Posted on Saturday, November 10 2007 @ 2:00 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
Google
announced this week that it's going to expand its advertising imperium to in-game advertising.
"We think this rich environment is a perfect medium to deliver relevant, targeted advertising that ultimately benefits the user, the video game publisher and the advertiser," the Internet colossus said in a written response to an AFP query.
"We are currently in tests to determine the best approach to in-game advertising."
Google, the undisputed king of Internet search advertising, has been using portions of its wealth to expand its realm into newspaper, radio, "smart" phones, and video games.
Google bought in-game advertising firm AdScape for 23 million dollars in February.
Advertising in video games is considered a powerful marketing tool because messages can be tailored to precise demographic groups and players focus intensely on game scenes, remembering what they see there.
A player of a shooter game could be scouring a virtual cafeteria for enemies and find one hiding behind a vending machine emblazoned with soda or candy brands.
Billboards featured along streets in racing games could bear real advertising geared to car lovers.
As video games are played on consoles or computers linked to the Internet, ads can be routinely updated. It is essential, according to game makers, that ads cause no disruption to play.
