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Just an Online Minute... Ads on PDAs

Who said no one is ever going to take advertising on personal digital assistants (PDAs) seriously? A few weeks ago, Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment announced plans to take "advergaming" from the desktop to the hand-held device with the launch of an interactive PDA-based advergame to promote "The One", the new Jet Li movie scheduled for release on November 2, 2001.

What's significant about this announcement is that it marks the first time that a studio has created a PDA-based advergame on behalf of a major motion picture release.

In "The One," parallel universes collide when a rogue agent assigned to monitor these universes begins eliminating versions of himself in each alternate reality. Assuming more energy and power with each version he destroys, he must finally confront the one man standing between himself and his ultimate goal - to be "The One."

The game, designed by Media Revolution, simulates combat between two players inspired by the film's Pa Kwa martial arts style. Players can fight computer-generated opponents or other users. In the spirit of the film, players grow more powerful with each victory over another player. While users can play the game indefinitely, their primary goal is to win 124 fights against other users, at which time they are declared "The One."

Highlights of game include numerous HotSync capabilities which automatically connect to "The One" website to update game stats, send challenge results, and get new challenges, as well as allow users to go to the website and challenge friends to play.

Tim Chambers, Senior VP of Sony's Advanced Platforms Group said the introduction of this game "demonstrates Sony's commitment to deliver to and connect with consumers through a variety of multimedia devices. We're ready to continue our innovation and success in this arena and further our commitment to meeting our customers anywhere, at anytime on multiple platforms."

Advergaming is a fairly new ad concept, both online and on PDAs, and it's nice to see big advertisers giving it a chance. Let's just hope the test drive goes well so that Sony doesn't become The Only One to ever try it.

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