Word to Minority Report. Well there was always product placement in video games. But damn I’d expect something like this in xbox live. Adsense, a blogger’s best friend. I’m not mad at Google. How do you calculate cpm with your exp points? On the real, I wouldn’t even mind a real ad in place of “loading” during online gameplay. BTW, I still don’t own any 2nd gen console.

The internet empire, Google, is planning to implement its “AdSense” advertising program in video games and the company has been apparently testing it for months, according to Venture Beat.

But, things might get scary if it happens. According to the source, the tech demo showed an game character introducing an ad by saying, “And now, a word from our sponsor.” Does this mean, when we get to a climactic battle in Gears of War 2, Marcus Fenix has to drop his lancer and pick up a Pepsi?

As the report mentions, Google’s initiative of in-game ads may have started with the launch of their Second Life-like MMO, Lively By Google. And since they have been quietly testing the “AdSense” program, they might be launching it in the coming months. [ SOURCE ]