After recently stating that no additional price cuts were planned for the PlayStation 3 console, Sony has announced today that the company will be placing virtual ads inside their games to help offset the loss they take with each console sale.

A company spokesperson explained the benefits (for advertisers):

“Various game titles are played by fans who like certain things, which can offer opportunities for targeted ads … Online games allow greater flexibility for advertisers as to when, where and how long to advertise …”

In other words, gamers fork over cash and advertisers are served up a nearly perfect match for their product each and every time. Blasting away at zombies? Take a break and head on over to the nearest theater to check out “Politically Correct Zombies 4″.

Today’s news should really come as no surprise, as the in-game advertising model is nothing new, and Sony themselves openly discussed their intent to plaster ads all over their PlayStation home service months ago.

Is this an effort to keep costs down? An effort to make back what has been lost? Or is this simply an example of a corporation seizing an opportunity to profit in a connectivity driven gaming market?

As sad as it is, I firmly believe that the day will come where every game capable of connecting to the internet will offer some form of in-game advertising. Gaming for so long has been a means to escape from everything that is the real world, and it seems that we may not be able to enjoy that  much longer.

Maybe Sony will consider a change to their slogan. I suggest: “Live in your world. Succumb to advertisements in ours”. Just a thought.

Tags: greed, In-game-advertising, need, PSN

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