They log your IP address and when you play. This is used to target specific audiences, much like adverts on TV which come on at different times to target different audiences.

The piece of paper that comes with the retail copy seems to disagree with this. Perhaps IGA only monitor in-game stuff (time + IP, as you say), while EA do the “surfing habits”. Even still, why the hell should I pay t give an advertising company information about me? How do I know what they will do with my information? How do I know the information is correct? Why, in short, should I give them ANY info about me?

In-game advertising has happened in a few games I have played, and I needed to read that it existed and replay the level in order to see it. Of course not every game is going to have it almost hidden, but I don’t see it being a big eye-sore or distraction.

It will get worse (more noticable). If you didn’t realise they were there, they will try and fix that.

Do you pay to watch TV?

Nope

Not only do you need to pay for a TV, you need to pay a license fee to have adverts shown to you.

Still nope. License fee goes to the BBC, who don’t have advertising.

They are all around us, and to me, having them in games is no big deal.

If they don’t bother you, thats just peachy. However, they do bother me. Part of the reason I watch very little TV is I can’t stand the adverts. Case in point:

NSPCC advert – the usual crying kids, sad stories etc. Okay, they have to advertise, fair enough. ‘Cept the ads say they protect people in “England and Wales (perhaps NI too, can’t remember)”. So why the heck are they showing a sad advert on Paramount Comedy to people in Scotland, who they don’t cover?! ‘Nuff said.

You argue that they aren’t invasive at the moment. That’s true. Mind you, TV ads didn’t used to be loud, garish, in-your-face affairs either. There used to be no popups or flashy-jumpy banner ads on the internet. The same thing will happen with games.

So again, tell me why I should have my habits (whatever they are) monitored to adertise at me in a game I pay full price for?

In-game advertising has happened in a few games I have played, and I needed to read that it existed and replay the level in order to see it. Of course not every game is going to have it almost hidden, but I don’t see it being a big eye-sore or distraction.

Do you pay to watch TV? Not only do you need to pay for a TV, you need to pay a license fee to have adverts shown to you. I paid to go to the cinema today, I saw many adverts. I paid to go on the train and saw many adverts. They are all around us, and to me, having them in games is no big deal. I personally find the few I do see make it seem more realistic, although I find it it easy to ignore or even laugh at them – but I am betting I will be too busy launching myself at floating bricks to notice!

Secondly, in-game advertising isn’t common at the moment, and I hope it won’t become common. Some games it doesn’t matter. For example, football sims can sell advertising boards at the sides of the pitch, a la real life. That, I don’t mind. In fact, in that case, it adds to the realism. I don’t want advertising in games like BF 2142 or FPSs in general because they will ruin the atmosphere (so to speak). Think about it: ads are designed to be seen. If I don’t notice them in-game, the advertisers aren’t getting their worth.

Unfortunately I see the future holding more in-game advertising, and I fear that it will eventually degenerate to the same level as TV: vapid, ostentatious, and off-putting.

Lastly — if I had bought the game (like Kenny), I would be annoyed. Why? Because I have paid full price for a game, which is now going to make the game company even more money by touting ads at me. I do not appreciate paying to be advertised at. If you want to offer a discount on the game and advertise within, thats fine. Hell, they could make it free since advertising is repeated, rather than the one-off price of buying the game. At least that way there would be an incentive to keep the game fresh and fun and as bug-free as possible, since then they would be keeping people in for advertising revenue’s sake.

As intimated in the post, I won’t be buying this game unless this whol story turns out to be fake (as I hope it does).