What would Google be without its innovative perspective? While everyone else is simply considering in-game advertising, Google is yet again one (or several) steps ahead.

Sources close to the project reveal that Google has been working on an in-game advertising platform that will actually allow for the game’s characters to introduce the ads themselves. The company has supposedly been working on the idea since 2007. When asked about why they have yet to release it, the source stated:

“I don’t know what’s taking them so long … They could move into this market very quickly, given what they have shown off.”

Some believe that Google is waiting for the market to get bigger, however maybe, just maybe, a few of the big wigs are fans of unobtrusive gaming. Even so, with a predicted market value of $971.3 million by 2011, the love of gaming won’t hold them off forever.

Not sure about the rest of you, but the last thing I want to see happen right before I take someone’s head off, is the character turn to me and say “Hey [username], hold that thought, and have a look at this lovely new product from Tampax.” Yea, not so much.

Source: venturebeat.com

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.

For all the masochistic gamers with a love for PAIN, comes the news that Sony will be adding in game advertisements to its $9.99 PSN title.

In addition, with the PSN’s tracking capabilities, Sony will be able to charge advertisers based on how many people are currently playing the game. This differs from the industries currently running plan to charge based on projected sales figures. In rare form, Sony also releases the price of advertisements, $30 per thousand players.

Furthermore, Sony goes on to announce their partnership with Nielsen Games, an in game advertisement agency who has access to back end Sony proprietary data.

As of now, all PAIN advertisements have been fake or directly related to Sony. That will change in the coming weeks. With no advertisers being disclosed as of yet, Darlene Kindle, director of Sony’s new in-game advertising unit went on to say, “You can imagine people like Lionsgate, who publish Blu-ray movies, getting involved. Media, creative agencies and brands all want to be involved in this program”.

Perhaps the most interesting bit of news here isn’t the PAIN advertisements, but Sony’s commitment to in game ads as a whole. Quotes from product strategy director Gerardo Guzman don’t serve to douse suspicions, “We can’t get inside the game, at least not yet.”

“Advertisers aren’t saying they want Sony players or Xbox players, they want gamers. For this to work it has to be across all platforms, including the PC.” Double Fusion places most of its ads on PCs.

In addition Jonathan Epstein, CEO of Double Fusion, an in game advertisement network based in San Fransisco said to AdWeek, “I hope we can extend this paradigm. Advertisers want to reach game players across all media.” With money to be made, it seems like everyone is hot-to-trot the new business trend of in game advertisements—That is, except us…the gamer. Who cares about us though? Sony, as well as any other publisher worth his salt knows that we will buy the games, in game advertisement or not. Even with the knowledge that the extra revenue won’t be passed on as a savings to us, the end consumer.

via AdWeek Magazine, Destructoid