近年来，社交媒介游戏吸引了大量Facebook用户，其中多款社交游戏通过销售虚拟商品实现了盈利。但最近WildTangent在社交游戏中发现了另一种商机。今天，这家位于雷蒙德的公司宣布将在CrowdStar的几款社交游戏中提供BrandBoost广告服务。

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在该项新服务中，CrowdStar玩家观看游戏内置广告后便能获得虚拟商品，这与目前社交游戏公司鼓励玩家购买虚拟商品的做法截然相反。

对此WildTangent认为正是由于现在大部分社交游戏玩家其实并不曾购买虚拟商品，因此也为引进新的广告概念提供了机会。该公司的执行副总裁指出，“通过将大型而吸引人的广告模式与迅速发展的社交游戏相结合，这种广告模式将可以和电视购物相媲美。”

同样，CrowdStar公司的首席执行官Niren Hiro也认同“品牌虚拟商品”的理念与游戏玩家产生了共鸣。他说，“这种广告模式能使消费者和品牌双方获益。虚拟道具是塑造热门游戏的关键元素。因此，这种广告模式将具有传统网页不具备的亲和力。”

这种广告理念对于希望在游戏体验分一杯羹的广告商十分有价值。因此Trident, Kleenex, Cheerios和ABC等广告公司都纷纷在CrowdStar游戏举办活动。

WildTangent公司成立于1998年，Advanced Technology Ventures, Greylock, IDG Ventures和Madrona Venture Group等投资方总计对其投资超过5000万美元。（本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译）

Social media games have attracted massive audiences on Facebook in recent months. For the most part, the creators of those games have monetized the products through the sale of virtual goods. But WildTangent sees a new way. The Redmond company today is announcing that its BrandBoost advertising service will be implemented in select games from CrowdStar, maker of Happy Pets, Happy Aquarium, It Girl and other hit games on Facebook.

As part of the new offering, CrowdStar game players will be able to accumulate virtual goods by viewing an advertisement within the game. That’s different than the way most social gaming companies have monetized their offerings in the past on Facebook, since most game players are encouraged to purchase a virtual good.

But WildTangent said that the vast majority of gamer players are not purchasing goods within the top social media games, creating an opportunity to introduce new advertising-based concepts.

“By aligning the dramatic growth in social gaming with a scalable, engagement based advertising model, we are approaching an inflection point where social games can rival TV for marketers’ budgets,” said Dave Madden, executive vice president at WildTangent, in a press release.

Niren Hiro, CEO of CrowdStar, the number two creator of social media games on Facebook, said that the concept of “branded virtual goods” has resonated with game players.

“Such items are a win-win for consumers and brands as the virtual items play a central role in engaging and addictive game experiences that create affinity way beyond traditional web advertising,” Hiro said.

The concept is valuable to advertisers since they get to play a central role in the game experience. Advertisers such as Trident, Kleenex, Cheerios and ABC have already started campaigns within CrowdStar games. WildTangent says.

Founded in 1998, WildTangent has raised more than $50 million from investors such as Advanced Technology Ventures, Greylock, IDG Ventures, Madrona Venture Group and others.（Source：TechFlash）