5punk

In-game ads put devs in control
Filed under: Mac, PC, Online, Business
Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, IGA Europe vice president Ed Bartlett explained how in-game advertisements could benefit the interests of PC-based independent developers. Barlett pointed to Nadeo, which was able to release TrackMania Nations as freeware through the use of in-game ads, in turn boosting its player base (recording over 6 million downloads) and increasing ad revenue. This business model is unique because it eliminates the need for a publisher and means developers can retain the rights to their IPs.

Ironically, it's the indie developers that have been most resistant to in-game ads; whereas triple-A title publishers, while unable to offset theirs games' costs with ads, have been much more receptive to the practice.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Author: James Ransom-Wiley
Category: AdAdvertisementIGAIn-game AdvertisingIn-gameAdvertisingIndieIndyIPNadeoTrackMania
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Source: Joystiq
Description: Joystiq

Oh noes, I fear an in-game advertising discussion coming on again

In all seriousness though, if it allows developers to make completely free to download/play games for the PC, then I'm all for it, as Trackmania Nations really is a good game for free.

The deal for Counter Strike is no longer rumour...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2207229.stm



but if it means free (or much cheaper) games...

It's a good point actually - kind of like the free papers. If in-game advertising allows indie developers to be more creative without the publishers forcing them to churn out another generic FPS then as long as it doesn't detract from the game I'm all for it as a method of them raising the revenue.

Personally I think its a great idea. The only thing I've ever made money from on the ol' tinterweb is advertising. Advertising means people can view/use/fwap over your stuff for free, thus giving you a larger amount of people to see the adverts and in turn the ability to charge more for them.

MIkkyo wrote:The only thing I've ever made money from on the ol' tinterweb is advertising.

That's where I'm going wrong then

If I made money from 5punk, I would definitely develop it more and be more active on the site, but until then, I'll only do stuff in my limited spare time as and when I feel like it

Sorry, going off tangent there a bit

In 5punk's case you've got a rather limited cutomer base - we're not really a reference forum like planet-whatever, we're a community discussion site. To make advertising successful on here would probably need you to change the direction in order to attract larger numbers of casual viewers. I actually think that the kind of stuff that goes on here would be of interest to a lot of more mature gamers, as shown by our retention of regular posters, but getting the attention of those people is tricky. I'm not against a little advertising on 5punk by the way - it hasn't harmed B3ta - but would you be able to attract any with a regular staple of 50-60 visitors a day?

Woo Elephant Yeah wrote: That's where I'm going wrong then

If I made money from 5punk, I would definitely develop it more and be more active on the site, but until then, I'll only do stuff in my limited spare time as and when I feel like it

Sorry, going off tangent there a bit

Just google ads I use on me webcomic <a href="http://www.fuctinthehead.co.uk">Fuct in the head</a> not much money, only made 150 odd dollars last year, wich in real money is about two weeks food shopping at lidls.

I think the problem you'd find with 5punk is that the majority of us probably have ad blocks installed anyway

These are ads based on how many people see them? I reckon that even though 5punk is only logged on to by 50 or so people in any given 24 hours, they'll visit a couple of times a day. Add to that guests playing games for another ten or so and you've got 150-200 visits per day. That ain't bad, and if it relieves some (or ideally all) of the financial burden of running the site then I don't see how it's an issue, especially with something like Google Ads which is quite unintrusive.

paid per click of the ads.

Might not be as useful here then as it's usually the same people, but even so my point still stands that if it takes some of the pressure off WEY's wallet then it's worth it.

Dog Pants wrote:Might not be as useful here then as it's usually the same people, but even so my point still stands that if it takes some of the pressure off WEY's wallet then it's worth it.

If everyone clicked an ad at least once a day you would notice money coming in, or just click an ad randomly everynow and then whilst at the site. my ad money paid for a years worth of server and some beer.

Well, a slight tie in with the 5punk in 2007 thread in general but: What if we were to do some more professional or laid out reviews, that could be more relevant to viewers outside 5punk. How about throwing some ads on those? And even if it is a little bit of money, I really wouldn't complain to some google ads on 5punk. Mainly because I see them on so many pages now, my mind blanks them out, and those who really don't want to see them, have an adblocker.

I wouldn't mind ads if they made the games cheaper and don't detract from the game, but you just know certain companies like EA won't charge less and won't care if the ads "ruin" the game.

Gunslinger42 wrote:I wouldn't mind ads if they made the games cheaper and don't detract from the game, but you just know certain companies like EA won't charge less and won't care if the ads "ruin" the game.

That

ads done well could be great and add to the immersive nature of the right games.

personally I wouldn't mind in game ads in BF2, CS:S, rainbox six games, any sports games. given they'd actually help make the game feel real.

but if I start seeing ads for lynx in 2142, it'll spoil the futury feel of the game a great deal.

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:
That

ads done well could be great and add to the immersive nature of the right games.

personally I wouldn't mind in game ads in BF2, CS:S, rainbox six games, any sports games. given they'd actually help make the game feel real.

but if I start seeing ads for lynx in 2142, it'll spoil the futury feel of the game a great deal.

Just a tad "So your fighting to live on the last inhabital places on earth, Brother killing Brother in near post apocalyptic cicumstances. Still thats no reason not to stay fresh, use new Lynx 24. (Alternatively inhale to stop the misery that you are feeling everyday after being inlisted into a war)"

Heh. The more people are describing how immersion-breaking it will be, the more I'm reminded of the Robocop films. IN the future, the armies will be owned by megacorporations, and will have to wait for the adverts to finish before they can use their HUDs (BATs).

It would be for Lynx2124, though.