Liberty City is a pretty big place. It’s easy to get lost while marveling at the beautiful scenery. That is why Google Maps and IGN have teamed up to make an interactive map of Liberty City.
The map allows users to choose what is shown, from mission markers to clothing stores. This is an invaluable resource when running from the cops or figuring out where to take your date. The map can be found here.
EA CEO John Riccitiello says expectations for in-game ads are “wildly high.” Analysts have been estimating between $971 million to $1 billion in revenues by 2010.
“You can’t be as bullish as analysts are on in-game advertising and be sane,” he said in an interview with Dow Jones Newswires. “In-game ad expectations are wildly high.”
Riccitiello says in-game advertising will eventually emerge as a key source of revenue for video-game publishers, but it will probably take much longer than many in the industry anticipate.
Currently, in-game ads earn EA $30 million a year. EA’s yearly sales are $3.1 billion.
Bernie Stolar, head of Google’s AdSense for Games unit, is responsible for the $1 billion figure.
Recently Microsoft purchased in-game ad agency Massive (located next door to GGL Santa Monica), and NBC Universal invested in rival IGA Worldwide.
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