It looks like Barack Obama understands the power of in-game ads. So much so that he’s launched a couple on Xbox Live. His campaign placed an ad in the online racing game, Burnout Paradise. In it he urges players of the open-ended racing game to vote early.
This is brilliant because it’s completely unexpected and gaming has the potential to reach multiple targets. I’d love to know if this was part of a media buy package (in which you get a mix of marketing channels to advertise on) or if Obama woke up one morning and felt compelled to place an ad on Burnout.
Warner Beat Obama to Gaming
Obama isn’t the first politician to campaign in games. Mark Warner broke the mold when he attended a Press Conference in Second Life back in 2006. One could argue that he pushed the envelope further than Obama did. Warner made a personal appearance via avatar and took questions from the audience on issues ranging from the War in Iraq to abortion rights.
Conclusion
Obama’s campaign continues to impress me. They’ve pursued marketing channels that most people overlook. And since they are literally rolling in cash they can afford to pursue voters anywhere.
