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The Worst Product Placement In Gaming History

sjohnson
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Posted May 28, 2010 - By Stephen Johnson


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I understand that product placements in video games are here to stay. They offset the massive cost of game development and can even enhance games if used correctly... but that's a big "if."  A good video game creates a complete, fictional world for you to live and play in; hawking real-life products can break the delicate narrative-spell of a game as sure as a glitch can break gameplay. A NASCAR game with a car sponsored by STP makes sense; a post-apocalyptic RPG with a Taco Bell does not. With this simple rule in mind, check out my list of some of the worst, most game-breaking product placements in video game history.

Burger King Fight Night

Fight Night Round 3: Players can 'hire' the Burger King as a fighter's cornerman in this game. King gives your stat ratings a heart boost, making it easier to get up from knockdowns.  I'm a fan of lovably creepy adver-character The King, but making him an unlockable character in an otherwise realistic boxing simulator is jarring, stupid and corny. Yeah, I know it's just game, but come on.

No mention of Burger King is complete without noting that Sneak King, Big Bumpin'  and Pocketbike Racers, a trio of Burger King games that just exist as advertising. I have no problem with these at all. Sneak King was fun, and hey, free achievements!

Gran Turismo 4

Gran Turismo 1-4: It's not that I object to real cars being used in a realistic racing game. This is exactly one of the ways that in-game advertising can work out for the game company, the players and the car companies. The problem comes in the damage to the cars in most sponsored racing game-- you can't do it. Apparently, car companies want to keep you from seeing a dented up Camaro limping across the finish line, so they make the cars indestructible, at least in terms of visuals. A car bouncing off a guardrail without scratching the paint destroys the realism so carefully created by every other aspect of these games.

Battlefield 2142

Battlefield 2142: Pepsi sponsored billboards for use in a game set more than 100 years in the future, as if people locked in a perpetual war in a dystopian future would really care about their soft-drinks. But that's not the worst part. The billboards in the game were also sold to various other companies, including The Discovery Channel and the DVD release of Ghost Rider. Wait, it says "2142" right in the title... how could there be an ad for a movie that came out in the last century?

Barack Ad

Madden NFL 09 (and others):During the contentious presidential race of 2008, Barack Obama advertised in a number of video games, including Madden, and Burnout Paradise. It wasn't so much that Barack Obama's face is out of place in a campaign ad at a football game, it's that Barack was fond of partially blaming societal ills on games, while simultaneously courting gamers for their votes. Not cool, Obama.

Alan Wake: I've already written about this piece of product placement, so I won't repeat myself. I'll let the video speak for itself.

 

Alan Wake In-Game Verizon Commercial »


 

 What am I missing? Any other in-game ads tick you off?

The Worst Product Placement In Gaming History
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Comments are Closed

  • I C U Right Now

    lol i completely see where everyone is coming from when they say that ads ruin narrative but i personally do not let them bother me. when i play the games with ads such as Alan Wake and i see a commercial on the TVs or a billboard i laugh to myself and think "why would my character watch this while these weird shadow people are attacking me?" so if anything i get a sense of comic relief from the ads. Also in most cases the player is not forced to watch the ad which is nice.

    Posted: May 28, 2010 6:36 PM
    I+C+U+Right+Now
  • Socalmic47

    Saints Row 2 has the best product placement. The billboards on the side of the streets changed constantly with new ads... back in March, I saw ads for the show Justified. That's pretty damn cool updating!

    Posted: May 28, 2010 6:28 PM
    Socalmic47
  • Socalmic47

    Saints Row 2 has the best product placement. The billboards on the side of the streets changed constantly with new ads... back in March, I saw ads for the show Justified. That's pretty damn cool updating!

    Posted: May 28, 2010 6:22 PM
    Socalmic47
  • Deelron

    What's wrong with "a post-apocalyptic RPG" with a Taco Bell ad? As long as it's Demolition Man: RPG I'm all for it.

    Posted: May 28, 2010 4:29 PM
    Deelron
  • hcdude123

    I disagree with his opinion about a post-apocalyptic Taco-Bell. As long as it's in about as bad of shape as all the other buildings and it fits in properly with the environment, it should be okay.

    P.S. I agree with Turtleboy7 that having an achievement based on a product is dumb.

    Posted: May 28, 2010 4:29 PM
    hcdude123
  • Crazy_Person

    MGS4 has apple computers

    Posted: May 28, 2010 4:27 PM
    Crazy_Person
  • hcdude123

    I disagree with the opinion about a post-apocalyptic Taco Bell. As long as it's in as bad condition as other buildings, I think it'd be ok.

    Posted: May 28, 2010 4:24 PM
    hcdude123
  • Kallazar

    Prototype had giant Gamestop ads on the bigger buildings.

    Posted: May 28, 2010 4:21 PM
    Kallazar
  • nightsnipe

    I think the Alan Wake one was actually cool b/c it seems realistic and like i fits. plus its not like you HAVE to use the TV.

    Posted: May 28, 2010 4:19 PM
    nightsnipe
  • bunnyglomp

    Dont forget the Nightmare on elm street from SC: Conviction

    Posted: May 28, 2010 4:19 PM
    bunnyglomp
  • Deato9000

    haha i love those random plugs and ads

    Posted: May 28, 2010 4:18 PM
    Deato9000
  • Turtleboy7

    Skate three's Miracle Whip move doing it earns you the "coveted" Dont be so Mayo achievement so yeah.....

    Posted: May 28, 2010 4:11 PM
    Turtleboy7
  • Spinoza

    The Obama one pisses me off the most, one of the many things I enjoy about playing video games is that it pulls my mind away from thinking about the sickening state of our political system. The last friggen thing I want to see in a game is a political campaign advertisement, unless the game gives me an option to set it on fire and dance in its ashes.

    Posted: May 28, 2010 4:09 PM
    Spinoza
  • Shikai10

    Did it bother anyone else that there were in game advertisement for Xbox live in the middle of a destroyed Washington DC in Splinter Cell Conviction for the 360? I mean come on everything else is destroyed lights are out and the Xbox Live bill board still stands! Immersion GONE!!

    Posted: May 28, 2010 4:06 PM
    Shikai10
  • baeleth

    Invincible and, as far as I could tell, undamaged Pepsi machines in Bionic Commando. Not totally out of place in a city, but I don't think I saw any that were damaged in a disaster that effectively reduced the city to ruins.

    Posted: May 28, 2010 3:17 PM
    baeleth
  • SolidBeezy

    oops double post sorry :P

    Posted: May 28, 2010 3:02 PM
    SolidBeezy
  • SolidBeezy

    Tony Hawk's Underground had numerous Butterfinger vending machines and gave you the option of customizing your character and skateboard with McDonald's logos. There's also a gap in Manhattan that requires you to clear an actual McDonald's building.

    Posted: May 28, 2010 3:01 PM
    SolidBeezy
  • SolidBeezy

    Tony Hawk's Underground had numerous Butterfinger vending machines and gave you the option of customizing your character and skateboard with McDonald's logos. There's also a gap in Manhattan that requires you to clear an actual McDonald's building.

    Posted: May 28, 2010 2:56 PM
    SolidBeezy
  • Battlefields

    BEST product placement is in Bad company cause you can blow em up :D

    Posted: May 28, 2010 2:44 PM
    Battlefields
  • DravinClaw

    Battlefield 2 had a bunch on billboards with intel on it and crates of empty crates as well

    Posted: May 28, 2010 2:22 PM
    DravinClaw

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