The Subliminal Brainwashing of Advertising In Video Games

I came across this very interesting article on engaging consumers via brain chemistry. Since the topic for today’s blog is advertising in gaming I thought it was appropriate to look further into this article. 

In 2009, Apple began allowing developers to make monetary transactions with gamers from within the games, not just an initial purchase. In-App-Purchase (IAP) bears all the hallmarks of a paradigm shift. Not only does it radically alter the market (games that would cost fifty bucks on a console are now free), but also it births a whole new philosophy of engaging consumers that works at a brain chemistry level.

Is this some sort of subliminal brainwash? Yes I think so but yet again we are advertising. The core of advertising is based off of consumer behavior and persuasive sales techniques. 

The brands that will win in the digital space will be the ones who know how to manufacture not just cars and beer and detergent. They will also know how to tap the chemistry in the heads of their customers and do it daily and relentlessly. We live in an almost completely digital age today. TV is starting to become a thing of yesterday since now most consumers use Netflix or Hula. Who is the target market that we can catch on the daily and relentlessly? Video Gamers, Millennial, baby boomers. Video games attracts a wide range of the target market.