Marketing formula determines 'hottest' video games
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Dec 6th 2006 at 9:55PM }
Braving deadly exposure to fan-infested forums and chat rooms, market researcher BrandIntel recently embarked on journey throughout the many tubes of the internet in order to determine the most popular new and upcoming video games. Using a "proprietary formula", their intimate research has resulted in a list of games that includes The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Gears of War, Halo 3 and Assassin's Creed. You may take a moment to let out an earth-shattering gasp.The more interesting part of the Advertising Age article looks at the marketing efforts behind each of the games, as well as any in-game advertising used. Only three out of the ten chosen games feature in-game marketing, and the ones that do are sports titles. Amusingly, it's predicted that Assassin's Creed will contain nothing of the sort, what with it being "set in 1191 during the Third Crusade, so it's unlikely present-day marketers could find a logical connection." If there's anything to be said, it's that present-day marketers should never be underestimated. Assuming that they would even need a logical connection is likely a mistake -- we see no reason why Burger King couldn't accidentally be flung back in time, thus providing Altair with a new type of mission. Hunger assassination!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tom Hayden @ Dec 6th 2006 10:15PM
AdAge is garbage.
Psaakyrn @ Dec 7th 2006 11:52AM
If you can't find ways to insert present-day brands into games about the past... you aren't trying hard enough.
Example: Burger king: a random foodstuff stall selling suspicious looking "meat between bread" and coincidently having a BK-ish looking logo on a plank?
Nike: a horse with the same name, and a unique birthmark?
Nvidia: an ecentric alchemist which sells "hallucinatory" drugs that improves your performance?
I'm sure there's at least some way to advertise anything in any situation, as long as you are willing to use metaphors.
JCollum @ Dec 6th 2006 10:49PM
I'm gonna start a company called Trebuchet's R Us just so I can be the only person to have in game advertising in AC.
ogvor @ Dec 7th 2006 11:51AM
///Potential Spoiler///
I read that 10% of Assassin's Creed takes place in present dayso acutally advertising of the cliched "billboards" type is very possible.
mo @ Dec 7th 2006 2:21AM
xbox: halo 3
playstation: metal gear solid
nintendo: super smash brothers
THOSE GAMES SELL CONSOLES
not hype, not motionsensing, not grahices blur ray or hddvd
those three series have determined half the people who bought there consoles and why
Axel @ Dec 7th 2006 4:33AM
Well, unless if badass looking cloaks become a new fashion trend, I don't see how either.
LoopyChew @ Dec 7th 2006 6:46PM
Period-style advertising for modern services? Just ask Steven J. BAZOOMERDOTCOM about how that's done.
Go you Huskies!