Interactive Branded Entertainment

Want a Coke With That Railgun?

New technologies make it easier for ads to be integrated with games and for publishers to build in ad-related content, which can be sold on the fly and for which payments can be collected.

Mitsubishi launches a digital game to promote Eclipse

Thrill Ride Challenge' Offers Virtual Races on Roads Around the World

DETROIT (Adage.com) -- Mitsubishi Motors North America next week will launch an online digital game to promote the introduction of its redesigned 2006 Eclipse, a Mitsubishi spokeswoman said.

Sony Ericsson 'Park Life'

UK Online Marketing Campaign

The Axe effect - Unilever Plays Games With Body Spray

According to consumer product company Unilever, along with sports, music and girls, video games are one of the key mass media needed to target young men. Therefore, it makes sense that the company would tap WildTangent to create an intricate advergame for its Axe body spray. In an exclusive interview, Unilever's David Rubin discusses how the company used video games to capture the elusive young male demo.

An ecological advergame for Totalgaz

Crossvalue has created an advergame for Totalgaz with the aim of explaining the advantages of its ecological GPL Premier. The game challenges players at saving the city from pollution by discovering the GPL Premier logos around the streets.
The initiative also gives away prizes: one year of Total fuel for free, a vacation for two and a bunch of 20€ fuel vouchers.

WildTangent Puts Ads in Games, Jeep Signs On

Online game publisher WildTangent has signed on as the latest company to integrate ads into its gaming network. The effort is part of a new partnership with 24/7 Real Media.

Under the agreement, the Redmond, WA-based publisher will implement 24/7 Real Media's Open AdStream ad management technology into games, which inserts in-game ads and tracks the number and duration of impression each ad generates. The technology can change or rotate ads to keep them fresh.

Army has next-gen in its battle plans

"America's Army" has proven a strong and popular game franchise, and this fall will move from the PC to the console market.

Quick! Name the online video game that has over 5-1/2 million registered users but has never earned a dime. And, while you're pondering, know that the wildly popular massive multiplayer online game (MMOG) "World Of Warcraft" has just half that audience -- 2-plus million subscribers -- and it is considered a mega-hit.

McDonald's, Sony Serve Up PlayStation with Big Mac

PlayStation fits Big Mac's entertainment strategy

McDonald's Corp. this week breaks an instant-win game for Big Mac, giving away Sony PlayStation Portable systems.

The system, nicknamed PSP, plays videogames, movies and music. Codes on Big Mac and fry boxes send players online to see if they win a system or one of 50,000 smaller PlayStation prizes. Arc Worldwide, Chicago, handles.

Steal a car, Start a game, find 10,000 buyers

Most car companies try to avoid any bad news when rolling out a new vehicle. Not Audi.
'Art of the Heist' was a launch campaign for the A3 compact disguised as an elaborate thriller.

The deal: Audi employs a cast of fictional characters to steal and retrieve its new A3 in "The Art of the Heist" campaign.

The result: The effort hasn’t just piqued interest in the A3, it has also boosted sales for all of Audi’s models.

Mitsubishi Issues Web 'Thrill Ride Challenge'

NEW YORK-- Mitsubishi Motors said it would break an online ad campaign next week that drives Yahoo visitors to a branded interactive game.