matter whether it's on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Nintendo or Ouya. We've already paid for a product and have the capacity to do so if necessary in F2P games (via DLC and microtransactions), so the stance is simple - no ads. Does it need to be any clearer? This has already been outlined and discussed across both threads but in case you're in need of a reminder here is my stance:

There is no benefit, especially not in games that are already free to play and have already found ways to be very profitable. Ads will not be instead of anything else, they will be in addition to the existing methods of monetisation.

They will start in F2P games, they will then make their way in to normal games. As always, F2P games will be used nothing other than as a test bed and to condition gamers to get used to the idea.

---

And the point I'm making is how quickly your stance has changed from it having "nothing to do with gamepass" to your stance now where you're talking about how this ad system could be incorporated in to subscription services.

Just because a company that you like is going to incorporate something it doesn't mean it's good for you.

We've been here before with horse armour and lootboxes. People never learn.
My point remains that this STILL has nothing to do with Game pass(even less so on PlayStation) and disingenuous comments trying to conflate the two are thinly veiled attempts to cast aspersions at MS. When it was believed to be a MS ONLY initiative it was treated differently than when it was determined to be something Sony was planning too.

I don't care if people like ads or not. No one really loves ads and I presented a suggestion that shows a way ads can be used to benefit gamers. My position is consistent whether it is Sony or Microsoft doing ads. My stance never changed. Show one post I made saying it was good/bad when MS has ads and the opposite when Sony does. I promise you can't.
 

XXL

Member
It's hilarious people thought these companies reason for wanting to put everything on a subscription model was to be nice and save you money.
Big Brother Reaction GIF by MOODMAN

The fact you have people parading around spending their life trying to sell you (to win a console war) on these things is even more embarrassing.

This kind of shit and how these big companies want to censor things they don't like to further their ideological war should tell you enough to not completely forfeit your choices as a consumer. 🤡🤡🤡
 
It's hilarious people thought these companies reason for wanting to put everything on a subscription model was to be nice and save you money.
Big Brother Reaction GIF by MOODMAN

The fact you have people parading around spending their life trying to sell you (to win a console war) on these things is even more embarrassing.

This kind of shit and how these big companies want to censor things they don't like to further their ideological war should tell you enough to not completely forfeit your choices as a consumer. 🤡🤡🤡
I'm curious. Who said companies created sub services to be nice and save consumers money? How do you see these sub services tying into to F2P games which is planned target for these ads?
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
It's hilarious people thought these companies reason for wanting to put everything on a subscription model was to be nice and save you money.
Big Brother Reaction GIF by MOODMAN

The fact you have people parading around spending their life trying to sell you (to win a console war) on these things is even more embarrassing.

This kind of shit and how these big companies want to censor things they don't like to further their ideological war should tell you enough to not completely forfeit your choices as a consumer. 🤡🤡🤡


maxresdefault.jpg



Whose doing that ?
 
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