Millions of people each and every day play an online game called a MMORPG or Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. These online games are not just for kids and teenagers. Only twenty five percent of gamers are in fact teenagers. Where does the other seventy five percent come from? Fifty percent of the people that play the game have full-timed job and thirty six percent of them are married. The average gamers are twenty six years old. No this is not just your classic “nerds” with huge glasses playing these games; these games have had a huge impact on people’s everyday life.
The opportunities here are endless with millions of people in a certain area it can create a lot of different ways a business can advertise. The MMORPG are not the only ones that have taken advantage of the advertising opportunities. Companies such as Electronic Arts (EA) have been finding ways to make more money by engulfing the user in advertisements. EA, known for creating very popular video games such as the Madden NFL series as well as The Sims among countless others. Sometimes all this advertising can cause a problem to the user when it is blatant and in the open. When you have advertisements flashing up every play such as this one it can create a huge problem for the user and be a huge annoyance.
When used right, it can be used add to the realism of the game as shown here by President Obama in another EA game Burnout Paradise when the President was first running for office and in the HP advertisement below.
When used in the background it can surely enhance your gaming experience, but used aggressively it can also ruin it. Online gaming presents a way for people to be able to interact with people from all over the world. It can also create for businesses to advertise and come up with different plans to take advantage of online gaming.
In what ways has online gaming changing marketing plans?
What advantages for a hospitality community does online gaming present?
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Online gaming is a great way to pass free time. There are many people that spend a majority of their daily lives playing these games for either their job or just for fun. It takes a lot of skill be able to sit in front of a computer for a sufficient amount of time and play these games. The virtual word is a great way to create a virtual reality of a life that you would like to be apart of. Online gaming has changed marketing plans tremendously. Companies continuously find unique ways to market their brand. Online games seem to be a great way to advertise new and unspoken brands to a specific target market. Most of the time these advertisements can be extremely annoying, so it is important to display them in a specific way. The pictures above are great examples of cleverly displaying a new and upcoming brand. The amount of online gamers grows each year. The hospitality industry will benefit from the online gaming community. There will always be a party that needs to be thrown to launch a new game or a dinner party at a restaurant. This industry will continuously grow and online gaming will constantly find a way to identify its specific brand in a distinctive way.
ReplyDeleteMost people do play video games for their free time just as they watch tv in their free time. Just like commercials though, video games are finally getting marketing plans for other companies through in game billboards
DeleteWhen reading the statistics I was amazed to find out that only 25% of games are teenagers and the average age player is 26. I guess I am realizing that online gaming is an industry that will continue to grow, and you do not have to be a kid to play them. Companies and brands are smart to market this way since online gaming is continuing to grow as well as the demographics are definitely people who will be buying products. Personally, I know that advertisements can be annoying, but the subtle ones in the background, that don't interrupt or distraction you, can go a long way. Even if the gamer doesn't take the time to stop playing and look at the ad, they may quickly notice it and that could stick with them. The Hospitality Industry can grow from this if hotels and restaurants decide to advertise throughout the game. As of now, I have never seen a subtle ad for a restaurant or hotel, but if they can find a way to incorporate it, it can be beneficial.
ReplyDeleteI was shocked at the statistics. When the president is getting involved you know it is an industry for someone to take over
DeleteGreat blog! Most people aren't aware that gaming crosses all demographics!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the mention! You could also link www.TheSocialMediaBible.
-Lon Safko, author of The Social Media Bible
Thank you. I actually use your SocialMediaBible as the textbook for my class. It has been very helpful. I like it and will continue to use it for the next semester.
DeleteAfter reading this blog and learning the statistics, like Nicole B., i was also extremely shocked to see that only 26% of the online game players are teenagers and that the average age is actually 26. It really shows that if one person is interested in such a product like video games then there must be more people within that market who would like it as well. Video games are a fantastic pass-time activity, for apparently anyone at any age. People play a specific online games for years just to be able to "complete" it, or master its ways. Online gaming has changed marketing planning, for the better in many ways. It is a way for companies, such as bing, to advertise themselves like in the example from this blog. Companies use online gaming to advertise themselves because they know that a large percentage of their target market is usually playing these and will most likely pay attention to the advertisement within their game. A hospitality community can benefit from online gaming because it can them to advertise themselves and get their name out there.
ReplyDeleteIt was quite surprised that only 25% of online game players are teenagers. I'm 23 and many of my friends are playing online games very much and very often. As we discussed in class, WoW is really popular MMORPG among people because most of the friends enjoy very much to play WoW. It's funny that guys like to hang out each other with playing games together unlike girls. They are like eating or drinking at the same time while they are playing games. I pernosally don't understand their world, but I can see that how much online games beloved by people regardless of age. Hospitality community can take advantages from online gaming by publiszing their names. Since there is none I've ever seen any hotels or restaurants that are using onilng gaming as a marketing tool, it would be interesting if there is one.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it is such an untapped market that companies will begin trying to take advantage of the capabilities. With so many different kinds of games out there, hospitality companies will be able to fit their company into the many types of games.
DeleteAdvertising in online games is a way to increase brand recognition and sales. However, I feel that it only applies to big companies, cooperations or chain restaurants. Players are from all over the world in online games so only national companies like Hilton, McDonalds and Sheraton are more likely to get tangible results from this method.
ReplyDeleteSome industries have more benefits than others, for example car brands can create models for car racing games. However, giving the fact that top online games are action basis, it doesn't seem to be an effective method for hospitality companies.
Valid point, but how hard is it to put an advertisement for the Sheraton in a game such as Call of Duty. They draw from real life cities anyway and it wouldn't distract from the actual game
DeleteThere is a large following for online gaming so it is imperative for marketing professionals to use it to an advantage. When people see a product constantly, they are more prone to purchasing it at a later time. In the hospitality world, online gaming puts forth the advantage of having an ad place in the players view, so they ultimately cannot miss it. Hospitality businesses can implement their products within online gaming such as restaurant brand names as well as hotels and casinos. There are many different and innovative things that hospitality businesses can do so that their brand is seen.
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