Obama will be the first candidate to advertise in video games
GAME ON | Even video game players can't avoid political ads
Sen. Barack Obama is taking his presidential campaign somewhere no political campaign has gone before — to video games.
The Obama camp has bought “billboard space” within nine video games, all from Electronic Arts: “Madden ’09,” “NBA Live ’08,” “Burnout Paradise,” “Nascar 09,” “Need For Speed Carbon,” “Need For Speed Pro Street,” “NFL on Tour,” “NHL ’09” and “Skate.”
The virtual ads in the games are frequently updated with real advertising through online downloads. They feature a photo of the senator with text indicating early voting has begun and direct gamers to the Obama Web site voteforchange.com.
Not that EA is endorsing the Chicago Democrat. “Like most television outlets, we accept advertising from credible political candidates,” said Holly Rockwood, a spokeswoman for EA, the video-game giant.
John McCain’s campaign was also approached but passed on placing any ads, Rockwood said.
The Obama ads are slated to run until Nov. 3 in 10 battleground states — Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada and Ohio.
The Democratic presidential nominee has had sharp words in the past for video games. At the NAACP’s national convention in July, he spoke of “providing the guidance our children need, turning off the TV and putting away the video games.”