Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) announced the creation of a new in-game advertising business unit. The company also announced that Darlene Kindler, a 25-year consumer electronic industry veteran, has joined the company as Director of Network Advertising, effective immediately.
Kindler brings to SCEA a wealth of experience in consumer electronics and technical related industries, working for companies such as Nintendo of America, Inc., IREM America Corp., Data East, Inc., 3dfx Interactive and Adscape Media. Most recently, Kindler was vice president of Publishing for Adscape Media, an in-game advertising company that was acquired by Google in March 2007. In her previous role at Nintendo, she was part of the company's early start-up team and was one of the key people credited with establishing a European distribution network for Nintendo.
"Darlene has an ideal blend of experience within the video game industry, including in-game advertising, making her a perfect fit for this newly created position," said Rosenberg. "She will be tasked with the important role of working closely with our internal teams as well as our third-party publishers and external advertising agencies to develop business and marketing strategies for our newly formed online advertising group."
The appointment of Kindler comes on the heels of SCEA's announced partnership in July with Nielsen Media Research. Together the companies are working to develop measurement systems for game network advertising. SCEA will share its game network data from Playstation 3 as well as Playstation Network, which encompasses Playstation Home.
PLAYSTATION Home is designed to serve as a 3D community gathering place for PS3 users from around the world and will present opportunities for SCEA to deliver dynamic, relevant advertisements in game. SCEA will depict brands in various forms within the game, where users would expect to see them in real life on billboards and posters, on shopping bags and soda cans and on images of TV screens. SCEA will continue to explore ways to incorporate dynamic advertising into other online environments.
