Google AdSense Reaches Into Online Games

By Nick Mokey October 8, 2008

Google’s AdSense has conquered Web pages, YouTube, mobile phone content, and now, will move onto the next frontier – video games. Although you won’t be spotting Cialis ads in billboards from GTA IV any time soon, Google expanded AdSense to include the type of online video games that a quarter of Internet users play on a weekly basis.

The beta version of AdSense for Games, launched on Wednesday, will allow web developers to display video ads, image ads, or text ads within their online games, giving them more flexibility. For instance, developers can now pop ads between levels of a game, in a losing scenario, or at any other point they define. Like the ordinary version of AdSense, the advertisements will be contextually targeted and can be tweaked by developers using filtering options.

Developers currently participating in Google’s beta include Konami, ArcadeTown, and Zynga. Although Google is currently accepting applications from other developers, it only accepts established games with over 500,000 plays from sites that derive 50 percent of their traffic from the U.S. and U.K, with some other restrictions as well.

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Gaming

You can try Google Play Games on PC today as beta expands to the U.S.

Google Play Games on PC beta

Google has launched the open beta for Google Play Games for PC in the U.S. The tech giant made the announcement in a blog post on Wednesday, saying that the beta is available for download in seven other countries as well, including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore.

"We’re thrilled to expand our platform to more markets for players to enjoy their favorite games on Google Play," said Google Play Games director Arjun Dayal. "As we move towards a full release, we will continue to add new features and evaluate developer and player feedback."

Gaming

Ubisoft and more offer ways to play purchased Google Stadia games elsewhere

The protagonist of Assassin's Creed: Valhalla shouting in battle and wielding two axes.

Google recently announced that it plans to shutter its cloud gaming service Stadia in early 2023, leaving players who used it as one of their primary platforms in an awkward situation. Google already promised to refund people for their Google Stadia hardware and software purchases, but people are still losing access to games they enjoyed and save files they possibly dumped hours into. Thankfully, some developers are working on ways to help Stadia players.
The most notable studio to help Stadia players is Ubisoft, which was Google's earliest partner for the technology via an Assassin's Creed Odyssey demo. "While Stadia will shut down on January 18, 2023, we're happy to share that we're working to bring the games you own on Stadia to PC through Ubisoft Connect," Ubisoft tweeted. "We'll have more to share regarding specific details, as well as the impact for Ubisoft+ subscribers, at a later date." Thankfully, the Stadia versions of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Far Cry 6, Immortals Fenyx Rising, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, and Watch Dogs: Legion support cross-progression, so players won't lose their save files.
https://twitter.com/UbisoftSupport/status/1575922767593078793
Ubisoft isn't the only developer to help. Developer Muse Games is giving Embr Steam codes to those who played its comedic co-op firefighting game on Stadia if they email the developer with screenshots of Embr in their Stadia library. Meanwhile, IO Interactive confirmed that it is "looking into ways for you to continue your Hitman experience on other platforms," as the World of Assassination trilogy was available on Google Stadia.
There's still the matter of the five Google Stadia exclusives: Gylt, Hello Engineer, Outcasters, Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle, and PixelJunk Raiders. So far, only one of those games seems like it will be saved. PixelJunk Raiders developer Q-Games said in a blog post that "we hope to find a way to continue to share the vibrant worlds of Planet Tantal in the future, and we’re open to discussing opportunities to find the right publishing partner to make it happen.. Tequila Works, tinyBuild, Splash Damage, and Bandai Namco Entertainment did not respond to requests for comment from Digital Trends.
While the shutdown of Google Stadia is disappointing for players like myself who enjoy cloud gaming, at least players will be get refunds, and in some cases get the game for a new platform.

Gaming

Awesome Games Done Quick will be online-only in 2023

Zero running in Mega Man X.

The Games Done Quick organization has announced the return of its charity speedrunning event Awesome Games Done Quick for its usual January time slot. However, the event will be online-only this year, rather than returning to the physical show it was pre-pandemic.

Super Mario Sunshine by Nindiddeh in 1:16:20 - Awesome Games Done Quick 2021 Online