Allen Murray: "Sorry For All The Ads."

[Zanten]

(Before we go anywhere, let me say I brought up this blog post because I thought it was both tongue-in-cheek funny, and an interesting behind-the-curtain look at an earlier time in the Xbox's lifespan. So, yeah, this isn't me trying to jab any of you about Xbox ads. xP )

http://blog.theilluminatedsquid.com/post/94215585076/10-years-in-games-sorry-for-all-the-ads

Allen Murray, a former program manager for the Xbox platform, wrote this blog post a bit over a week ago, and in it he details the process that led to the creation of the Banner Of The Day system, i.e. the first real example of advertisments on the Xbox 360 platform. It was originally inspired by a simple problem; with the increased use of digital distribution for smaller indie titles, there wasn't really a way to make the users on the console aware of new releases, or other community developments. Space on the front page devoted to such updates would make it easier to keep users up to date. Ironically, the Powers That Be were actually quite reluctant to pursue any form of advertising on the system, and it took coaxing both from Murray, and from Larry Hyrb, also known as Major Nelson.

He apologized for any Mountain Dew ads that have arisen in the meantime, but I don't think he had a hand in those. xP

Oh, and he also had a hand in the platform's parental controls. ...he apologizes for that too.