New Ad Partnerships Announced for Guitar Hero 3

Activision has announced that the latest entry in its popular Guitar Hero franchise will feature several real-world brands. Activision has entered into agreements with various well-known musical instrument and equipment suppliers and music industry publications, through which the real-world brands will appear in the game itself.

Activision states that the presence of real-world brands will add verisimilitude to the game experience. This is an interesting example of how in-game advertising and the use of real brands in games is somewhat of a two-way street -- brand owners view it as a way to get more exposure, and game companies see it as a way of increasing the realism (and therefore appeal) of their games. Of course, at the end of the day both parties almost certainly see it as a direct or indirect way of increasing revenues.

Coverage at Gamasutra.