Mojang says no more advertising in Minecraft

By David Nield

Sorry brands: Mojang says you can no longer use hit game Minecraft to engage with your carefully targeted audiences. The new ruling applies to creating Minecraft mods or servers specifically to promote a product (like a replica of a restaurant for example).

“That doesn’t feel right, or more importantly, fun,” explained Mojang communications director Owen Jones in a blog post. However, existing server and video monetisation options for agencies and corporations won’t change.

Fans are still free to build a Minecraft version of a Game of Thrones map (for example), Jones says, but if HBO did the same thing with the express intention of promoting its fantasy epic television show then that wouldn’t be allowed under the new Commercial Usage Guidelines.

Brand on the run

There’s nothing to worry about here unless you are a brand of note or one of their ad agencies – for players, it should just mean less overt promotion for companies and products out in the worlds of Minecraft.

With more than 100 million registered users it’s easy to see why the game would attract advertisers, but custom-made servers and maps are now going to be out of the question, like this working mobile phone built to …read more

Source:: techradar.com – Gaming