In-game Advertising?

[gazmoid]

NO real world ads !

I seriously don't want any real world ads. I don't want to broadcast my real world location ( we are in the Elite UNIVERSE ! ) ,, or have some software trolling my net usage.

I BOUGHT A GAME !!!!

However, when we get planet side or in space stations it would be stupid for there not to be advertising of a futuristic type. That I have no problem with and indeed encourage. I'm sick to death of data farming and tracking.

Some travel websites if you go through a booking process and then go back again and do it later 'lift' the prices. If you clean your history/cookies etc. Well the price goes back down ! I really had this happen with Singapore Airlines of all companies.

Can of worms ? Damn right.

 

[Patrick_68000]

No no no! We can not imagine ED like this

 

[el_tel]

What some people need to realise is that FD have to make money SOMEHOW to keep the servers running, and as they're a commercial company with shareholders, make a profit too.
So far, there has been indignation expressed at:

Micro-transactions
In-game advertising
Subscriptions

If these ideas are so abhorrant, then suggest a better alternative.
And no, future expansions will not cover it - because they cost money to make in the first place.

 

[VR jefranklin18]

What some people need to realise is that FD need to make money SOMEHOW to keep the servers running, and as they're a commercial company with shareholders, make a profit too.
So far, there has been indignation expressed at:

Micro-transactions
In-game advertising
Subscriptions

If these ideas are so abhorrant, then suggest a better alternative.
And no, future expansions will not cover it - because they cost money to make in the first place.

Fully agree and perfectly said. The sense of entitlement that is pervading here is coming across as a bunch of whiny teenagers wanting their own way. People want online play, a dynamically evolving universe and future expansions to enable planetary landing, etc. How is Frontier expected to fund these?

 

[Memnoch]

I don't want to broadcast my real world location ( we are in the Elite UNIVERSE ! )

We are all doing that right now, just have a look in the network log files.

 

[Patrick_68000]

People want online play, a dynamically evolving universe and future expansions to enable planetary landing, etc. How is Frontier expected to fund these?

The planetary landings are probably already a little financed by the commitments on the expansion pack in the Kickstarter, the old store and the new store. Otherwise why give the money for the expansion pack ?

 

[Tinman]

How is Frontier expected to fund these?

The answer is obviously...

 

[-o-]

Fully agree and perfectly said. The sense of entitlement that is pervading here is coming across as a bunch of whiny teenagers wanting their own way. People want online play, a dynamically evolving universe and future expansions to enable planetary landing, etc. How is Frontier expected to fund these?

Oh dear, the "whiny whinging" stick comes out again - and we were all doing so well so far They joys of living in a democracy can't really be appreciated until its lashed you a few times.

As I said before in answer to this statement ...

"How is Frontier expected to fund these?"

Its already been funded - there was this little crowdfunding venture for this very purpose not so long ago.

 

[Lobstris]

OK. Context sensitive ad? Now I'm just waiting for an 'autoglass repair. autoglass replace' ad everytime my canopy cracks...

 

[Scourge]

The answer is obviously...

Spoiler

How about some good old fashioned marketing and sales? Hows that for a groundbreaking and novel concept? Sell the game to people? Who would have thought that could make money eh? I think I might patent this idea, I'll be rich!

I fear a situation of gradual mission creep, where before long we may end up with full screen banners, overloud, overbearing obnoxious irritations plaguing me whilst attempting to play.

I want assurances and guarantees it will never be allowed to impinge on gameplay is all or at the absolute very least, can pay someone to make it go 100% away.

 

[Leonick]

No no no! We can not imagine ED like this

http://savepic.org/5324093.png

Well if BF2142 is anything to go by I don't think we have anything to worry about.
I never saw a single ad in that game but I know they did sell those billboards as ad-space.

 

[VR jefranklin18]

Oh dear, the "whiny whinging" stick comes out again - and we were all doing so well so far They joys of living in a democracy can't really be appreciated until its lashed you a few times.

If the cap fits In all seriousness, I am just tired of there being so much negativity towards this game at the moment. Yes, we all want the game the best it can be, but we have to live in the real world as well.

As I said before in answer to this statement ...

"How is Frontier expected to fund these?"

Its already been funded - there was this little crowdfunding venture for this very purpose not so long ago.

The kickstarter partially-funded the development of the main game. The £2million raised is probably insufficient to pay for the full development of it, let alone the expansion packs. Ignoring that, there is the ongoing cost of the ED servers, the salaries of the support staff, etc.

Personally, I would prefer not have to pay a monthly subscription, as I doubt my playing frequency could justify it. Nevertheless, I have no problems with microtransactions or advertising.

 

[el_tel]

What FD need is a continuous revenue stream to support the ongoing server costs.
Selling the game and expansions provide one-off income. At some point in the future, new purchases of the game are going to tail-off, but the ongoing costs will remain. At that time, do FD shut down the servers, and make the game offline only?

I have no problem with in-game advertising, as long as the context of said adverts are appropriate. For example, during the KS, I suggested that FD could approach Richard Branson and arrange to feature numerous Virgin Galactic space terminals in orbit around major space-tourist destinations. These space terminals would be impressive things in their own right, and serve as departure/arrival points for the VG fleet of space liners (also featured, but not player-ownable). It would be great advertising for VG, and would fit nicely into the ED galaxy.

ARM is another possibilty. I don't have a good way of featuring the company in-game (aside from being a technology manufacturer), but they're a local Cambridge company, and have history with DB and IB (they're derived from Acorn, which was the company that launched the original Elite on the BBC and Acorn Electron).

Reaction Engines is another company that would fit well.

 

[Iskariot]

The sense of entitlement that is pervading here is coming across as a bunch of whiny teenagers wanting their own way.

What a strange reaction. I do not see where 'entitlement comes into play.
From what I understand most do not mind in-game advertizing if it does not get in the way of immersion. It has nothing to do with entitlement when an Elite fan does not want to see his/her experience diminished by immersion breaking adverts.

But the very moment an in game character would try to sell me for example a DLC for the game (like in Dragon Age) I will uninstall ED and never touch it again, like I never again will have anything to do with the Dragon Age franchise.

Working with teenagers I have come to understand and accept that young people have a very different attitude towards advertizing. They have been indoctrinated (I recommend watching the documentary The Corporation) since their birth to accept commercial pollution in everything, but personally I cannot stomach it. When I am online for example I use ad blockers like there is no tomorrow to keep the internet digestible for me. I cannot even remember watching an entire movie or show on tv with all those disgusting commercial breaks. It makes me puke. Perhaps it is just me, perhaps it is my generation. I do not know and I do not care.

If in-game advertising can be done tastefully and non-intrusive I will accept it. If it is done in a way that destroys my experience I will reject it and have nothing to do with it. The choice is mine.

 

[nats]

You know what would be the worst possible advert that Elite Dangerous could feature?

Just imagine .... you are exploring a great vastness of space quiet and serene, you come across a distant space station outpost lonely and abandoned because the inhabitants had gone insane due to the constant repeating adverts on their bill board, you round the front of the station and come across the billboard and there for all eternity to see is a massive endlessly looping advert :

.... then your engines break and you have to spend an hour sat in front of it waiting for a repair ship with nothing but Cillit Bang adverts to keep you company - oh the horror!

 

[el_tel]

Or that annoying guy from the SafeStyle windows adverts (can't add a pic as I'm sending this from my phone).

 

[VR jefranklin18]

Given that there is going to be ship insurance, it is just begging for a Go Compare ad :smilie:

 

[Tacheel]

Given that there is going to be ship insurance, it is just begging for a Go Compare ad :smilie:

The horror!!!

 

[Scourge]

E: Docracy

Spoiler

 

[Im_Lost]

Not to worried about this. If you start to see adverts appear simply find the adserver address and block it via your router