Promogames: another kind of advertising

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jan 3rd 2007 at 12:25PM }

Serious Games Source has posted an article schooling us in the history of game-based advertising. The focus is on the trio of Burger King Xbox titles released last year, and their place in the more than two-decade-old evolution of 'promogames' -- to be distinguished from 'advergames.' Ian Bogost writes:

"I give the name promogames to video games whose primary purpose is to promote the purchase of a product or service secondary or incidental to the game itself ... While advergames promote the company, promogames offer an incentive to consume the company's goods independent of the game's representational properties."

Bogost stresses the need to better understand the complex advertising methods being developed for video game audiences. Know how and why companies are pushing their products on you.

Tags: Ad, Advergame, Advertising, Burger King, BurgerKing, Promogame, Value Meal, ValueMeal

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

360FANMAN @ Jan 3rd 2007 12:39PM

How: Cheesy video games featuring a creepy 40 year old.
Why: To make us buy burgers, brainwash us, and take over the world.
Im still waiting for the McDonald's Wii games.

HardScores @ Jan 3rd 2007 3:46PM

Darkened Skye makes me want Skittles.

Snap Throw @ Jan 3rd 2007 12:58PM

You know, the 360 BK games were fine with me ... they were cheap and not trying to be something they weren't. The funny thing is ... I have played a ton of $50 retail games that were much worse.

lojus @ Jan 3rd 2007 1:11PM

they were an easy 600 achievement points, thats about it.

Jonah Falcon @ Jan 3rd 2007 2:00PM

Who loved that cool game that featured Skittles? :p

Carillon @ Jan 3rd 2007 3:49PM

I'm surprised the article didn't mention a great advergame Chex Quest, which is really the only other "serious" advergame I can think of.

crono141 @ Jan 3rd 2007 2:22PM

Or the 7'UP cool spot game.

Schlitzy @ Jan 3rd 2007 5:03PM

My favorite was the kool aid game for intellivision- find sugar and water- make kool aid.

http://www.intvfunhouse.com/games/kool.php

Mat @ Jan 3rd 2007 3:30PM

Should I admit to having bought the BK games on Ebay so I didn't have to buy the food?

:) :)

Five Element Ninja @ Jan 3rd 2007 4:26PM

Yo Noid was the best

JS Beckerist @ Jan 3rd 2007 4:09PM

BK has an edge though, they've been promoting to games like crazy (Fight Night 3, NFS 3...)
I got all 3 for $10. 600 Achievement points, the bumper car and mini-bike ones are pretty fun multiplayer, the sneak king sucks, but hey, easy points. I wish more companies would do this.