The viral marketing campaign for the new video game Battlefield 3 has already begun in earnest. The game developer, DICE, has been sending out a steady stream of trailers and gameplay footage since the game was officially announced earlier this year, but they have just taken it to the next level.

Now the company is rolling out banner ads with some of the biggest internet gaming hubs such as GameSpot, Game Trailers, IGN, and ESPN.com. This is an early advertising blitz even for the world of video games, but it looks like EA is planning to spend their $100 million marketing budget in a way that will keep the game fresh in the minds of gamers all the way up to the November launch. It would not be surprising to see the game advertised on TV during big upcoming sporting events like the NBA or NHL Playoffs.