Below are some basic guidelines to ensure that your ads will meet our specs and pass through QA more smoothly.� This will help streamline testing and ensure that your ads start on time.� These are just some basic tips about issues we commonly encounter that prevent an ad from running.

General Guidelines

CPU usage: Ads must average 65% CPU usage with occasion spikes allowed. Ads with consistently high CPU create a bad user experience and cannot run on our network.� We test on a variety of single and dual core machines in order to accurately reflect our users. Please test your ads on some lower end machines before submitting.

All rotational ads have a maximum K size of 75K or less. Roadblocks can be 100k max for both pieces combined. Please check our specs for details.

DHTML/Big Bang/Mega roadblocks have broader specs, please see the tab in our spec sheet for details

Expansion: Unit can only expand to double the size of the ad (i.e. a 300x250 cannot expand to more than 600x250 or 300x500). One exception is the 728x90, which can expand to a total dimension of 728x270.� We recommend that 300x250's and 160x600's expand to the left and 728x90's expand downward.

Roadblocks (728x90/300x600 or 728x90/300x250) can only have one expanding element, either the 728x90 or the 300x600/300x250.

Ads can sub-load additional files ONLY if they meet the following requirements:

They must have a 4 second delay between the first file and the sub-load OR wait until the page has finished loading to load the second file.

�� ----� AND----

They must be served from a third party approved vendor. We cannot sub-load files from our server nor can we run ads that pull content from a non-approved vendor due to possible page load and security issues.

Ads cannot block dropdown menus on our site so please set the ads Z index for Rich Media to 50 and Overlays to100. The Wmode should be �Opaque�

No ad can auto-play sound or play sound on roll over, all sound must be user initiated by a click.

Any expansion must have a clear call to action and the hot spot must be limited to this call to action text. Note that expanding ads must be third party served as special coding is required to handle the expansion.

If an ad expands on mouse over, it must close on mouse out and not require a click from the user. The ad can stay locked in the open position if it was clicked to initiate it. Expansion must have a prominent close box.

Flash ads must have a click tag value built into them in order to allow us to provide click data: getURL(clickTag, "_blank");� Hard coding a destination URL will prevent us from tracking clicks. Here is more info on adding a button and click tag http://ads.ign.com/flash/flash_directions.html

Skins/Wallpapers: must be built using a template that matches our site. The overall dimension is 1500x1000 with a max K size of 150k.� Note that the center section should not be white or a very light color. A light color will cause the links at the bottom of our pages to be washed out.� Please see the Skin/wallpaper template for examples. In addition, there can be no logos or text, only the ESRB graphic is allowed.

Streaming video ads:� Play of video can be host-initiated (automatic load), but video must start only after full loading of the advertisement "shell" units.� Video MUST have Play/Pause (or Stop), Rewind, and Mute/UnMute buttons.

Floating ads: These must be run through a third party vendor since special DHTML code is required in order to make an ad float on the page. The ad can only appear for 10 seconds and must have a prominent close box. Floating ads cannot move with the visitor as he or she is scrolling down the page. Please see the specs tab for more information. Floaters cannot be used as interstitial ads

Interstitial ads: Note that we have a template that controls all interstitial functionality (auto-forward after 15 seconds, close button etc) so no functionality needs to be built into your ads. Your ad should be built as if it was an in-page and our template will handle the rest.

Rich Media Roadblocks (Big Bang/mega roadblocks) can be designed internally by IGN Creative Services or externally, but must be implemented and served via IGN. Please see the richmedia tab of our specs for details. Note that due to the complexity of these ads we require the completed assets at least 7 business days before the start date.

Skin Templates:� http://ads.ign.com/specs/Skin_Templates.zip

General Flash Information

�� Advertisers should submit the original Flash file (*.fla), SWF, HTML, and supporting PC fonts, so IGN can insert the click tracking solution if it has not been done already. This will also allow IGN to troubleshoot if there are any issues with the SWF.

Advertisers should submit a backup image (*.gif or *.jpg) for each ad unit to display to users without the required flash player. Image files are subject to file size specifications.

The *.fla file must have the clickTag embedded in a button, independent of any movie clip within the *.fla itself (please see "Tracking Macromedia Flash" below).

The wording of "clickTag" as a variable is case sensitive, please make sure to implement as per the next section below ("Tracking Macromedia Flash")� For AS3, please use

var req:URLRequest = new URLRequest(root.loaderInfo.parameters.clickTag);

myButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, tracker);

function tracker(event:MouseEvent):void {

navigateToURL(req, "_blank");

}

Flash advertising initial load is subject to file size specifications. Note that subsequent load allows for much greater file sizes than initial load. A subsequent load is defined as follows: an ad�s subsequent load (a) loads at least 4 seconds after its initial load or (b) loads after the rest of the page has loaded.

Advertisers using third party ad servers should publish all flash with the 'Window Mode: Opaque Windowless' in the HTML wrapper to ensure Flash will display properly on the page.

IGN accepts Macromedia Flash version 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Accepted 3^rd Party Rich Media Vendors

Host and User Initiated Core Roadblock (Pushdown)

IGN � Eyewonder, Eyeblaster, DoubleClick, Unicast, Pointroll

Askmen � Eyewonder, Eyeblaster, DoubleClick, Unicast, Pointroll

GameSpy � Eyewonder, Eyeblaster, DoubleClick, Unicast, Pointroll

TeamXbox � Eyewonder, Eyeblaster, DoubleClick, Unicast, Pointroll

Core Roadblock Ad Unit Combinations

		Base Dimensions		Expanded Dimensions
		Width (PX)	Height (Px)	Width (PX)	Height (Px)
Combo A:	Ad Type
Upper Unit	User Initiated Push Down/Blade	Full width (970)	66 max	Full width (970)	418 max
Lower Unit	Medium Rectangle	300	250	N/A	N/A

Combo B:
Upper Unit	Blade Ad	Full width (970)	66 max	N/A	N/A
Lower Unit	Medium rectangle	300	250	N/A	N/A

Combo C:
Upper Unit	Leaderboard	728	90	N/A	N/A
Lower Unit	Medium rectangle	300	250	N/A	N/A

Notes:�� 100k Max Weight (combined Top and Bottom units)

2MB polite load allowed�

18 FPS

Video Looping: Unlimited

Z-index should be set at 50

Auto Expansion limit of 7 seconds

Audio must be user-initiated by an onClick event

Formats: GIF, JPG, up to Flash 9, HTML, DHTML, Javascript

Close button must be present and clearly visible

Only the Upper unit can expand

IGN site logo cannot be touched or affected in any way

�� AskMen.com can accept a 300x600 in place of the 300x250

Marquee Roadblock Ad Unit Combinations

		Base Dimensions		Expanded Dimensions
		Width (PX)	Height (Px)	Width (PX)	Height (Px)
Combo A:	Ad Type
Upper Unit	Marquee Ad	Full width (970)	180 max	N/A	N/A
Lower Unit	300x100	300	100	N/A	N/A


Combo B:
Upper Unit	Marquee	Full width (970)	180 max	N/A	N/A
Lower Unit	300x100	300	100	N/A	N/A
Add�l Unit	User-Initiated� Overlay Panel	Full width (950)	800 max	N/A	N/A

Notes:�� 100k Max Weight (combined Top and Bottom units)

2MB polite load allowed�

18 FPS

Video Looping: Unlimited

Z-index should be set at 50

Audio must be user-initiated by an onClick event

Formats: GIF, JPG, up to Flash 9, HTML, DHTML, Javascript

IGN site logo cannot be touched or affected in any way

�� AskMen.com can accept a 300x600 in place of the 300x250

Auto Roadblock Ad Unit Combinations

		Base Dimensions		Expanded Dimensions
		Width (PX)	Height (Px)	Width (PX)	Height (Px)
Combo A:	Ad Type
Upper Unit	Automatic Push Down/Blade	Full width (970)	66 max	Full width (970)	418 max
Lower Unit	Medium Rectangle	300	250	N/A	N/A

Notes: Push down unit can be automatic (frequency capped at 1x/user/session) or click initiated.

Notes:�� 100k Max Weight (combined Top and Bottom units)

200k for the Skin

2MB polite load allowed�

18 FPS

Video Looping: Unlimited

Auto Expansion limit of 7 seconds

Z-index should be set at 50

Audio must be user-initiated by an onClick event

Formats: GIF, JPG, up to Flash 9, HTML, DHTML, Javascript

Close button must be present and clearly visible

Only the Upper unit can expand

IGN site logo cannot be touched or affected in any way

AskMen.com can accept a 300x600 in place of the 300x250

Host Initiated Ad Unit Combinations

		Base Dimensions		Expanded Dimensions
		Width (PX)	Height (Px)	Width (PX)	Height (Px)
Combo A:	Ad Type
Upper Unit	Automatic Push Down/Blade	Full width (970)	66*	Full width (970)	418 max
Lower Unit	Medium Rectangle	300	250	N/A	N/A
Add'l Unit	Host-Initiated Overlay Panel	Full width (950)	800 max	N/A	N/A

Notes: Push down unit can be automatic (frequency capped� at 1x/user/session) or click initiated.

Combo B:	Ad Type
Upper Unit	Blade	Full width (970)	66*	N/A	N/A
Lower Unit	Medium rectangle	300	250	N/A	N/A
Add'l Unit	User-Initiated Overlay Panel	Full width (950)	800 max	N/A	N/A
Add'l Unit	Host-Initiated Overlay Panel	Full width (950)	800 max	N/A	N/A

Combo C:	Ad Type
Upper Unit	Marquee Ad	Full width (970)	180 Max	N/A	N/A
Lower Unit	300x100	300	100	N/A	N/A
Add'l Unit	User-Initiated Overlay Panel	Full width (950)	800 max	N/A	N/A
Add'l Unit	Host-Initiated Overlay Panel	Full width (950)	800 max	N/A	N/A

Notes:�� 100k Max Weight (combined Upper and Lower units); 2MB polite load allowed

18 FPS

Video Looping: Unlimited

Auto Expansion limit of 7 seconds

�Z-index should be set at 50, overlay set at 100

Audio must be user-initiated by an onClick event

Formats: GIF, JPG, up to Flash 9, HTML, DHTML, Javascript

User-Initiated Overlay Specs:

2MB allowed for user-initiated overlay

Overlay is limited to 950x800

The trigger area must have a clear CTA

Expansion on click only; no rollover expansion

Close button must be clearly visible to user in both location and contrast

Close trigger must completely remove the Overlay file from the page so all site content is accessible�

IGN site logo cannot be touched or affected in any way

AskMen.com can accept a 300x600 in place of the 300x250

*With custom roadblocks, there is flexibility for advertisers to go bigger than 66 pixels tall, please consult with Ad Products for approval. Group 3 includes the following productized options: Chameleon Skin Roadblocks, Mega/DHTML Roadblocks, Marquee Roadblocks, and beyond (Group 3 & 4 are meant to be very flexible).

Leaderboard � Expandable

Ad Dimensions: �� 728x90 : Overlay expansion max 728x270

Max Weight:�� 75k

Formats:�� GIF, JPG, up to Flash 9, HTML, DHTML, JavaScript

Polite Load:�� Yes - initial load must adhere to product weight specification (75K). 2MB allowed after initial load.

3^rd Party Served:�� Yes

Video Looping:�� Unlimited

Frame Rate:�� 18 FPS

Audio:�� Must be user-initiated by an onClick event.

Z-Index:�� Set to 50

W-Mode:�� Opaque

Expanding:�� Leaderboards can expand to a total dimension of 728x270.� We recommend the Leaderboards expand downward.

Click expansion and Rollover expansion are both allowed. Click expansion should have click-to-close functionality. Rollover expansion should have mouse-off-to-close functionality.

�� The trigger area must be clear as to what might happen (e.g. �Click here to infect IGN�).

�� Call-to-action Hotspot can only be as large as the text button which initiates the expansion (i.e. "Click Here to expand" or "Rollover here to expand").� Expansion allowed ONLY on user interaction on Hotspot.� Please ask IGN AdOps for ANY exceptions.

�� Site logo cannot be touched or affected in any way

�� Close button must be clearly visible

Available on all IGN properties

Leaderboard � Non-Expandable

Ad Dimensions: �� 728x90

Max Weight:�� 75k

Formats:�� GIF, JPG, up to Flash 9, HTML, DHTML, JavaScript

Polite Load:�� Yes - initial load must adhere to product weight specification (75K). 2MB allowed after initial load.

3^rd Party Served:�� Yes

Video Looping:�� Unlimited

Frame Rate:�� 18 FPS

Audio:�� Must be user-initiated by an onClick event.

Z-Index:�� Set to 50

W-Mode:�� Opaque

Available on all IGN properties

Medium Rectangle � Expandable

Ad Dimensions: �� 300x250 : Overlay expansion max 600x250

Max Weight:�� 75k

Formats:�� GIF, JPG, up to Flash 9, HTML, DHTML, JavaScript

Polite Load:�� Yes - initial load must adhere to product weight specification (75K). 2MB allowed after initial load.

3^rd Party Served:�� Yes

Video Looping:�� Unlimited

Frame Rate:�� 18 FPS

Audio:�� Must be user-initiated by an onClick event.

Z-Index:�� Set to 50

W-Mode:�� Opaque

Expanding:�� We recommend the Medium Rectangles expand to the left.

Click expansion and Rollover expansion are both allowed. Click expansion should have click-to-close functionality. Rollover expansion should have mouse-off-to-close functionality.

�� The trigger area must be clear as to what might happen (e.g. �Click here to infect IGN�).

�� Site logo cannot be touched or affected in any way

�� Close button must be clearly visible

Available on all IGN properties

Medium Rectangle � Non-Expandable

Ad Dimensions: �� 300x250

Max Weight:�� 75k

Formats:�� GIF, JPG, up to Flash 9, HTML, DHTML, JavaScript

Polite Load:�� Yes - initial load must adhere to product weight specification (75K). 2MB allowed after initial load.

3^rd Party Served:�� Yes

Video Looping:�� Unlimited

Frame Rate:�� 18 FPS

Audio:�� Must be user-initiated by an onClick event.

Z-Index:�� Set to 50

W-Mode:�� Opaque

Available on all IGN properties

Featured Unit

Ad Dimensions: �� 300x100: Expandable to 900x800

Max Weight:�� 30k

Formats:�� GIF, JPG, up to Flash 9, HTML, DHTML, JavaScript

Polite Load:�� Yes - initial load must adhere to product weight specification (30K). 2MB allowed after initial load.

3^rd Party Served:�� Yes

Video Looping:�� Unlimited

Frame Rate:�� 18 FPS

Audio:�� Must be user-initiated by an onClick event.

Z-Index:�� Set to 50

W-Mode:�� Opaque

Expanding:�� By Click event only.� No rollover expansion allowed

Notes:�� The trigger area must be clear as to what might happen (e.g. �Click here to infect IGN�).

�� Site logo cannot be touched or affected in any way

�� Close button must be clearly visible

IGN.com only

Floating Ad � �Out Of Banner�

Ad Dimensions: �� Maximum of 400x300

Max Weight:�� 100k

Formats:�� GIF or JPG only

3^rd Party Served:�� Yes

Audio:�� Must be user-initiated by an onClick event.

Close Button:�� Must be present on Floating Ad at all times.

�� Colors should be highly contrasting to ad and not be covered at any time by the ad.

�� Must appear on both the Floating Unit & Reminder Unit.

�� Must close ad completely and not launch remainder unit.

�� Must be above the fold of the page.

Notes:�� Placement location and Ad Creative for Out of Banner Ad Unit or Surveys must be approved by Product and Editorial teams prior to sale.

Larger sized ads that obscure or "live" on content are subject to special approval.��

�� Unit CANNOT MOVE if user scrolls down the page.

No full page ads. The floater can only reside within a 800x600 area on the page.

�� Ad not allowed on Channel Home Pages.

�� Reminder Unit may be no larger than 200x200 (width x height) and must appear in bottom left corner of screen.

IGN.com, GameSpy.com*, and TeamXbox.com

*not allowed on FilePlanet.com

Welcome Mat

Ad Dimensions: �� Various : 600x400 recommended : 750x600 max

Max Weight:�� 75k

Formats:�� GIF, JPG, up to Flash 9, HTML, DHTML, JavaScript

Polite Load:�� Yes - initial load must adhere to product weight specification (75K). 2MB allowed after initial load.�

3^rd Party Served:�� Yes

Time Limit:�� 15 second max play limit

Frame Rate:�� 18 FPS

Audio:�� Must be user-initiated by an onClick event.

Available on all IGN properties

Video Pre-Roll and accompanying Ad Units

Ad Dimensions: �� Video Ad: �� 320x240

�� Vertical banner: 300x250

�� Ticker:�� 320x40 �� | Leave Behind:�� 50x26

��

Max Weight:�� Video Ad: �� Under 5mb

�� Vertical banner: 20k

�� Ticker:�� 10k�� | Leave Behind:�� 5k

3^rd Party Served:�� Video Ad: �� Yes

Vertical banner: No.� No 3rd Party Impression Tracker.�

3rd Party Clicker Trackers are allowed

�� Ticker:�� No

Play Time:�� :15 or :30 seconds on Content Player

�� :15 seconds on Hub/Cover Stories

Companion

300x250:�� .JPG Only and No Expansion allowed

Tracking:�� Up to five 1x1 Event Trackers for events data (0%/start, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% complete).

Pre-Roll Notes:�� No Companion 300x250 allowed with embedded Pre-Rolls on IGN Cover Story videos.

Creative Assets/Materials Sent to IGN

Video file - 16:9 aspect ratio, optimal resolution is 854x480, minimum resolution is 534x302

Bit Rate:� minimum 800 kbps

Preferred Codecs:� H.264, Sorenson, WMV

Frame Rate: 15 - 29.97

Audio Codecs:� MP3, Windows Media Audio (Windows), AAC (MAC)

Audio Bit Rate:� 128 - 192 kbps

Audio Output:� Stereo

Audio Sample Rate:� 48khz

� �� IGN�S FINAL OUTPUT

Format: FLV

Resolution: 640x360 (16:9 ratio)

Bit Rate:� 250 - 400 kbps

Codec:� Flash 9

Aspect Ratio: 9:16

Frame Rate: 29.97

Audio Codec:� MP3

Audio Bit Rate:� 128 kbps

Audio Output:� Stereo

Audio Sample Rate:� 48khz

Video file - 4:3 aspect ratio, optimal resolution is 640x480, minimum resolution is 320x240)

�� 16:9 aspect ratio, optimal resolution is 854x480, minimum resolution is 534x302

Bit Rate:� minimum 800 kbps

Preferred Codecs:� H.264, Sorenson, WMV

Frame Rate: 15 - 29.97

Audio Codecs:� MP3, Windows Media Audio (Windows), AAC (MAC)

Audio Bit Rate:� 128 - 192 kbps

Audio Output:� Stereo

Audio Sample Rate:� 48khz

Digital Video Formats Accepted:

�Most QuickTime Compressions: H.264, Sorenson 3 (Recommended Format)

WMV Files (highest quality file available)

Uncompressed QuickTime (Windows Compatible)

AVI Files (highest quality file available)

Since pre-roll advertisements are compressed for web viewing, we oftenly only need a moderately compressed file. We recommend a 2-pass CBR Quicktime or WMV.

Avoid noisy, low-quality files. Higher quality will allow us to compress the video to our specifications and maintain video quality.

We do not accept BetaSP, MPG, or other video file formats that are not listed above.

Ticker Notes:�� May be transparent

�� Should contain a visible high contrast CLOSE text and button at top right corner.

�� Both the CLOSE text and button should be a hotspot that allows user to close Ticker Ad.

�� Optional: Client can add a clickable Client Logo (click through to one URL) next to Roll Over area.

Branded Leave Behind unit does not display if Ticker Ad loads.

Branded Leave Behind unit must be static image.

Branded Leave Behind image can be in the following format: JPG, GIF and PNG

Ticker Ad will collapse into Branded Leave Behind unit:

After 10 seconds without user interaction.

User clicks Close button on Ticker Ad.

Available on all IGN properties

Lightbox Video

Ad Dimensions: �� 300x100 with Video Overlay

Max Weight:�� 30k

Formats:�� GIF, JPG, up to Flash 9, HTML, DHTML, JavaScript

Polite Load:�� No.� Video to load from OnClick event only�

3^rd Party Served:�� No and no 3^rd party tracking

Frame Rate:�� 18 FPS

Audio:�� Must be user-initiated by an onClick event.

Available on all IGN properties

Spotlight

Ad Dimensions: �� 120x90

Max Weight:�� 5k

Formats:�� GIF and JPG only

3^rd Party Served:�� No and No Click or Impression 1x1 Tracking Available

Available on IGN.com and GameSpy.com

Skyscraper

Ad Dimensions: �� 160x600 : Overlay expansion max 320x600

Max Weight:�� 75k

Formats:�� GIF, JPG, up to Flash 9, HTML, DHTML, JavaScript

Polite Load:�� Yes - initial load must adhere to product weight specification (75K). 2MB allowed after initial load.

3^rd Party Served:�� Yes

Video Looping:�� Unlimited

Frame Rate:�� 18 FPS

Audio:�� Must be user-initiated by an onClick event.

Z-Index:�� Set to 50

W-Mode:�� Opaque

Expanding:�� Expand to the left only

Click expansion and Rollover expansion are both allowed. Click expansion should have click-to-close functionality. Rollover expansion should have mouse-off-to-close functionality.

�� The trigger area must be clear as to what might happen (e.g. �Click here to infect IGN�).

�� Site logo cannot be touched or affected in any way

�� Close button must be clearly visible

Available on all IGN properties

IGN Module Unit

Ad Dimensions: �� 320x40

Max Weight:�� 30k

Formats:�� GIF or JPG Only

3^rd Party Served:�� No.� No tracking 1x1�s

Audio:�� No

Available on IGN.com only

FilePlanet Featured Unit

Ad Dimensions: �� 144x81

Max Weight:�� 20k

Formats:�� GIF or JPG

3^rd Party Served:�� No.� 1x1 Tracking Image allowed

Audio:�� No

Available on FilePlanet.com

Co-Branded Text Ad

Character Limit: �� 45 character

3^rd Party Trackers:�� No

Mutiple Copies:�� Yes, maximum of 3

Notes:�� Text Ads MUST LINK ON SITE��

Text Links should capitalize all major words

�� No end punctuations (periods, exclamation points, ect)

Available on IGN.com

�

May	JUN	Jul
	05
2009	2010	2011