Another lesson learned in 2005 was that advergames can be more than cheesy, cheap, flash/java affairs. A complex, engaging video game will capture the attention of gamers and generate a favorable response, regardless of whether the experience is "blatant marketing" or not. More has to be invested in the development of such "advertitles" but the games generally prove themselves quite cost-effective.
Sony Pictures' official site for its horror film The Cave is actually a surprisingly complex advergame, created by marketing firm Ignited Minds. Half the adventure plays out in a manner reminiscent of LucasArts' old point-and-click adventure games, with gamers collecting items and interacting with the environment with their mouse, in an attempt to escape from the cave. The other half of the experience is derived from a more action-oriented side-scrolling element.
"With Enter the Cave we were looking less to innovate and more to take an existing technology and find unusual and organic ways to use it in advancing a storyline that would capture a user's attention and give him an experience worth spending multiple site sessions at up to 20 minutes a time," Ignited Minds told Ad Watch.
So at least the last year has had one of my projects noticed.
Wednesday January 11th 2006 04:39 PM PST
In other words, you're the one I blame for me going to see that piece of shit ;-)
