Is in-game advertising a big deal? I really don’t see it being such a huge deal, unless everytime I turn around I see an Axe billboard. In some games, advertising really isn’t very apparent, and can even make a game seem more realistic if used in moderation. However, if advertising is used excessively and within the wrong game genre, it can get annoying to see the same ads for energy drinks over and over again.

For example, in a game such as Grand Theft Auto or Saint’s Row, a few billboards advertising products is fine. The game worlds of both games are supposed to be realistic, so including realistic products can, theoretically, further immerse the player. However, cramming ads on the sides of the setlist in Guitar Hero III made the ads incessant eye sores.