The way things are going

[azekeil]

I noticed with interest that a computer game I decided to install showed me a disclaimer that the game contains advertising that is downloaded in real time from the internet.

WHAT?!?!

After reading on, it's actually a fairly good system, much as I hate to admit it. The game's advertisers (Massive Incorporated) will download adverts to be displayed as objects in the game. Massive collect statistics on which game you were playing, how long you were playing, what adverts were shown, how big they were on the screen etc, but no personally identifiable information - apart from your IP address. Any information they pass on to advertisers is aggregated.

Well, as long as I don't receive spam, and the 'adverts' aren't out of place for the game, I suppose it could be quite interesting. I'll have to see what it's like.

Have you all also noticed the trend with the recent hollywood blockbuster movies to basically be rather large strategic adverts: I-Robot was a classic example. It happened to be overdone to the point of obviousness I thought. Adverts for Audi, those sneakery things, some soft drink or other etc all featured in the film.

I noticed in Underworld Evolution that the computer monitor they were looking at was a 'Sony'. Funny, the film was made by.. Sony. I did wonder why the scene contained those few extra seconds at the beginning focussing on almost nothing except the back of this monitor with the Sony logo on it...

Anyway, so it would seem the industry's answer to pirates is to bundle advertising in with the product - so even if it gets pirated, the advertisers still get to spread their wares. Sickening to someone like me who HATES being sold to, but I have to admit a shrewd move on the part of the industry.

Just keep the damn things unobtrusive and we'll all get on fine.

Comments

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

God forbid the Tokyo/Bladerunner scenarios.

[omylouse.livejournal.com]

Have you all also noticed the trend with the recent hollywood blockbuster movies to basically be rather large strategic adverts

I am blessed by being oblivious to advertising.... this is due a combination of appalling memory, very little cash & a suspicious mind when people blow their own trumpet too loudly! ...Admittidly though it is predominately the former reason!

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

Well I'm mostly oblivious, except to things I was already thinking about. Mostly though it's specialist things which no one makes exactly what I want anyway.

[gerald_duck]

Much as it pains me to admit it, my favourite product placement in a film thus far was the McDonald's in Fifth Element.

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

I have to say I didn't notice. What does that say?!

[gerald_duck]

I guess it either says that you're impervious to advertising, or that you're so immersed in modern culture that you don't stop to think that a McDonald's appearing in a futuristic film is odd.

I wonder which. (-8

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

I know, I didn't want to contemplate it.. :/

[easternpromise.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I don't notice things like that. I'm hyper-unobservant, unless something is jarringly out of context. "Sony" on a monitor, isn't, so I didn't even notice it. If you'd asked me what brand it was, even straight after it had been on screen, I'd have been like "y'wha'?!"

I must be an advertiser's nightmare. :)

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

Well I'm mostly oblivious, except to things I was already thinking about. Mostly though it's specialist things which no one makes exactly what I want anyway.

So they just irritate the F*** out of me.

[wintrmute.livejournal.com]

I'd be kinda annoyed about that sort of product placement actually. *Especcially* with them doing OOB stuff back to the advertiser for stats.


Advertisements are basically letting other people shit in your memory.

I don't like it on principle.

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

My feelings precisely. My mind is not a communal dumping ground.

[gerald_duck]

Hmm. I'm not sure that analogy quite works. They're not trying to dispose of ideas at you, more to inject them intentionally into your mind.

Actually, have you ever stopped to look at the stuff in the average city dump? It's incredible what people will throw away! And dumpster diving is a traditional black-hat hacker passtime. Letting one's mind be a communal dumping ground could be fascinating, at least for a while: get to see all the thoughts people have had then abandoned. (-8

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

The way I saw the analogy was that I didn't want their shit in my head. It may be ideas to them, but to me it's a waste of time and space, and my memory.

Yeah, I know the benefits of dumps, but I'm not about to turn something I rather treasure into one for some very dubious benefits including idle curiosity...