MMORPGs And Coca-Cola - A Winning Combination?

Thanks to InsertCredit for pointing to a 4Gamer.net story including pictures of Coca-Cola cans featuring characters from PC MMORPG Lineage II. The promotion, due to start in South Korea next week, shows how relatively mainstream Lineage 2 and its prequel have become in that country, with a previous story noting "in [Lineage 2's] first five days in release, publisher NCsoft has tallied more than 130,000 paid users." The original Lineage's success in Asia, with "more than three million subscribers and more than three hundred thousand concurrent users", has enabled the company to expand into the U.S., where they are funding Richard Garriott's mysterious new MMO Tabula Rasa (of which there's previously unseen concept art available), as well as the superhero MMO title City Of Heroes and non-subscription MMO Guild Wars. The official Lineage II FAQ notes that "development on a North American version of the game is nearing beta testing stage", and the Unreal-engine title is likely to launch some time early in 2004.

That is pretty zany...

[jermyjerm]

but I'm reminded of Taco Bell's tie in with N64 back in the day, so it does happen in the States as well, although perhaps not to the same extent.

Personally, I'd like more games that did it the other way around... like Shenmue, where I could enjoy a refreshing carbonated beverage virtually as well as in real life. Although you momentarily have to question your own sanity when you find yourself thinking "Gee, I feel like a drink... in game."

And on a more serious note, I think most modern MMORPGs are missing the tavern aspects. Combat and leveling is great, but I miss the time spent with MUD or UO friends kicking back in taverns, swilling ale and cracking jokes.

*hic*

Re:That is pretty zany...

[gangien]

but I miss the time spent with MUD

ahem.. shameless plug Dawn of Demise [hpi.net]

Re:That is pretty zany...

[jermyjerm]

We'll work on your joke-telling ability later.

I guess I could take a few lessons from your amazing sarcastic wit.

I'd drink coke

[Zerth]

if the cans here looked like that. Especially the can on the far right. On the other hand, if they all looked like that, my wife might cut down on her consumption. Double bonus:)

Re:I'd drink coke

[BTWR]

wife mods you down... (-1, not getting any for at least 2 months...)

wonder if they will make coca cola a item in game?

[cyrax777]

I can see it down Coca Cola add +5 to staminia.

Ads that we want...?

[svanstrom]

Personally I find this to be a kind of advertising that I'd welcome, if they all looked like these it be more art than ads...

When buying sodas in the future about a third of the can could be a character from the lastest videogame or movie; art enough to not bother anyone, art enough for fans to enjoy, and art enough for people not familiar with the character to maybe become interested and want to learn more (compared with "normal" ads, where they force the message on us).

Hopefully it'll result in cheaper cans, maybe almost free, when new characters (games/movies) are released...

Nothing new

[superultra]

I can't find any pics, but I remember PC Gamer had an article about a year or two ago on all the Starcraft related merchandise in Korea. Starcraft running shoes, Starcraft Doritos, Starcraft candy, Starcraft toilet paper.

I'm fibbing about the toilet paper. Maybe.

Re:Nothing new

[Maserati]

You could probably sell Daikatana toilet paper in the States.

Re:Nothing new

[Luigi30]

Spaceballs: The Movie! Spaceballs: The Towel! Spaceballs: The Flamethrower! And... my favorite, Spaceballs: The Doll.