Monday, September 19th 2011
Game Hacks and Cracks: In-Game Ads Next
The "Scene", self-styled "Robin Hood" hackers of the computer world allegedly fighting for you and me, who first made the no-CD crack and then the cracked DRM, are starting to target the intrusive adverts that are now appearing in today's hottest game titles such as the latest Deus Ex:
That Star Wars ad adds nothing to the gameplay and looks somewhat jarring and out of place there, doesn't it? Ads are generally perceived to be unwanted and annoying by the target audience, so it's not hard to see a gamer's frustration at having to put up with them in a game that they paid good money for. Unfortunately, there's a nasty trend now to sneak in intrusive ads with no warning before you buy the game. This is likely to alienate a significant percentage of people and reduce their future game spending with that software house, so the strategy could backfire. However, the problem with ads, is that they're integrated into the story and gameplay, so unfortunately, it may not be easy or possible to just exorcise them like you can with DRM, without leaving a big hole. From now on, this reporter will most certainly be checking game reviews and forums carefully for the presence of these ads and their intrusiveness, before purchase.
If you'd like to know more about this, there's an interesting and detailed article over at TechCrunch.
Source:
TechCrunch
51 Comments on Game Hacks and Cracks: In-Game Ads Next
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oh wait...
:D
If anything the act on a large scale of dodging ads would just be the consumers speaking out by action against corporations looking to squeeze the last few dimes they can out of the public. They obviously have little concern of bothering the public on a massive scale by injecting ads into one of the few private experiences the public has left.
But with one important rule. I want the game to be cheaper if it includes such ads. Because if it's not, we don't get anything out of this deal, but publishers or developers will generate some cash from all this. Or for example with DLC's. If you enable ads you can get DLC for free. If you don't, you can pay some price for a DLC and have it without ads. This would be fair enough and well placed business practice.
then even if you block/remove the ads, it may pause anyway because the game was coded that way.
its just not a good idea.
Only cracking
People need to stop jumping to conclusions on how the ads work, and actually look at how they work already. They aren't stopping the game in the middle just to play a movie advertisement, they are sticking a little ad down in the corner on a loading screen that is already supposed to be there. They aren't artificially increasing load times so we have to see that ads. This isn't Youtube.
Corporate America says they should have the right to make money at every possible opportunity. I say they should stop being a bunch of scummy dickbags and have some GD respect for themselves. Want to make more money? Make another game, and make it just as good (if not better) than this one.
If enough people say Average games with 100 milion lines of code (just a example) and a playtime for first round is 12 hours and averagely cost $65. Then this game of the same specifications will need to cost XX less to make up for the ad placements, if not, we need to have a CTJ meeting with the dev and some class action lawyers.
I agree with Mussels, I buy the game, then have to pay for a internet connection to download ads I will be forced to watch for X or XX number of seconds? There is a reason that you can skip or fast forward past the ads in movies, years ago when Betamax and VHS were new these same assholes tried to make them illegal, as you COULD fast forward past the ads. The supreme court ruled that was legal, and allowed under fair use. The same precedent applies (at least in the US) today. If you have PAID for something, you are legally allowed to skip past the parts of it you don't want.
This could also be likened to an ad in a magazine or book. You are not legally prevented from skipping them, tearing them out, or reading the last few pages and then the rest. You do not have the right to reproduce or sell copies you make, but you may make the changes you desire, with the only recourse is the originator does not have to support or warranty said product.
Lameness has just entered a whole new level. pathetic..
One thing's for certain, say if I was at my internet usage limit and their little ad pushed me over it and cost me money? They haven't got the right to make my computer do what they want. I pay for the right to use the game code, how my computer chooses to execute it is entirely my buisness, they can't stop me from putting a piece of black cardboard over that area of the screen or editing the hosts file can they?