New! Improved! In your face! In-game advertising!

Just what we need more of, right? In-game advertising!

Sony’s just announced the creation of a new in-game advertising business unit, headed by a lady named Darlene Kindler. She’ll be responsible for SCEA’s in-game advertising strategy across all PlayStation platforms including PLAYSTATION Network.

This department was created after Sony partnered with Nielsen Media Research (the people who do TV ratings etc) in July. They’re trying to develop a measurement system to monitor game network advertising. Part of the stuff they’ll be monitoring is PLAYSTATION Home, the 3D community for PS3 users.

Expect to see brand names you know and love/hate everywhere from in-game billboards and posters to shopping bags, soda cans and on images of TV screens. For now – they’re also trying to come up with other ways to incorporate advertising into other online environments.

What’s next? Genetically altering sea turtles so their shells glow with corporate logos?