CorgiShinobi

Double Post, but in honor of Star Wars Blu-ray, and George's new Krayt Dragon sound... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6zTo5-IzYE EDIT: I can't help it, but I've found more.

I have a friend who doesn't like foreign films simply because he would have to read subtitles. "Urgk, I no want read these words!"

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins was my first video game. So yeah, I remember those bunny ears.... AND WARIO!

My copy of Human Revolution came in the mail the day before the banner ad became active. When I was first playing, I wasn't doing so hot, so I would see the loading screen quite a bit. Now I'm at the Police Station, but I didn't go through the entrance, so I'm saving and loading whenever I'm successful at sneaking around. (I really should enter through the front now.) Point is, as far as the PS3 version goes I haven't noticed the loading time increase. Maybe it's as much as a second, but I can't notice an extended waiting period from my first entire day playing to the next day where the banner ad was present. If Duke is right, the banner ad doesn't even show up every time there's a loading screen. I can attest to that since I was playing for two hours without it, though at around 1:00 am it came back. This is why I talked about the nature of the advertisement, and why I made a comparison to Angry Birds. Ad placement isn't black and white, like if you do have an ad, "Oh, then you get X dollars for having one ad!" Angry Birds is free because those banner ads that take up an eighth of the screen and are present for the majority of gameplay. That's the benefit the user receives. Something like Human Revolution's ad isn't going to have that large of affect. Given that the "Missing Link" DLC is coming October, I can only hope the added revenue decreases the price for that DLC. If I'm perturbed about anything Human Revoluton related, it's the DLC as it's the "missing chapter" in the game, much like the Memory Sequences for Assassin's Creed II. EDIT: Again, I agree the better option should have been product placement, but with a spark of creativity like if the company's logo was given a futuristic redesign. Given that there are already billboards and newspapers with fake ads, it seems like a more natural solution. Though, to be honest I can still see people getting upset about "Coca-cola 2027."

Well, whatever one's position on the ad was, it might not matter because I think it's gone. (In case no one sees my status update.) Maybe Eidos Montreal had a genuine reason for the ad, or maybe not. I guess the final point here is that the loudest voice gets heard. Not too surprising when you think of previous instances, like when Cole's (inFAMOUS 2) look was changed. Still, it might just be me. I did have trouble loading the game at first, so I had to manually turn off the system. EDIT: It came back. I can't see it being my game alone since this is patched in. I dunno, maybe my system "hiccuped" and somehow prevented the ad from... I dunno, I'm not a programmer!

For me, I think the worse case scenario would be if you saw this ad in the HUD. Like, with all your icons and everything, every now and then some banner expands and it's something that completely takes you out of the atmosphere. Perhaps this process will make the game cheaper for future consumers, though we have already purchased it. We purchased it for many other reasons, but others are waiting on a lower price because of a personal preference. All speculation mind you, but at least it's optimistic. @Rocky: The nature of the advertisement is beside the point? Just a "principle of the thing" discussion? Here's a benefit, even if it's hypothetical and one that's long-term. If the game does lower in price because of this, more people could play the game. They'll enjoy the same experience you had as the "end user" and etc. It's not a direct benefit, but it's a positive one. Of course, if people keep poke the fire, Eidos Montreal might respond why this happened. Then it's up to everyone to decide if they're blowing smoke up everyone's ass or not. If they don't respond, assume the worst and go ahead and block the ad if it bothers you so much. Your problem will be solved.

If they become more intrusive, I have no doubt in my mind that many people, including me, will make ourselves known. As video games further in online connectivity, the more it appears that developers are treating the games themselves as a type of "territory" thanks to patching, and so forth. That's why I compared this forum with the game: those in control can alter what we view. As I said in the same status, I would think it pathetic if someone would pass on Human Revolution because of this ad. My earlier examples though, completely justifiable since in Fight Night that stupid pasted image takes up 50% of the screen. It's something that stares at you no matter what camera angle. I guess I see this (forgive the analogy) as a small cut. Getting cut is never fun, but for me at least it wasn't bigger, or worse, that something was cut off.

Substitute "you" for "one" (then one can be upset) if you're going to take it personally, which it never was intended to be. People use AdBlocker because Internet advertisements are annoying and intrusive, following you at nearly every page (even prolonging your browsing). This advertisement is small, non-intrusive, and exists in a small select time of the media. I think this has been blown out of proportion because this cause of "alarm" online is playing out like there was some actual harm done to the game. There hasn't, and this form of advertising isn't something new. I get annoyed by advertisements too, but I know there's always a purpose behind it. After all, why do we now have an advertisement here? I wouldn't believe Dean would do it for shits-n-giggles.

So the game is completely ruined and Deus Ex will never be the same ever again. Got it! Sorry, but given how much worse this could be, this kinda talk is blowing it out of proportion. You know what I did when I saw the Star Wars ad last night? Yeah, it was there that early. I played the game and had a blast. Oh wait, there's that advertisement from the loading screen half an hour ago! WHY?! It doesn't hurt me, it doesn't alter the game, it merely exists in a select moment of time to haunt me. I know I'm sounding rash, but to me the reaction from gamers is what's ridiculous. EDIT: If something was truly altered, and not something aesthetically during one of the most pointless times in any game, then you can be upset.

However, this is post-production. A seamless integration now would take more time, money, and work hours for a game that has already been released (with the exception of Japan). It's most definitely not the desirable answer, but it's also the most doable. Go ahead and call it lazy, but given the circumstance, I can't see those responsible pulling off anything better that isn't worth the trouble. Hindsight is a troublesome thing and I do wish there were some interesting product placements or advertisements tucked away in-game, though what's the point of advertising if you're going to hide it. Also, a large pet peeve of mine. I loathe the perception that anyone who works in an advertising agency is some "greedy fat-cat" who cares more about bonuses than creativity. Remember this trailer? The one that broke YouTube's layout? Agency: Goodby Silverstein & Partners, not Nintendo.

Now enters the Devil's Advocate. (What with me being in Advertising.) There's most definitely a financial reason behind this, and I'm perfectly fine with a fraction sized banner advertisement on a loading screen that pops up from time-to-time. You know, that thing that does nothing except the occasional useful tip. I know there's talk of, "I need a benefit" and whatnot. Well, if the studio is actually in trouble and needs extra revenue, then your benefit will be future titles. If this was like Angry Birds on Android where banner ads are almost always displayed in the top-right corner of the game, then yes, you should have a benefit. There is one: it's free! I can't see much of a price decrease when that tiny image is only presented at a limited time. Be glad it isn't like most other in-game advertisement, and some are not that bad. It's the ones like in-game commercials and giant pasted images that bother me. I mentioned it before, and thus: Oh, and poor product placement too.

First I've heard of being harassed or arrested for taking photos of landmarks. Heck, I went to New York City in early 2006 and took a bunch of pictures of famous landmarks. No one said anything, and in fact, I had people trying to push their photographic "service" onto me.

I would say there is an "emotional" side to the game, but poorly executed because of how the game (from having watched a few walkthroughs online) is designed around a "Point A to Point B" quest structure. The NPCs freaking out and asking for help follow along a tired formula that has been presented in many genres of games. It's exaggerated fluff, and sadly this isn't uncommon in our current generation of gaming. There does seem to be a greater demand for games with more emotional depth, but having some dialogue spoken in-between segments of the game isn't the proper method.

17 caps > top hat

I have yet to play the game, but I'm more than able to answer the "Trailer vs. Game" quandary. While the trailer was good, I never let it become a testament to the quality of the game. It was a cinematic trailer that was, if anything, a prologue to the events of the game. No in-game footage or anything that would otherwise inform the viewer it's a trailer for a video game other than the assumption that most computer animated cinematic trailers are for video games, with the rest being for a select genre of film. It wasn't the trailer that "deceived" anyone, but the talk from those working on the game (and of course gaming journalism) about how Dead Island would be a return to "survivalist" horror titles such as Silent Hill and Resident Evil. What's more, it would be a far more "intense" experience because of weapon degeneration and lack of supplies to aid you in combating the zombie infested resort. I'm sorry, but you will have to put some fault on yourself if you believed all of it. I believe it has been mentioned before, but in the game you do come across the room in the trailer. You see a dead mother and father; what else did you expect? EDIT: Also, we can't forget about amazing games with crap trailers/advertising. They're meant to persuade, and the trailer did get a lot of people interested in the game.

Top Cat > cat

I'm only getting the Original Trilogy. I don't absolutely hate the prequels, but they (especially Revenge of the Sith) leave much to be desired. Oh, and most of the acting is AWFUL! Even with the changes in the Blu-ray, I think I can handle them over the Full Screen DVD box set circa 2004. At least the Blu-ray is correcting the problems from that edition. EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_changes_in_Star_Wars_re-releases#Star_Wars_DVD_Box_Set (reference)

As I've been doing my Advertising homework, I've ran across some new and oddly hilarious ads for... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbZHasnugts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bhq_NL6jL0