Not sure what I think of this...

[hkellick]

I'm not a big fan of ads and product placement. It's truly scary to me to realize, actually LOOK and see that.. Little Nemo's drinking a Coke and the Superbowl Football has Bud Light references on it (OK, not YET, but... all these things are possible in today's system).

But ads in video games?

it started with Roller Coaster Tycoon 3, which I stopped played a while back. The game included numerous billboard items, most of which get their information by logging online, going onto a site and then placing ads, actual ads for stuff.
That was.. kinda weird and I avoided it.

I just hoped onto The Sims 2 Site, and.. here's more product placement. You can download the Ford Mustang GT which is like "Hey! New Car! new Content! Wooooo!" But... it's an actual car, product placement.

And.. I'm not sure how i feel about ACTUAL content in a video game like The Sims 2.

What's your thoughts?

Comments

[kiwiria.livejournal.com]

I never notice product placement. Never. We'll be watching a movie or a TV show and Lars will go "I wonder what Nokia/Dell/Google/Whoever paid for that!" and my only reply would be "What?" I don't notice it - at all.

So for me it wouldn't be a problem, because I probably wouldn't notice anyway, but I do understand your reservations, and I think that in a video game that takes place in a mostly made up world ought only use made up brands.

[paradisacorbasi.livejournal.com]

I notice it, but if it's done right, it doesn't bother me.

I mean, you probably have a favourite brand of soda, deodorant, snack food.

I think it's realistic that people in movies do too. So if they're drinking a Pepsi, I know it's product placement because it's not a Cola-Cola or whatever, and it doesn't bother me because real people drink products with names we recognize.

And Sims are quasi-realistic people; they want cars that are cool, just like real people do.

[sskipstress.livejournal.com]

If it helps keep the cost to me down, I can put up with a lot of advertising. Can't wait until Metro tunnels are all full of ads.

[tiamat-the-red.livejournal.com]

It bothers me. Isn't advertizing ubiquitous enough? For example, have you seen Casino Royale? Because oh BOY did Sony ever pay a fortune to those guys. *Shiver*

I guess it bothers me that our culture is so consumer driven and so the advertizing that promotes that also offends.

[peachtess.livejournal.com]

I remember back in the days of Sims 1 with the city businesses you could run. The different food vendors, the logos, and design features that the community itself made. I remember this one site that had a Pizza Hut theme you could download for your city. There was another site that had Coke and Pepsi soda machines. The fans are making the content without taking a dime of ad money. So I really can't blame Maxis for taking the money and making free downloads for people to choose to download.

What I would have an issue with is if that stuff showed up in an expansion or a Stuff package. I don't want to have to pay for ad placement items.

Personally I find the made-up brands more amusing. Llama Cola anyone? ^_^