But working to gain sponsors in a game like that would still put the sponsors even more in the spotlight. People would think about the sponsor's name more, and it would be a goal for the player to reach. Take an example from Doom. Nobody remembers much about being able to punch the monsters, when finding the chainsaw is just so much better. Spending hours on gaining a sponsor would make them meaningful to the player, and that would be a good thing to sponsors of the game.
kinda what i was hinting at
i wasnt saying all cars on the track would be bland ... your opponants cars will have the same real sponsors as in nascar F1 and any other advert based racing car sport
its just you being a rookie would be on one of the lesser teams with the kinda cheapo sponsorships that they get
or you could be with a big name but they pay a performance related/percentage/whatever
your up in the ranks they pay you alot
down not as much
you end up chacing as well as the podium the dangling carrot of more money from the next level sponsors
i dont play racing games so i dont know their set up and the last time i watched racing was when shuie was still dominating F1 and thus making boring TV as they just showed his car and none of the decent scraps going on with the lesser known drivers for 10th place
as for fantasy
imagin picking up a scroll only to find it reads (with a delayed OK button)
feeling hungry?
then pop on down to ye olde McDonnalds in 'eldersquare' and give this scroll for 10% off
then pop on down to ye olde McDonnalds in 'eldersquare' and give this scroll for 10% off
and the sneaky part
not only do you have it on screen till the ok button appears
they could have a plot device where you HAVE to go to ye olde McDonnalds in eldersquare for some clue or another