APB Audio Ads

[Jun 25, 2010, 10:31 am ET] - Share - Viewing Comments

Massively has word that All Points Bulletin will feature audio advertisements over the game's VOIP channel, with an option of paying a premium to make them go away. They link to this forum post explaining how this works:

You will receive a short audio ad once every 3 hours. HOWEVER ads will only be heard when first entering a district.

So for example:

1) You start up the game and enter the social district.
2) You will hear a short audio ad.
3 You stay in social for 2 hours and then switch to an action district.
4) Upon entering the action district you will NOT hear an ad.
5) You play in the action district for 5 hours and do not hear any ads.
6) You exit the game.
7) You start up the game at a later time and enter a district.
8) You will hear a short audio ad.

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37.

Re: APB Audio Ads

Jun 26, 2010, 16:50

Ruffiana

Slippery slope arguements are so rarely apt, especially in a situation like this were everyone has the ability to decide what is or is not acceptable. Who determines what is minimal? You, as the player do. Playing this game is entirely optional. As for reversing something new, there is precedent. City of Heroes introduced real-world ads on the billboards in game. There was a huge player outcry before that happened about how it would lead to ads during loading screens, ads before missions, task forces being brought to you by Taco Bell, etc. None of that happened. A handful of ads went up on billboards, just like the developers said, and that was it. Today, the ads don't exist in game at all. For whatever reason, it proved to be more trouble that it was worth to support the ads in game. Which is something the devlopers also said from the beginning...that ad revenue would never eclipse revenue from subscriptions, and if push came to shove it would be in game ads that would get the boot. The bottom line is ad revenue for games is just not anywhere near being profitable enough to provide a major source of revenue for a persistent MMO. Even print media and television struggles with remaining solvent through ad revenue alone. Until it is that will prevent advertising in games from becoming out of control in itself. Even without the moral compunctions of the developers ot maintain the purity of their game, it just won't make any business sense. Might as well switch over to a business model of having players pay for subscriptions in bits of string. Frankly, a game like this that's set in a modern, urban environment is ripe for advertising through billboards; bus stop ads, televisions, radio, etc. I personally feel that kind of realistic use of ad noise would add immensely to the immersion. I'd much rather hear these audio ads blaring out of car steroes as they drive by...especially if I can blow up said car stereo with a rocket launcher. There's a whole marketting campaing in itself. Blow up 500 Taco Bell billboards in APB and win a coupon for a free soft taco. I'd play it for that reason alone. This comment was edited on Jun 26, 2010, 16:58.

		Date	Subject	Author
	1.	Jun 25, 10:42	Re: APB Audio Ads	Wolfen
	3.	Jun 25, 10:55	Re: APB Audio Ads	nin
	16.	Jun 25, 13:28	Re: APB Audio Ads	CptStern
	17.	Jun 25, 13:39	Re: APB Audio Ads	Muscular Beaver
	18.	Jun 25, 13:46	Re: APB Audio Ads	fujiJuice
	2.	Jun 25, 10:44	Re: APB Audio Ads	necrosis
	4.	Jun 25, 11:11	Re: APB Audio Ads	Bumpy
	5.	Jun 25, 11:23	Re: APB Audio Ads	ledhead1969
	7.	Jun 25, 11:36	Re: APB Audio Ads	G-Snake
	6.	Jun 25, 11:36	Re: APB Audio Ads	ASeven
	9.	Jun 25, 11:45	Re: APB Audio Ads	StingingVelvet
	11.	Jun 25, 11:57	Re: APB Audio Ads	Mostly_Harmless
	25.	Jun 25, 16:29	Re: APB Audio Ads	Ant
	26.	Jun 25, 16:58	Re: APB Audio Ads	Mostly_Harmless
	30.	Jun 25, 20:08	Re: APB Audio Ads	Ruffiana
	36.	Jun 26, 10:03	Re: APB Audio Ads	nin
>>	37.	Jun 26, 16:50	Re: APB Audio Ads	Ruffiana
	38.	Jun 26, 23:31	Re: APB Audio Ads	nin
	8.	Jun 25, 11:44	Re: APB Audio Ads	Esoteric
	10.	Jun 25, 11:56	Re: APB Audio Ads	ForgedReality
	12.	Jun 25, 12:32	Re: APB Audio Ads	Cutter
	13.	Jun 25, 12:37	Re: APB Audio Ads	Bludd
	14.	Jun 25, 12:46	Re: APB Audio Ads	kibbled
	15.	Jun 25, 13:17	Re: APB Audio Ads	Acleacius
	19.	Jun 25, 14:59	Re: APB Audio Ads	Creston
	29.	Jun 25, 20:05	Re: APB Audio Ads	ibm
	31.	Jun 25, 21:58	Re: APB Audio Ads	Esoteric
	34.	Jun 26, 04:50	Re: APB Audio Ads	ibm
	35.	Jun 26, 09:55	Re: APB Audio Ads	nin
	20.	Jun 25, 15:05	Re: APB Audio Ads	ASJD
	23.	Jun 25, 15:48	Re: APB Audio Ads	StingingVelvet
	21.	Jun 25, 15:14	Re: APB Audio Ads	Retired
	22.	Jun 25, 15:45	Re: APB Audio Ads	DangerDog
	24.	Jun 25, 16:12	Re: APB Audio Ads	Trevellian
	27.	Jun 25, 17:06	Re: APB Audio Ads	DeadlyAccurate
	28.	Jun 25, 17:10	Re: APB Audio Ads	Ant
	32.	Jun 25, 22:09	Re: APB Audio Ads	Tanto Edge
	33.	Jun 26, 01:41	Re: APB Audio Ads	Mike Hunt