Gamespot's "Most Despicable Product Placement"

I'm a racing nut. REAL racing, as in around racetracks. I expect advertising there, since it's part of the sport. However, when I play other racing games, parts manufacturers aside, there is no excuse for advertising.

Which makes "Need for Speed Underground 2" all the more loathsome. The product placement in the game is horrible. Game prices continue to creep upward, while the companies are obviously making more money from more advertising. In NFSU2, you have a well known Electronics store, a well known cellphone service, and a well known fast food joint. (I won't give any of the buggers free advertising.)

I can't be alone in getting sick of paying $50 for an advertising laden game. As Gamespot says, "either pass the savings onto the consumer, or reduce the amount of advertising."