14 DAY TRIAL // If you remember, back in October I reported something about some in-game spyware. Battlefield 2142 was the game in question, and IGA was the company controlling the in-game advertisements.
Back then, gaming forums were filled with disapproving posts, and IGA wanted to clear things up and explained that the so-called Battlefield 2142 spyware only checks which country your IP originates from and sends information to region-specific advertising servers. The advertising company also said that the "spyware" also records if players look at ads and for how long.
Today, GamePolitics has an interesting piece, in which they present the case of California Assemblywoman Lori Saldana who plans to introduce a bill into the state legislature prevent in-game advertisements and spyware to be installed on gamers' PCs upon installing software. I guess she means the Battlefield 2142 spyware and also the still-to-be-implemented Counter-Strike in-game ads.
You probably know that EA's Battle 2142 includes a warning inside the box: "By installing and using the software, you agree to: the transfer of advertising data to servers located outside of your country of residence the collection and use of advertising data the delivery of advertising and marketing content".
Probably, the advertising companies and game publishers think that placing an advertisement inside the game's box makes it all better. I bet discussions on this issue will go on for years, taking into consideration the large amounts of money involved.