Microsoft Hypes Self With In-Game Ad Study

24 May 2010 at 23:58:15 by Peter Parrish

Microsoft has released a study which suggests that in-game advertising not only works rather well, but also finds favour with gamers.

Before we get too excited about this though, the study was performed by Microsoft, the advertising focus was the re-branded Microsoft search engine Bing and the adverts were placed by Microsoft's 'Massive' in-game advertising company in two games on the Xbox 360 platform (created and owned by Microsoft.)

You wouldn't have to be much of a cynic to see that this is purely an exercise in self-publicity. With that in mind, read on for the now-perhaps-somewhat-tainted findings.

The study allegedly shows that 60% of gamers had a more positive opinion of Bing after seeing ads for it in either DJ Hero or NBA 2K10 and 67% felt those same ads made the game "more realistic." It also claims that new users of Bing substantially increased after the adverts were run in the games. Surprising results indeed.

So there you go. All of you gamers love adverts and clearly want to see more Microsoft-based adverts placed by Microsoft companies in Microsoft games. Says Microsoft.

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