[WC] Ad module lost, a better world?

Day 1,161, 20:02 • Published in Canada Canada • by TemujinBC

As many of you are no doubt aware, the ad module for eRepublik has been inaccessible to citizens since before the Christmas holidays. The Admins have used the right hand sidebar to promote in-game opportunities for citizens, including a 20% bonus on all gold sales for the holidays. Currently, I am facing an advertisement for gold, an invitation to check out the eRepublik World Map, and an encouragement to win super rewards by completing the missions. This article will compare the benefits and the liabilities of the current disabled ad module,


Thank Sutler the Ad Module is Inaccessible!

The ad module was subject to numerous abuses, including pornography and insults. Several famous ragequits last year included pornographic advertisements. At times, the images were posted for no reason other than to cause controversy. As eRepublik is a game played by people of all ages that come from every imaginable walk of life, this is certainly a concerning abuse of an in-game feature.

There were also several negative ad campaigns run during the Presidential elections. This ranged from the mild to the downright accusatory, and nearly all Presidential hopefuls (including myself) have been subject to it. Politics is certainly dirty business, and those who enter the fray must be aware of the target they will carry around on their back. But a simple attack ad can smear a person and cause great detriment to a campaign, often without any grounds or substance. This kind of attack is not limited to political figures. Even the CAF and TCO, the nations premier military groups, are not immune to such libelous and personal onslaughts.

Another negative aspect of the ad module is the costs associated with running a successful campaign. Many citizens cannot afford to invest into such a gold sink. While ads can be purchased for as little as one or two gold, to really have an effective presence that lasts you must invest considerably more. That gold could be spent on extra food for fighting, or boosters at work to increase production. Although this essay does not wish to delve into the question of personal values, it would seem that for the overall growth and health of the nation, citizens who use boosters at work and on the training grounds are much more effective to the collective than those who spent their gold on advertisements that are here today and gone tomorrow.



I Want My Ads Back!

Some of the great benefits of an in-game advertisement option include the promotion of congressional and Presidential campaigns, highlighting an article for increased exposure, and advancement of a group or an issue. We have seen examples of politicians and political parties utilizing ads to encourage citizens to vote for them. One unique game feature that hampers political parties is that the gold located with the party account cannot be withdrawn. It can only be used to advertisements. Several parties are sitting on a large sum of gold that is essentially frozen, no doubt to the consternation and overall frustration of the Party Presidents! As it is currently Congress Election time, there are many citizens who would love to take advantage of advertising to reach the masses.

Another great advantage of the ad module, is to showcase an article that would otherwise go unnoticed. Often the term "two-clicker" is used to describe the large numbers of players who log into eRepublik simply to work, train, and perhaps fight a few times if they have time. Advertisements can be an effective method of capturing the attention of these two-clickers, with the hope of garnering a few extra votes for an article. Once an article is published, it remains on the 'latest news' feed until five newer articles are posted. Unless that article gains enough votes to reach the 'top rated' feed, it will languish in a figurative no man's land. These unfortunate articles can only be read by those who take the time to click the 'more news' button. This is not something most dedicated players do, let alone the two clickers.

The Canadian Armed Forces and The Crimson Order have both capitalized on the ad module to advance their group. Recruitment advertising can be an effective way to grab the attention of new citizens, which in turn will boost overall membership.

Finally, the Government can advance certain projects and inform the populace of recent policy changes. In this heightened age of accountability with our governing officials, the ad module would be an asset in communication with citizens.



Taking the Good with the Bad

To conclude, there are many advantages to allowing citizens the ability to advertise on the main page of eRepublik. We have seen how this in-game feature, when utilized, can be an effective way to reach people. But there is always the risk of abuse and personal attack, and there will always be those who abuse this feature. Does this mean we must throw the baby out with the bath water? Surely not! The Admin should really attempt to craft an ad module that will reduce the risk of abuse. Whether this means having an increased ticket-response team, or simply reducing the advertisements to text-only, there are options to explore. A vibrant and colorful ad can be a real asset for politicians, military groups, regular citizens, and the Government. A vulgar and tasteless ad only serves to drive people away from exploring this great game in depth.

I would certainly like to see the citizens of eRepublik given an opportunity to express their creativity via the advertising module.

Hugs and Kisses,

TemujinBC