IGA putting ads into Counter-Strike

Valve signs agreement for its popular online first-person shooter with the in-game advertising firm that worked on Battlefield 2142.

In-game ad firm IGA Worldwide announced today that it landed one of the biggest fish in the online gaming pond, signing an exclusive agreement with Valve to provide dynamic advertising to the first-person shooter Counter-Strike. IGA Worldwide hasn't said what form its ads will take in Counter-Strike or when they will first begin appearing. The firm most recently found itself in gamers' crosshairs after a disclaimer about the company's in-game ad technology was included in boxed copies of Electronic Arts' Battlefield 2142. When users claimed the disclaimer was a cover for installing spyware on users' machines, IGA CEO Justin Townsend strenuously denied the accusation and said the only data the company retrieves from a user's computer has to do with where they live (so localized ads can be targeted), as well as what ads they see, how large, and from which angle.

285 Comments

  • Charlie2688

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 5:57 pm PT

    OMG

  • dynamicforce21

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 5:58 pm PT

    I stopped reading after "Valve signs agreement for its popular online first-person shooter with the in-game advertising firm that worked on Battlefield 2142."

    /quits Counterstrike forever.

  • xtremeg4m3r

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 5:58 pm PT

    WOW not cool

  • ReckHavoc

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 5:59 pm PT

    Valve... how could you?

  • Sonicwizard

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 5:59 pm PT

    Ads in which version of CS?

  • sixseventeen617

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:00 pm PT

    Sounds like spyware to me. Even if they "claim" it isn't.

  • bored88

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:03 pm PT

    Counter Strike players are going to spend zero time looking at ads.

  • Mikariutza

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:03 pm PT

    Well, after all the bad press about BF this was kinda unexpected.

  • --Magnum91--

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:04 pm PT

    Valve...you suck!

  • T1Panda

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:05 pm PT

    That's kind of lame.

  • l33tdaedalus

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:06 pm PT

    Another reason to play CS 1.6 over CS: Source.

    I never expected this move from such a fantastic studio like Valve. They are rolling in the dough already!

    Shame on you, Valve. Shame.

    EDIT: Cripes, they're putting them in 1.6 too? WHY?!

  • GIJames248

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:06 pm PT

    I don't care about in-game advertising as long as it isn't glaring or distracting. I haven't even noticed it in BF2142. As long as they don't put it in Oblivion or something stupid like that I'm fine.

  • djenhancr

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:06 pm PT

    ADS in a war game...wow...classic. We're all being watched whether we like it or not folks. Get used to it...or fight back by not buying the product. Simple as that.

  • PSdual_wielder

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:06 pm PT

    why would valve do this us!! Sorry, but I have to say I'm going to stay away from Counter Strike now.

  • Beymaster1

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:07 pm PT

    NOoOoOoOo

  • kenshinhimura16

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:08 pm PT

    "Nothing better than camping and drinking a Coke" This is the future of Online gaming

  • AbstractTerror

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:08 pm PT

    Oh my god. I want to kill myself now

  • iloverose

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:11 pm PT

    never liked cs but this is just sad.

  • onemic

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:12 pm PT

    WTF is this? I thought valve would know better. Looks like they're turning into EA....

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:14 pm PT

    For shame, Valve. Geez, you'd think they'd vote to avoid the backlash instead.

  • LupineStalker

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:15 pm PT

    Dear Valve,
    You suck.
    Sincerely,
    A Devoted Customer

    Seriously, has anyone thought about the repercussions of this on competative gaming? I mean, no company is going to sponsor an event if their rival company has advertising in the game that they are playing!

  • lakai0rdie

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:17 pm PT

    I think it goes without saying that this is even effective. I'm pretty sure people have heard of these companies and seeing and ad for them won't make them go out and buy their product. It just doesn't make sense for me, except for the game's higher-ups getting more money. It's like they put Burger King in a game to inform people that there is one. In that respect, I guess it's good for those of you with counterstrike as your only means of connection to the outside world. I really don't care if there are ads in the game, anyway. It just doesn't make that big of a difference for me to care.

  • TRH4469

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:18 pm PT

    so lame, companies would advertise to you while you're dreaming if they could

  • evilbanshee

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:18 pm PT

    l33tdaedalus, they're putting it in 1.6 only for now as a test. I haven't seen word yet on when or if it'll hit Source.

  • kyosukeugc

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:19 pm PT

    we freakin pay for servers... shouldn't we have a say... Is valve going to start providing all the servers?

  • Internecivus

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:26 pm PT

    Screw that, sir.

  • ctkxtreme

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:26 pm PT

    well this will piss my brother off

  • KnightsofRound

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:29 pm PT

    Wow, I'm not playing Counter-Strike anymore because this is utter bull****

  • juanfraino

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:31 pm PT

    They better not putt any adds on my sever.

  • xtremeskier2006

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:33 pm PT

    Who cares? Its not going to change the great game that is CS, so why do you all go bs about it?

  • Morcon

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:35 pm PT

    noooo000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

  • coolguy1111

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:38 pm PT

    People are making a big deal over nothing. Do you honestly think Valve will let them go over board? All this means is a small ad in the score board, coke or Pepsi vending machines, and the occasional poster.

  • Timbydude

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:40 pm PT

    It doesn't matter; I can't remember right now, but in cs-office, aren't there already like Pepsi machines and posters for companies?

  • sircyrus

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:44 pm PT

    Haha, if this gets into CS it's going to become so widespread it wont even be funny. CS is the most played FPS multiplayer game (aside from some MMO's it's the most played multiplayer game period). Get ready for ads in everything, and no drop in retail price! Awesome! /sarcasm

  • xXJonoXx

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:45 pm PT

    In-game ad firm IGA Worldwide announced today that it landed one of the biggest fish in the online gaming pond, signing an exclusive agreement with Blizzard to provide dynamic advertising to the massively online role playing game World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade.

    ^^ next week's news

  • StephenHu

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:46 pm PT

    its not that bad, you see sprays all over by other players, its just gonna be like sprays but shameless sprays lol

  • Superstrokey

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:46 pm PT

    i never saw the stuff in BF but if they can add adverts that add a touch of realism to the game ill be all for it. IF its just some gay lameass blatant adverts for stupid things that wont interest me ill be pissed

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:51 pm PT

    in game ads never bothered me

  • spike042

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:53 pm PT

    If you stop playing CS cos of this you're an a$$ in my opinion. In what way is a wall being painted differently gonna affect the game? Jeez people, its not like its turning into shoot the coke can to win a picture of a shoe...

  • ryanthegreat232

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:54 pm PT

    Jono- Blizzard doesent need the money from IGA to keep the game afloat....however you never know how much money is too much with them.

  • demiveeman

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:55 pm PT

    This is old news, Gamespot. This has been circulating the Counter-Strike scene for some time now. There was even an interview with one of the big guys at Valve involving the in-game advertisement deal. Way to be on top of things... -_-'

  • Danold

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 6:57 pm PT

    Eh, thats kind of a bummer. I thought Steam was all about the customers. This isn't greedy, it's just somewhat annoying

  • maddogmark25

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 7:00 pm PT

    as long as they arent actually ingame in the form of textures on walls, i dont have a problem with it. It is ok if it is an ad on the MOTD screen, or on the Buy screen, or on things like vending machines, and if they match the theme of the map, but if I see a big pepsi ad on the short a wall in dust 2, i will be pissed

  • the-very-best

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 7:09 pm PT

    In game ads are very annoying, and I think people ignore them anyway, so what the hell's the point in putting them in there?

  • Ryo_Kensen

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 7:09 pm PT

    If they put in game advertising in any Half-Life games, I will jump off a building in rag doll physics style.

  • dvs98

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 7:10 pm PT

    Wait untill they start putting commercials in our games.

  • VegetaJr

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 7:12 pm PT

    I love how that ad firm will announce such deals as if they were something we as gamers should be excited for. You wanna put more ads in my games, fine. Pass the savings onto me through lower retail prices. What a bunch of jack offs.

  • styx56

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 7:12 pm PT

    I hate Ads in video games they are soooooooo annoying.

  • James_Bond2k3

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 7:13 pm PT

    Grrr, just one of the big reasons why I didn't buy Battlefield 2142!

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