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Google ready to acquire Adscape

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Dela @ Feb 16, 2007 20:02 | 6 comments

According to Red Herring, Google Inc. is preparing to take a step into in-game advertising as predicted, by acquiring Adscape Media Inc. for $23 million. Red Herring cited sources familiar with the matter in its report. Google declined to comment on the report citing company policy. Video game industry analysts say that the acquisition could give a major boost to the in-game advertising market.

Microsoft Corp. purchased Massive Inc. for $200 million, sealing itself into the market. Massive struck several deals with publishers including UbiSoft Entertainment SA, THQ Inc. and Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. to place advertisements in their titles. Many experts say that Google dropped the ball when that deal was struck.

"My take on this probable deal is that it doesn't make a lot of difference to Google ... but it does provide significant credibility to the game marketing space," Forrester Research Inc. analyst Shar VanBoskirk told Reuters. Other companies that Adscape competes with include Double Fusion and IGA Worldwide.

Source:

Reuters

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Comments

Comment by: ZippyG (Feb 17, 2007 03:41)

If games are gonna have ads in them, then they should be free or at least cost a lot less.

Comment by: Rikoshay (Feb 17, 2007 09:35)

Agreed. To which I also query, what does Google want with an in-game ad company? When has Google made a game at all? Are they planning to, or are they just trying to get some revenue through YouTube? Now they're forcing us to watch ads inside our games against our will? Who's the profit genius who came up with this grand scheme?

If they want to put ads in games, make an extra menu for it before you start the game, and leave them out of the normal experience. Damnit.

Comment by: TheJoxter (Feb 17, 2007 14:33)

This isn't bad at all it just means we'll see the Google logo in ur games every once and a while now.

Comment by: TheJoxter (Feb 17, 2007 14:57)

Argh, no editing. Our not ur.

Comment by: ZippyG (Feb 17, 2007 23:17)

In-game ads are not new. Right now they're usually blended in unobtrusively...like a Coca-Cola branded soda machine or a real McDonalds instead of some made-up brand. I think Google just wants a piece of the in-game ad action, as they've done a great job cornering PPC ads on the net.

I personally don't mind unobtrusive ads as we have now, but I think if it does take off it could get a lot worse. Imagine having in-game NPC sales people that you have to talk to in order for the game to progress, or cut scenes that are essentially ads in disguise. This could get bad, UNLESS the games are free or heavily discounted.

Comment by: borhan9 (Feb 18, 2007 05:07)

I like Google, but is there anything that Google is not buying. Or is there any company out there that has rejected their offers??