I'm not sure if that's true globally, or more US-centric. While there are sponsors, ads never seemed important in the sports I watched.
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EA decided to add full-on commercials in the middle of gameplay in UFC 4 a month after it's release so it wasn't talked about in reviews
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Is there a website specialized in reviewing games 6 months, or 1 year after release ? If not there'd definitely be a place for this. We could have some nice, and less nice surprises.
At least, the big websites ought to revisit their reviews after a while.
The current "review at launch and forget" system (at least on the websites I know) is now obsolete for a lot of games. Imagine being interested in No Man's Sky and reading reviews for it dating back from release. Or games like Ghost Recon Breakpoint, that bombed in reviews and were promptly forgotten, but were then massively improved and would review much more favorably today. Or something more niche like X4 Foundations, where most reviews were, basically, "too buggy for now, will probably be good later", except they never did go back to see how much the game has improved in less than a year. If you look for a review of X4 today, all you'll have are those "meh, too buggy for now" outdated opinions.
At least, the big websites ought to revisit their reviews after a while.
The current "review at launch and forget" system (at least on the websites I know) is now obsolete for a lot of games. Imagine being interested in No Man's Sky and reading reviews for it dating back from release. Or games like Ghost Recon Breakpoint, that bombed in reviews and were promptly forgotten, but were then massively improved and would review much more favorably today. Or something more niche like X4 Foundations, where most reviews were, basically, "too buggy for now, will probably be good later", except they never did go back to see how much the game has improved in less than a year. If you look for a review of X4 today, all you'll have are those "meh, too buggy for now" outdated opinions.
Five years from now: "ads are just a part of video games, why does it matter?"
Ten years from now: "every sports game refuses to turn on unless you purchase a microtransaction, what's the big deal?"
Fifteen years from now: "putting your routing and account numbers into the game is routine, doesn't bother me"
This is such a fantastically written post about this, well said. The "ads" alone, at face value may not deserve massive outcry, but what they represent should.
EDIT:
The Superbowl is a massive exception here. You honestly enjoy commercials in your sports?! One of the reasons I love soccer is the fact that they don't cut away from the game for boring commercials. Honestly, I've never once thought "commercials made this better" while watching sports.
Absolutely fucking right. I can't stand most ads (the exceptions are the ones on really good podcasts, where hosts successfully turn commercials into content), but aside from cutting to replace all content with a shitty ad that plays at an increased volume, pop-ups are the worst of them.
Samsung pulled the same shit with my KS8000: no ads, then suddenly they use the online connectivity to insert an ad into the fucking smart TV app menu. I had to dig deep to find a DNS workaround that got rid of it, but I'm definitely not going to be buying another Samsung TV, it irritated me that much.
EA was always awful, but this is a step away from Kinect-McDonalds-jpeg.
I don't disagree with you in ads within the context of the game not being out of place. But the fact that they switch to a full screen of an add to take advantage of how immersed you are in the game world is a line that shouldn't be crossed. This is reminiscent of subliminal messaging in advertising. I feel like the ad is just long enough to not be categorized as subliminal messaging which is illegal by the way. This is very dangerous territory for the human mind.
Five years from now: Why are subscriptions so popular, why are games now $70?
Ten Years from now: Why is everyone buying digital games, why are games $70 now
Fifteen years from now: Why are people streaming games?
In other words people will never be happy regardless of what's going on. If the ads impede your gameplay then it's a problem.
One second? Okay. Full on my ass.
(Not supporting the practice but this is overblown judging by the video in the OP)
(Not supporting the practice but this is overblown judging by the video in the OP)
I dunno. It seems like this is true for every sport. European ice hockey in some leagues you can't even see the players jerseys it's just all ads.
No game next year, its a biannual series, but they might milk a next gen version.
I almost appreciate the extent to which they prod you with "The Boys", and it's also pasted on the Arena mat. Makes me imagine they didn't exactly get many offers.
I dislike in-game ads as much as the next guy , but what's lost in conversations like this is the fact that development cycles and production costs have greatly expanded over the last few generations, while game prices have been locked at $60 and typically bottom out much faster and much lower. Who doesn't remember paying $80 for SNES and N64 carts (different medium with different costs, I know). Modern games haven't even kept up with inflation, even at the new $69 benchmark. Developers, particularly of these huge games with large licensing and development costs, need to recoup their investment somehow.
I don't fault any developer, even EA, for doing what they think is necessary to create a financial sustainable product. Particularly when the alternative is jacking up game prices to be more in line with other offerings (hell, $60 is what you'd spend to take your family to the movies, or out to dinner, or play a round of golf or two; with a game, you're getting ownership of something that you'll likely spend 30+ hours enjoying). In the same way, I don't blame a consumer for exercising their right to not purchase a game if they're not happy with the product placements. I stopped buying Disney DVDs because of the unskippable previews before movies (actual commercials, unlike the quick splash shown here).
It's so cheesy and myopic to refer to other posters as "bootlickers" and shills because they're not outraged and disgusted by the same thing we've been seeing since Elliot left a trail of Reese's Pieces for E.T. Don't like it, don't buy it. Seems pretty simple.
Just curious, would people be less offended if games cost $70, or $80, or $100 with no ads whatsoever?
I don't fault any developer, even EA, for doing what they think is necessary to create a financial sustainable product. Particularly when the alternative is jacking up game prices to be more in line with other offerings (hell, $60 is what you'd spend to take your family to the movies, or out to dinner, or play a round of golf or two; with a game, you're getting ownership of something that you'll likely spend 30+ hours enjoying). In the same way, I don't blame a consumer for exercising their right to not purchase a game if they're not happy with the product placements. I stopped buying Disney DVDs because of the unskippable previews before movies (actual commercials, unlike the quick splash shown here).
It's so cheesy and myopic to refer to other posters as "bootlickers" and shills because they're not outraged and disgusted by the same thing we've been seeing since Elliot left a trail of Reese's Pieces for E.T. Don't like it, don't buy it. Seems pretty simple.
Just curious, would people be less offended if games cost $70, or $80, or $100 with no ads whatsoever?
Forward-thinking is a rare art, you're wasting your breath.
The companies do it because they know it'll work eventually.
It's not insulin or cancer medication, it's an electronic toy. No one needs it for survival. If publishers overreach, the economy's invisible hand will do its job and consumers will reject the product and spend their discretionary income elsewhere, forcing a backtrack. Consumers share accountability as well.
This kind of thing always irks me, whether it's turning Black Ops 4 into a game that should've been free-to-play AFTER release, or this.
Glad I didn't buy UFC 4 at $59.99.
Glad I didn't buy UFC 4 at $59.99.
I don't mind the brief flash as it cuts camera angles. But when it pops up above the timer, I feel it would be distracting while playing.
edit: but it is really shitty to be adding in stuff like this a few weeks at launch. It's very transparent they withheld it so it wouldn't be in reviews and early impressions
edit: but it is really shitty to be adding in stuff like this a few weeks at launch. It's very transparent they withheld it so it wouldn't be in reviews and early impressions
This is why user reviews are so hated. Players will warn you about bullshit publishers try pulling after release.
Hilarious that all the actual UFC fans are fine with it but yet everyone else is "outraged"! Lol. Don't like it don't buy it, for the rest of us who like UFC, it's not even a thing.
So, having the ad as part of the replay transition is super-tacky.
Everything else? I don't see anything being done here that Football Manager hasn't already done for years, or the likes of Dirt Rally 2.0. Hell, remember the Obama election billboards in the original Burnout Paradise? I think people are claiming this is a new idea, when in reality it's far from new.
Everything else? I don't see anything being done here that Football Manager hasn't already done for years, or the likes of Dirt Rally 2.0. Hell, remember the Obama election billboards in the original Burnout Paradise? I think people are claiming this is a new idea, when in reality it's far from new.
In the way that they're doing that? Yeah I'd say it's nothing. If it was anything more than the literal 1 second it's on the screen I'd be on the train to "fuck this", but it's...nothing. Calling that a commerical is laughable.
This almost feels like complaining about a NASCAR game having sponsors on the cars and ads on the track.
Oh my god did you know that there were Burger King and Doritos designed games last gen! A whole game as a commercial! The horror!!!!
If you so adamantly refuse to defend yourself, the very least you can do is shut up and not ridicule the people who'll do it for you.
I was expecting a commercial being played and the user not being able to skip it
It's a scummy thing to do but you all should know EA doesn't care, they want money and don't care what gets put in
It's a scummy thing to do but you all should know EA doesn't care, they want money and don't care what gets put in
I agree 100% ads suck, but ill take 3 or 4 commercials before I have my favorite teams jersey plastered with ads. Ive always been worried about that coming to the NHL.
So I imagine this is going to become a regular thing and like others have said, probably evolve into video ads, etc.
So $60 + $10 next year for a base games
pervasive gambling mechanics like loot boxes,
chopping a game up and selling it in parts as DLC where it'd once had been all sold together.
season passes
now in game advertising
The big publisher's greed is palpable. It's really sad that none of this ever translates to better working conditions and pay for their employees.
So $60 + $10 next year for a base games
pervasive gambling mechanics like loot boxes,
chopping a game up and selling it in parts as DLC where it'd once had been all sold together.
season passes
now in game advertising
The big publisher's greed is palpable. It's really sad that none of this ever translates to better working conditions and pay for their employees.
It's presented exactly like in the UFC, so I have no problem with it.
I even liked it when some of these games, I think that was still at THQ times, changed the matt logos to new advertising logos, cause that at least gave some variety and let the arena look a little bit different here and then.
Edit:
Oh wow, it even is on the matt, well, sorry folks but I f'n love it.
I even liked it when some of these games, I think that was still at THQ times, changed the matt logos to new advertising logos, cause that at least gave some variety and let the arena look a little bit different here and then.
Edit:
Oh wow, it even is on the matt, well, sorry folks but I f'n love it.
This happens because consumers fucking allow it by still purchasing their product it pisses me off
so a month from now, if i'm still playing ufc 4, will there be a different ad?
(i mean, of course i know the answer to that question)
(i mean, of course i know the answer to that question)
Is that like when you pay to go to a sporting event and there are advertisements all over the stadium?
It'll only get worse as long as people are dumb enough to buy horse armor and not care they're getting constantly blasted by advertisements. Corporations are greedy and will keep pushing until they reach push-back. Until then, they'll continue to do everything they can to make more money regardless of morals and in some cases legality.
I don't understand how this is an issue. Even if it was there at release I wouldn't have had an issue with it. It's a title card that flashes for what, 1-2 seconds?.
The NHL hockey games, the boards are full of ads (as they would be in real life), doesn't bother me there either
The NHL hockey games, the boards are full of ads (as they would be in real life), doesn't bother me there either
This kind of quick "splash screen" ad fits perfectly within the realms of a sports title like UFC. I can see 2K adding in something like this in future WWE titles for PPV events. It's when this kinda shit drops into other types of games that I'd be concerned.
Edit: I remember an old PES game that updated the ad boards at the side of the pitch with patches, this is about as intrusive as that...
Edit: I remember an old PES game that updated the ad boards at the side of the pitch with patches, this is about as intrusive as that...