In-Game Advertising is NOT COOL!

enversi · #1 10-01-2001, 05:20 PM

This issue has me so riled it I think it deserves it's own topic.

Many of you have already heard about the dissapointing news that OWI has decided to put Sobe dispensers in Munch's Oddysee. I am strongly opposed to this. This kind of advertising ruins the experience of Oddworld by bringing a real world company into a fictional setting, a jarring contrast which would ruin a gamer's immersion in the gameworld.

It is also unfair to us consumers, because we can't choose not to look at the advertising if it's a part of the gameplay. It would be a different story if the advertising was found in the game manual or on the game box, because then we could choose to skip it or ignore it.

I propose we make our opinions known on this issue. If enough fans voice their dissaproval of this advertising method OWI may be motivated to change their tactics. Use this post as a petition, if you show support for my position, post a message of agreement.

Also, we should email OWI with our opinions so that they are aware that this is NOT COOL. Here is the email address of Alf wit... subject line (DearAlf@oddworld.com). Tell him what you think and why you think it. If anyone else has email addresses of other OWI employees, please post them so we can spread the message around.

We have to let Oddworld know that this is not an acceptable way to advertise. There are plenty of other options that are less damaging to the gameworld and our playing experiences.

[ October 01, 2001: Message edited by: enversi ]

freakyLA · #2 10-01-2001, 05:47 PM

What`? There´ll be adverts in the game? What a shit!
HM I dont know email adresses of inhabitants but their phone number.

***Xavier*** · #3 10-01-2001, 06:00 PM

Let's make a petition...

enversi · #4 10-01-2001, 06:43 PM

Here is the e-mail I just sent to Oddworld:

My name is Daniel Rosenberg, I have been a fan of the Oddworld series since I first played Abe's Oddysee. I run an Oddworld fansite called Oddworld Inhabited (http://www.oddworldinhabited.f2s.com). I am writing to voice my opinion on OWI's decision to put Sobe advertising in the upcoming Munch's Oddysee. This decision will ruin the spirit and gameplay of Munch's Oddysee.

When playing Oddworld, part of the fun is being immersed in a fictional world, imagining that Abe, the mudokons, the glukkons, and all the other characters are living beings on a living planet. That bubble of immersion would be burst if you were to juxtapose the fictional with the real, by putting Sobe advertising in the game. The plausibility of your universe depends on the idea that Oddworld is wholly alien, a place that resembles but is completely different than Earth. The satiric qualities of Oddworld depend on this as well. It does no good to make subtle parallels to real world companies, if you blatantly advertise for Sobe at the same time.

In addition, advertising placed in-game is unfair to me the gamer. I can't choose not to look at the Sobe ads if they are a part of the gameplay. I do not buy Oddworld games to find out what drink OWI likes the best, I buy them for the gameplay. Force feeding gamers ads, whether they want to see them or not, is a selfish act.

There are plenty of viable advertising methods alternative to in-game advertising. Advertise on the box, in the game manual, on the cd cover, anywhere where I can choose to look or not, anywhere where it does not impact my belief in the gameworld.

I will not pay for a game that tries to sell me stuff. Until the advertising is removed from gameplay, I will not buy Munch's Oddysee.

Other Oddworld fans are also disheartened by this decision. Read these threads on the Oddworld Forums: http://www.oddworldian.net/oddworldforums/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1& t=000793 http://www.oddworldian.net/oddworldforums/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get _topic&f=1&t=000760

Please take this to heart and rethink your position on this issue.

-Daniel Rosenberg
10/1/01

You may use this letter as a template for your own message. Let em know how you feel about this!!

[ October 01, 2001: Message edited by: enversi ]

Elum · #5 10-01-2001, 06:49 PM

ehem. Let me see how I can put this nicely :

CALM DOWN! BIG DEAL, THERE IS A SOBE MACHINE IN MUNCHES ODDYSEE! ODDWORLD INHABITANTS HAVE BEEN WORKING THEIR ASSES OFF TO PLEASE US, I AM ALL FOR THEM GETTING A LITTLE MORE MONEY. CHILL OUT.

sorry, we all have different opinions.

enversi · #6 10-01-2001, 07:12 PM

Why am I so mad at OWI for putting ads IN the game? Because advertising has so completely infiltrated every form of entertainment in America. There are ads on TV, ads on radio, ads in magazines and comic books, ads at movie theaters, ads at amusement parks, ads are everywhere. One of the last bastions of ad-free entertainment is the video game, a fact that we take for granted everytime we play them.

Would you be happy if there was a 2 minute ad between each level of a game? If the characters tried to sell you stuff during the game? What if that kind of thing was normal?

Now, you may not think what OWI is doing is as extreme as that, but the fact is, it could be. If we LET them put this much advertising in a game now, however small it is, it's a free license to put more and more ads in games in the future.

Sure it's easy to say that it's just one ad now, that it doesn't matter. The point is that it DOES matter, because one ad becomes two, and then we start having longer and longer ad spots, until finally there are commercials.

I say we should stop it even before it starts.

Gluk Schmuck · #7 10-01-2001, 08:21 PM

i doubt they actually will put Sobe in the game, it can't be that bad cos most of us are probably outside the USA so we won't be able to succome to the subliminal messages...

oh yeah, that reminds me i have to try some Sobe when i go to America...hmmm...should be nice...

haha, having said that thay'll probably release it out here...lol...

has anyone see the Sobe vendo being used??? it could just be stuck in there by some bored artists who wanted to fill a few gaps and have it featured in ODDBODD's Oddworld Madnes...

RoN_Rancor · #8 10-01-2001, 09:37 PM

I completely agree with Elum. What's the big deal? Sure I would rather they didn't put sobe in the game, but who cares? Its not like it will have a major affect on the gameplay and fun of MO. Just pretend it is a glukkon product. I don't know about you, but I have never even seen sobe before in real life so it is easy for me to forget it is real. (i live in TN, USA)

[ October 01, 2001: Message edited by: RoN_Rancor ]

nubbins74 · #9 10-02-2001, 12:33 AM

I'm still pissed they soldout to Xbox! If it wasn't for this game being on this system I'd pay no attention to it,but since it is and I love oddworld I have to at least rent it and give it a chance,if I wanted to play a "computer" game I'd play it on my computer,as far as the sobe thing I think its wrong to put it in the game,but then again I don't even know what the hell sobe is.

ODDBODD · #10 10-02-2001, 01:27 AM

OKAY I HAVE SENT OUT A PETITION! I HAVE SENT IT SO FAR TO THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT THE SOBE IN ODDWORLD! I WOULD LIKE THE PERSON WHO GETS IT TO SEND IT TOO AS MANY ODDWORLD FANS AS POSSIBLE AND GET THEM TO SIGN THEIR NAME AT THE BOTTOM, AFTER A WHILE SEND THE EMAIL BACK TO ME OR ENVERSI (ON THE FACT HE BROUGHT IT UP) AND WE WILL SEND IT TO ODDWORLD!