PlanetSide jumps on in-game ad bandwagon

Sony Online Entertainment today joined the nascent in-game ad network, Massive, Inc. Massive already has deals inked with Ubisoft and Vivendi Universal to stream ads into those companies' networked games. Similarly, Massive will stream billboard-type ads into the PlanetSide game universe starting later this month. There was no mention of which advertisers are on board. SOE's director of business development, Louis Figueroa, framed the deal as one that will lend needed financial support to the more than two-year-old massively multiplayer role-playing game. "Realizing another revenue stream in PlanetSide will ultimately be good for the entire PlanetSide community," Figueroa said. "The additional income will allow us to support the game with continued development and new features that the community has been asking for."