OMG!!! WE ARE SURROUNDED!!!October 14, 2008 - 21:18 ET by TheSter

Video games feature ads for Obama's campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) - Too busy playing video games to watch presidential ads on television? Barack Obama has found you, too, by becoming the first presidential candidate to buy ad space inside a game.

Nine video games from Electronic Arts Inc., ranging from the extremely popular "Madden 09" football game to the street racing "Burnout: Paradise," feature in-game ads from the Obama campaign. The ads—they appear on billboards and other signage—remind players that early voting has begun and plug a campaign Web site.

The idea of embedding advertising temporarily inside a video game is relatively new, having only begun about 18 months ago, and Obama is the first presidential candidate to buy space, company officials said.

The Democrat's ads are aimed at gamers who like sports, including NASCAR, NBA, NHL and skateboarding, meaning EA Sports' motto, "It's in the game," now applies to presidential politics as well.

EA spokeswoman Holly Rockwood would not say how much the ads cost, but she said they are running on the Xbox Live versions of the game through Nov. 3. They began earlier this month.

The timing of the Obama ads within the video game varies from state to state. Players in smaller states may see the Obama ads for the whole month, while users in bigger states may see them for a shorter period.

"It reaches an audience that is typically hard to reach—young males, roughly 18 to 34," said Rockwood. "That's very appealing to our advertisers."

For those who still associate video games with clunky "Pac Man" or "Space Invaders" consoles, here's how in-game advertising works: The Xbox 360 console connects to the Internet, so it can be updated with new features, including ads. In the case of "Burnout," the game came out in stores in January, but the Obama ads were only inserted this month.

Rockwood declined to say how much revenue the company generates from selling ad space in its games.

"What we're trying to do is offer ads in games where we're simulating a real-world environment, so our racing games, our sports games lend themselves to that," she said.

I have Burnout: Paradise City for the PS3...I'll check it out for myself.

Ster.

There is too much about this campaign that is just too weird. This, for one. I mean, think about it: Who are these ads aimed at? Online video-game players. Now, not to ruffle any feathers, but is that really going to amount to a substantial voting group? I can see trying to appeal to younger voters, but I'm pretty sure that statistics show most of them don't actually bother to vote. Ah, the "early voting" angle, of course.

Almost all of Obama's recent ads I've seen push that. I got a flyer stuffed in my mailbox today telling me about early voting, where it was, and who to call if I needed a ride there. I think "early voting" is a horrible idea. We have Election Day, set by law. There are accomodations made already for absentee voters. So, why do we need "early voting?" I can think of only two reasons: convenience, and fraud.

So, if you're too damn lazy to bother exercising your right to vote on Election Day, why, you can just vote any old time it's convenient for you. We don't want to put you out. Maybe when you get off-line to run to Burger King for lunch, you can swing by and drop off your vote. Because we want to count every vote, even if it's not important enough for you to go to any trouble. We need your vote so badly, we'll do anything to get it.

Geez, I'm rambling and it's late. Fraud, wanted to mention that. The only other reason I can see for this BS. But I also wanted to raise another point. Why does it seem that Obama is running an ad blitz? I've seen and heard LOTS of Obama ads in the last few days. But "the polls" show him ahead! This race is over, right? The media says so! So, why doesn't Obama believe them?

This "early voting" crap has to go. Get off your lazy a$$, and go vote on Election Day. It's only once every 4 (okay, 2 technically) years, for cryin' out loud! The potential for vote fraud is too great to risk it just for people's "convenience." And Obama is really pushing it. Wonder why?

There's more to this than meets the eye.

Previously: Obama runs ads in video games

Late-breaking development: ACORN swings into action to register all the virtual characters from "The Sims" and "Grand Theft Auto" to ensure that we 'count every vote' for Obama (and even several million that don't really exist)....

The working title is 'Grand Theft: POTUS', but rumor has it that it might be "The ONE" when it's realeased in mid January.

You want change? Give me a dollar.

That billboard ad should say Early Ballot Box stuffing has begun.

alleviate poverty that has built up over centuries...

I'd never seen this quote before...  what a mountain size load!  Over Centuries, eh? Dear God! 

So, at what point are we, The Rabble, going to be required to have official pictures of our Dear Leader in our homes and workplaces?  And, when will the Alien and Sedition Acts be reinstated to make criticism of Dear Leader a crime (probably an official hate crime)?

I'm going to have to disagree on the "hypocrisy" arguement.  I don't think his statement was to completely stop playing video games but (like with all activities) play with moderation.

There's nothing wrong with gaming, but if you do nothing but gaming, you're gonna have problems (and this is coming from someone who considers himself a "gamer.")

You can apply that to most every hobby/activity that exists.  If you're raising a kid, you don't want to just plant him in front of a TV/Video game all day just because it's "easier" to deal with.  You mix it up, make him go play with his friends outside, play some sports, etc.

You don't have to pick up an XBox and toss it in the trash to do that.