In my opinion ads in games are OK for -free- trial versions, or unregistered share-ware. An occasional nag-screen between certain levels or after closing the game advertising the full version and/or other products from the same company is perfectly acceptable.
It adds incentive for the player to pay for the registered version, and pays for the time and effort of its creators.
However, in a *paid* for product, I don't think there is any place for such stuff. Even when it happens during a loading screen where the player is waiting 'anyway', I don't think the player will experience that the same way -- it makes them feel like you consider them a cash-cow that owes you something, rather than someone you appreciate for supporting your game in the first place.
Especially because we are being bombarded with advertising in all other media, I consider it extra annoying when I do have to look at them in a normally 'ad-free' environment. I personally would rather never buy anything from the place again rather than rushing out to buy whatever they are advertising. This is the exact same reason that I never buy anything from door-to-door salesmen or telemarketers, no matter how good their prices might be -- I am *not* going to encourage anyone for invading my privacy that way.
Anyway, obviously you want them to know about your other products, but I believe that you should simply give the buyer the opportunity to check it out, rather than making it mandatory -- For example, by:
1) Adding a link to your webpage in your game
2) Adding a menu-item in your main menu where you may show-case some of your other products -- but make it the players active choice to check this out, do NOT force it upono them
3) Maybe add a paragraph advertising one or more of your other products on the thank-you-for-ordering email when someone buys a game, as in 'other games you may be interested in' -- possibly even with a discount code if they order one in the next -x- days or something.
4) You can do the same as a (rotating) signature at the bottom of your support e-mail messages
5) Adding something generic like 'check out our other great games at http://www.wherever.com at the end of your credit roll
6) Some games make fun of themselves, by using posters of some of the previous versions of the game hidden among background graphics. In some types of games like point-and-click adventures, this can be funny when done correctly and with extreme moderation... But the problem is that it should never feel like an ad targeting the player.
7) Add some info about your other games in the documentation/manual that comes with a game
In my opinion all of those are pretty common and accepted, but interstitial advertising is too intrusive and likely does more harm than good in a registered paid-for commercial program.
(Think about it -- if it really was such a great idea, don't you think *everyone* would be doing it? they're not -- for a reason.)
It adds incentive for the player to pay for the registered version, and pays for the time and effort of its creators.
However, in a *paid* for product, I don't think there is any place for such stuff. Even when it happens during a loading screen where the player is waiting 'anyway', I don't think the player will experience that the same way -- it makes them feel like you consider them a cash-cow that owes you something, rather than someone you appreciate for supporting your game in the first place.
Especially because we are being bombarded with advertising in all other media, I consider it extra annoying when I do have to look at them in a normally 'ad-free' environment. I personally would rather never buy anything from the place again rather than rushing out to buy whatever they are advertising. This is the exact same reason that I never buy anything from door-to-door salesmen or telemarketers, no matter how good their prices might be -- I am *not* going to encourage anyone for invading my privacy that way.
Anyway, obviously you want them to know about your other products, but I believe that you should simply give the buyer the opportunity to check it out, rather than making it mandatory -- For example, by:
1) Adding a link to your webpage in your game
2) Adding a menu-item in your main menu where you may show-case some of your other products -- but make it the players active choice to check this out, do NOT force it upono them
3) Maybe add a paragraph advertising one or more of your other products on the thank-you-for-ordering email when someone buys a game, as in 'other games you may be interested in' -- possibly even with a discount code if they order one in the next -x- days or something.
4) You can do the same as a (rotating) signature at the bottom of your support e-mail messages
5) Adding something generic like 'check out our other great games at http://www.wherever.com at the end of your credit roll
6) Some games make fun of themselves, by using posters of some of the previous versions of the game hidden among background graphics. In some types of games like point-and-click adventures, this can be funny when done correctly and with extreme moderation... But the problem is that it should never feel like an ad targeting the player.
7) Add some info about your other games in the documentation/manual that comes with a game
In my opinion all of those are pretty common and accepted, but interstitial advertising is too intrusive and likely does more harm than good in a registered paid-for commercial program.
(Think about it -- if it really was such a great idea, don't you think *everyone* would be doing it? they're not -- for a reason.)