Videos
(34)Screenshots
(8)Cheats and Walkthroughs
(72)
Videos
(34)Screenshots
(8)Cheats and Walkthroughs
(73)
Videos
(24)Screenshots
(5)Cheats and Walkthroughs
Videos
(14)Screenshots
(53)Cheats and Walkthroughs
(48)
Videos
(14)Screenshots
(53)Cheats and Walkthroughs
(49)
Videos
(14)Screenshots
(53)Cheats and Walkthroughs
Videos
(47)Screenshots
(53)Cheats and Walkthroughs
(81)
Need of Speed Hot Pursuit has received a launch day update that adds an unskippable trailer for the newly announced Need for Speed title, Shift 2 Unleashed. In-game advertising is one thing, but forcible pre-game advertising? I see trouble on the way.
X-Play’s Matt Keil encountered this rather disturbing occurrence today when he popped in a copy of Hot Pursuit and was prompted to install a new update for the game. After the game relaunched, the ad had been applied to the start of the game, where there had been no ad just last night. Plus, given the size of the update, it appears that the teaser was already on the disc, but needed the update to unlock it. Alan Wake's Verizon ad, you're no longer the worst in-game ad of the year. Congrats?
Apparently, Electronic Arts wasn’t happy sticking to the standard PR channels to get the word out about Shift 2’s official reveal today. Instead, it figured it would be a good idea to turn a brand new game into an ad mule for a future title, and make it required viewing for players who just want to play the game currently sitting in their systems. The result is something that simultaneously cheapens both the fantastic title forced to carry the ad and raises serious questions regarding how publishers will treat updates and in-game advertising in the future. (“That winning headshot brought to you by Head and Shoulders!”).
For those reenactment lovers out there, we'll have a video of this disturbing ad update business in action shortly, so stay tuned.
Anyone else encounter this ad yet? Any thoughts on a future where forcible in-game ads are the norm?
Should the need arise, feel free to E-Mail me your tips, suggestions, and/or personal philosophies, or follow me on Twitter.
Comments are Closed
Comments
Displaying 21–32 of 32
112
droovi
Might as well call it Need for Speed: Steal this Game. Can't wait to see how many people pirate it.
Chris13579
Let the thing play through. It's not much different than some games with long boring cutscenes. I like storyline but get to the point faster. One thing about the next Shift game is the drifting needs needs needs to be tuned
so you get some grip just some and feel like you're not on ice. Drift events
are a lot of fun if the car is tuned correctly. We need more games with superb drifting. Some traction and not like you're on ice.
TimeEmit
@Unbalanced
No, the real problem is that EA included it in the first place. Making it unskippable as well as pre-game just makes it worse! Make it a bonus option if they have to.
Unbalanced
the real problem here is if your forced to watch it every time. that can be frustrating and cheapen an experience.
aSoule0nceL0st
The fact I couldnt skip the ad sucked but the game is good. Hope it doesnt happen every time I start the game.
Gamerrl5
one question are you forced to watch the ad every time you turn on the game or can you skip it.
MasterOfWeed
The only good thing about shift was the drag racing, Everything else about shift sucked and every one of my friends who love the NFS games absolutely hated shift and now a 2nd one is coming out. -.-
rjs927
I just got the game today, got an update (as is expected with new games), and the game began. A (pretty cool looking) cutscene began and I assumed it was an intro to Hot Pursuit. When it revealed that it was Shift 2 I thought it was odd but wasn't angry or anything. People are blowing this way out of proportion. I have only turned the game on once, but I'm pretty sure this won't happen every time I start the game (I'm gonna check that after I write this). Assuming it doesn't I really don't see whats wrong with it. We pay for cable but we have to sit through commercials multiple times IN THE MIDDLE of our shows. I agree its a little different but it doesn't ruin the game and is being blown way out of proportion.
EKG
So I pay $65 for their game and then am forced to sit through a commercial? Wow. Wow. I am glad I decided not to buy this game yet. I don't want to support intrusive advertising in my video games.
totalnonsense
Is it possible that the ad is only forced on the consumer for today? I doubt that any company would be ignorant enough of their consumer base to force the ad on them every time the game is played for all eternity. I'm not saying I like the idea, by any means. I think it's ridiculous that I have to have ads forced on me when I play, but I would be willing to bet that the patch has a kill time on it, where after so long of a time you can skip the cut scene. At least...I hope it's that way.
aaron88stang
That's enough for me to even question buying this game. It was on my list but now I am not sure. I may just skip this one.
GamebustaZX
wow thats crazy come on when we go out and buy the game and put down are money we should not be forced to do anything after that I can understand if they had it there but you can skip over it but come on the force you to watch it everytime I mean im sure everyone would be happy to view i it once but evertime come on gaming is not tv we dont need to be bombarted by ads and it makes me wonder how offten some sees a ad and be like of damn imma go get that right now
Displaying 21–32 of 32
112