If Rockstar opened GTAO to advertisers would you keep playing?

[CuteFaceJay]

Hey guys, This might be a long one

 

I started wondering about the whole payout issue recently given the Smugglers Run update.
A lot of people weren't too pleased with the update and how payout to time invested is pretty gash for the most part when all people want to do is play with the new toys added to the sandbox rather than thinking of ways to glitch or exploit more cash in order to gain said toys. TLDR below!

 

Advertisers once used games as a market.

Back in the day companies like EA would take advantage of advertisements in-game with games like Need for Speed & Battlefield and a few others I can't remember... Now days it doesn't happen so much as advertisers have moved to mobile apps.

Large open world games kinda makes sense to include such a way to make extra money on the side of your game while still being able to support it's costs for updates and keeping a team on deck to maintain the game as a service.

 

I understand the stance on why GTA doesn't include real world ad's and in a way it adds to the games charm while it's taking the piss out of advertisers and products taking a jab at the world we live in.

In a way the brands and ad's created to populate GTA are a staple to what makes this game great.

Static brands and ad's in the same environments start to show the games age.

 

Age playing many GTA titles over the years for long periods of time I've noticed that the worlds of GTA kinda lose their of excitement and sense of discovery. Though most of that could be put down to how map expansions for GTA titles hasn't ever happened before.

 

I feel like Rockstar are treating GTAO like a sudo MMO but they've never really created an MMO and the idea of building an open world and then expanding on it adding new areas.

 

We've seen they've tried to keep interest by adding new properties for players to buy and check out but it doesn't fill that need to say go back to another island from past GTA games or someplace brand new. So driving around the same roads seeing the same brands and ad's kinda makes the game feel even more stagnant.

 

Payouts don't scale & Shark cards aren't cheap.

 

Everyone knows it and have talked about it but no solutions have been talked about other than "Just up the payouts" followed by "They just want that Shark card money" This is all true they do want that Shark card money but with prices becoming more and more crazy with each update it will put players off from not only buying but also playing the game anymore. No matter how good those new toys might be with the latest update.

 

You own the biggest game franchise in the world!

 

The top brass and money men at Take2 wants to come up with new scummy ways to nickle n dime the player base meanwhile Youtube is going through an ad crisis because some youtubers aren't "advertiser friendly"

 

I'm still wondering why we haven't seen real world ad's show up in the online part of GTAO given just how many players login on a daily basis.

 

Maybe it is down to the creatives saying they don't want to tarnish the games charm but when you look at the current state of GTAO with the amount of people using mod menus to bypass the idea of having to grind the game out for weeks/months just to play with a new car or air craft that turns out to be not as fun as expected.

Or maybe the advertisers simply don't want to play ball but at the end of the day Youtubers & players won't be representing ad's thus no one other than Rockstar games would be promoting the ad's thus they wouldn't run into "Not advertiser friendly" issues because what isn't advertiser friendly about paid ad space on the side of a digital street side or side of a building?

 

If Rockstar could gain advertisers money in order to cover cheaper content for players?

Would you like something similar to this actually happen would you welcome it or stop playing?

TLDR: If Advertisers paid for ad space on street/ building sides so you wouldn't need to grind your ass off for weeks on end to play with the next best car in GTAO would you even keep playing?

Edited September 27, 2017 by CuteFaceJay

[TovarishTony]

sh*t like this should stay on mobile games

[wehweh01]

Pretty piss poor idea since I've yet to see this EVER pay off.

[Nyamber]

It would ruin the atmosphere of the series even more than the rocket bike did.

 

The series is based on satire. Satire of consumer culture, among other types. So having actual ads defeats the whole point.

 

I'd stop playing immediately.

[CuteFaceJay]

sh*t like this should stay on mobile games

 

Fair point but also keep in mind these ad's aren't going to be intrusive as say most if not all ad's seen in mobile games. Things like radio TV and poster ad's would be seen & or heard rather than a pop-up on screen asking players to watch a video.

 

Or maybe some form of Spotify integration with the mobile phone in-game as an example?

[REXX]

I want to see parody ads by Rockstar, not some real life company advertising something that I will never need or use.

 

Voted no.

[Prince_Polaris]

Ever since I abandoned TV and installed ublock on everything I rarely see advertisements, the last f*cking thing I need is them in a f*cking 60 dollar game

[CuteFaceJay]

Ever since I abandoned TV and installed ublock on everything I rarely see advertisements, the last f*cking thing I need is them in a f*cking 60 dollar game

 

Thanks for your post it just gave me an idea for an opt-in opt-out option I've just added to the poll.

[livejoker]

GTA:Online in the year 2019:



Let's put aside the fact that Rockstar go through the effort to make parody ads (which you've stated, surprised you didn't expand on that). Say Rockstar did ditch their satire ways and opted for real-world ads. That would break immersion and shout to its gamers that they've sold out. At least with shark cards you can avoid them. Sure, you press a button by mistake and you're taken to the online store to buy cash cards or your wallet is dry and the game asks you if you want to buy one but you can somewhat be blind to it. In-game ads? A Mountain Dew ad while you chase down a target? Spunk, I gloss over cause I'm either used to it and it fits in the game but Mountain Dew would stick out like a sore thumb even years down the line. See: racing games.

Let's be hypothetical and imagine GTA:O with real-world ads from the start. Not only would this forum make a sh*tstorm and require a Bitch N Moan V2 thread but P&Q's would be Kitkats^TM and Egochasers would be Slyvester Stallone's High Protein Pudding^TM. That would be a tough sale and we know how Rockstar loves to sell us stuff. Okay, so let's put aside the player's feeling about it. What about the investors? Surely they're the ones that matter the most, right? Okay, so sales would probably drop but the money could potentially keep pouring in due to companies paying for an ad space. That would be short-term when the game releases.

Now a bit of time passes and the fiscal year report comes in. If sales are satisfactory Rockstar could egg on companies to shell out deals for "x" years to invest in the game. Or, like Guitar Hero, pay once for a title and renew the copyright if they want it again (or it's included in the original price so it can be ported to newer games). They could really bank on it but how much of the money from sales get back to them? Shark cards, I assume, are all in-house so they're getting 100% profit. At the very least close to that. Aside the fact they got investors already. Having to pay Pepsi a percentage isn't a thing I see Rockstar doing, ever.

Also, what makes you think that it would change the "economy" of the game? GTA V is STILL full price when I last checked yet it's still one of Steam's most played game despite the whole modding sh*tstorm that happened a while back. Rockstar don't need companies. I highly doubt the player base sticks around for in-game ads made by Rockstar but change that up for real-life intrusions, even as innocent as a Kitkat^TM on the counter of the convenience store and it'll get caught in the tornado.

Edited September 27, 2017 by livejoker

[.Diana McFarland.]

^^^^^

 

 

If we saw ads for real companies in the ways we do in real life

 

(billboards,commercials) etc.

 

Then I wouldn't have a problem w/ it.

[Prince_Polaris]

 

Ever since I abandoned TV and installed ublock on everything I rarely see advertisements, the last f*cking thing I need is them in a f*cking 60 dollar game

 

Thanks for your post it just gave me an idea for an opt-in opt-out option I've just added to the poll.

 

lol okay, that's not too bad I guess

 

 

 

 

On topic though, people have mentioned YouTube's advertisement problems, if advertisements are scared of someone saying ni**er on YouTube, then why the hell would they want to have their ads in a M rated game with strippers and NPCs who scream more profanity than sailors at you all day? You really think Pepsi is gonna want you to think of f*cking merryweather calling you a cocksucker every time you see their billboards?

[B_Smiles]

Just thinking about the backlash would put me off lol

I mean, who knows what'll happen in the future?

 

(hi Di.)

[Guest]

No answer on the poll reflects my thoughts so I cannot vote.

 

I wouldn't drop it, I wouldn't think it's good either though.

 

Adverts in GTA are and have always been a gentle ribbing to real world products and/or events, replacement for real adverts would ruin a part of the game that I personally feel is very important to the feel of GTA overall.

[Big_Show]

Problem would be trying to find brands willing to risk their image advertising on a crime sim as notorious as GTA

[ViceOfLiberty]

There's a problem with your logic.

 

GTA itself isn't advertiser friendly...

[livejoker]

Problem would be trying to find brands willing to risk their image advertising on a crime sim as notorious as GTA

What you on about? Modders force-shagging people and people yelling in their mics from getting their sales blown up is selling like hot cakes. HOT. CAKES.

Edited September 27, 2017 by livejoker

[No Use For A Name]

Companies don't really want to align themselves with something that promotes prostitution, violence against women, insubordination towards law enforcement, gambling, and criminal activity

 

...lol unless it's the NFL. Advertisers are totally cool with that.

Edited September 27, 2017 by Coninefan

[Big_Show]

But if they did, it wouldn't bother me. It's just like product placement in TV/Movies etc. I think you'd all quickly warm to the idea if everything was a lot cheaper.

 

I would miss the funny brands though, some of those radio adds are gold!

[Dacelo]

This game costs $60 to start with + playing GTAO and affording all the stuff either costs a decent chunk of shark cards or a lot of time invested and Rockstar profits from both Shark Cards and the initial purchase on top of being a multi billion dollar company, I don't think they really need to implement ads. They aren't hurting for revenue. Not to mention that it would be incredibly out of place considering that literally every brand in GTA is a parody.

Edited September 27, 2017 by D.B. Cooper

[CuteFaceJay]

 

 

Ever since I abandoned TV and installed ublock on everything I rarely see advertisements, the last f*cking thing I need is them in a f*cking 60 dollar game

 

Thanks for your post it just gave me an idea for an opt-in opt-out option I've just added to the poll.

 

You really think Pepsi is gonna want you to think of f*cking merryweather calling you a cocksucker every time you see their billboards?

 

 

I'm pretty sure that recent Pepsi ad campaign that had everyone triggered would fit in a game like GTAO would it not?

 

We've seen company's have product placement in films and TV shows with just as equal type of things being said and or done on screen to that of a game. I'm not saying that X company wants to be seen associated with X type of content but some do because they know there is a market in such areas and are fine with it being associated.

 

I'm not here to say who would want an ad in GTAO but I know that some companies out there will want one.

But as you said and are right some companies just won't want to and that's fine.

[TankGirl]

Nope I dont want to see real stuff in GTA. I love my Horny's and Pisswasser.

[Sanches]

I don't even care about prices now. I care about quality.
Also if this will stop "I heard you wanted to make money? Buy bunker!!" phone calls then tick me in.

P.S. A bit offtopic, but we still have GTA V PS3 release poster on one of the buses riding around the town.

Edited September 27, 2017 by Sanches

[Shadowfennekin]

I'd drop the game eventually.

Not as fast as I will once the virgins have NG consoles modded

 

 

It would ruin the atmosphere of the series even more than the rocket bike did.

Except it didn't.....

[CuteFaceJay]

There's a problem with your logic.

 

GTA itself isn't advertiser friendly...

 

The environment such as a digital billboard or a radio plug that isn't advertiser friendly?

 

The only reason this "advertiser friendly" thing kicked off was because the money made from those ads would in some way fund people making things like ISIS videos right?

 

Thus becoming association with a company brand like Coke-cola through a 3rd party?

 

[jwdrinkwaterjr]

While I would have no issues with some billboard, radio, and TV advertising, I don't believe it would lead to cheaper prices for players. Or a map expansion. Or SP DLC. Or a quality of life update. Or a tuners DLC. Basically insert whatever it is the playerbase wants. We still wouldn't get it. Not even if gross revenue topped one billion a year.

Edited September 27, 2017 by jwdrinkwaterjr

[Zader]

I mean, I barely play anymore as is. My entire clique has kind of moved on from the game, since it's stagnating. This would probably do well to put me off entirely.

 

I think meatspace brands appearing in the game would be jarring, considering all the ones you interact with are wholly fictional.

Weirds me out in other games, certainly would in GTA of all things.

 

I suspect people would think it to be more of Take-Two's greed come to light, getting that sweet, sweet ad money on top of all their whales and whatnot, and there'd be a decline in players. Especially considering they'd never rebalance any of the old prices after getting new funding. The next update wouldn't be any cheaper, Shark Cards would still have a dedicated button in the Online menu, and payouts would still be smaller than my tiny girl dick.

[Jamwes]

I picked the "opt in/out" one. I'd be cool with non-intrusive ads that fit the game and the game's style. Such as billboards that have a real product, but are done in an advertising marketing style like the in game products. Too many ads, ads that don't match the setting, or anything too obtrusive and I'm out.

[Cahill--EFC]

Could be a good idea, make funds to run and maintain a game...... and even the older one, look at how Red Dead got dumped when GTA5 was released.

 

The server went to ruin when Rockstar abandoned it.

[effenG]

I have an extremely intense aversion to all forms of advertising. I would absolutely NOT play GTA if I had to be subjected to that crap.

[DigitalNikki]

I like the idea. If they make the ads fit the city it would make the game more realistic. I doubt they would change their shark ca..cash grab, but I think the game would be better.

 

PS

No I didn't vote because there are no options for what I said.

Edited September 27, 2017 by aDigitalPhantom