'In-Game Advertising' Archive

The Rise of Casual Gaming

Every month an estimated 200 million people play casual games, and the casual gaming industry is seeing a 20% increase in both audience and profits year after year.

The Casual gaming market it expected to surpass $2 billion in 2008.

Casual gaming gained popularity with games like Solitaire, Tetris and Bejeweled played on the PC and Nintendo video game system.

The internet has now become the main source of distribution for casual games and social networks like Facebook are playing a major role in their rise in popularity and profitability. Casual games share a few basic characteristics; they offer simple gameplay and simple graphics that can be enjoyed in short burst like during coffee breaks or while on public transportation.

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Zwinky: Music Marketing In a New Virtual World

‘m sure you have all heard of the online virtual world Second Life, but have you heard of Zwinky?

While Second Life averages 250,000 unique users a month, Zwinky boasts well over 4 million.

Zwinky started out as customizable social avatars that were part of the MyWeb Searchbar. In April 2007, “Zwinktopia” was launched. It is an online virtual world that has quickly grown to over 11 million registered members.

Zwinky, appeals primarily to a young teen demographic, and one of the ways that Zwinky has managed to grow such a large user base so quickly is through some creative online music events and activities. Zwinky has attracted some of today’s hottest rock, hip hop and R&B stars to participate in their community.

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In-Game Ads to Reach Nearly $1 Billion by 2011

According to a new report published by Yankee Group analysts, in-game advertising could climb to $971.3 million by the year 2011, up from just $77 million in 2006 and $56 million in 2005.
Gamasutra, a website about the art and business of making games, said that:
According to the group’s latest report, ‘Advertising and Games: 2007 In-Game [...]

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Google to Acquire Adscape Media

Sources close to the matter are reporting that Google has agreed to pay $23 million for the in-game advertising company, Adscape Media.
The purchase of Adscape Media represents a growing trend of Google branching into emerging marketing medias. While in-game advertising is still in its infancy (generating less than $100 million in 2005), Yankee Group [...]

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