While catching up on some video games this weekend (folks, it’s all part of the job), we noticed Wipeout HD has a few extra features of note for potential advertisers.
During the game’s loading screens, a small rectangular video started playing with designs that looked like they fit in with Wipeout HD’s sleek, futuristic styling. We didn’t even know it was an advertisement until the State Farm logo appeared promoting their site and a way to save moolah.
Now Sony and Double Fusion are talking about how deep these integrations are going, with Wipeout HD declared a pilot program for future endeavors.
From IndustryGamers: {link no longer active}
“By introducing high-resolution dynamic video ads into WipEout HD, Double Fusion is responding to advertiser demand and offering an engaging ad format while pushing in-game ad innovation to a new level,” said Jonathan Epstein, CEO of Double Fusion. “The title is one of the most popular and visually stunning available on the PlayStation Network and a perfect vehicle to connect advertisers to a captivated audience. It comes as no surprise that advertisers have already signed up for WipEout HD even before the launch of the new video ad units in the game.”
The integration we saw over the weekend was actually probably one of the least-offensive in-game campaigns we ve ever seen.
The design very closely follows the game s futuristic tones, and the ad didn’t take place during the game, but in between the necessary loading screens all gamers are used to. Additionally, we think that’s the perfect time to try and engage the audience as those loading screens make gamers literally a captive audience.
Let s see how the high-definition integrations look, and we promise to have our iPhone ready to take video of when it does happen.
