In-game advertising has been going on for years, you just not have noticed. Those race cars based on real luxury cars (Lexus, Ferrari, etc) are all types of ads. An ad that contributes to the game's feel and play doesn't bother me. A baseball stadium not littered with billboards and brand names just wouldn't be realistic.

Dynamic advertising in gaming has been talked about a lot. It's an idea that has been floating around for years. It would be like seeing the banner ads on web pages on billboards around your city made in "SimCity." Those ads would constantly be changing.

One way I think dynamic ads would work well would be for online games. The ads could take the place of monthly subscription fees. Racing games, virtual worlds, sports games all would be appropriate. Halo - not so much.

I bring up the topic of in-game advertising because IGA, an advertising network, will be partnering with EA to bring dynamic ads to "The Sims 3" world. This may be the perfect world for dynamic ads. Can you imagine talking your Sim downtown and seeing ads for the latest movies you want to see? Billboards for restaurants you love? Maybe even the ability to purchase books on the best-seller lists? What do you think? Can you stand seeing more ads or do you get enough in your real life? I think I see ads so often I don't even consciously notice them anymore.

• IGA Scores More In-Game Advertising for Sims 3
• Sims Venture Into Outside World Full of Advertising

"Spore Cute & Creepy Parts" Pack has been spotted! CVG reports Amazon posted a product page with the mentioned title with a release date of November 18. I knew they would sell packs for "Spore." But this soon? If only they would have waited to release one, say in February, I may feel less ripped off. So soon makes me wonder if this content could have been included in the release of "Spore." No price is given for the pack. I'm guessing $20 like "The Sims" stuff packs. We shall see. I will continue to watch for an official announcement.

• "Spore" Expansion in November

A patch to fix those pesky bugs in "The Sims 2 Apartment Life" is out. EA has the long list of fixes included. Many fixes involve making "The Sims 2 Apartment Life" work your other expansions and stuff packs. As always be sure to back up your neighborhoods and families just in case the unexpected happens.

• Download "The Sims 2 Apartment Life" Patch
• Which "The Sims 2" Files to Back-Up

Ahhh.... "Spore." Will Wright's everything sim has finally reached our computers. I admit I was beginning to think it was never going to be released - so may excitement has diminished in the last couple of years. Turns out I'm glad that I had low expectations. It's wonderful that Will Wright has such ambitious ideas. But his sim games need to stop dumbing down games in attempt to get the so-called "casual gamers." "SimCity Societies" is another one of those games.

"Spore" has lots of room for improvement. Specifically in the area of depth. The stages blend together perfectly. Each stage doesn't have the depth needed to stand alone as a single game. I was under the impression that "Spore" was going to take all our favorite games and put them into one game. You won't find a city management game like "SimCity" in "Spore." I wouldn't be surprised if that depth so many of us are clamoring for comes in the forum of expansion packs.

• Read Full "Spore" Review