MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Mind Candy says it has already changed Moshi Monsters after breaching the Advertising Code. The Advertising Standards Agency issued a ruling against Moshi Monsters, and rival kids online game Bin Weevils, that it was directly exhorting children to make in-game purchases. It followed a complaint made about the game to …
Read More »ASA admonishes Moshi Monsters and Bin Weevils over in-app purchases
Two free-to-play games have had altered their in-game messaging after the ASA ruled the wording constituted direct exhortations to buy a membership package”. Moshi Monsters was taken to task for a mission that, while open to non-subscribers, ended with a message stating "MEMBERS GET MORE MISSIONS AND Unique Moshlings! Epics …
Read More »ASA ponders investigation of three online games
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has referred three unnamed online games to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The CMA says that it is concerned that these games may breach the Advertising Codes and consumer law by directly encouraging children to buy, or ask their parents to buy, extra game …
Read More »ASA warns Sony and GAME over 20th Anniversary PS4 competition
The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint against Sony and GAME over how last year’s 20th Anniversary PS4 competition was conducted. The ASA says that six complainants alleged that the competition’s rules had been breached, and were further aggrieved that the names of the winners had not allegedly been …
Read More »ASA dismisses Littlest Pet Shop in-app-purchases complaint
The Advertising Standards Authority has dismissed a compliant made regarding the in-app-purchases in Gameloft’s Littlest Pet Shop. The free-to-play game, available on Google Play, uses two currencies – Kibble and Bling. Players were tasked with housing and taking care of virtual pets and while some activities were perfectly possible without …
Read More »ASA warns YouTubers about product promotion
The Advertising Standards Authority has warned YouTubers that they need to make it clear when they are paid to promote products. A BBC report found that many of what it described as videos by some of UK’s best-known vloggers” broke the existing rules which require that viewers are explicitly made …
Read More »ASA bans EA’s Dungeon Keeper ad for claiming game is free
Dungeon Keeper on iOS is not free and must not be advertised as such. That’s the verdict of the Advertising Standards Authority, which has upheld a complaint about an advertisement for the game in which it was described as being free. The ad was also criticised for showing a well-developed …
Read More »ASA dismisses GAME "We Won’t Be Beaten on Trade-ins" complaint
The Advertising Standards Authority has rejected a complaint raised against retailer GAME. Three complainants had alleged that GAME’s We Won’t Be Beaten on Trade-ins” offer, which promises to beat any rival trade-in offer by 1, was misleading because they reported that when they attempted to take advantage of the offer …
Read More »Sega admits Aliens: Colonial Marines ads did not represent final game
The ASA will not take formal action against Sega regarding its video advertisements for February release Aliens: Colonial Marines. The publisher has, however, admitted that its ads did not accurately reflect the game. Sega and developer Gearbox attracted heavy criticism following the release of the game. This was partly because …
Read More »Angry Birds and Draw Something firms remove Paramount horror ads
The Advertising Standards Agency has issued a warning to Paramount after ads for horror flick Paranormal Activity appeared in family-friendly mobile games. The ASA received complaints that a trailer for the 15-rated movie aired in both Angry Birds and Draw Something, ad were told the scenes were likely to cause …
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