In-Game Ads Invading Wipeout HD

The Playstation Network game, Wipeout HD, now features in-game ads. Sony sneakily added it in via a new patch. Wipeout HD was first shown to the public in the middle of 2007. It was one of the most ambitious projects on the Playstation Network yet. For a downloadable game, its production value is through the roof. Even today, it remains one of the best-looking games on the Playstation 3 with its vibrant visuals and silky smooth frame rate. Wipeout HD also has several multiplayer options including two-player spilt-screen and eight-player online modes.

Needless to say, this Playstation Network exclusive title is about as content rich as a download-only game can be. For that reason, however, the game was delayed until it was finally released on September 25, 2008. The development cycle of Wipeout HD is similar to your typical game that would have been sold at full price at retail. These games usually cost $59.99 new when first released.

A Playstation Network game like Wipeout HD should be far cheaper, however. This is because the publisher only has to worry about putting the game up for download on the Playstation Store. Extraneous costs like manufacturing and shipping expenses are eliminated from the equation by making a game download-only. Not to mention that the publisher gets all the revenue instead of having to share with the middleman retailer.

Sony needed to find the medium between the high-production values of Wipeout HD and it being a Playstation Network title. They decide with the price point of $19.99. Although many considered it a fair price, Sony didn't thought that it will be enough to cover the costs of Wipeout HD.

Because of that, they decided to add in-game advertisement into the game nearly a year later after its launch. During a load screen in the game, a brief video advertisement will now be displayed. This only happens when you first load a track. Not to mention that the ad appears rarely through the course of your play session, if at all.

Many fans of Wipeout HD are upset, however, because they weren't informed of in-game advertisements. Sony quietly added that feature into a patch without telling the fan base. Furthermore, many thought that, since they paid for the game, there shouldn't be any advertisement in it whatsoever.

The numerous complaints apparently will be address by Sony. However, the company behind this particular in-game advertisement, Double Fusion, is already planning to include more of it in other Playstation 3 games before the end of 2009. Wipeout HD may just be the start of a growing trend for Playstation 3 games.