Thread: Read This If You Own An Arcade Site

A new post on the adsense blog caught my attention today. Here's an excerpt from the post:

We don’t allow publishers to implement AdSense for content ads on interstitial pages. So if a user has decided to watch a video, you may not implement ads on pages saying “your video will start in 15 seconds." We’ve also seen this placement on Flash gaming sites in the form of an ad being shown to the user while the game is loading in the background. However, even if you allow users to skip these ads or close them, this placement is not allowed.

Loads of Arcade sites have an adsense ad unit showing before the game is loaded. I myself did this on my arcade site and it had a very nice CTR. However, after reading this I quickly removed it as it is 100% against adsense terms as is clearly stated in the post.

At the end of the post, they also say this:

...and you - the publisher - will be happy to have an AdSense account in good standing.

which sounds to me that they might start cracking down on adsense accounts that employ these techniques.

Part 1 of the post also talks about how the adsense units on any arcade site need to be at a safe distance from the flash game itself to avoid any accidental clicks while users are engaged in playing the game. They mention 150 pixels as the minimum distance between an adsense ad unit and the flash game.

These 2 posts rang an alarm bell with me, and I decided to make some changes to my arcades to be in compliance with these rules; I definitely don't want to risk my account over my arcades as they are not my main earners.

Anyway I thought I would share/warn other arcade owners so you guys can take action before it's too late.

The two full posts are here:
Avoiding accidental clicks Pt. 1: Keeping the right distance - Inside AdSense
Avoiding accidental clicks Pt. 2: Use the right product - Inside AdSense

Aren't there some other ads you can show while the game is loading?

Originally Posted by tmongy

They mention 150 pixels as the minimum distance between an adsense ad unit and the flash game.

Wow. I've been criticizing Google for years for not making the rules clear enough -- I may have to change my tune!

Originally Posted by dvduval

Aren't there some other ads you can show while the game is loading?

Yeah you could show ads from other ad networks; just not adsense.

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

Wow. I've been criticizing Google for years for not making the rules clear enough -- I may have to change my tune!

I know! This time they are crystal clear about the rules it's almost weird

when was this implemented?
i have to take mine away. but what about the header?

the header where its always there even when users view the home page, is it also no allowed?

and also the side bar?

How about auto-generating the Ad code? It seems like we must copy and paste this code from them for each new Ad where it has some text inserted about when it was created. But how many people comply with this rule?

Dang, that's rough. If I was to re-do my one arcade experience though, I don't think I would do adsense at all. I would strictly do CPA offers on zip or mobile submits now that I know what I'm doing better in CPA-land.

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

Wow. I've been criticizing Google for years for not making the rules clear enough -- I may have to change my tune!

The adsense blogspot is clear in explaining the rules, but the guideline page isn't as clear.

Originally Posted by garfish

when was this implemented?
i have to take mine away. but what about the header?

the header where its always there even when users view the home page, is it also no allowed?

and also the side bar?

They just posted this yesterday on the adsense blog.

The header would be fine if it is 150 pixels or more away from the flash game. Basically any adsense ad unit on any page of your arcade will be fine as long as it is at a minimum distance of 150 pixels from any edge of the flash game box.