IGA Signs In-Game Ad Deal For Acclaim MMOs

In-game ad firm IGA Worldwide has announced an agreement with the revitalized Acclaim Games for six of the PC MMO games the company is currently in the process of launching in the West, including BOTS!!, 9Dragons, 2Moons, DANCE! and two unannounced titles. According to a statement from the two companies, Acclaim launched BOTS!! in July 2006, and there are currently almost 500,000 registered users from North America and Europe playing the free PC MMO, while 9Dragons is currently at a 'pre-open Beta' stage. Another of the Acclaim titles which is part of this deal, 2Moons, is being developed by former Shiny founder Dave Perry, in association with Korean developer GameHi, whose MMO title Dekaron forms the basis for the Western-enhanced game - the title is due to go into closed Beta 'soon', according to the Acclaim website. IGA Worldwide already has in-game advertising agreements with game publishers including Electronic Arts, Atari and Codemasters, and is one of multiple companies, including the now Microsoft-owned Massive and Double Fusion, continuing to aggressively target publishers for in-game ad serving opportunities. “This agreement expands the growth of our advertising network into social gaming, delivering a mass market to advertisers wanting to access the powerful engagement and proven effectiveness of in-game advertising,” said Justin Townsend, CEO of IGA Worldwide. “This is the first of a string of announcements in this exciting new space, with well over 20 titles signed and due for launch over the coming quarter."