Many games are using heat maps are guides to show players where the most activity occurs on a specific map. The red sections of the overhead map indicate where the most kills occur on a Halo 3 level, while lighter shades indicate fewer death for instance.
UbiSoft has found an additional use for these maps: advertising. During play testing, the company has allowed potential advertisers to see heat maps so they can purchase ads in places gamers are most likely to go. This includes sequences of torture.
The absurdity of a villain sitting in a chair being whipped, electrocuted or worse while an ad is displayed in the background, is mind-boggling. Is the guy taking the punishment because he said he would do it for a Klondike bar? What advertiser in their right mind would want their product associated with that in the first place?
This is evidence of corporate interference at its worst, destroying the art for additional revenue. The emotion and drama of the torture scene is depleted, if not eliminated, with brands flashing in the background.
One clarification. If the scene in question took place where ads were logical (even if the torture wouldn’t be), say a subway train, that is almost acceptable. However, are there any situations where people are tortured enough in public to warrant advertisers placing their products? Doubtful.
If advertising is up to this level in-game, developers using the excuse of development costs for $60 games when massive corporations continue to push for ads like this are slowly diminishing.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=0c5f8d14-21c7-44a9-8ded-f79e40d24c5b)
Employer Attendance Is Up at Butler County, Ohio, Job Fair.
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News April 2, 2004 By Jaclyn Giovis, Middletown Journal, Ohio Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Apr. 2–HAMILTON, Ohio — Job seekers should be encouraged that employment opportunities are better than they were last year, said organizers of the Butler County Job Fair 2004.
The two-day event — held at Towne Mall in Middletown on Wednesday and at Miami University Hamilton Thursday — drew about 30 percent more employers at both sites than participated in the event at the respective locations last year, said Donald Kell, project manager of the Butler County Job Center.
About 62 employers attended Wednesday, while 80 employers operated booths on Thursday, he said. Between 750 and 1,000 people attended Thursday’s job fair, which was sponsored by Butler Tech, Consolidated Business Products, Fairfield Banquet & Convention Center, Miami University Hamilton and Towne Mall, he said. in our site chaco credit union
“We’re wondering whether we’re getting the word out better or whether the employers are actually hiring again,” Kell said.
Shelly Seim Cassady, director of cooperative education, internship and placement for Miami University Hamilton, said she believes the increased number of employer booths is a good sign.
“I definitely think with more employers here it’s showing that the market is turning,” Cassady said.
She added, “But it’s still not where it should be.” Nevertheless, organizers said the Butler County Job Fair is the largest event of its kind in both Butler and Warren counties, giving attendees access to several networking opportunities.
“Where else can you go to talk to 80 employers in one place in one day?” Kell said.
Attendees agreed the job fair was a worthwhile experience.
Tiffany Cochran, 28, of Hamilton said the event was a more personal experience than searching through employment advertisements.
“The information in the classified ads is good, but they have people here to answer your questions,” Cochran said. in our site chaco credit union
Jerri Hill of Hamilton called the job fair a “nice event” and said she hopes there are more in the future.
Meanwhile, employers shared information about their companies, answered a myriad of questions and collected hundreds of resumes during the three-hour event.
“Today (Thursday) is really good,” said Eileen Reid, human resource director for Chaco Credit Union in Hamilton. “We’ve had a lot of good, really qualified people stop by. We’ve got a really good flow.” Bill Solazzo, director of marketing for Butler Tech, said “Traffic was great.
It was definitely up from last year.”
