Virtual Learning Worlds

Advertising in games seems to be a growing trend, with ads showing up a lot now in racing games, and even some MOOs (Matrix Online). I haven’t really paid much attention to it up until now, because most of the games I play (WoW, Wii soon, assorted FPSs) haven’t incorporated ads into the game-world.

Well, I’m starting to worry. A firm that specializes in in-game advertisements now has $26M in venture capital to expand its capabilities.

The funding comes from DF’s existing investors, Accel Partners and Jerusalem Venture, and strategic investors Time Warner, Hearst Corporation, IDG Ventures Pacific and Sedona Capital.

Some of these investors are big names, which makes me believe this is a trend that is going to gain momentum, not fade away. My feelings on this parralel Dr. Castronova’s thoughts on virtual currency. Games are all about fantastic, fabricated environments for PLAY that allow people to briefly escape their realities into a world of fiction and wonder. Now I’m going to enter these worlds and see advertisements for McDonalds and Coca-Cola.

In the words of Kramer…that’s just GREAT!!!