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Obama Advertising In EA Video Games
Politics, there’s hardly any other word that can make me sigh more than it. Radio, television, internet; these are all places where politics rears its ugly head and it’s something I get tired of fairly quickly. At least from the mainstream aspect of things.
When I pick up a video game controller, I can be secure in knowing that it’s one place I’ll be safe from political advertising. Or is it? It has been reported that Obama has launched an ad campaign that will see his ads plastered over a slew of EA titles. The most notable is in Burnout Paradise, where Obama’s ad/face will be featured on many of the billboards in the virtual city. This makes me sad personally because I really like Burnout: Paradise, and I don’t want political advertising making its presence known there.
I’ve been against a lot of in-game advertising since its conception. I know some will say it adds to the ‘immersiveness’ of the games, but do we really play video games to feel more in the real world? I know that when I put a game disc into my system, I’m doing it to become part of something outside the conventions of the real world. In Burnout: Paradise for example, it’s all about driving cars really fast and in some instances pulling off crazy aerial stunts. So when I’m doing 3 aerial flips with my Ferrari looking sports car, do I really want to see Obama’s face and be reminded of what’s happening in the real world?
In game advertising before this latest example was all about selling products. Now its shifted to getting a political message out to the masses. And I’m not talking about in-game politics, but real life politics. Which to me, there’s nothing more sad and depressing than the current political system.
So, I’ve expressed my general feelings towards Obama’s political advertising. Now where does my frustration and anger need to be directed at? Should I completely blame Obama for wanting to get his message out to gamers? Even though he’s mentioned before that people need to get off their couches and stop playing games. Or is it EA who’s profiting off Obama’s big dollars and they’re the ones to blame?
The truth of the matter is that the problem even goes beyond Obama and EA. But to encompass the overlying problems would require more than just one blog post, so let’s keep the focus just on these two. In this situation both are sharing my anger and frustration equally. My main anger towards Obama is the statements he’s made about video gaming in the past, yet he doesn’t mind trying to score some votes through its advertising. EA gets the brunt of my anger because even though Obama paid for the adspace, there had to be someone else out there that was willing to pay equal to what he was offering. Specifically companies without a political agenda.
People who aren’t into video games will probably say I’m over dramatizing the situation. As a gamer who’s been going strong for about 20+ years, I think I have a cause for anger, and concern. Like I mentioned earlier, video games are one of my great escapes from political agendas, and ideas, and basically everything that sucks about the real world (I’ve overused it haven’t I?). So when a media platform that I love and enjoy starts to adopt this kind of advertising, I can’t rightfully sit by and not voice concern.
Ok, I think I’ve went on a rant long enough. For those who think I’m trying to pick on Obama please know that if this were McCain I would be writing the same article with a different name at the beginning.
I saw this article yesterday and had mixed feelings about it. Like you, I tire quickly of the political morass we slog through every couple of years. And I agree that I don’t want to be inundated with advertising while I’m playing (though I have to admit to being only a casual gamer).
On the other hand, I have to hand it to EA because they’ve come up with a brilliant strategy. And, I have to wonder if there is a segment of the market that only this type of advertising can reach. Those who either don’t have network TV and watch everything online (or who do have it and skip all commercials on their Tivo), or those who just don’t see much advertising any other way.
Thanks for the comment Melissa, and any gamer casual or not is welcome here.
I will agree that it’s smart business savvy for video game advertising. 1. It’s just extra money in the bank for publishers/developers. 2. The companies/people that are advertising ensure that people are actually viewing the ads. Because like you said unlike TV, and the internet there’s no turning off ads on a video game.
Hmmm that might be a nice option to include in future games, though I wouldn’t hold me breath for it
I agree with Melissa. I have mixed feelings as well. I don’t like in-game ads, personally. If they’re going to give us ads, then give away the software. Make it one or the other. This is just double-dipping.
For certain games it makes more sense. In a GTA game, I’d rather see either a) unique made-up stores or b) actual real stores, not fakes. It’s annoying to see “THE CAP” clothing stores all around town.
In a different way, though, your comment of wanting to escape hits home with me. In fact, last night I did that very thing. I was feeling overwhelmed with information and controversy, and I went to bed with my DS and played some FFV Advance. It’s a world where none of this crap exists.
But then I think about the number of people that really are totally unaware of what’s going on in the world, and think that maybe it wouldn’t hurt to remind them of reality. As long as not all games become advertising-laden (and I don’t think certain types of games will ever work well that way; can you imagine a Zelda game with ads?), I think I’ll be ok.
Why is my first comment still awaiting moderation??
sorry about that Jim, think the spam filter caught it for some reason
Just a note about Obama’s views towards gamers: People often bring up this topic and they often get it wrong. Obama is not anti-video games. His direct quote was
“We’re going to have to parent better, and turn off the television set, and put the video games away, and instill a sense of excellence in our children, and that’s going to take some time.”
Obviously, that doesn’t apply to any voting aged person, so I don’t think Obama is being hypocritical when he advertises in video games. I also agree with his message. Too many parents let video games and televisions raise their children (key word: children). When I have kids, i’m making sure they get a healthy dose of good ‘ol OUTSIDE
So, he wants kids to stop/play less games, but it’s ok to advertise in the things he wants used less?
That would be like a politician telling people to quit smoking, and slapping his/her political sticker onto a pack.
[...] What’s funny is that using video games in ads like this go even further to contradict his spending of advertising space in video games. So, I guess the message we should take from Obama is that we should be playing less games, and [...]