Discussion: NCsoft NorCal Executives on IGN.com

Please use this thread to discuss the below announcement.

IGN.com sits down with City of Heroes executive producer and general manager Brian Clayton and director of business and marketing for the Mountain View studio, Ross Borden.

Click here to read the full article.

Please don't take away al the fun adds, like the Crey and Vanguard posters.. I understand selling advertizeing space is important but let's keep alot of the boards as they are

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Please don't take away al the fun adds, like the Crey and Vanguard posters.. I understand selling advertizeing space is important but let's keep alot of the boards as they are

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Ahem...

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fans worried about the intrusion of real world marketing into their fantasy life can simply opt out of the new ad program and retain the existing fictional ads.

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The bottom line is if they opt out that's better for players and advertisers.

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I think there's a "not" missing in the sentence... either that or I'm really lost on what is good for advertisers...

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Please don't take away al the fun adds, like the Crey and Vanguard posters.. I understand selling advertizeing space is important but let's keep alot of the boards as they are

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If you opt out, or if there is not an optional ad displaying over it, the original ads are visible as the default. As I've had it explained to me, users should still be occasionally seeing the current in-game art in the post optional in-game ad future.

This interview is a must-read for anyone who still has doubts about the in-game advertising. I seriously doubt it'll sway the opinions of the Tin Foil Hat Club, but it'll hopefully ease some of the concerns that the sane, rational players might have.

I'm 5-starring this thread; I hope that I don't later regret that decision once more people read the interview (y'know, if they even bother before coming in here to run about, their arms flailing in the air).


Edit: First between two redname posts

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The bottom line is if they opt out that's better for players and advertisers.

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I think there's a "not" missing in the sentence... either that or I'm really lost on what is good for advertisers...

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Yeah, there are a couple of typo's were still trying to get IGN to clear up, unfortunately

Would it be possible to have some free community/player event ads also? I dunno how much customization NCNC people will have, but if they can add ads on the fly, esp. server specific ones, I would love to see server events advertised ingame. Something special to keep people with their ads option on also...

I don't Know I am all about getting more money for the game and will opt-in on that alone, but that said i don't think it will make the game more alive if anything it will make the game less complete. i mean many games have fictitious ads. would fallouts nuke-cola really make the game better if it was coke-cola?

Great article. Seeing that NC wanted to make sure optional was part of the deal makes me pretty confident this will be handled smoothly. Unless they're planning on going nuts with the advertising.

Having said that, I'd like to see at least some of the current billboards remain in place (since I'll be opting in unless it becomes obnoxious). Some of them are just funny. And please don't get rid of things like the Dirty Duck! I love our restuarants!

Well, I'm not bothered either way really, I'll pay as much interest in the adverts in game as I do to the ones on TV, and as I record and watch most of the programmes I watch after they're broadcast, especially those not on the BBC (The one without adverts ruining the programmes by appearing in the middle of a show here in the UK), I fast forward through them.

If it makes more money to plough into future developments go for it

I just read the article and I think it's brilliant...

NCSoft makes some extra money to shovel back into the game,
which in turn helps them have the resources to add new features
to the game and it doesn't change the game mechanics at all...

If anything it gives the game a more real feel...

I'm not suggesting you add a McD's, B-King or T-Bell on
every other corner but what harm is there in the existing
billboards having REAL advertizements...

Besides... as you are driving down the highway IRL how much attention
do you pay to billboards?

How much attention to do pay to the fake billboards now?

This is mostly cross-posted. I wasn't sure which thread would be more appropriate.

I actually realy like this idea, though I cringed when I saw the announcement (I've been on the internet long enough to see how people react to in-game ads).

Still, the whiners aren't gonna get me down. There's two reasons I like this:

1) Immersion--You can't even turn around in real life without having product placement crammed up your... well, you know. It actually irritates me when I'm playing a game in a modern setting and brand logos aren't plastered all over the place. It makes everything seem so dead.

2) "Teh monies"--NCNC is a company. They literally don't exist unless they're making enough money to matter. The more money they make, the more viable Co* is. Yes, they can still do stupid things to ruin it (lol SWG NGE), but being poor wouldn't stop them from doing that. In general, more money--> better game.

Needless to say, I'll be leaving this turned on. It's not like it hurts me any to do so, and I want to encourage them to keep it up; I figure they'll probably use datamining of the number who opt-in to attract more advertisement.

The article goes a long way towards explaining the rationale and thought processes that have gone into this feature. It seems that it has been a long road for NCSoft to find a partner willing to let the players opt out if they want. I would much rather have that feature, even if it delays the process, than to have ads forced upon us by an incalcitrant ad partner.

Also, we've heard a lot about Double Fusion, and anyone who wants more info about who they are can visit their web site here.