XBLA gets its first advergame

Toyota's Yaris debuts on Xbox 360 downloadable game service this week, plugs car line of the same name.

While some companies prefer to place their advertising messages into existing games, others feel it a better use of money to spend their advertising budget on making games developed solely to promote their product.

If ever a racer needed good controls, it's this one.

The most notable advergaming experiment to date has been the Burger King trilogy of Xbox and Xbox 360 titles. Released in 2006 as $3.99 add-ons to combo meals, Sneak King, Big Bumpin', and Pocketbike Racer combined to sell more than 3.2 million copies and helped spur the fast-food franchise's quarterly profits by 40 percent.

Now the Xbox 360's downloadable game service is getting its own advergame, as Microsoft today announced that Toyota's Yaris will be one of this week's Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday releases. The game lets players hop behind the wheel of one of three new Yaris models and race through oddly twisting tracks, shooting enemies with a tentacle rooted in the car's hood, collecting loose coins, and unlocking a dozen new Xbox Live achievements along the way.

Developed by Backbone Entertainment (Death Jr., Brooktown High), Yaris is also the first Live Arcade game that's only available for a specifically limited time; US and Canada users will only be able to download the title for the next year.

While Yaris is the first advergame to make it to Live Arcade, it won't be the last. PepsiCo ran a contest recently looking for concepts for a Doritos-themed game, with the winning entry being released over Xbox Live.

136 Comments

  • ThAdEa82

    Posted May 20, 2008 2:05 pm PT

    Just a lame game. I can at least think of one way I would have taken a Yaris game and that idea is staying in my brain...and it would have been waaaay better. The Yaris has appeal...this game does not

  • zhevox

    Posted Feb 2, 2008 11:06 am PT

    wtf a toyota game...with yaris!

  • Ouji-San

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 4:37 am PT

    No idea why ppl hate this but I was having fun with this game ^_^.

    198 something thousand was my highest score

  • supersonicGO

    Posted Nov 7, 2007 12:35 am PT

    food AND GAMES JUST GO TOGETHER

  • ryanritter

    Posted Oct 14, 2007 11:29 am PT

    Horrible Game.

  • X360MadMan

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 1:23 am PT

    UK? nop. Toyota, LOL.

  • hrah

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 12:39 am PT

    boring as hell, i'm letting my nephew play it, he liked it, then again, he think SpongeBob SquarePants is funny, ANYHOW , MORE points for my gamertag, after getting the points is bye,bye.

    HOPE THIS DOESN'T BECOME EPIDEMIC !

  • Ra-Devil

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 1:52 pm PT

    Nonono, the next Advergame will be called "Franchise Crasher", where you have to go from one store to another destroying as many PS3's and Macs as possible...


    Nah, Sony and Apple are cool. I wonder if this game will be aweful or mildly enjoyable?

  • lerker3a

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 6:50 pm PT

    Advergay!

  • willripyouanew1

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 4:56 pm PT

    If its free I'll give it a shot.

  • Pedro7_2000

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 12:22 pm PT

    +200 more points (nice...)

  • JBiker51

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 1:06 am PT

    Soon, Axe will probably come out with a "Snap the Strap" game or something like that.

  • Delongman

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 11:57 am PT

    tomorrow my birthday! Anyways, they had Burger King on the 360??? Next up will be some Adidas soccer Mini-game

  • WeaponXQc

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 11:48 am PT

    I don't mind in-game ads since it helps funding games. I even enjoy dynamic ads that are slowing gettin' into games too (i.e. Skate. I ended up gettin' french local Bell Canada ads). Made me smile. I still remember drivin' by Burger Kings in NFS:U2... and it did make the world look a bit more real...by addin' buildings that we are all used to see while we're driving in real life. I just hope that the Yaris game is going to be free... that game is made for marketing/ads purposes only. As long as we're not gettin "Need For Speed: The Burger King cup".. we're good.

  • Stix_3200

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 11:35 am PT

    I'm surprised more games are jumping on this bandwagon. *cough* EA *cough*..... Man I wouldn't mind a bunch of ads in my Madden and only have to pay 20 bucks for it at the store. Wouldn't this be cool? Games costing less then 20 bucks each cuz they have a butt load of ads in them... Either that or chrage me $75 bucks like you do now and don't put any ads in em.

  • ChickenHounk911

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 9:08 am PT

    It doesn't say its gonna be free does it? If its free then I don't compalin at all, even if it DOES have the crappy controls. Free is always good!

  • josh_TX

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 8:35 am PT

    Well Aegis wing wasnt bad for a free game. This reminds me of that sonic bonus level where you ran through the halfpipe trying to grab rings....Hopefully it's more fun than that.

  • dmn_link

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 8:18 am PT

    "a Doritos-themed game"

    Can it get more bizarre than this?

  • beckit_beck

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 8:04 am PT

    omg nice free xbla game

  • FLEEBS

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 7:29 am PT

    Free games are cool.

  • jcloverboy

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 6:30 am PT

    This game better be free.

  • GoUSMC

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 5:54 am PT

    WHERE'S DOOM 2

  • mattcake

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 4:55 am PT

    A game about a Yaris that can go 180mph and shoot at what look like flying ipods with a tentacle mounted on the bonnet... remember kids, stay off drugs, especially when designing games. (Only take them when *playing* games )

  • WormyTheWorm

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 4:38 am PT

    it feels like absolutely ages that a game that i want has come out on XBLA i heard that Speedball 2 is out next week though

    Is Yaris a free game? i assume this is for usa/canada only, that free aegis wing game never came out in the uk

    Tsuchikage said:
    (If it's free, then I'll download it, just for the heck of it. But, really, who wants to race a Toyota Yaris? Where's the free Ferrari F430 game, or the Corvette Z06 game? And what's up with the tentacle?)

    I think Ferrari and other quality sports car makers would rather their products appear in quality/big budget games rather than free/low budget titles
    and what do you mean "whats up with the tentacle?" all toyota Yaris' have a tentacle so they can batter unsuspecting car thieves

  • wakko19991

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 4:28 am PT

    some of the finalist in that doritos comp are garbage. there was one entry that should have been in there hands down, but oddly didn't make it.. some are saying it was a random selection because some of the finalist concepts dont even sound fun or like they have enough depth even for a simple live game...

    this has to be free...if GT can be free on PS3, surely this has to be. I'm not paying for Toyota marketing. On the other hand, it might not be since you can get achievements from it. if its not free that would suck badly

  • Tranceplant

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 11:37 pm PT

    Yaris is a nice car but an Advertgame?? WTF? Uhhh... won't mind trying unless it's free...

  • bubnux

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 11:37 pm PT

    Got to be free, maybe five people in north america would be dumb enough to pay for it.

  • Elkoman

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 11:13 pm PT

    they should release this for free with their money making coming from people that go and buy the car after playing this

  • Unreal_007

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 10:35 pm PT

    how much?

  • dyns510

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 10:00 pm PT

    "I knew video game would come to this, what happend to the days when you were called a nerd or loser because you played games, I miss them."

    LOSER !
    - feel better?

  • destrozz

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 9:50 pm PT

    I knew video game would come to this, what happend to the days when you were called a nerd or loser because you played games, I miss them

  • Soupass1

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 9:48 pm PT

    so hungry yet so poor. need cheap achievement points! POINTS!!!!!!!!!

  • axia_777

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 9:45 pm PT

    ROFL!!! An Advergame? Anyone who plays this is a SUCKER. Do not support advertising in games or it will get worse!!!!

  • Pete5506

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 8:04 pm PT

    differnet

  • Megawizard1

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 7:14 pm PT

    "ill download it and play it in a couple of milleniums after i get bored with halo 3...make a that a couple of light years."

    Stop staring at the muzzle flashes. It's corroding your brain. A light year is a measure of distance.

  • skasuperhero

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 7:09 pm PT

    A free game with achievements? why not? Even though it's an advertising tool I'll try it out.

  • PiNwOrM

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 7:07 pm PT

    As long as there is actual gameplay, and it's not entirely a walking advertisement, nothing against it I sppose.

  • Imperial_Colone

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 7:06 pm PT

    im already bored with halo 3 so, count me in

  • vaejas

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 6:57 pm PT

    "I am the LAWGIVVA!"
    Whoops, wrong car ad.

    But collecting coins while driving is genius. I can't believe nobody tried that bef.. oh wait, Mario Kart? Anyhoo, I'm curious to see what they try to do about pricing the "full" game or DLC. With the Burger King games, at least you were getting the full disc, box, manual, AND a free 2-day pass for LIVE Gold. Along with a delicious hot sandwich.

    And didn't Doritos pick the absolute worst submitted ideas on purpose? That'll be a joy. Where's Castle Crashers when you need it??

  • magicalclick

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 6:37 pm PT

    Looks nice. Hope it is free, or I will have see how fun the game is.

  • BPDecPimp

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 6:37 pm PT

    yeah, if this isn't free, they can hang it up. Consequently, i've had a lot of fun with the burger king games.

  • denaz

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 6:29 pm PT

    hmmmm Yaris... or halo 3.... yaris.... Halo 3? is there really any question hahaha

  • asmodeus_z

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 6:06 pm PT

    I dun mind a ads-sponsored game (EA games are also literally filled with them) as long as it's FUN and FREE.

  • MasterChief725

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 5:58 pm PT

    ill download it and play it in a couple of milleniums after i get bored with halo 3...make a that a couple of light years.

  • ExilRock

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 5:44 pm PT

    it better be free.

  • kdt55

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 5:43 pm PT

    It better be free, that all I have to say.

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