YouTube wants to sell you games

by Justin McElroy { Oct 8th 2008 at 2:30PM }

In yet another fine example of commercial synergy, YouTube has launched a new feature that allows users to purchase items (like video games) that are mentioned in particular clips with a button under the video. (Or, as we call them "buyportunities".) In turn, YouTube gets a cut of purchases made via its site. The rollout begins with songs from EMI Music and Universal and video games made by Electronic Arts, meaning you'll probably be experiencing buyportunities sooner rather than later.

Why the new offering? It's just another way for YouTube to offer its diverse user-base a consumer-focused commercial opportunity to extend their multimedia experience. (Oh, and YouTube cost Google $1.76 billion and they'd really like to start justifying that.)

Tags: ea, youtube

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Nick the Hero of Canton @ Oct 8th 2008 2:33PM

"In yet another fine example of commercial synergy"

Here comes Topher Grace.

5th hot meal @ Oct 8th 2008 2:44PM

no way jose,

i rather jack off with a cheese grater than give youtube a red cent of my wonga.

Moorio - XBL: peacebyanymeans @ Oct 8th 2008 3:35PM

Uh... wow, okay.

I think I'd rather buy a game than grate my penis, but whatever. That's just me.

RafaelShinji @ Oct 8th 2008 2:47PM

Rick Roll'd: The Game!

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Oct 9th 2008 12:05AM

Goddammit, in the same sentence not only have I been rickrolled but I've also lost the game!

Chris @ Oct 10th 2008 11:05AM

i lost the game

Mr Khan @ Oct 8th 2008 2:49PM

I would like to buy some games.

RafaelShinji @ Oct 8th 2008 2:51PM

I can see it now as YouTube attempts to sell us games and at the same time coming up with new IPs....

RickRoll'D : The Game

Mike @ Oct 8th 2008 2:51PM

If it means that they'll start pulling in a more casual gamer that later on converts to a mainstream gamer then I'm all for it. I wonder what the other items are.

Lone Starr @ Oct 8th 2008 3:01PM

"(Oh, and YouTube cost Google $1.76 billion and they'd really like to start justifying that.)"

I think they've already done a good job in that regard.

Titanium_Orchid @ Oct 8th 2008 3:06PM

Nothing really shocking here.

If I see a video on YouTube, it usually has the name of the game/song/tv show somewhere on the page that I can use to research further. This new feature takes a few steps out of the process and nets the site money that it would not normally receive, which I guess is the point.

I'm curious to see what sites the links will use, and how they will be monitored.

StrangeBum @ Oct 8th 2008 3:24PM

I agree with you on the part about it saving some time (a few mouse clicks or whatever) but I don't generally purchase things on such an impulse. More or less I would use this to read up on said game, musician, movie or what have you and make a more informed purchase down the road.

Could be interesting to see just how much Google is able to make off this scheme.

Tiptup300 @ Oct 8th 2008 3:58PM

It will probably check the tabs for things like "Xbox 360" "rock band" "velcirapter evasion" "How to tell if your neighbor is a velcirapter"

Things like that....

Tiptup300 @ Oct 8th 2008 3:58PM

tags*

Marrvia @ Oct 8th 2008 4:49PM

So basically YouTube has all of this copyrighted material running on its site without permission, and now they are going to make money off of this material they don't own. Nice!

Trulz @ Oct 8th 2008 5:42PM

Oh yeah. Youtube is gonna be making bank off of all the game tie-ins in their thousands of Family Guy and SNL clips. Yep, lots of game selling opportunities arising from those.

Mr ESC,Lives Again. @ Oct 8th 2008 5:55PM

Eh well in first place is not youtube who uploads all the illegal material but the users. Youtube supposedly allows you to upload your videos this being sh*tty home movies or stuff you didn’t create just for the sake of it.

Also that the material is taken away very fast, a new episode of Avatar was taken 1 hour after being uploaded.

About this issue I think they just want to enter into the digital distribution business which wouldn’t be bad but I’m already using Steam.

t_m @ Oct 9th 2008 12:53AM

yeah... i'm sure the game/movie companies will be really upset about selling more games/dvds.

Ethan @ Oct 8th 2008 5:13PM

I wonder if tube.com is taken.

007craft @ Oct 8th 2008 7:37PM

I doubt the people who make the videos will see any profit at all. I know for a fact my N+ and GTA4 videos have helped sell more then enough copies of the game(s), yet Im sure youtube would not consider letting me in on the profit.

So basically it goes like this,

-Awsome gamer uploads cool ass clip of game (lets just say halo 3 for example)
-Gamer2 sees said clip on youtube, thinks "OMFG IM BUYING THIS GAME" (this already happens)
- User sees they can buy the game right there by following the link after the video is done.
Youtube = profit, gamer who made cool video which convinced other to purchase game = no profit.

I think they should share the money with the owners of the videos, similar to the adsense program (shared money on advertising clicks)