Comments on: EA In-Game Advertising Abuse: Madden Arcade Ad Flashes Before Every Madden 10 Snap

By: James

James — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:06:47 +0000

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By: Scotty

Scotty — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:08:58 +0000

I agree. The NHL 10 ads are very realistic and I don't mind them with one exception, one time when I played the "OMFG MADDEN ARCADE" advertisement was on the boards, but it was EVERY OTHER ADVERT. That wasn't realistic at all and was distracting, but it only lasted one session, the next time I hopped on the adverts were more mixed.

I agree, I don't mind the Honda adverts either. For example having the highlights brought to you by Honda.

Like you said, I would draw the line on pop-up ads such as the one this article is about. That's just a shameful money grab. But EA does like to test the waters, for example, they started playing around with releasing games in parts called "expansion packs" and that seems to have stayed around.

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 06:51:42 +0000

I just fired up Madden 10 for the PS3 for the first time in weeks and all of the sudden I'm getting Geico ads before the snap. Absolutely annoying. I'm never buying this BS again.

By: Dema

Dema — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:52:55 +0000

You have underestimated EA`s greed, think of Chewbacka and all the other Wookies:
URGHAGROOOMPGH-SHAVE-CREAM-URGHARGH and then shaving off all their hair and tell Han Solo to tell everyone how lovely it is …

By: Speenermiser

Speenermiser — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:00:51 +0000

Isn't this pure greed? I mean – is the gaming industry hurting for money? Even more so, is EA and the Madden franchise? GREED. The $60 they get from everyone isn't enough – they need more money from you. Ass clowns.

By: facebook-11828211

facebook-11828211 — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:43:37 +0000

I'm not completely opposed to in-game ads. NHL 10 does a good job of making it non-intrusive, and it's an amazing game — the ads along the boards (just like in the real game) fit in with the regular hockey experience, and EASHL is “sponsored by Honda” — but I don't mind, because the game is good and everything in unobtrusive.

By: Chad Lakkis

Chad Lakkis — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:33:41 +0000

It seems that we may have got our point across to EA readers. The ad now seems to be gone — though it could just be a time of day omission. I'll monitor this over the next few days to see if it resurfaces.

By: bloqhead

bloqhead — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:19:55 +0000

I have no problem with games doing product placement when it's used realistically. Like in the Skate games for example. There are signs and billboards all over town that update with advertising depending on what's going on at the time. Right now the ads on signage in Skate 2 are for Avatar. I actually like this kind of advertising because it makes the game's world feel more realistic when you're skating around.

A pop-up in your face at every snap is absolutely unacceptable on every level though, especially when you own the game. That's just blatant. TERRIBLE call on EA's part. It really bugs me because I've been playing EA's games since the Road Rash series and since the time they used to be called “Electronic Arts”.

By: DavidGX

DavidGX — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:01:22 +0000

ANY in-game advertisement is too much. It's absolutely retarded. Any games that have in-game ads get bought used by me… if bought at all.

It's sad that greed has come to such a point where I can't even play video games to escape advertisements. Ads have no place in games, whatsoever.

By: Jason Barone

Jason Barone — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:52:20 +0000

Wow, that's absolutely ridiculous. Some friends of mine have PS3/360. I remember watching someone play Tony Hawk for PS3 and I thought that had some serious advertising going on…

You pay $60 and still have to deal with ads. It's bad enough they sneak them in with ads in the background and digital product placement. I guess they want to see how far they can push it.

By: Richard Testani

Richard Testani — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:11:31 +0000

They weren't really ads – they were more like product placement. Game companies are becoming more like content providers (think NBC/Universal) where they distribute content and sell ad space for that content.

And like most industries they are simple there to sell a product, and even more product at the cost of an enjoyable experience. As long as you know you can buy something else from them or third-party they've done their job.

Im actually surprised they dont stop the game for a full screen ad every quarter. Why not?

By: ncr100

ncr100 — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:17:33 +0000

This is why I only play FUTURISTIC SPACE GAMES and the like from EA – in space no one can sell you shave-cream!

By: dreamcastjunkie

dreamcastjunkie — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:36:30 +0000

Actually Crazy Taxi for the Dreamcast was one of the first to include real businesses (advertising) in the map… I think one was Pizza Hut and a few others paid to be in the game.

However, it was subtle and not in your face.

By: Ron Workman

Ron Workman — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:07:50 +0000

or sleep with “women” in a Thai message parlor

By: Chad Lakkis

Chad Lakkis — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:02:01 +0000

lol.

By: Ron Workman

Ron Workman — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:58:16 +0000

this is why I never go to Iceland

By: superd1984

superd1984 — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:39:19 +0000

From what i understand from the ad, sometime in the near future.

By: Chad Lakkis

Chad Lakkis — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:35:42 +0000

But when is it available?

By: superd1984

superd1984 — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:29:17 +0000

MADDEN ARCADE AVAILIBLE NOW!!

By: ChubbyConsole

ChubbyConsole — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:27:22 +0000

There should be some law that does not allow advertisements to be one things that you buy. If you give something away for free, sure, I understand, but if you pay, you should be allowed to play without an ad being thrown in front of your face. I am so sick of this.

I never had a stupid Ad on m Atari, Nintendo, Sega, Dreamcast (awesome system).

This latest trend really saddens and enrages me, as it is making me less likely to play games as I used to. I buy things I neeed, not be cause I see them in Ads.

Someone please write an AdBlock app for gaming consoles, you will be awesome!