| User |
Message |
Perceptor II
Posts: 0
Joined: 01/25/2008
Credibility: 0 pts
|
The press release:
| QUOTE | SAN FRANCISCO — Apr. 3, 2008— Leading independent game advertising provider Double Fusion has entered an agreement with NCsoft®, the leading developer and publisher of online computer games, to represent the successful comic-book inspired massively multiplayer online game, City of Heroes®. Double Fusion will provide the technology and sales force to bring brands into the popular online role-playing game which takes place in a modern urban setting, an ideal environment for unobtrusive in-game advertising.
Double Fusion and NCsoft are focused on providing value to the players through this advertising partnership. While real world ads will lend realism to the urban world of City of Heroes, NCsoft also plans on taking advantage of Double Fusion's technology to display player-created content within the game. The publisher will dedicate all advertising dollars it earns to fund further game development for the online title, yet still allow players to opt out of advertising in order to provide flexibility to community members.
“Our partnership with NCsoft is a clear showcase for two of our guiding philosophies: bringing value to the player through appropriate use of advertising spaces and bringing new business models to the marketplace by creating new revenue streams that can help fund game development and community support” said Jonathan Epstein, president and CEO, Double Fusion.
“City of Heroes is a key property for NCsoft and we take great care to grow and nurture our player community,” said Brian Clayton, General Manager of NCsoft’s Northern California studio. “We are pleased to work with Double Fusion on City of Heroes, as they have demonstrated sensitivity to the needs of our community and fundamentally understand how advertising can bring value to the players when executed gracefully, and in the appropriate context. In addition to allowing any of our players to opt-out if they so choose, their flexible technology will not only allow us to bring brand messages into the game but also provide a fun, new platform for displaying player-created materials.”
The addition of City of Heroes to the Double Fusion network demonstrates the company’s commitment to offering their advertiser and agency partners a wide array of in-game advertising opportunities, to maximizing revenues for its publisher and developer partners and to building a portfolio of top titles among retail PC and console games, massively multiplayer online games, social networks, casual downloadable games, advanced online games and virtual worlds.
About NCsoft Corporation
NCsoft North America is headquartered in Austin, Texas and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Korea-based NCsoft Corporation. NCsoft, with its own development and publishing offices in Texas and California, also works with other NCsoft subsidiaries and third party developers throughout North America to develop and publish innovative online entertainment software products. The company has successfully launched multiple online titles in the last three years and continues to support its franchises, which include Lineage®/Lineage II, City of Heroes/City of Villains, Guild Wars®/Guild Wars Factions®/Guild Wars Nightfall®/Guild Wars: Eye of the North™, Richard Garriott’s Tabula Rasa® and Dungeon Runners™. More information about NCsoft can be found at http://www.plaync.com.
NCsoft, the interlocking NC logo, ArenaNet, Tabula Rasa, PlayNC, Lineage, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Guild Wars, Guild Wars Factions, Guild Wars Nightfall, Guild Wars: Eye of the North, Dungeon Runners and all associated logos and designs are trademarks or registered trademarks of NCsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
About Double Fusion
Double Fusion is the game advertising expert. The company brings together the leading in-game ad serving technology, the broadest network of games across a wide variety of genres, and a sales force that has helped create and evolve the in-game advertising industry. Double Fusion provides marketers and their advertising agencies with the broadest range of in-game, around-game and web-based solutions with which to engage and sell the valuable and hard-to-reach gamer demographics. Double Fusion is privately held and headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Jerusalem, London, and Tokyo. More information on Double Fusion is available at www.doublefusion.com..
Advertisers interested in opportunities within the Double Fusion network; and developers and publishers interested in increasing their per-title revenues through integrated and dynamic ad placement opportunities should visit www.doublefusion.com.
Double Fusion is a registered mark of Double Fusion, Inc.
All trademarks, copyrights, registered marks, brand names, registered brand names, product names, and logos found in this press release are the property of their respective owners, may be registered in certain jurisdictions, and are mentioned in this release for identification purposes only. |
News item on the official site has some pictures of what in-game ads might look like. It actually doesn't look bad at all. And it's something you can opt out of.
|
| 04/03/08 10:02 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
Perceptor II
Posts: 0
Joined: 01/25/2008
Credibility: 0 pts
|
Also on the official site:
| QUOTE | | The Cape Internet Radio will host City of Heroes Sr. Lead Designer Matt “Positron” Miller and NCsoft NorCal Studio Manager and Executive Producer, Brian Clayton for an hour of questions and answers regarding the recent announcement of Optional In-Game Advertisement. |
The time: 5 PM U.S. Pacific (8 PM U.S. Eastern, midnight GMT).
Link to The Cape Internet Radio here.
I'm an incurable altoholic, but most recently I've played as these characters:
Abana (hero, Champion), lvl 36 mag tanker, stone/stone/fit
The Ballplayer Reverend (hero, Champion), lvl 14 nat tanker will/mace
Shrathala (hero, Triumph), lvl 12 mag scrapper, dual/dark
Fat Kat (villain, Pinnacle), lvl 10 mut brute strength/will
Souleymane (hero, Champion), lvl 14 mag defender, dark/psy
Saffron Bow (hero, Triumph), lvl 5 nat blaster, arch/dev
|
| 04/03/08 10:55 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
Phedre_D
GameAmp Staff
Posts: 391
Joined: 05/09/2005
Credibility: 23 pts
|
Thanks for posting! Personally I don't mind the advertising. I actually think it is a spiffy idea. Any idea that will bring in more money to NCSoft is good for the game. In Anarchy Online they had huge advertisement bill boards as well. I thought they were quite funny. It got a bit annoying when they started adding sound advertisement as well. But that was only in the free-to-play version. Anyway, I like it. And I look forward to seeing the cheesy billboard ads.
|
| 04/03/08 11:03 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
robot mind
Posts: 1
Joined: 05/03/2007
Credibility: 0 pts
|
Yes i agree totaly with phe...more money = more issues faster/more stuff...:) yay!
I'm not a altoholic...no really i only have 1000+ toons...thats not..really...never mind.
Ninja Strike!!!
|
| 04/03/08 12:03 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
lani
GameAmp Staff
Posts: 516
Joined: 09/08/2005
Credibility: 28 pts
|
Can't say I see a problem with this, as long as they keep performance hits due to custom textures to a minimum.
I liked them in Anarchy Online, made the world more "real" in some ways. It would be nice if the ads will be contextual or at least in the same style as CoX. In the case of Anarchy Online that isn't always the case.
Should be interesting to follow this. On the one hand the MMOG genre is being taken more seriously by marketing agencies it seems, on the other hand the biggest outlet (WOW) is a fantasy genre game which are downright unsuitable.
How long before the advertisement market clamours for more main-stream Sci-Fi / Current day MMOGs? Or are they already doing so maybe? Stargate Online, The Agency, Anarchy Online (Engine revamp) StarTrek Online. Which of those will feature from launch? My bet is SOE is already implementing it for the Agency.
MMORPG (Roleplaying): Mostly Men Online Role-Playing Girls
MMORPG (Acheivement): Miserable Malcontents Online Rehashing Past Glories
MMORPG (PvP): Macho Men Obviously Really Prefer Griefing
MMORPG (itemization): Misers May Obfuscate Recently Purchased Gold
MMORPG (Social): Virtual Worlds with Virtual Wealth and achievements, but with Real People with Real Feelings.
|
| 04/03/08 12:32 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
Phase_of_Echoes
GameAmp Staff
Posts: 0
Joined: 05/03/2005
Credibility: 0 pts
|
I don't see this effecting me in anyway what so ever. Personally I like all the knock-offs that are in game now. My favorite is Major Flanders Chicken!
|
| 04/03/08 12:52 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
Krav Maga
Posts: 0
Joined: 05/15/2006
Credibility: 0 pts
|
I do not mind the in game advertisements it would actually give a change of scenery.
One thing I have been wanting is the ability for SG's to use prestige to "purchase" ad space for their SG. Like a small amount will get you graffiti on a wall and a large amount a full size billboard or the like.
|
| 04/03/08 13:45 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
RonJ73
GameAmp Staff
Posts: 2
Joined: 01/10/2005
Credibility: 0 pts
|
Also remember in the case of a performance hit, it IS optional. If you notice a decrease in performance, just turn it off.
How funny would it be to see Real Money Transfer sites being advertised though. ;)
City of Heroes/Villains
Onion - L50 - Katana/Super Reflexes/Body Mastery Scrapper
Scotch Bonnet Girl - L50 - Fire Aura/Fire Melee/Pyre Mastery Tanker
Aurora Australis - L41 - Willpower/Energy Melee Tanker
|
| 04/03/08 14:02 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
lani
GameAmp Staff
Posts: 516
Joined: 09/08/2005
Credibility: 28 pts
|
| QUOTE | Also remember in the case of a performance hit, it IS optional. If you notice a decrease in performance, just turn it off.
How funny would it be to see Real Money Transfer sites being advertised though. ;) |
I don't think Opt out means a different client :-)
But yeah, waiting for the first "Buy WOW Gold now!" in downtown Atlas Park.
MMORPG (Roleplaying): Mostly Men Online Role-Playing Girls
MMORPG (Acheivement): Miserable Malcontents Online Rehashing Past Glories
MMORPG (PvP): Macho Men Obviously Really Prefer Griefing
MMORPG (itemization): Misers May Obfuscate Recently Purchased Gold
MMORPG (Social): Virtual Worlds with Virtual Wealth and achievements, but with Real People with Real Feelings.
|
| 04/03/08 14:11 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
Falcon15
GameAmp Staff
Posts: 6
Joined: 09/02/2005
Credibility: 0 pts
|
This may sound a bit cynical, but we all pay to play. The amount of money that has been collected from the players all these years has been very adequate to sustain and help maintain/grow this game. I will be an "Opt-out", unless by opting in I get a discounted rate to play.
***WARNING: ANALOGY TIME***
It's like paying to see a movie in a movie theater and having to watch commercials throughout the movie. I can watch the same movie with adverts on broadcast television with commercials for free, sure it's been edited for time, but I am not paying for it, so cannot complain. Value for money.
My two cents worth of opinion. That and $4.98 will buy you a Latte at Starbucks.
Another thing to consider...could advertising from a company like Double Fusion open doors for malicious software/code? What could this mean to the game servers if some enterprising fool figured a way to hack into a game server through this conduit? Just some food for thought.
"The most skillful sword never leaves it's sheath" - Japanese Proverb
No matter how powerful and mighty you are, a bullet between the eyes will seriously screw up your day.
YIM: tarient
|
| 04/03/08 16:05 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
lani
GameAmp Staff
Posts: 516
Joined: 09/08/2005
Credibility: 28 pts
|
I don't like that analogy, try this one:
It's like going to the next Harry Potter movie and this time getting the choice to watch a version where Harry smokes Marlboro, drinks Diet Pepsi and wears Levis blue jeans, or one where he does not. (Opt-out)
The former type of movie would be prohibited in the EU and I believe isn't officially allowed in the US either.
Double Fusion is all about Product Placement, check their website and follow the link to their Portfolio.
If those were movies, they'd be heavily fined.
But since the defenders of morals everywhere who are behind the laws agains Product Placement are either blissfully unaware of the videogame genre or consider it the work of the devil to begin with, this kind of Product Placement isn't actually covered in the laws, yet.
Anyhoo, I'll be interested to know what the financial consequences are of Opting Out. I don't mind NCSoft doing this. They have obligations to their shareholders, just like everyone else and last year spent an enormous amount of money on a 4 year old MMOG. Prior to that in the last 3 years NCSoft has had an MMOG closed down in 2006 (Road Assault), had the sourcecode to another MMOG stolen (Lineage III) and had two less-than-stellar launches with Dungeon Runners & Tabula Rasa. eXteel seems to be following that trend. They need to show they can still make money other than from Lineage 2 and Guild Wars.
On the security end, I think you don't need to worry.
I know of no way to enter malicious code through an Unreal 2 engine's textures, and those are "open" file types. CoX uses a proprietary system all the way. You won't be clicking on billboards to visit the site of Coca Cola (or phising site) either.
***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***
MMORPG (Roleplaying): Mostly Men Online Role-Playing Girls
MMORPG (Acheivement): Miserable Malcontents Online Rehashing Past Glories
MMORPG (PvP): Macho Men Obviously Really Prefer Griefing
MMORPG (itemization): Misers May Obfuscate Recently Purchased Gold
MMORPG (Social): Virtual Worlds with Virtual Wealth and achievements, but with Real People with Real Feelings.
|
| 04/03/08 17:27 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
Perceptor II
Posts: 0
Joined: 01/25/2008
Credibility: 0 pts
|
| QUOTE | | It's like going to the next Harry Potter movie and this time getting the choice to watch a version where Harry smokes Marlboro. |
Except that NCSoft has specifically stated that ads for alcohol, tobacco and other "mature" content is out as the game is ESRB rated "Teen".
I'm an incurable altoholic, but most recently I've played as these characters:
Abana (hero, Champion), lvl 36 mag tanker, stone/stone/fit
The Ballplayer Reverend (hero, Champion), lvl 14 nat tanker will/mace
Shrathala (hero, Triumph), lvl 12 mag scrapper, dual/dark
Fat Kat (villain, Pinnacle), lvl 10 mut brute strength/will
Souleymane (hero, Champion), lvl 14 mag defender, dark/psy
Saffron Bow (hero, Triumph), lvl 5 nat blaster, arch/dev
|
| 04/03/08 18:41 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
Perceptor II
Posts: 0
Joined: 01/25/2008
Credibility: 0 pts
|
OK, just got done listening to the Cape Radio's interview with the devs about the in-game advertising. Here are my notes:
| QUOTE |
1. Is our private information safe? Double Fusion will not know you outside your IP Address. The IP Address is only for regional advertising.
2. A seperate piece of software will have to be installed, but its computer and bandwidth usage will be negligable.
3. Will there be player ads for Supergroups and such? There will be a lot during testing and still some when the feature goes live.
4. A slippery slope? They wish they knew. They want to make sure it's accepted by the community and that it is immersive and not intrusive or exploitive before they take addtional steps. They do understand player concerns.
5. No plans to link access to any game content to opting in for advertisements.
6. Croatoa will initially be an ad-free zone, at least at first.
7. The plan is for players to be able to opt in and opt out at will.
8. Tests seem to indicate that the bandwidth consumption for this is negligable.
9. They don't know what the ratio will be for advertisements and community generated content, but community content will always be part of this equation. Community content will be subject review just like advertisements to make sure they fit the in-game universe.
10. Revenue will be put directly to development.
11. How often will the ads be changed? The ads are served per client, and you won't be seeing a lot of the same ad over and over again.
12. Wedding pack revenue contributed to getting the villain archetypes fast-tracked into Issue 12. Originally they were slated for Issue 13. This is one example of how extra revenue can improve the game.
13. If you opt-out, NCSoft does lose the revenue, but the bottom line is for the players to play the game the way they want to.
14. The ads will not be clickable. They will only be textures.
15. Ads will be handled graphically just like the billboards are now.
16. The devs interviewed really want to keep the feature opt-in permanently. They specifically sought out a partner that would let them allow players to opt out.
17. More ad space could be made, but be put in logical places. The tram stations were mentioned.
18. No plans to change the loading splash page.
19. Ads will be made to match the zone. For instance, ads in the Rogue Isles will be "dirtied up."
20. No to real money transaction companies. The devs don't want them.
21. Lowering texture quality will lower the quality of the ads.
22. Ads are loaded on zone loads. Ads would change as you exit and re-enter a zone.
23. The textures will be cached on your computer. If you opt out, the ads are not downloaded, period.
24. Players who own real life companies and what to advertise in game should contact Double Fusion.
25. Advertisers will not be allowed to have a say on game content.
26. No interest in promoting games outside the NCSoft family. No mature content that would be inappropriate for the game's ERSB "Teen" rating. Other than that, the devs are open to all kinds of ads.
27. One of the "quality of life" they are trying to get into Issue 12 is to allow players to save one character's preferences and allow them to load them into another character. Opt-in/opt-out for advertisements would obviously be included in this. No promises that it will actually be part of Issue 12, but the devs are trying to get it in.
28. Initially only static images. Animated ads would be very difficult to do.
29. This will be a post-Issue 12 launch. |
I'm an incurable altoholic, but most recently I've played as these characters:
Abana (hero, Champion), lvl 36 mag tanker, stone/stone/fit
The Ballplayer Reverend (hero, Champion), lvl 14 nat tanker will/mace
Shrathala (hero, Triumph), lvl 12 mag scrapper, dual/dark
Fat Kat (villain, Pinnacle), lvl 10 mut brute strength/will
Souleymane (hero, Champion), lvl 14 mag defender, dark/psy
Saffron Bow (hero, Triumph), lvl 5 nat blaster, arch/dev
|
| 04/03/08 20:09 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
smithsguild
Posts: 6
Joined: 10/29/2007
Credibility: 0 pts
|
Personally I'm for it -if- they also cycle in some of the old ads. Hate to think all the old flavor becomes unavailable if you opt in.
"What more could a soul ask than each night to die a little death in their true loves arms..."
Global @Mr.Paul Bunyon
La'Petite Mort *50* necro/dark MM -Liberty server
|
| 04/03/08 22:29 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
KLaw
Posts: 0
Joined: 04/05/2005
Credibility: 0 pts
|
I think it's pretty cool. It looks like they aren't going the way of Battlefield 2142 where they installed something that tracked what sites you've been on and advertise according to that.
Chat handle: @Darth Addy
|
| 04/04/08 00:23 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
Hemlut
Posts: 0
Joined: 06/18/2007
Credibility: 0 pts
|
If the ads are in sync with the world,cool. The cash for the game will improve things,
But if they are off putting or don't fit with the world, I'll be sending them (NC, placement guys and the advertiser) my veiws about it and opting out. If the guy with the ad knows we aren't watching they will go away.
Sidebar - the ad guys need to know bad ads will get flamed all over the web and do more harm than good, so we can only hope they are smart enought plan for this.
|
| 04/04/08 02:32 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
LordStarwolf
Posts: 3
Joined: 08/28/2005
Credibility: 0 pts
|
I don't have any problem at all with this, as long as it doesn't get too intrusive. I think realistic advertising will add to the realism of the game. NCSoft has shown ever since they aquired the game that they are trying to do their best to make us happy so I think we can trust them not to do it wrong, and anything that lets them get the game out faster/better without increasing the game fee is great. Since I pay for four accounts myself right now I really don't want that. And being in the IT industry myself I know how much it costs to develop software. It's not cheap. So as long as they keep bringing the good stuff fast I'm good with it. I won't opt out of it.
Guardian
Avant Guard = Emp/Rad/Psychic Defender Lvl 50 (Dedicated Healer)
Astral Plane = Peacebringer Lvl 50
Spica = Fire/Em/Energy Tank Lvl 50 (Scranker)
Beliskner = Eng/Eng Blaster Lvl 40
Avant Spines = Spines/Regen Scrapper Lvl 39 (AOE King)
Avant Kin = Ill/Kin Controller Lvl 35
BMG = AR/Dev Blaster Lvl 27
Avant Psy = Psychic Blast/Empathy Defender Lvl 20 (Offender)
Avant Def = Kinetics/Energy Blast Defender Lvl 16
Avant Stone = Stone/Storm Controller lvl 15 (Super Controller)
Umbral Plane = Warshade Lvl 14
Triumph
Lord Yu = MA/Regen Scrapper Lvl 24
Avant Psy = Rad/Psy Defender Lvl 14 (Offender)
Lord Starwolf = Sonic/Electrical Blaster Lvl 14 (Blapper)
Protector
T-99 = Ice/Ice Tanker Lvl 20
Electrostun = Electric/EM Blaster Lvl 21 (Sapper)
Starwolf = Katana/Inv Scrapper Lvl 18 (my very first toon, 3 years ago)
Avant Sonic = Sonic/Sonic Defender Lvl 14
Pinnacle
Avant Claws = Claws/Regen Scrapper Lvl 18 (Non-power pool toon)
Champion
Avant Dragon = Fire/Fire Blaster Lvl 20
And many, many, many more....
|
| 04/04/08 06:54 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
Falcon15
GameAmp Staff
Posts: 6
Joined: 09/02/2005
Credibility: 0 pts
|
On further careful consideration, I would have to concur with Lord Starwolf. As long as the ads are not obtrusive, no worries. As it stands now, I and others I know, get kind of burned out with all the advertising you have everywhere. Buses, Taxis, Billboards, on just about every web page, as well as television and radio. Advertising is constant sensory "noise" in the background, whether visual or audible. Like constant background noises, you do not notice it after a while, but you sure know when it stops.
There was a study done on why people like to vacation in Hawaii, and why they feel so rested and at peace. Hawaii is one of four states that have a ban on billboards. The effect is profound. People are not inundated with sensory input when there are few to no billboards around. So, they are mentally more relaxed and able to enjoy the natural beauty around them.
Back on topic - as long as the ads are not obtrusive I will be an opt-in. If ever I feel they are not worth looking at, I can always opt-out. I feel that as a CoX community member , paying my yearly subskription fee, and buying all the optional packs, I have supported my favorite game. I could do no less than to continue supporting the game, as long as the game play experience is not harmed.
"The most skillful sword never leaves it's sheath" - Japanese Proverb
No matter how powerful and mighty you are, a bullet between the eyes will seriously screw up your day.
YIM: tarient
|
| 04/04/08 07:47 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
blackphoenix
Posts: 123
Joined: 09/23/2005
Credibility: 0 pts
|
NO!! IN GAME ADS are EVIL!!!!!!!
Sorry, there just wasn't enough people in this thread arguing to the other side. It was beginning to look a bit lopsided.
So yeah, anyway, I concur with the sentiment of most everyone in this thread. I've had a bit of experience with in game ads in my time playing Burnout Paradise, and as long as the ads fit the world that we're playing in, I don't see any reason why not.
After all, it is quite concievable that Paragon city might have a Circuit City, a McDonalds, or a Burger King there somewhere. I wouldn't doubt that some convenience store somewhere sells Snickers candy bars either.
If it were up to me, I would prefer fake advertising for game world businesses and virtual snacks that add to the artisitic qualities of said game. But, as long as the real world stuff fits with the environment, why not.
|
| 04/04/08 07:56 |
Login to rate this user's post! |
|
|
