Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Entropia Universe brings recruiting app to Facebook]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/entropia-universe-brings-recruiting-app-to-facebook/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/entropia-universe-brings-recruiting-app-to-facebook/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/entropia-universe-brings-recruiting-app-to-facebook/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Entropia Universe - fantasy village
Entropia Universe has always skirted the line between game and advertising scheme, and the latest evidence of this is a new social media program developed by MindArk and Socialtype that aims to reward existing players for recruiting new ones.

MMO recruitment drives are nothing new, but the kicker here is that the potential recruits can experience a slice of Entropia via their Facebook accounts. MindArk is using a software app called Bamboo to connect the MMO and Facebook portions of Entropia. Bamboo "turns your players into a highly-motivated marketing army," according to the app's website. "Bamboo users become ambassadors. They earn points for promoting your game through their social network. Every action is incentivized."

MindArk says that the Entropia atmosphere has been ported to the Facebook app via its UI, graphics, and lore. New users can also add to said lore via their own unique plots.

[Source: MindArk press release]

MassivelyEntropia Universe brings recruiting app to Facebook originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbambooentropiaentropia-facebookentropia-universef2pfacebookfree-to-playmindarkmmo-social-mediasocial-mediasocial-media-integrationsocialtypeWed, 11 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard job listing mentions 'product placement' within its next MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/blizzard-job-listing-mentions-product-placement-within-their-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/blizzard-job-listing-mentions-product-placement-within-their-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/blizzard-job-listing-mentions-product-placement-within-their-n/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Activision Blizzard
When details of Blizzard's upcoming casual MMO, code-named Titan, are incredibly scarce due to the developer's ironclad secrecy, it falls to enterprising fans to ferret out any scraps of information that may exist. One such player on the NeoGAF forums was combing through a Blizzard job posting for a Franchise Development Producer and noted an interesting line that indicated the studio could be mulling over the idea of in-game ads for its next MMO.

The line in question specifies that one of the duties of the position is to "work with major consumer brands to facilitate product placement and licensing within the world of Blizzard Entertainment's next-gen MMO that enhances the gameplay experience." Whether this is a sign that we'll be seeing billboards for Skittles while we raid or that players will be able to get endorsements and decorate their outfits a la NASCAR cars is anyone's guess.

It's important to note that the rest of this position entails a number of efforts to promote Blizzard's "next-gen MMO" outside of the tight-knit gaming sphere, including comics, action figures, and short movies.

MassivelyBlizzard job listing mentions 'product placement' within its next MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-figuresadsadvertisingblizzardbookscasual-mmofranchise-development-producerin-game-adsmoviesnext-gen-mmorumorshort-moviesskittlesspeculationtitanMon, 23 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively mammillary online: Evony hires model to be the... face of the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/massively-mammillary-online-evony-hires-model-to-be-the-face/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/massively-mammillary-online-evony-hires-model-to-be-the-face/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/massively-mammillary-online-evony-hires-model-to-be-the-face/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Evony ad
Quick -- what's missing in your life? No, not your dog; that beast is never coming back and you might as well get used to it. We're talking about Evony's tasteful, classy, and omnipresent chest-centric ads that had absolutely nothing to do with the gameplay itself.

While Evony eventually replaced those ads with ones that showed elements from the actual game, it was only a matter of time before the bosoms of glory returned. To solve the crisis of the irrelevant breasts, the game studio hired a model to portray an in-game character, Eva, in a new series of ads.

According to the press release, Eva was chosen by the game's players to find the right look for the person to represent the game. Eva will be displayed as both a real model and cartoon version. Undoubtedly, this is the high point of civilization as we know it, and everything will go downhill from here.

MassivelyMassively mammillary online: Evony hires model to be the... face of the game originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisingboobsbosomsbosoms-of-glorybreastsbusiness-modelchestacularevaevonyf2pfree-to-playkotaku-worthymodelThu, 10 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GamersFirst teams up with Adknowledge for virtual currency offers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/gamersfirst-teams-up-with-adknowledge-for-virtual-currency-offer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/gamersfirst-teams-up-with-adknowledge-for-virtual-currency-offer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/gamersfirst-teams-up-with-adknowledge-for-virtual-currency-offer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Fallen Earth - casino
Free-to-play gamers seem to have no problems paying real-world money for virtual items in their favorite MMORPGs. GamersFirst hopes that its customers will feel similarly about its new partnership with Adknowledge. Who, or what, is Adknowledge? It's the largest privately owned advertising network on the internet, and it's also the parent company of Super Rewards (and you may remember that name in connection with the infamous "offer wall" faux pas attached to Turbine's Dungeons and Dragons Online MMO).

Adknowledge's AdStation program allows gamers to earn in-game currency by completing extra-game tasks including watching videos, taking surveys, and subscribing to various online services. This generates advertising leads for Adknowledge clients, and a new GamersFirst press release calls it "a great opportunity for us to get our titles in front of their vast global network."

Said titles include APB Reloaded and Fallen Earth, but thus far GamersFirst has not released details on how the games will be affected.

[Source: GamersFirst press release]

MassivelyGamersFirst teams up with Adknowledge for virtual currency offers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adknowledgeadsadstationadvertisingall-points-bulletin-reloadedapb-reloadedbusiness-modelscrimeewwwwwf2pfallen-earthfree-to-playgamersfirstmmo-industryoffer-wallpersonal-informationprivacysci-fisuper-rewardssurveysworst-idea-everMon, 19 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Online sales will dominate the market by 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/online-sales-will-dominate-the-market-by-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/online-sales-will-dominate-the-market-by-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/online-sales-will-dominate-the-market-by-2013/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Steam
If you purchase your video games from a brick and mortar retailer, chances are you will be in the minority in just a couple of years.

GamesIndustry.biz cites a new report that predicts online game sales will become the dominant force in the market by 2013 through individual websites, retailers like Amazon.com, and video game distributors like Steam. A DFC Intelligence analyst noted that boxed game sales already peaked in 2008, and that as physical game sales slowly decline, online sales will pick up at a marked pace. DFC is a research and consulting firm that covers the field of video games.

Last year, online game retailers sold over $19.3 billion worth of digital merchandise -- a figure that's expected to rise to $37.9 billion by 2016. While real-world stores have much to worry about as the market shifts in the direction of online sales, the industry as a whole is expected to continue to substantially increase its growth over the next half-decade. One of the "key drivers" for that growth is PC games.

The analysts also predicted that in-game advertising will increase two-fold in the next few years as advertisers realize the potential for this blossoming market.

MassivelyOnline sales will dominate the market by 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingamazonamazon.comanalysisanalystbrick-and-mortardfc-intelligencegamesindustry.bizin-game-advertisingonline-retailersonline-salesphysical-salessteamTue, 13 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[While waiting to rez, please see this word from our sponsor]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/while-waiting-to-rez-please-see-this-word-from-our-sponsor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/while-waiting-to-rez-please-see-this-word-from-our-sponsor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/while-waiting-to-rez-please-see-this-word-from-our-sponsor/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

AdventureQuest Worlds header
When your character dies in your favorite MMO, have you ever thought, "Gee, I'd sure like to see an ad right about now"? MMO developer Artix believes that death ads are the way to go, as they've introduced special advertising that will show up only when a character dies in their game AdventureQuest Worlds.

According to a recent interview with [a]listdaily, CEO Adam Bohn says that response has been good so far. The game network's 12 to 13 million users are happy with the ads because Artix likes to keep them fun for a younger audience.

Despite the fact that this has been done before in games like Shadowbane, and the deceased Dungeon Runners to a lesser extent, Bohn believes the ads are a good idea that they'll eventually build upon. I think if nothing else, it will make us want to die a whole lot less.

MassivelyWhile waiting to rez, please see this word from our sponsor originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-bohnadventurequest-worldsadvertisingalistdailyartixartix-entertainmentdeath-addeath-penaltyMon, 29 Aug 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GameSamba adding an offer wall]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/gamesamba-adding-an-offer-wall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/gamesamba-adding-an-offer-wall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/gamesamba-adding-an-offer-wall/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The last time we heard the term offer wall around these parts, it was in reference to a Turbine initiative that sparked an outpouring of fan anger centered on Dungeons and Dragons Online. The company ultimately did away with the plan due to concerns over Turbine's third-party partner (Super Rewards) as well as the general shadiness associated with trading a player's personal information.

Today, Realms Online publisher GameSamba has announced its own offer wall, this time in concert with Guppy Media and Peanut Labs. GameSamba's press release says that the new deal "complements [its] existing partnership with Super Rewards, which not only provides free offers but also allows access to over 100 global payment methods."

Super Rewards, Guppy Media, and Peanut Labs are advertising firms that pay GameSamba for leads, in effect exposing GameSamba customers to various third-party products that they might not otherwise be aware of via surveys, special offers, and the like. GameSamba, in turn, gives Sambas (the company's virtual currency) to those gamers who meet certain requirements relating to the third-party advertisers. You can learn more about the arrangement on the GameSamba forums.

MassivelyGameSamba adding an offer wall originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsadvertisingf2pfree-to-playgame-sambagamesambaoffer-wallpersonal-informationplease-take-my-personal-informationrealmsrealms-onlinethird-party-advertisingthird-party-offersMon, 27 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE trailer debuts in selected cinemas before showing of Tron]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/eve-trailer-debuts-in-selected-cinemas-before-showing-of-tron/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/eve-trailer-debuts-in-selected-cinemas-before-showing-of-tron/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/eve-trailer-debuts-in-selected-cinemas-before-showing-of-tron/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Earlier this month, we heard the news that a few selected US cinema theaters would be showing a new EVE Online trailer. On the EVE forum, CCP Manifest published a list of the participating theaters and told players that the trailer would be aired between eight and fifteen minutes before the main movie showing. The new trailer is essentially a re-cut of the impressive and very cinematic Incursion trailer released last month, adapted for the big screen and the general cinema audience.

With Tron's release last week, the EVE trailer has already been seen at several theaters on CCP's list. This is the first time CCP has tried to advertise via cinema, and if things go well, we could see more trailers on the big screen in the near future. This showing is the first of a series of small-scale tests designed to see how effective cinema can be as an advertising venue. If you'd like to see your local theater featured in future test-showings, post its name and location in the thread for CCP's marketing department to look into it.

For those unable to attend one of the participating theaters, the short 30-second cinema trailer has been published as promised on CCP's YouTube page. Skip past the cut to watch the cinema trailer, embedded in high definition.

Continue reading EVE trailer debuts in selected cinemas before showing of Tron

MassivelyEVE trailer debuts in selected cinemas before showing of Tron originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingccpccp-eveccp-gamescinemaeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinemarketingmmo-industrysanshasanshas-nationtheatertrailertrailersvideoMon, 20 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[APB's voice chat feature will contain advertisements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/apbs-voice-chat-feature-will-contain-advertisements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/apbs-voice-chat-feature-will-contain-advertisements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/apbs-voice-chat-feature-will-contain-advertisements/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

With launch day closing in, crime MMO All Points Bulletin has been getting its payment scheme in order. The game's pricing structure was revealed at the end of April, including several flexible pay-per-time and monthly subscription options. In addition, the game will have a currency called "RTW points," which can be used for character customisations or converted into game time. While looking through the payment options in his account management page early this morning, one APB forum poster spied a strange button that set off a few warning bells in his head. Marked "VOIP Premium," the option removes adverts from APB's in-game voice chat for 30, 90 or 180 days in exchange for payment.

This was the first players had heard of adverts being inserted into their voice chat and speculation began to run wild in the game's pre-release forum community. Players feared the worst -- that right in the middle of their game, a radio advert would start playing over their speakers. Community Officer Toxico was quick to address concerns, explaining the exact circumstances under which the ads will be played. For an advert to play, you have to be entering a district and must not have heard an ad for the past three hours. This ensures that they'll never interrupt normal play and won't play in an irritatingly high frequency. While some forum posters are avidly opposing a premium VOIP service, most seem content with the explanation provided and the conditions under which adverts will be played.

[Thanks for the tip, Kip!]

MassivelyAPB's voice chat feature will contain advertisements originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadsadvertadvertisingall-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-gameapb-eaapb-gameea-all-points-bulletinea-apbea-gameselectronic-artselectronic-arts-all-points-bulletinpremiumpremium-servicesRealtime-Worldsvivoxvivox-voice-chatvoicevoice-chatvoipThu, 24 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chris Davis of Gaia Online talks MMO marketing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/chris-davis-of-gaia-online-talks-mmo-marketing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/chris-davis-of-gaia-online-talks-mmo-marketing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/chris-davis-of-gaia-online-talks-mmo-marketing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The MMO industry is an ever-changing, totally unpredictable universe of online games, from hot, massive fully-realized worlds like World of Warcraft or EVE to fun casual games like Farmville or the Agency: Covert Ops. Gaia Online takes a bit of a different approach by mixing a casual gaming and social worlds. We caught up with Chris Davis, a marketer for Gaia who handles sponsorship accounts, at E3 to discuss his game. He has his own unique take on MMOs and brand marketing, and how companies should interact with their potential customers. Chris describes why he believes mixing marketing and gaming is good for both the user and the brand.

Continue reading Chris Davis of Gaia Online talks MMO marketing

MassivelyChris Davis of Gaia Online talks MMO marketing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisementadvertisementsadvertisingalice-in-wonderlandChris-Davise3e3-2010f2pfeaturedfree-to-playgaiagaia-onlinemmo-industrymmo-marketWed, 16 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively introduces premium membership services]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/massively-introduces-premium-membership-services/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/massively-introduces-premium-membership-services/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/massively-introduces-premium-membership-services/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you're reading this now, chances are, you're a fan of Massively.com. We want to make sure your experience here is as deep and customizable as possible. For this reason, some important changes will be coming to Massively starting tomorrow.

With more advertising space and less post text on the front page, your eyes won't be bogged down with confusing layout issues. And with our new Premium Services shop, you get to choose the features you want on the site. Custom content for the next generation of gaming journalism!

These changes promise to bring more exclusive content, more hard-hitting interviews and more chances for you to express yourself through the Massively community. Follow along after the jump for more information on the new Massively.com!

Continue reading Massively introduces premium membership services

MassivelyMassively introduces premium membership services originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbreakingitem-shopmassivelymassively-metapremium-servicesThu, 01 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Avatars blue, Second Life concurrency and transactions rise]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/14/avatars-blue-second-life-concurrency-and-transactions-rise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/14/avatars-blue-second-life-concurrency-and-transactions-rise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/14/avatars-blue-second-life-concurrency-and-transactions-rise/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The Second Life user-concurrency and user-to-user transaction figures took a bit of an unexpected jump this week, rising sharply after a year of relatively little motion. Through 2009, user-concurrency has been on a slight, though not terribly significant decline, while user-to-user transactions remained flat and rather unexciting.

The sudden rise coincided with an advertising campaign by Linden Lab, where James Cameron's Avatar and Second Life were rather strongly linked in a series of banner advertisements run on YouTube and as a part of Linden Lab's affiliate program.

Continue reading Avatars blue, Second Life concurrency and transactions rise

MassivelyAvatars blue, Second Life concurrency and transactions rise originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingaffiliate-marketingbusiness-modelseconomyjames-cameronjames-camerons-avatarlinden-labroleplayingstatisticsworld-metricsyoutubeThu, 14 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Comment spam, lewd advertising, and stolen assets abound for Evony]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/comment-spam-lewd-advertising-and-stolen-assets-abound-for-evo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/comment-spam-lewd-advertising-and-stolen-assets-abound-for-evo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/comment-spam-lewd-advertising-and-stolen-assets-abound-for-evo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you've been on the internet for longer than five minutes then you've probably run into ads for Evony, an online free-to-play browser real-time strategy game. The game is a medieval MMORTS, but you probably wouldn't be able to figure that out from some of their recent advertisements, most of which center around lingerie and women.

The game's unorthodox marketing strategy has been a target of the blogosphere for some time, starting back when they were still called Civony instead of their current title. During that time the company was caught by bloggers for stealing images without permission from other sites and using them for their game's marketing. Since then, the name has changed and new advertising has appeared, including an overuse of blog comment spam.

Interestingly enough, the company has denounced the use of spam amongst their users of the iEvony codes, calling it a "unethical" and "abusive."

The company may have more to worry about than just poor taste in marketing, as many sites are also noting that the game's art assets and writing assets have been ripped from other real-time strategy games. Things such as text from Civilization 4 to the castle sprites from Age of Empires have been found in the game, creating the feeling for some users that this developer, whoever it is, is not entirely on the legitimate side.

MassivelyComment spam, lewd advertising, and stolen assets abound for Evony originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsadvertisingblog-commentscivonycommentsevonylingeriemarketingmmortsplagarismshadyspamwomenMon, 13 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[In-game ad spending to reach over $1 billion by 2014]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/in-game-ad-spending-to-reach-over-1-billion-by-2014/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/in-game-ad-spending-to-reach-over-1-billion-by-2014/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/in-game-ad-spending-to-reach-over-1-billion-by-2014/#commentsFiled under: , ,


In a future where unfathomably large sums of money are spent trying to get you to buy things, only one man can make a difference. We haven't found that man, so until he shows up we're going to buy a new Dell and maybe some Pepsi. We don't know why this urge has struck us -- maybe it has something to do with all those ads we just saw in [INSERT LATEST ACTIVISIONBLIZZARD TITLE HERE].

We know not what fate awaits us in this future, but since everyone will be too busy buying stuff it probably doesn't matter. It's not like the machines will rise up or anything, right?

MassivelyIn-game ad spending to reach over $1 billion by 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 May 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardadvertisingbilliondellin-game-advertisingpepsiscreen-digestterminatorTue, 26 May 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Free Realms TV spot "Ninja" debuts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/14/new-free-realms-tv-spot-ninja-debuts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/14/new-free-realms-tv-spot-ninja-debuts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/14/new-free-realms-tv-spot-ninja-debuts/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Putting aside all arguments of who Free Realms is made for, or what audience might enjoy it, here's something that can we can all agree on -- this new TV spot is definitely for a younger crowd. Seeing MMO ads on TV always reminds us how mainstream our little corner of the gaming scene has become, and for some reason, an ad aimed at kids is doubly so. There's really not a lot more we can say about this one; the video speaks for itself. Check it out after the jump below.

Continue reading New Free Realms TV spot "Ninja" debuts

MassivelyNew Free Realms TV spot "Ninja" debuts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 May 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisingfree-realmssoesony-online-entertainmenttv-spotThu, 14 May 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard nominated for 6 awards at MI6 Conference]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/blizzard-nominated-for-6-awards-at-mi6-conference/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/blizzard-nominated-for-6-awards-at-mi6-conference/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/blizzard-nominated-for-6-awards-at-mi6-conference/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Massively's sister site WoW Insider pointed out some news regarding Blizzard today. WoW Insider's Mike Schramm writes that Blizzard Entertainment seems to have made a big impact on the MI6 Conference, which is focused on the marketing and monetization of games. Blizzard is a nominee in six award categories for the 2009 MI6 Awards, most of them for World of Warcraft:

OUTSTANDING TV OR THEATRICAL AD
Ozzy Osborne - "Prince of Darkness"

OUTSTANDING TV OR THEATRICAL CAMPAIGN
World of Warcraft 2008 "What's your Game?" TV Campaign

BEST WRAPPING - PRODUCT PACKAGING
Wrath of the Lich King Standard Edition

OUTSTANDING OVERALL MARKETING CAMPAIGN
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Launch Campaign

SHARPEST PEN AWARD - BEST COPYWRITING/TV OR THEATRICAL
Ozzy Osborne - "Prince of Darkness"

BEST PRODUCT LOGO DESIGN
Diablo 3 Animated Logo

The MI6 Conference will be held on April 8th in San Francisco.
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyBlizzard nominated for 6 awards at MI6 Conference originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009-mi6-awardsadvertisingblizzardblizzard-entertainmentexpansionsfantasygames-industrymarketingmi6mi6-conferencemmo-industryworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingFri, 03 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Shaking the stigma of "Free-to-Play"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/shaking-the-stigma-of-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/shaking-the-stigma-of-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/shaking-the-stigma-of-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


David Chang from Gamescampus has written a piece for Gamasutra which tackles the stigma that is "free to play" or F2P. Chang's "Opinion: Why We Need To Rebrand Free To Play" addresses the cynicism and perceptions of questionable quality that tends to surface in discussions about free-to-play games.

Chang's piece points out similarities between the F2P business model and Google, although he admits it's not a perfect comparison. Google's service itself is free, but ultimately fuels its revenue streams through monetized services offered. The large userbase who simply wants to use the service for free is vital to the company's business model, and thus there are some parallels to an MMO operating without subscriptions. "In both situations, people receive a valuable service -- free search or a free game experience," says Chang.

Continue reading Shaking the stigma of "Free-to-Play"

MassivelyShaking the stigma of "Free-to-Play" originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbrowserbusiness-modelscasualdavid-changf2pfree-to-playgamasutragamescampusgooglemicrotransactionsmmo-industryopinionstigmasubscriptionsworlds-in-motionThu, 19 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE players get free advertising during live PvP tournament broadcast]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/20/eve-players-get-free-advertising-during-live-pvp-tournament-broa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/20/eve-players-get-free-advertising-during-live-pvp-tournament-broa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/20/eve-players-get-free-advertising-during-live-pvp-tournament-broa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


A popular event in EVE Online is returning this winter: the Alliance PvP Tournament, which kicks off late January, continuing through to final rounds in February. The final rounds of the Alliance PvP Tournament will be broadcast live, which is the basis for the latest announcement from CCP Games. EVE Online dev CCP Fallout has stated there will be free advertising slots for players to use during the live broadcast of the tournament finals. As CCP Fallout says, "Simply put: this is the biggest ad space available for EVE players and yet it will cost you absolutely nothing to submit an advertisement."

We cringe at the thought of some of the video footage that could make it into the live broadcast (while looking forward to it as well), but CCP Games has laid out some general and technical guidelines that should keep the live broadcast relatively clean. Also, they've opened up the use of some of their intellectual property for players to use in producing their adverts -- namely the EVE Online music and sound effects. (Although it must be noted that you actually have to use their music and sound effects, due to copyright issues that would inevitably result from widespread Rick-rolling.)

Continue reading EVE players get free advertising during live PvP tournament broadcast

MassivelyEVE players get free advertising during live PvP tournament broadcast originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingalliance-pvp-tournamentccpccp-falloutccp-gameseveeve-onlineintellectual-propertymmo-industrypvppvp-tournamentsci-fiSat, 20 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard deal with in-game ad firm does not mean ads for WoW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/blizzard-deal-with-in-game-ad-firm-does-not-mean-ads-for-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/blizzard-deal-with-in-game-ad-firm-does-not-mean-ads-for-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/blizzard-deal-with-in-game-ad-firm-does-not-mean-ads-for-wow/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Despite a recent multi-year partnership between Massive Inc and Activision/Blizzard, the in-game advertising firm will not be adding in-game advertising to our favorite games. "Massive understands and respects our stance against advertising that might detract from gameplay or offend our players," stated Blizzard COO Paul Sams.

As this story has circulated throughout the last two days, many players got worried that they would soon see Coke ads in Northrend or a Ford banner on Guitar Hero, but that's just not the case. Massive Inc's focus with Activision and Blizzard will mostly be web-based ads and the Battle.net service, as they team up with video game advertising representation company Intergi to manage these ads. So as the websites will get more annoying, our in-game space is safe... for now.

MassivelyBlizzard deal with in-game ad firm does not mean ads for WoW originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionadvertisingblizzardin-game-advertisingmassive-incmicrosoftpaul-samsworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 04 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Does hype turn you away from new games?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/the-daily-grind-does-hype-turn-you-away-from-new-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/the-daily-grind-does-hype-turn-you-away-from-new-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/the-daily-grind-does-hype-turn-you-away-from-new-games/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


When you hear about a game that promises to be the best thing since World of Warcraft, do you die a little bit inside? When you hear about the newest superpower developer hired by Curt Schilling for his Copernicus project at 38 Studios, do you find yourself screaming at your RSS feed? You may not be alone.

Often times, over-hyping a game can easily become its downfall. Yesterday's The Daily Grind touched on this very subject in regards to one of the most widely-hyped games in recent years: Warhammer Online. While the hype certainly didn't hurt the highly successful launch of WAR, the hype backlash may have come back to sting the game a month after launch, according to some recent polls. So where's that happy medium? Developers need to inform and advertise to get any respectable retail sales figures, but with MMOs it's much more than selling that box. You want to make sure your customers are satisfied with your product for a long time. Tell us some examples of games that you think reached that happy medium between a successful advertising campaign and delivery of promised game features.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Does hype turn you away from new games? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosadvertisinghypetdgthe-daily-grindwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftThu, 06 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea is movin' on up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/24/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-is-movin-on-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/24/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-is-movin-on-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/24/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-is-movin-on-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


In the newest dev diary for Pirates of the Burning Sea, we get quite an update regarding the state of the game as well as what the future may hold. There's word of the PotBS team's recent studio upgrade in Seattle, which will directly influence productivity in the game's development. There's also the addition of new employees and of course the revamp to the avatar combat system that we mentioned last week.

This revamp is the Flying Labs team's largest concern right now, as they say they've been planning to go back and re-examine the sword fighting from day one. Since ship combat got it's own rebuild, the avatar system will go through a similar re-balance to account for the new system. After this revamp is complete, they will focus on new features such as the in-progress skirmish and player-governed ports. This has inspired them to take on a whole new enthusiasm for an aggressive advertising campaign, so you can expect to see much more from PotBS in the near future.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea is movin' on up originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingavatar-combatflying-labspirates-of-the-burning-seapotbsrelocatingseattlesoeFri, 24 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Linden Lab drops advertising licensing (mostly)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/linden-lab-drops-advertising-licensing-mostly/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/linden-lab-drops-advertising-licensing-mostly/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/linden-lab-drops-advertising-licensing-mostly/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Linden Lab's Jack Linden, head of the land team has announced that Linden Lab will not go ahead with previously-announced plans to license network advertisers on the mainland of the virtual environment Second Life.

That doesn't mean that Linden Lab is going to be light on regulation, however -- or that licensing is totally off the menu. There's a whole list of requirements, the violation of any of which may be reported by any Second Life user under the Harassment category and may lead to account sanctions and being stripped of Second Life assets.

Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.

Continue reading Linden Lab drops advertising licensing (mostly)

MassivelyLinden Lab drops advertising licensing (mostly) originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ad-farmsadvertisingcultureeconomyjack-lindenlinden-labopinionsecond-lifevirtual-worldsSat, 13 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Linden Lab to license network advertisers in Second Life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/linden-lab-to-license-network-advertisers-in-second-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/linden-lab-to-license-network-advertisers-in-second-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/linden-lab-to-license-network-advertisers-in-second-life/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Jack Linden has dropped the next shoe on mainland policy changes in Second Life, while we're expecting plenty more shoes, this one at least seems to have been widely welcomed, increasing the overall crack-down on what are known colloquially as ad-farms.

The short form is 'Network advertising (Ad Farming) will no longer be permitted on the Linden Mainland unless you have a written agreement with Linden Lab (essentially meaning a license to advertise)', writes Jack. There's additional explanations and caveats to that, though. The last policy post on ad-farms was certainly considerably deficient and seemed to cause more problems than it solved.

Users who are are operating advertising networks that are infringing this policy have until 1 October 2008 to obtain a license and comply with the terms of that license, or to remove their content. Jack does not say what will occur otherwise, but content-removal and account-sanctions are the safe bet.

Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.

Continue reading Linden Lab to license network advertisers in Second Life

MassivelyLinden Lab to license network advertisers in Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ad-farmsadvertisingcultureeconomyjack-lindenlinden-labsecond-lifevirtual-worldsFri, 05 Sep 2008 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sears uses virtual worlds for back-to-school marketing strategy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/sears-uses-virtual-worlds-for-back-to-school-marketing-strategy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/sears-uses-virtual-worlds-for-back-to-school-marketing-strategy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/sears-uses-virtual-worlds-for-back-to-school-marketing-strategy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Summer vacation is setting fast. Soon school classrooms will fill back up with eager students looking to display their latest duds and focus on buffing their intelligence. Shopping has to ensue before that big first day back, and Sears and coolness don't go together nor is it the likely first shopping choice. That's not preventing their marketing department from attempting to target teens in the back-to-school spending craze. Sears has a new strategy which is to promote their products and brand name through social networks and virtual worlds frequently inhabited by teens and kids.

The new virtual Sears fronts are endless arriving all across the Metaverse. A fashion event will he held in the Sears virtual store in Zwinky's Zwinchester Mall. 3d avatar creator Meez also has Sears B-T-S boutique offering clothing, backgrounds, and animations. Additional promotions will run across Alloy. The Gofish network will be hosting a runway contest in the Cartoon Doll Emporium and also at WeeWorld. Another Sears shop is present in Poptropica and The-N.com. NeoPets has some virtual Sears's goodies in their summer faire event. If that wears you out, Sears wants everyone to lounge around. It's commercial fun for the whole family, well not this blogger. Nonetheless, it's still interesting to see the searing crossover.

[Via Virtual World News]

MassivelySears uses virtual worlds for back-to-school marketing strategy originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingalloyback-to-schoolbrandingcartoon-doll-emporiumcrossovergofishmarketingmarketing-virtual-worldmetaverseneopetsreal-world-virtual-tie-insearssocial-networkingthe-nvirtual-marketsvirtual-worldsvwsweeworldzwinkySun, 20 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nolan Bushnell on the rise of advertising and the casual game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/nolan-bushnell-on-the-rise-of-advertising-and-the-casual-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/nolan-bushnell-on-the-rise-of-advertising-and-the-casual-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/nolan-bushnell-on-the-rise-of-advertising-and-the-casual-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Nolan Bushnell, who bootstrapped the entire video game industry with Computer Space, Pong and the Atari 2600, later went on to found Chuck E. Cheese and several other ventures, has the solution for expanding the size of the gaming market. Casual games, everywhere. And how to pay for them? 30 second ad spots -- commercials, just like the ones on television or before movies. And he can target these ads better than ever. Are ad-supported games the wave of the future? In your MMO of choice five years from now, will a shampoo ad run whenever you ding? And by then, will you even mind? Gamasutra interviews Nolan Bushnell about casual games, targeted advertising, and the death of the hardcore gamer.

MassivelyNolan Bushnell on the rise of advertising and the casual game originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingataricasualchuck-e-cheesecomputer-spacefree-to-playgamasutrainterviewmmo-industrynolan-bushnellponguwinkTue, 08 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Empyrean Age details revealed in EVE developer chat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/empyrean-age-details-revealed-in-eve-developer-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/empyrean-age-details-revealed-in-eve-developer-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/empyrean-age-details-revealed-in-eve-developer-chat/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


MMORPG.com invited a few of the EVE Online staff from CCP Games to participate in a live developer chat this past Sunday. MMORPG.com was kind enough to provide a complete log of the chat, which was hosted by their own Community Manager, Laura 'Taera' Genender. Among the EVE Online devs present were CCP Greyscale (game designer/factional warfare), CCP Ginger (ISD manager/storyline), t0nyG (lead writer), and CCP Wrangler (community manager).

The developer chat was primarily focused on the changes that The Empyrean Age and its factional warfare will bring, but the CCP staff addressed a number of other issues and concerns as well:

Continue reading Empyrean Age details revealed in EVE developer chat

MassivelyEmpyrean Age details revealed in EVE developer chat originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingamarrbountybounty-huntingcaldariccpccp-gamesconcorddevdev-chatempyrean-ageeveeve-onlinefactionfactional-warfaregallentegame-mechanicsminmatarmmorpgpiracypiratepvepvpterritorial-controlterritorytvTue, 03 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online targets Battlestar Galactica fans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/31/eve-online-targets-battlestar-galactica-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/31/eve-online-targets-battlestar-galactica-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/31/eve-online-targets-battlestar-galactica-fans/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

EVE Online has made first contact with a whole new group of sci-fi fans, through some carefully chosen TV advertising. EVE's first TV ads were shown during the most recent Battlestar Galactica episode on the SciFi network. If CCP Games wanted to target the viewers who would be the most receptive to checking out EVE, they didn't go wrong by choosing Galactica fans. The TV ads were an unexpected move, and came as a big surprise to many EVE players. Ethic at Kill Ten Rats said: "My jaw hit the floor while watching the latest episode of Battlestar Galactica on SciFi tonight. There, before my eyes, was a commercial for EVE Online. Amazing. Nice work CCP!"

High visibility TV adverts for an MMO had previously been something only associated with Night Elf mohawks, Shatner, and a company with some rather deep pockets. EVE Online dev CCP Wrangler made a full announcement about the company's leap into prime time advertising.

Continue reading EVE Online targets Battlestar Galactica fans

MassivelyEVE Online targets Battlestar Galactica fans originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 May 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisementadvertisingbattlestar-galacticablizzardbreakingccpccp-gamescommercialeveeve-onlinekill-ten-ratssci-fitelevisiontvwhite-wolfworld-of-warcraftSat, 31 May 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Buy this box for $60 or go to hell]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/buy-this-box-for-60-or-go-to-hell/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/buy-this-box-for-60-or-go-to-hell/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/buy-this-box-for-60-or-go-to-hell/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


"Buy this box for $60 or go to hell, I don't want your money." That's the message on the tunnel vision of boxed game sales that Alex St. John, CEO of WildTangent, is trying to get across to the gaming industry. The dominant business model in PC gaming largely ignores the possibilities of in-game transactions and ad-sponsored gameplay. St. John spoke on the need to pursue new gaming revenue models at the recent ION Game Conference in Seattle and more recently, at the 6th annual Wedbush Morgan Securities Management Access Conference in New York City. Gamasutra followed St. John at both events, where the WildTangent CEO raised some eyebrows when he asserted,"In a few years any business not making money from ads is leaving half their money on the table."

According to St. John, the industry fixation on boxed sales will be the downfall of a number of companies that fail to change their business models and embrace in-game or in-world revenue streams. "There's a wide open opportunity here. Anybody can get into this, and everything the traditional publishers and game companies know about doing business will ensure their failure," he stated at ION.

Continue reading Buy this box for $60 or go to hell

MassivelyBuy this box for $60 or go to hell originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 May 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisementadvertisingalex-st-johnconsoleeconomyfeaturedgamasutrain-game-adsin-game-advertisingionmediamicropaymentmicrotransactionpcrmttelevisionwild-tangentThu, 29 May 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[In-game ad pioneer says in-game ads are a mistake]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/in-game-ad-pioneer-says-in-game-ads-are-a-mistake/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/in-game-ad-pioneer-says-in-game-ads-are-a-mistake/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/in-game-ad-pioneer-says-in-game-ads-are-a-mistake/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As one of the pioneers of in-game advertising, you would think Alex St. John had better things to say about this method of revenue. But the Wild Tangent founder and CEO says that in-game ads are "not a very effective way because you've got to plumb the game, you've got an unproven method of measuring the value of that ad, that unit is not trackable."

As an alternative, St. John states his company's revelation on effective advertising income. Simply give the players the option to see advertising videos in loading screens, thereby granting them free or discounted prices on their gameplay. It follows the same logic as those free forums that say "Click here to remove ads". It boils down to either you pay to support the game, or you sit through a commercial so a big-name company can pay to support the game. Wild Tangent's ad revenues skyrocketed 400 percent in 2007 when they switched over to this method, and Mr. St. John swears by it.

MassivelyIn-game ad pioneer says in-game ads are a mistake originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 May 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingalex-st-johnin-game-adsin-game-advertisingwild-tangentTue, 27 May 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The potential of advertising alliances in virtual worlds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/the-potential-of-advertising-alliances-in-virtual-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/the-potential-of-advertising-alliances-in-virtual-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/the-potential-of-advertising-alliances-in-virtual-worlds/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Forget scenery-blocking billboards and ad-saturated sporting events, the virtual world is the newest venture into successful marketing, according to a recent study by Pepsi and MTV. In this study, Pepsi discovered that users averaged 28-minutes per interaction with Pepsi's presence in Virtual MTV compared to its 30-second interaction in the televised version.

More importantly, the associated advertising is where this method shines the brightest. Over 90% of users said that Pepsi promoted music and artists through the vMTV survey, yet only 30% said the same thing in regards to the traditional televised version. This specialized audience is key to the virtual world's advertising potential with associate programs such as Pepsi advertising through vMTV. It can certainly make for some interesting alliances or potential buy-outs from the major businesses. Monopoly anyone?

MassivelyThe potential of advertising alliances in virtual worlds originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 May 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingmtvpepsivirtual-mtvvirtual-worldsvwWed, 07 May 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The eve of in-game advertising]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/the-eve-of-in-game-advertising/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/the-eve-of-in-game-advertising/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/the-eve-of-in-game-advertising/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


In-game advertising is a touchy subject to most players, but it's becoming an inevitable reality. With the increasingly-high costs of game production, developers need to seek other means of revenue besides the trusty subscription fee from players. This is where the in-game ads come in. It's a way for game companies to harmlessly offset production cost inflation.

Wait, did we say harmlessly?

The truth of the matter is, the majority of players are skeptical on the effectiveness and necessity of in-game ads. They're distracting and need to be tailored for a specific target-market in order to be even halfway believable. For instance, you can't have a Coke ad in World of Warcraft. Actually, any billboard ad would just not work in a fantasy setting. So for this reason, are we going to see an influx (even more) of sci-fi MMOs created for the sole purpose of including in-game advertising?

MassivelyThe eve of in-game advertising originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbillboardin-game-advertisingopinionsci-fisubscriptionSat, 26 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtual World ad agency already at home on Home]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/06/virtual-world-ad-agency-already-at-home-on-home/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/06/virtual-world-ad-agency-already-at-home-on-home/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/06/virtual-world-ad-agency-already-at-home-on-home/#commentsFiled under: , ,


According to a recent report from the Virtual Worlds 2008 conference, Millions of Us, an advertising agency specializing in the production of marketing campaigns in virtual worlds, is already hard at work developing projects for Sony's Playstation 3-based Home. According to Millions of Us president and co-founder Christian Lassonde, "Certainly I think in the future, console manufacturers will get into user-generated content." We weren't aware that advertising for Pontiac was considered user-generated content these days, but we'll give them a free pass because we're probably taking that quote out of context.

In any case, it may be telling that advertisers are getting early access to Sony's anticipated new virtual world while the would-be customers and fanboys are still waiting outside the gate trying to sneak a peak where we can, in the cold. It may also be raining, it's hard to tell. Home is seeming more and more like a transparently corporate tool for selling us on the next big product and less like the free-wheeling virtual wild west we're used to seeing from this category. We're OK with that, at least for now, just let us play the damn thing already!

MassivelyVirtual World ad agency already at home on Home originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisinghomemillions-of-usplaystation-3pontiacps3pshomesonyvirtual-world-newsvirtual-worlds-2008Sun, 06 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[In-game advertising headed to CoX]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/in-game-advertising-headed-to-cox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/in-game-advertising-headed-to-cox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/in-game-advertising-headed-to-cox/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Double Fusion just announced that they will be providing contextual advertising within the City of Heroes universe. The above photos are only samples, as no deals have been struck with individual advertisers yet.

Before your "DOOM Meter" shoots immediately into the red... take a deep breath and relax. First, the sky is not falling. Second, any advertising will be - say it with us now - optional. So really, there is no reason for anyone to go ballistic over this. However, this is the gaming industry. As such NCsoft anticipated an intense reaction. Brian Clayton, General Manager for the NorCal NCsoft studio, simultaneously released a very detailed and reassuring statement to the community regarding this very touchy subject.

This is not an off the cuff decision. In fact, it's something NCsoft has considered since the initial release of City of Heroes way back in 2004.

Continue reading In-game advertising headed to CoX

MassivelyIn-game advertising headed to CoX originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbreakingbreaking-newsbrian-claytoncity-of-heroescity-of-villainsdouble-fusionin-game-advertisingncsoftncsoft-norcaloptionalThu, 03 Apr 2008 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Liverpool Hope University holds open day in Second Life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/30/liverpool-hope-university-holds-open-day-in-second-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/30/liverpool-hope-university-holds-open-day-in-second-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/30/liverpool-hope-university-holds-open-day-in-second-life/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Liver buildingLiverpool, in the UK, has the distinction of having three universities. According to the BBC, Liverpool Hope University, the smallest of the three, recently held an open day wholly within Second Life. Media students spent six months in Second Life building replicas of some of the buildings as well as other elements, such as their ideal student accommodation. Potential students from around the world were then able to interact with student ambassadors for the day. This activity was supported by the head of department and the head of marketing for LHU.

Although LHU will be holding a more traditional open day in June, it is exciting to see the acceptance of Second Life both as a venue in which students can be expected to work, and for such a potentially critical activity as assisting student recruitment by the university's administrators. If you would like to see their work, the Liverpool Hope sim appears to be open to the public now.

MassivelyLiverpool Hope University holds open day in Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingLiverpoolLiverpool-Hope-UniversityMedia-StudentsOpen-DayrecruitmentSecond-Lifesecond-life-placesstudent-buildSun, 30 Mar 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Paramount and Habbo BFF]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/paramount-and-habbo-bff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/paramount-and-habbo-bff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/paramount-and-habbo-bff/#commentsFiled under: ,


In-game advertising is something we've heard a lot about over the last couple of years. Game publishers and advertising companies have fostered close relationships based on the demographics they covet. Though some self-deluded "experts" on the topic like to argue that ads in games actually improve the gameplay experience, it's an extremely precarious rope to walk. The very second the advertising steps over invisible line of bad taste, the player base is liable to rebel.

It's difficult then to tell what to make of this new partnership between Paramount and Habbo, where Habbo players will be able to purchase in-game merchandise branded with new Paramount properties like The Spiderwick Chronicles, Beowulf, and Mean Girls. Now, obviously, the fact that Habbo is more of a social networking game aimed at teens changes the equation a little bit, but people have to actually pay for the privilege of shlocking their in-game advertisements around? I want to say it will never work, but young people always manage to surprise me, so I wouldn't put money on it.

[Via Tech Crunch]

MassivelyParamount and Habbo BFF originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsadvertisingbeowulfhabbomean-girlsparamountthe-spiderwick-chroniclesWed, 30 Jan 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dewmocracy: from Mountain Dew marketing to MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/28/dewmocracy-from-mountain-dew-marketing-to-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/28/dewmocracy-from-mountain-dew-marketing-to-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/28/dewmocracy-from-mountain-dew-marketing-to-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


When it comes to MMOs, we here at Massively see it as our charge to explore every type of game out there, whether it be multi-million dollar blockbuster title in the making like Warhammer Online or a simplistic browser-based game like Dofus. We don't discriminate. Except, as in the course of my warm-up lap around the internet this morning, when I see the term MMO co-opted as a corporate buzzword for "anything online that appeals to the 18-35 male demographic." When I found a story claiming that Mountain Dew's new "Dewmocracy" campaign was part MMO, and a successful one at that, I was skeptical, as you can well imagine. Part of the spirit of the campaign is a story (penned by Oscar winner Forrest Whitaker no less) set in a sort of dystopian future where a man's soda options are enforced at the business end of a policeman's baton. Players are tasked with coming up with the newest flavor of Mountain Dew, which will be put to a national taste test later this year, and presumably free mankind from the long arm of tyranny.

Instead of factions in the tradition sense, you align yourself with whatever new flavor of Mountain Dew you like best. At this stage of the game, most of the preliminary flavor choices have already been made, so it's largely about branding. Using a flash-based interface that is strangely reminiscent of the MUDs of yore, you're tasked with making logos and other branding pieces to be voted on by other players of your faction. This is linked with a number of little mini-games that are derivative even by Webkinz standards. The only really "massive" aspect of the game is the fact that players get to vote on their favorite flavors and advertising materials.

What's perhaps most startling is that, even though this Dewmocracy thing hardly qualifies as an MMO in even the loosest sense of the term, their VP of Marketing has expressed an interest, and here I assure you I am not joking, in "expanding it into a long-term MMO." Pirates of the Unquenchable Thirst? Tabula Cola? World of Dewcraft? The mind reels in horror.

MassivelyDewmocracy: from Mountain Dew marketing to MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsadvertisingbrowser-baseddewmocracymountain-dewMUDsMon, 28 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Upcoming Exteel patch to introduce in-game ads]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/upcoming-exteel-patch-to-introduce-in-game-ads/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/upcoming-exteel-patch-to-introduce-in-game-ads/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/upcoming-exteel-patch-to-introduce-in-game-ads/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Some notes for the next Exteel patch at the official site inform us of what's in store for NCsoft's free mech-battling MMO. The last thing to be mentioned in the short blurb is the inclusion of in-game ads after the patch is live. Players already participate in a microtransaction-based model in order to buy certain upgrades for their Mechanaught, but obviously this wasn't enough of a cash-spinner, so Exteel will be able to take its place in this table soon.

Aside from the ads, there are a few other changes to come with the patch. A new map called Face-Off will be launched, two new Mechanaught sets will be available (one purchased with NCcoins from real money transactions), some changes to Territory Control rewards, weapon balancing, and a super-deformed gameplay option.

MassivelyUpcoming Exteel patch to introduce in-game ads originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingf2pfree-to-playin-game-adsmarketingmechanaughtmicrotransactionnccoinncsoftreal-money-transactionsrmtterritory-controlThu, 24 Jan 2008 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Marketing in virtual worlds: which company gets around the most?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/marketing-in-virtual-worlds-which-company-gets-around-the-most/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/marketing-in-virtual-worlds-which-company-gets-around-the-most/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/marketing-in-virtual-worlds-which-company-gets-around-the-most/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

These days we're becoming used to seeing advertising pop up in all aspects of daily life. A lot of the free games out there are only free because of the deals that have been made with various marketing companies. To get a good overview of the advertising in virtual worlds, Kzero created a table that shows companies and the games they are represented in, with an accompanying write-up.

The study shows that Toyota is the most "adventurous" marketer, shopping themselves out in five different MMOs. I recall that they also had a game available on Xbox Live Arcade until the end of 2007 called Yaris, which was free to download, and thankfully free to delete, as it was nothing more than a giant ad for the launch of the car by the same name. It looks like Toyota is definitely switched on to marketing to the gaming audience. On the games side of things, Second Life and Gaia have the dubious honor of being the home to the most advertising. Clicking on the table above will take you through to the bigger version at Kzero.

[Via Virtual Worlds News]

MassivelyMarketing in virtual worlds: which company gets around the most? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisinggaiain-game-adskzerolinden-labmarketingsltoyotaxblaxbox-live-arcadeyarisThu, 24 Jan 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CES 2008: discussion panel on virtual worlds and the "MMO explosion"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/ces-2008-discussion-panel-on-virtual-worlds-and-the-mmo-explos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/ces-2008-discussion-panel-on-virtual-worlds-and-the-mmo-explos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/ces-2008-discussion-panel-on-virtual-worlds-and-the-mmo-explos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gamasutra has posted a panel discussion covering many different facets of virtual worlds and MMOs in general. The panel consists of several panelists coming from all sorts of companies from AMD to Turbine. Overall the panel discusses many of the issues you always hear about when virtual worlds/MMOs come up. You've got talk of evolution within the industry, in-game advertising, global relevance (aka "how can we conquer the world?"), virtual goods/secondary markets (RMT/item selling) and of course cannibalizing older markets.

The discussion on each piece is mostly similar to what has been said already. There are a few intriuging quotes from some of the panelists throughout. Their conclusion to the discussion happens to be focused on a few aspects, but we found one was more interesting than the rest.

Steve Goldstein from Flagship Studios had this to say, "As we spend the next three or four days talking about margins and monetizing, we shouldn't lose sight of the miraculous industry we're in, where people are selling imaginary gold and building real relationships across the world."

Probably the most prolific statement of the entire discussion, Goldstein manages to bullseye the nail on the head.

MassivelyCES 2008: discussion panel on virtual worlds and the "MMO explosion" originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingamdevolutionflagship-studiosgamasutragold-sellingin-game-adverstisingmmo-industryrmtturbinevirtual-goodsvirtual-worldsMon, 07 Jan 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guardian asks: without sci-fi or fantasy, where would MMOGs go?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/the-guardian-asks-without-sci-fi-or-fantasy-where-would-mmogs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/the-guardian-asks-without-sci-fi-or-fantasy-where-would-mmogs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/the-guardian-asks-without-sci-fi-or-fantasy-where-would-mmogs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Yes it, really really really could happen.UK newspaper The Guardian has a good post up on its gaming blog, asking why fantasy is the dominant genre for MMOGs. And if you -- yes, you -- were to design a MMOG without any fantasy or sci-fi elements, where would it be set and how would it work?

Sadly, the only MMOG I can think of that isn't fantasy or sci-fi is City of Heroes, but that's kind of sci-fi too. There's also WWII Online; about which the less said, the better. Generally, as soon as you take MMOGs to the real world you complicate matters so much it isn't even funny. Where is it set? Are you going to model geographical locations accurately? Will there be product advertising? Everyone wants product advertising. Is that a Dell PC in the corner?

But quite frankly, that's no fun. So what would you design, if fantasy and sci-fi were excluded? For me, 1930's zombie invasion. Who doesn't love zombies? Now imagine if they wore bowler hats.

Continue reading The Guardian asks: without sci-fi or fantasy, where would MMOGs go?

MassivelyThe Guardian asks: without sci-fi or fantasy, where would MMOGs go? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1930s-zombie-invasionadvertisingbowler-hatscity-of-heroescity-of-villainsdell-xpsin-game-advertisingreal-world-mmotaxi-to-victorywwii-onlineThu, 20 Dec 2007 11:30:00 EST