(2002-10-16) — AOL announced today that it expects to lose $30 million in the coming year by eliminating the pop-up ads that everyone hates. In their place, AOL will introduce a browser-based game called “Ad Slayer”.
Jon Miller, AOL’s third president this year, explained the concept this way.
“People hate advertising — except for the funny ads, but they never remember the product in those. So, now when you open AOL 8.0, you become a soldier in the war to destroy pop-up ads. The little boxes appear and you click on them and they explode, and virtual blood flies everywhere. And then you go to a page that congratulates you on your skill, and offers some product features and benefits.”
Mr. Miller insisted that Ad Slayer game isn’t just pop-up ads with a violent twist.
“No, this is so totally different,” he said. “And I say that with the confidence of a man whose future is tied up in AOL stock options which are about as valuable as Brazilian currency right now.”

Post This to Your Facebook