EA’s Controversial In-Game Ad Idea

Advertisements are seen in many forms of media – In between TV shows, before the movie, on billboards, and even in social media.  Companies create ads for their products that launch during certain times.  Sometimes businesses even put out an ad about their own product or service (like YouTube advertising YouTube music).  Whatever the case may be, advertising is being displayed wherever you go.

And one company is toying with an idea to put advertising in their video games.

Electronic Arts (EA) is looking to put in-game ads in their AAA games.  EA CEO Andrew Wilson mentions it is an idea they are looking into and will be careful about how to potentially introduce ads in their games.  Even still, it’s already becoming an unpopular business plan.

Now interestingly enough, advertisements have been featured in video games for decades.  EA’s Need for Speed: Underground 2 had in-game ads on billboards all over the open worlds.  Since then, EA placed in-game ads in games like Burnout Paradise and Battlefield 2142.  

Even still, a growing number of audiences are getting tired of how many advertisements they see.  Seeing ads in their newest games could only add fuel to the fire.  This could be an idea that could crash and burn quickly if it interrupts the gameplay.  Games are already expensive to buy (some over $70!) and having in-game ads would only make them worse. 

So EA is looking into in-game advertisements.  It is an idea that should be worked at carefully as it could potentially ruin the overall gameplay.  People are growing frustrated over the bombardments of ads everywhere, so maybe it isn’t the best time to roll this idea out.  

The idea to have in-game advertisements could work, if it doesn’t prevent gamers from enjoying the overall gaming experience. 

The Ideal Cannabis Plan — From Schedule 1 to Schedule 3

Welcome back everyone!  It has been a while since my last post for MakeSandcastlesNotWar, being that I was on vacation for a week.  Now that I am back to my regular routine, it’s time to get into some blog posts.  And boy, do we have some exciting news happening.

So let’s get to it –  Cannabis has been labeled as a schedule 1 drug for decades, meaning it’s part of a class of drugs that have high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.  Even though recreational cannabis use is legal in 1/5th of the country, cannabis has been stuck in schedule I.  There have been certain limits on cannabis because of how it is classified.

But as of this year, that may all start to change very soon.

The DEA is planning to reclassify cannabis from schedule 1 to schedule 3.  Not only would cannabis be known as a less dangerous drug, but it would also recognize the medical uses and acknowledge it has less potential for abuse.  This proposal now has to be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget.

This right here is HUGE news for cannabis.  Cannabis was always schedule 1 with drugs like LSD and heroin.  Now it could possibly be schedule 3 with drugs like ketamine and anabolic steroids.  It’s the most shocking announcement since cannabis was first legalized in 2012.

Cannabis has come a long way since being legalized in Colorado and Washington State.  If it becomes schedule 3, it could make things easier (in a way) to conduct more studies on cannabis.  Even still, it wouldn’t mean that cannabis is fully legal nationwide (not YET, that is).

With that, cannabis could be rescheduled to schedule 3 drugs pretty soon.  This would mean cannabis is more recognized for its medicinal effects and help ease restrictions on studying the plant.  The proposal just has to be approved and the rest could be history.  

There is finally HIGH hopes that cannabis is finally rescheduled to schedule 3 and given its recognition it truly deserves.

#MakeSandcastlesNotWarMeme300

McDonalds + Krispy Kreme = WIN

The McDonald’s ‘WcDonald’s’ campaign ended two weeks ago.  It promoted a special sauce that can be used for burgers, chicken, and even fries.  There was even a manga and anime series around the WcDonald’s universe.

Now the WcDonald’s campaign may be over, but McDonald’s is still cooking up more promotions for its customers.  Their next event includes a partnership with none other than Krispy Kreme.

McDonald’s is planning to offer three Krispy Kreme doughnut flavors on the menu.  After a successful test at 160 McDonald’s around Louisville and Lexington Kentucky, McDonald’s is kicking off a phased rollout later this year.  The three doughnut flavors include the original glazed doughnut, chocolate iced with sprinkles, and chocolate iced kreme.  These Krispy Kreme doughnuts will be available in McDonald’s nationwide by 2026.

Krispy Kreme doughnuts at McDonald’s.  What could be a better promotion than that?  McDonald’s has been offering breakfast items for over fifty years and they have been adding new items since then.  Some of the breakfast options include hotcakes, hash browns, sausage McGriddle, and even oatmeal.  It just goes to show that McDonald’s offers so much more than just Big Macs.

So Krispy Kreme doughnuts are coming to McDonald’s starting this year.  In a little over two years they will be available in all McDonald’s nationwide.  This is one of the best partnership promotions that benefit both McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme.  Now states that don’t have a Krispy Kreme location (like Massachusetts) will have Krispy Kreme doughnuts at McDonald’s.

It won’t be long until you can have a Krispy Kreme doughnut with your sausage McGriddle.

Churreos (Churro-Flavored Oreos)

There are all kinds of flavors of Oreos out there.  Such flavors include peanut butter, red velvet, chocolate, lemon, gingerbread, dark chocolate, and even mint.  They even have Oreos with peanut butter and jelly.  Interestingly enough, there are over EIGHTY-FIVE flavors of Oreos to choose from.  

Today, a whole new flavor of Oreos are coming to the market.  That new Oreo flavor is… churro.

Nabisco is releasing a limited edition churro-flavored Oreo.  This is an Oreo that will taste just like a churro.  It has hints of fried dough, churro flavored creme, cinnamon, and tasty sugar inclusions.  The churro flavored Oreos are available now.

Churro flavored Oreos.  Just when Oreos couldn’t get any more creative, Nabisco drops Oreos that taste like churros.  Churros are a delectable fried treat that you can dip in chocolate or caramel sauce.  Now they have churro-flavored Oreos to enjoy (with chocolate/caramel sauce).

But this is about more than just the release of a new tasty snack.  Nabisco is always pushing the boundaries with the Oreo cookies.  The Oreo first started as two chocolate cookies sandwiched with a white creme filling.  That simple concept expanded exponentially over the years.  Whether it was adding more filling (like the mega-stuffed Oreos) or changing the flavor of the cookies (like the Oreo Golden), Nabisco always went above and beyond with Oreos.  

So with that, churro-flavored Oreos are available.  Nabisco added another idea for an Oreo flavor that already has fans losing it.  Eighty-five flavors later and now churro is one of many that is added to the list.  

Only way to make them better would be to rename them as Churreos.