City of Heroes

This doesn't soudn too bad -- they're going to start out by replacing the fictitious billboards already in place and all monies are supposed to go towards development.  It's also interesting that the dev team is slated to double in size.  Woo! ( ' :

http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/archives/2008/04/bringing_option.html

Thanks for the heads up on this. I know that it's not a new idea. They were passing it around a couple of years ago. I didn't have an issue with it myself, as I felt it added real world experience into the game without over powering the play and style. I'm also all for keeping the monthly fees low and having all the free issues that have been coming out at no additional cost. If I have to fly by a Pepsi or NCSoft billboard in the process, I can live with it. Besides, there may be something cool on it that I didn't know was out there and I decided I want to purchase it. It's better knowing that the revenue generated from the sale was going back into the game that had the ad placed in it.

If it was Mandatory Id say Fudge them and Wouldent Renew. As a Opption that i can turn on and off at will, and with the plan to Double the size of the team(any idea how big it is atm?) Im strangely OK with it. I Hate In game adds that dont give you anything (BF2142 Im looking at you) this sounds like it would be a good step for Developers to follow. Heck ill leave my account up and running with him starring at a ad when im afk If it wil make more Revs for Devs that Made it Optional, and not Shoveing it down my throat.

Optional.

How delightfully refreshing.

I think that article is pretty good, and the approach they're taking is the right one. They've left it entirely up to players as to whether they want to see the ads or not, so I think it's a great idea.

NCsoft may not have the best games (although CoX is one of my personal favorites), but I love their business sense- this show a lot of respect for their players.

I wish they'd drop the monthly fee in exchange for advertising, but heh, that'll never happen. I hope this money does infact go towards development costs though. At least if it doesn't, I can just turn the ads off.

I agree, CoX is a good game.  In-game ad, as long as its not intrusive, is far less annoying than gold farmer spams or ridiculous WoW world channels.  I just wonder how many players will watch in-game ads, and hence how effective these ads are.

Shhh do not tell the ad agencies.  If they are subsidizing the development team, double win for us.

Originally posted by Orthedos

I just wonder how many players will watch in-game ads, and hence how effective these ads are.

Shhh do not tell the ad agencies.  If they are subsidizing the development team, double win for us.

Who really watches ads on TV anyway? Good time to pee, get a drink, play with the dog.... that's if you're not already fast-forwarding right past them.

And now people are downloading television content online that's completely ad free!!!!

Those poor desperate bastards will now slap an ad on anything they can.

Originally posted by green13

 

Originally posted by Orthedos

I just wonder how many players will watch in-game ads, and hence how effective these ads are.

Shhh do not tell the ad agencies.  If they are subsidizing the development team, double win for us.

The good news is, advertising agencies are getting pretty desperate and have been for years. At least since VCRs came into the home.

 

Who really watches ads on TV anyway? Good time to pee, get a drink, play with the dog.... that's if you're not already fast-forwarding right past them.

And now people are downloading television content online that's completely ad free!!!!

Those poor desperate bastards will now slap an ad on anything they can.

If you think about it, Kids have been wearing ads for years. On hats, shirts, pullovers, shoes and even their underwear hanging out of their pants. They've been putting ads all over the place.

Shouldn't bother me at all really.  There have been fake ads ingame since release, they are just now replacing them with real world ads.  In a game like this, ingame advertising can work its the fantasy based ones where you don't want to find a 6 pack of Coke loot off a dead orc.