Anyone else starting to get fed up with the way in which video game developers are cashing in on virtual property? More…

I arrived home from work this evening and decided to fire up Top Spin 4 on the PS3. MLB 11 The Show game has been getting most of my attention lately, but the latest installment of this popular franchise is a tremendous title and increasingly addictive as you continue to build your created player.

Anyway.

Locked in a tense opening set against [generic name here] from Morocco, I sat back to enjoy a replay after I’d executed a picture-perfect passing shot. Positioned in the top left corner of the screen (pictured above) was a giant advertisement for the Transport Accident Commission that had not appeared in the game until this evening. Hardly subtle, is it?

I can acknowledge and appreciate that advertising is a significant part of modern life and modern media. In many instances, third party advertisements can actually improve a game (think ambient stadium advertising in sporting games – signage etc). However don’t you think this is taking it a step too far?

Not only is it an advertisement that’s totally out of place (and no doubt that space came at a juicy price), but it’s taking up a significant part of the screen and is distracting from the action. I doubt even Channel 7 would go this far in their coverage of the Australian Open!

Do you think game developers are starting to push their luck beyond reason, or don’t you mind a few extra ads? Although it’s not like the price of the game will come down as a result… Where do we draw the line?