The rules for gaming videos are quite... blurry, for lack of a better term.
OK, so this is how it works. You're allowed to do gaming videos provided they meet this criteria:
1) You're educating people, for example, showing them how to play the game, how to reach a certain location, how to find an easter egg, glitch, whatever.
2) If you're critically analysing the game, for example, if you were reviewing a game.
3) If you were talking about in-game related discussions.
However, you start infringing upon copyright when you start playing games, recording them but talking about what your nan cooked your for dinner.
You'll be breaching community guidelines if you just play the game with no commentary or no commentary to do with the game whatsoever.
Links aren't allowed so Google YouTube Gaming Video Guidelines << Have a look at that.
Also, in the booklets that come with non-pirated games, it will have the licence (usually on the first page or the last page) and it can ALWAYS be found on a developers website and is often on the back of game cases. If the licence allows you to use the game commercially, then providing you meet the licence conditions, YouTube's community guidelines shouldn't really come into it provided it isn't causing detriment to YouTube as a community itself.
"Without the appropriate license from the publisher, use of video game or software user interface must be minimal. Video game content may be monetized if the associated step-by-step commentary is strictly tied to the live action being shown and provides instructional or educational value.
Videos simply showing a user playing a video game or the use of software for extended periods of time may not be accepted for monetization."
Also, see this video regarding copyright at the bottom of the page.
I think that what you've probably done is played the game for a while with no commentary or without appropriate commentary. The likelihood of you getting your account reinstated is minimal but to be honest, if you're paying for exposure, then once the advertising campaign is over, you'll go back to normal. If you've paid for advertising and only gained 10 subscribers, well... that's very worrying. You should focus on creating better content that those few people who do see it will share it. That's how you do well on YouTube, not by paying your way through - seems you want to earn cash from YouTube so by paying to earn that cash completely defeats the purpose.
YouTube would have caught you out because you wanted to advertise your video, I daresay a developer who worked for the game company you were playing, seen the advert and reported you to YouTube for infringement.
It sucks but if you don't understand the copyright laws, you should either seek legal advice which will be money better spent than on advertising or you can play it by ear, like you have done, and risk everything falling apart.
Don't worry, I know the feeling. I'm debating whether to join an MCN so I have the support from them. But then I think Well, I could just learn the copyright laws for myself, which is what I am doing.
Hopefully, you'll be able to get the suspension lifted. Explain you've fully reviewed the community guidelines. Check in your Video Manager to see what videos have monetisation turned off (I bet it'll be the one you advertised or a game made by the developers of the game you made an advertisement for). Explain that you are happy to delete the videos which infringe on copyright and that you will ensure you fully understand the licences associated with games, as well as the copyright laws and YouTube community guidelines and that you're very sorry and it won't happen again.
It might also be worth contacting the developers and apologising, just say you didn't know and ask them if it is OK to use their games in future videos. If they say yes, then you're good to go and can do as you please (within reason, I guess) with footage of their gameplay.
I really hope this helps. Good luck with your channel and if it doesn't take off, let me give you this advice:
You should be on YouTube because you enjoy it, not ready to throw it in simply because you can't monetise videos or had a hiccup with your account. If you show Google you're passionate and willing to learn the rules, they'll want you on their platform. Otherwise, well, there's always Twitch and Vimeo and a lot of other video sharing sites. You should be in it because you enjoy it, not for the money. Viewers can see straight through fakery. Trust me.
