Advertising overload: Difference between revisions

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===Traditional Gaming===

While not on par with its Mobile gaming counterpart, traditional video games have also been experiencing this heavy increase in advertising~~, albeit, mostly towards encouraging consumers to purchase products from the game's storefront~~. This has especially been seen and documented from titles such as Call of Duty and Fortnite. The home screen and launch screen experience for these games often aim to direct players toward the storefront, encouraging them to purchase whatever low-cost microtransactions are being promoted that day. [needs citation]

While not on par with its Mobile gaming counterpart, traditional video games have also been experiencing this heavy increase in advertising. This has especially been seen and documented from titles such as Call of Duty and Fortnite. The home screen and launch screen experience for these games often aim to direct players toward the storefront, encouraging them to purchase whatever low-cost microtransactions are being promoted that day. [needs citation]

[Insert screenshots from Call of Duty and Fortnite]

Additionally, [[Activision Blizzard]] has a dedicated advertising division for companies to advertise their products inside their games.<ref>https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/</ref> [[Epic Games]] has done a similar thing.<ref>https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/</ref><ref>https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/</ref> It is expected that legitimate ads may be progressively more pervasive within the media that users pay for.<ref>https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-game_advertising</ref>

Additionally, [[Activision Blizzard]] has a dedicated advertising division for companies to advertise their products inside their games.<ref>https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/</ref> [[Epic Games]] has done a similar thing.<ref>https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/</ref><ref>https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/</ref> It is expected that legitimate ads may be progressively more pervasive within the media that users pay for.<ref>https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-game_advertising</ref> Advertising agencies in general are also trying to integrate billboard ads for legitimate products inside games, such as Trackmania.<ref>https://www.adexchanger.com/gaming/nbcu-adds-in-game-ads-to-its-sales-roster-through-partnership-with-anzu/</ref>

[insert Anzu-NBCU-partership-1024x490.jpg here once the image editor is working again]

Additionally, some platforms have gone so far as to send users notifications explicitly promoting these new products available for purchase within the game.<ref>https://exputer.com/news/games/ubisoft-technical-error-in-game-ad/</ref> Most have kept these notifications in-game,<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandTheftAutoV/comments/l3xthb/how_to_get_rid_of_gta_online_ads_on_loading/</ref> but some have been reported to leave notification pop-ups directly on users' devices.<ref>https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/204580579/why-am-i-constantly-having-game-app-ads-popping-up-even-when-i-m-not-playing-games?hl=en</ref><ref>https://www.amazonforum.com/s/question/0D56Q0000CLnjCLSQZ/game-ads-keep-popping-up-every-1530-seconds</ref> It is entirely plausible that these marketplace advertisements will increase in popularity from publishers as time goes on.

==== Advergaming ====

Further reading: [[Advergames]]

While not as popular as it once was, companies would pay developers to work on games that exist solely to advertise a product, such as McDonald's McWorld, which also advertised other products inside the game.<ref>https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/</ref> Sometimes these games would also introduce additional anticonsumer practices, often to the detriment of young kids.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nerFPG-PEQ</ref> Many of these games were made as shovelware as well, so many of these games are often not meant for an extended period of time to be accessible. Older advergames often only sold for a short period, only up to a few years at best, so if a game was actually good, there is a problem of [[FOMO]], this has been seen with popular titles such as Pepsiman on the PS1 or Cool Spot on the Sega Genesis. In the 2000s, these games often preferred accessing servers, mostly to encourage serving additional ads. Many of these would not last long, and these products people invest into are just taken away from them, such as ToonTown<ref>https://www.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/gaming-gadgets/closing-toontown/index.html</ref> or Club Penguin.<ref>https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/what-the-end-of-disneys-mmo-club-penguin-was-like-inside-the-game.html</ref>

In the modern day, Advergaming has largely preferred existing metaverses, such as Roblox<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/games/article/2024/jul/13/advergames-how-games-platform-roblox-became-a-corporate-marketing-playground</ref><ref>https://time.com/6985642/ikea-hiring-workers-roblox-game/</ref> or the literal Metaverse.<ref>https://www.localogy.com/2022/06/is-dining-in-the-metaverse-real-brands-seem-to-think-so/</ref> These too, have brought controversy<ref>https://www.polygon.com/23035640/roblox-ads-deceptive-ftc-complaint</ref> and can be seen as anti-consumer.

===Mobile gaming===

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In response to these reports, a YouTube spokesperson confirmed that Premium members should not see either pre-roll or mid-roll ads. They further stated that if subscribers do, they should reach out to support immediately. YouTube also said that Premium members may have access to different rewards with trusted partners, which they outline on their benefits page, but those shouldn't show up as ads within the video itself.<ref>https://9to5google.com/2024/11/13/youtube-premium-ads-statement/</ref> A fix for this is also shown in [https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/why-youtube-premium-users-may-still-see-ads/story this guide].

==== Youtube influencer marketing ====

====Youtube influencer marketing====

Influencer marketing on YouTube is a highly common practice that manifests in several forms. The most frequent format is '''sponsored videos''', where influencers create content entirely focused on a specific product or service. Another widely used format is '''product placements''', where influencers casually integrate a product into their regular videos. However, these can sometimes be the most frustrating for viewers, particularly when the sponsored product has little to no connection to the video’s topic and is marketed in a misleading manner. For example, VPN services promoted by influencers are often claimed to guarantee complete privacy and no data collection while browsing the web, which can feel deceptive if not properly substantiated. Lastly, '''shoutouts and affiliate links''' represent a subtle yet effective method for influencers to promote products. In this case, the influencer briefly mentions a product or service and encourages viewers to explore it further, often including a link in the description or a discount code.

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 ===Traditional Gaming===
-While not on par with its Mobile gaming counterpart, traditional video games have also been experiencing this heavy increase in advertising, albeit, mostly towards encouraging consumers to purchase products from the game's storefront. This has especially been seen and documented from titles such as Call of Duty and Fortnite. The home screen and launch screen experience for these games often aim to direct players toward the storefront, encouraging them to purchase whatever low-cost microtransactions are being promoted that day. [needs citation]
+While not on par with its Mobile gaming counterpart, traditional video games have also been experiencing this heavy increase in advertising. This has especially been seen and documented from titles such as Call of Duty and Fortnite. The home screen and launch screen experience for these games often aim to direct players toward the storefront, encouraging them to purchase whatever low-cost microtransactions are being promoted that day. [needs citation]
 [Insert screenshots from Call of Duty and Fortnite]
-Additionally, [[Activision Blizzard]] has a dedicated advertising division for companies to advertise their products inside their games.<ref>https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/</ref> [[Epic Games]] has done a similar thing.<ref>https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/</ref><ref>https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/</ref> It is expected that legitimate ads may be progressively more pervasive within the media that users pay for.<ref>https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-game_advertising</ref>
+Additionally, [[Activision Blizzard]] has a dedicated advertising division for companies to advertise their products inside their games.<ref>https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/</ref> [[Epic Games]] has done a similar thing.<ref>https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/</ref><ref>https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/</ref> It is expected that legitimate ads may be progressively more pervasive within the media that users pay for.<ref>https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-game_advertising</ref> Advertising agencies in general are also trying to integrate billboard ads for legitimate products inside games, such as Trackmania.<ref>https://www.adexchanger.com/gaming/nbcu-adds-in-game-ads-to-its-sales-roster-through-partnership-with-anzu/</ref>
+[insert Anzu-NBCU-partership-1024x490.jpg here once the image editor is working again]
 Additionally, some platforms have gone so far as to send users notifications explicitly promoting these new products available for purchase within the game.<ref>https://exputer.com/news/games/ubisoft-technical-error-in-game-ad/</ref> Most have kept these notifications in-game,<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandTheftAutoV/comments/l3xthb/how_to_get_rid_of_gta_online_ads_on_loading/</ref><!-- There isn't a whole lot of documentation on everything advertised in GTAO, but when I used to play it, I remembered it often trying to encourage me to buy Shark Cards. --> but some have been reported to leave notification pop-ups directly on users' devices.<ref>https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/204580579/why-am-i-constantly-having-game-app-ads-popping-up-even-when-i-m-not-playing-games?hl=en</ref><ref>https://www.amazonforum.com/s/question/0D56Q0000CLnjCLSQZ/game-ads-keep-popping-up-every-1530-seconds</ref> It is entirely plausible that these marketplace advertisements will increase in popularity from publishers as time goes on.
+==== Advergaming ====
+ Further reading: [[Advergames]]
+While not as popular as it once was, companies would pay developers to work on games that exist solely to advertise a product, such as McDonald's McWorld, which also advertised other products inside the game.<ref>https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/</ref> Sometimes these games would also introduce additional anticonsumer practices, often to the detriment of young kids.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nerFPG-PEQ</ref> <!-- Okay, I actually think McWorld deserves a bit of an article here lol - JamesTDG -->Many of these games were made as shovelware as well, so many of these games are often not meant for an extended period of time to be accessible. Older advergames often only sold for a short period, only up to a few years at best, so if a game was actually good, there is a problem of [[FOMO]], this has been seen with popular titles such as Pepsiman on the PS1 or Cool Spot on the Sega Genesis. In the 2000s, these games often preferred accessing servers, mostly to encourage serving additional ads. Many of these would not last long, and these products people invest into are just taken away from them, such as ToonTown<ref>https://www.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/gaming-gadgets/closing-toontown/index.html</ref> or Club Penguin.<ref>https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/what-the-end-of-disneys-mmo-club-penguin-was-like-inside-the-game.html</ref>
+In the modern day, Advergaming has largely preferred existing metaverses, such as Roblox<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/games/article/2024/jul/13/advergames-how-games-platform-roblox-became-a-corporate-marketing-playground</ref><ref>https://time.com/6985642/ikea-hiring-workers-roblox-game/</ref> or the literal Metaverse.<ref>https://www.localogy.com/2022/06/is-dining-in-the-metaverse-real-brands-seem-to-think-so/</ref> These too, have brought controversy<ref>https://www.polygon.com/23035640/roblox-ads-deceptive-ftc-complaint</ref> and can be seen as anti-consumer.
 ===Mobile gaming===
@@ Line 124: / Line 132: @@
 In response to these reports, a YouTube spokesperson confirmed that Premium members should not see either pre-roll or mid-roll ads. They further stated that if subscribers do, they should reach out to support immediately. YouTube also said that Premium members may have access to different rewards with trusted partners, which they outline on their benefits page, but those shouldn't show up as ads within the video itself.<ref>https://9to5google.com/2024/11/13/youtube-premium-ads-statement/</ref> A fix for this is also shown in [https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/why-youtube-premium-users-may-still-see-ads/story this guide].
-==== Youtube influencer marketing ====
+====Youtube influencer marketing====
 Influencer marketing on YouTube is a highly common practice that manifests in several forms. The most frequent format is '''sponsored videos''', where influencers create content entirely focused on a specific product or service. Another widely used format is '''product placements''', where influencers casually integrate a product into their regular videos. However, these can sometimes be the most frustrating for viewers, particularly when the sponsored product has little to no connection to the video’s topic and is marketed in a misleading manner. For example, VPN services promoted by influencers are often claimed to guarantee complete privacy and no data collection while browsing the web, which can feel deceptive if not properly substantiated. Lastly, '''shoutouts and affiliate links''' represent a subtle yet effective method for influencers to promote products. In this case, the influencer briefly mentions a product or service and encourages viewers to explore it further, often including a link in the description or a discount code.