Will consoles ever see fully ad-supported games?

[Peench]

In what I consider a bit of a surprise move, EA has announced a new game franchise based on its popular battlefield series: Battlefield Heroes. The catch of this new PC game is that it will be completely free. Yep, EA is releasing a totally free game for the PC.

Apparently there will be front end advertising, NOT the in-game advertising we've seen on Xbox titles like Rainbow Six and Crackdown. Instead these ads will be shown at the beginning of the game, as opposed to during the game. They will also offer items like hats which can be purchased though microtransactions (oh yeah, where are those MS?).

Having already released a FIFA title in Korea, EA is taking in $1million a month in sales. So the business model has already proven itself and EA is looking to expand it a bit.

So is this a last ditch effort by PC gaming creators to revive the PC gaming industry and steal a little thunder from WOW, or is this something that will eventually come to the console world?

[A SpecialFriend]

I'm sure someone will make the plunge eventually. Obviously, 2007 set some record sales numbers, and that has to impress a lot of people, and I believe that one day someone will say, "Hey, why don't we try this too?"

[Spzombie]

I'm sure we'll see more and more of it as time goes on. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it in MMO's such as WoW or the like where advertisers bid to show their products in game. Hopefully it equates into savings for the consumer, such as no monthly fees and such. They still harping on micro transactions? Damn I thought it was dead. There's no way in hell I'm willing to pay real money for digital stuff in a game.

[Twilight]

There was that crappy game "Yaris" for the XBLA that was free. It sucked like a hoover, but it was free. I suspect that certain developers (EA of course) will keep charging full price while pushing the envelope further and further with the in game advertising until sales start to seriously decline.

If you look at a game like Fight Night round 3, you see how they can get away with it. The advertising was everywhere, but it fit in with the game, so it was not obnoxious. Even if the ads bothered you, the game itself was a solid 10 so you could deal with it. Until the games start to suck from it or you have to pause to watch a commercial at the start of each level, I'm not complaining.

[Quo]

There are ads all over Burnout Paradise as well... but as in Fight Night, you won't notice them really. Billboards, sides of buildings, etc., plus the obligatory Gamestop and Bst Buy cars.

I expect to see alot more of that than free games. I bet there will be more free XBLA games. Full games for the console won't be free though... because developers have figured out they can both charge for the game and sell in-game ads as well.

[ZoomZoom71]

I don't think it'll make a big deal if they are in games in the future. I largely ignore the existing ones, much like I do the banner on the left of this page (except when the bikini chick makes an appearance.)

[D_Litch]

I'd love for some games to be cheaper due to in-game advertising(maybe $40?). But I highly doubt anything other than a XBLA could be funded by ads.

[The Milk Man 09]

The Yaris game made me never want to buy, drive, or even be on the same road as one.

[Lord LouDog]

It is happening everywhere they can do it, but if I see Ye Olde Pizza Hut in Fable 2, I will punch babies.

[The Milk Man 09]

Good point Lou Dog in some games such as fable it just wont work because it will take away from the experience but in any game that could be set in the future or at least on the planet earth in present day I think they add to the game as long as there aren't 20 of the same ads right next to each other. If it looks realistic like in crackdown and burnout it makes you feel like you are really there and helps you relate to the game.

[lovekeiiy]

Is it possible to have free games funded by advertising, sure. I don't think we'll see that for quite some time. The model I think we'll see, which I believe seirra is working on, is the core game being free, and microtransactions to purchase additional levels, gears, and what not in the game.

Video games are a big business these days and it's just becoming larger as each day goes by. Thus, the demands on games is greater too. What I think advertising does for games, is give game developers some working capital during developement.

If they were to do something completely free with advertising, I think it'll be something more like Netzero was when it started. Some add banner that you'll see the whole time. Advertiser want to know people are going to see the adds. I'm sure there have been studies on how long people take to learn to ignore the banners.

[ishmaelj1]

I believe that this is an almost definite for the video game world. Already with game from Call of Duty to Forze being plastered with in game ads. I am not convinced that this is bad thing, I just hope that it doesn't start to interfere with the games themselves.

[zombie]

I don't think consoles will, but with Hellgate London and other PC games I don't see why Pepsi, Coke, FOrd GM and etc, don't drop some dough on in game ads.

[Thornes70]

I think it's a 'test phase' moment, and has nothing to do with any supposed PC gaming decline.

It's just a matter of time before we get the same thing as console owners.