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OMD Digital is set to launch an in-game ads program in Saudi Arabia, which is the first of its kind in the Arab world.

“Gaming is a very significant hobby for the Saudi youth, both males and females,…

They are going to be targeting youth through Burnout, Guitar Hero, NFS Pro Street , Pro Evolution Soccer and other major Xbox and PC titles. With Dubi and parts of the Middle East gaining traction with digital technology. This is only the start of a new revenue stream for a region known for piracy. Mobile technology is also one of the fastest growing technologies in this region and should become a compliment for in-game ads as more games go mobile.

[Via Business24-7.ae]

Gamespot use the dubious honors awards to point out games that shines in the spotlight in a negative manner. The choices are fun and some are down right bad ideas when you think about them… no wait they had bad execution really. See what the editors and readers picked.

Dubious Honors:
2004:
Editors Pick: Need for Speed Underground 2
Readers Choice: N/A

2005:
Editors Pick: SWAT 4
Readers Choice: N/A

2006:
Editors Pick: Fight Night Round 3
Readers Choice: Battlefield 2142 (PC)

2007:
Editors Pick: Need for Speed ProStreet
Readers Choice: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

Do you agree with these choices?

Last year I mentioned Sony’s in-game ad unit (here and here) and how this is an interesting move and competes with Microsofts’ Massive, Google’s AdScape.

Sony’s open platform is a clear departure from how things are done on Microsoft’s Xbox, whose exclusive model means all dynamic in-game ads must be brokered through Massive, a company the software giant acquired in May 2006. That acquisition essentially closed off the opportunity for other in-game ad brokers to sell inventory in games that run on its Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles — and it elevated the bet they are placing on Sony.

I can see how Sony’s plan could complicate things but at the same time I think it’ll all work itself out in the long run. I know if I want first party action I talk with Sony. Otherwise I talk with the publisher who may or may not tell me to talk with their in-game rep. One thing I could see happening is publishers got their own in-game ad team… especial if Sony’s system is going stay this open. You’ll always have to buy through Massive for Microsoft, but not with Sony. Sony also signed that deal last year with Nielsen to help measure in-game advertising as well as hiring Darlene Kindler, who was most recently was at AdScape, to head up their in-game ad team. Sony is making a gamble but I think it will edge out Microsoft in the end. Plus I always love cheering for the “underdog”.

[Via AdAge]

Here’s a table showing marketing activity across multiple virtual worlds. It’s not an exhaustive list, but it’s pretty close (and will be updated as and when).

Kzero put together this great chart. You would think with all the attention Coke gets in Second Life (here, here and here) that they would be the biggest markets in virtual worlds. However, that is simple not the case as Toyota is leading the pack with 5 different marketing initiatives across varies virtual worlds. You can also check out Kzero’s chart on registered users within each virtual world. They even have a few listed that aren’t launched yet.

[Via Kzero]

I was looking through the bookmarked items this morning in my rss feed and came across this story in the New York Times; More Than Games, a Net to Snare Social Networkers. The story talks about the Zynga Game Network, a company devoted to developing online games that work on the pages of popular sites like Facebook and MySpace.

Not a week goes by that I don’t read about another company looking to tap into social gaming and the idea that you have to build communities around your game in order to support the advertising. The only problem is and this is a big problem really. The market is becoming to saturated with everyone wanting to get involved in Facebook and soon MySapce’s game section. I believe in the idea of the Long Tail by Chris Anderson. However, I also know there are only so many people in the world that can support so many versions of Texas hold ’em or Scrabble like clones.

A piece of advise for my marketing peers. Tread lightly if you’ve not already entered this space. In a few months it’ll be one year since Faccebook opened up its API and the battle to be number one or even get decent traction is harder then it was just 9 months ago. Check out the Playstations 3 demo of Home at GDC below. Maybe this isn’t the future of social gaming but it’s a fun interpretations of what it could be.

Update: GameDaily’s AdWatch has a short interview with the CEO of Zynga Game Network.