Race for Change: Obama Ads In Burnout Paradise
Yep, the presidential push is in full swing, and I'm counting the days till November. Keeping my political opinions to myself is difficult, but once someone I don't like gets elected hold me back, Bessy!
I'm not going to say that this shouldn't happen, but it does seem mildly misplaced. Obama advertisements have began sprouting up in Burnout Paradise. Strangely enough, this has been officially confirmed by Holly Rockwood, EA's director of corporate communications:
I can confirm that the Obama campaign has paid for in-game advertising in Burnout. Like most television, radio and print outlets, we accept advertising from credible political candidates. Like political spots on the television networks, these ads do not reflect the political policies of EA or the opinions of its development teams.
The political race is a very touchy subject, especially when it comes to appearing to have favoritism toward one candidate. This is further evidenced by my apparent lack of candidate favoritism. Now, all we have to do is kick back and wait for the fall out.
EA Confirms Obama Ads in Burnout: Paradise [GamePolitics]
Asterick
Posted to Video Games on 14 October 2008
· Comments (12)
Other stuff like this: billboards, burnout paradise, ea, in-game ads, obama
"...strangely enough..."
What, exactly, is strange about the fact that they confirmed it?
Would you have preferred that they deny it in the face of evidence to the contrary?
And what, exactly, is improper about it? The whole concept of the in-game advertising would be to replicate the real world experience.
You'd see an Obama or McCain billboard in the real world...why not "Burnout Paradise"?
Maybe John McCain will be a playable character in World at War? ;)
-m.
i think this points up just how savvy and aware obama is. there's already ads in video games, so why not his? that's the age demographic he wants to court, so go where they are. i'm actually kind of surprised this hasn't happened *before* now.
I think if you're going to accept in-game advertising, you don't get to vote (pun intended) if you don't like what's being advertised. It's a paid commercial, and anyone who buys "air time" so to speak can get their ad up, as long as it's not grossly offensive.
Ugh, do not want political ads in my video games.
if paid advertising means free DLC like we've gotten for almost a year from Criterion, then i'm all for it.
so, we need to . . . "turn off the gameboy" and vote for Obama?
irony? anyone?
This is what I wrote in my blog about this:
These are breathless times we live in. As a gamer I tend to be on the pulse, actively or even tangentially seeking news and information about the goings-on in this $62 billion dollar global market and culture that, sadly, still seems largely looked down on and put down by certain politically influential groups, particularly the older, less technologically enabled and decidedly insular generation.
So it was incredible and seriously refreshing to see presidential candidate Barack Obama racing to the forefront to embrace progressive 21st century tech and focusing on young voters who are passionate gamers whose lifestyles and by extension political positions revolve around this interest. At the same time it does make his contender, John McCain, look even more fossilized , distant, and of the 20th century. Where are McCain's ads in games? Why has he not reached out to young voters on their terms? How is it that he can't even learn how to use technology to augment his campaign and inform himself beyond relying 24/7 on his staff?
Not only is Obama actively reaching out to gamers (specifically in the most hotly contested battleground states), he has also used text messaging to officially announce his running mate, and had software designers create a free app for the iPhone to help us track his progress and enable us to reach out ourselves to family, friends, and associates to spread his message.
Now if that is not the sign of a very much needed hip, tech savvy, youth respecting 21st century U.S. president investing in this country's future while securing the present, I don't know what is.
-- http://aspacealien.blogspot.com/
I agree with Brandon. I can't wait until November is over with. No matter who you support, does anyone else find it kind of funny that Obama's spending all this money on trying to reach a demographic that traditionally votes in record lows? I mean, dude, we have to get up early to vote don't we? Haha, college students.
"does anyone else find it kind of funny that Obama's spending all this money on trying to reach a demographic that traditionally votes in record lows? I mean, dude, we have to get up early to vote don't we? Haha, college students."
And yet that demographic will be the ones to inherit a country that's been totally screwed for the past eight years and has become the laughing stock of the world in terms of leadership. Whomever they vote for, I least hope they get off their lazy, apathetic butts and try to make some kind of difference. Haha! :-p
Remember, the next president may or may not influence legislation on the content of games, how they're distributed, and how they're eventually perceived by people at large. The games industry has been donating large sums of money to either major candidate, why wouldn't you as a gamer take advantage of your right to decide on your country's direction?
re Sarah: "I mean, dude, we have to get up early to vote don't we? Haha, college students."
No, you [college students] don't, necessarily. Nor do people like me, gainfully employed freelancers. Honestly, the best time to vote is around 2:30 in the afternoon. Things are fairly quiet, the seniors voted early, the 9-to-5-ers are still at work (and not voting at lunch, largely)—you can, unless your polling place is really messed up, incompetent, or dealing with massive voter fraud/suppression, typically get in and out in not too much time at all.
As to whether political ads should be in video games, the question is should any ads be? You paid for the game, why should you see ads? Then again, you paid for the movie and you sit through ads. (Sadly both in the theater and on DVD.) You pay for TV and you sit through ads. If games are going to have ads, and the politicos feel like their message is appropriate for the medium, why not? (I can bet no one's going to be advertising their campaign in a Rock Star game anytime soon.)
Regardless, while I may have a preference in the election, the most important thing is that people vote. Participate in your future. And if you don't, you have no right to complain about the powers that be.
@electrobear and @Sarah "...the most important thing is that people vote. Participate in your future. And if you don't, you have no right to complain about the powers that be."
Exactly! Well put. You can crack all the jokes you want, but if you're too lazy or uncaring to vote, do you honestly expect - much less deserve - to be taken seriously by those of us who did vote when you start whining later about how the country is being run?