Important Battlefield 2142 Info, EA now in the spyware biz Options

[Knightsword]

http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/action/battlefie...9893&page=2

On a peculiar note, even though the world is ending in 2142, it appears that advertising will still be around. Battlefield 2142 features in-game ads, though we didn't get to see them firsthand during our testing. Still, there is a printed disclaimer that comes with the game telling you that Battlefield 2142 will analyze certain "advertising data" on your machine to determine what ads to display to you. Ironically, EA says that if you don't want your data shared with its advertising partner then "do not install or play the software on any platform that is used to connect to the Internet." But that would pretty much defeat the purpose of playing Battlefield 2142, wouldn't it? Of course, you could always play single-player against the artificial intelligence, though the AI won't be mistaken for human opponents any time soon, and the single-player is still limited to 16-player maps. Still, this is an example of things to come, as we begin to see dynamic in-game ads appear in more and more games.

http://pnmedia.gamespy.com/planetbattlefie...news/igavy2.jpg

[Crushinator]

I think using the word "spyware" in this case brings up alarmist connotations of keyloggers, trackers, popups and the other bullshit you get from unscrupulous websites.

What EA is doing is more like in-game billboards, posters, video screens, and things like banner ads while you are choosing to join games from the server list and whatever. They aren't going to install some shitty "weather popup" app or search toolbar stuff.

It is interesting that they are using your interweb browsing to focus the advertisements more, though. Like HC82 said, its good for them, it gets the right ads to the right people. And since BF2142 isn't a subscription based game, one could argue that the costs help keep up the offical servers (although there are so many indepently hosted servers it doesn't really matter for a game like this.)

As more devs start using in-game ads to defer the cost of development, I hope they start passing it down to the consumer. Fight Night Round 3 (and from what i hear, basically EA sports titles) on 360 has in-game ads out the ass ("This knockout replay brought to you by... Burger King!") and it still cost $60 goddamn dollars.