Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft Paying for Positive Xbox One Coverage on YouTube
An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft, partnered with Machinima, has put forth a promotion for YouTube personalities: make a video about the Xbox One and get money for it. Problematically, they also require the reviewer not to disclose that they're getting paid (or mention anything negative), which breaks FTC disclosure rules (PDF). Microsoft has a well-known history of astroturfing, but is this the first proof of them doing it illegally?"
And this type of action is new or newsworthy how?
I certainly hope this type of act is reported for each and every company that ever does it. Maybe we can dedicate a whole website to the 1,000s of companies that do this type of thing. We'll call it NothingNewHereAtAll.wtf and it won't have the horendous /. beta format.
its legality is irrelevant
Fake reviews, Fake adverts, Fake court presentations...
Sad that this is commonplace to those playing at attention.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.
Ernest Hemingway
see what he means?
SteamBox for you, then?
it's a felony. fuddles not alone there by any means so why act like it's an oddity?
...and all the other companies do the same....love the anti-ms fanbois...
I was wondering how they were getting all this great coverage when the PS4 is in such high demand that you still can't find it anywhere and there Xbox Ones are stacked up like cordword in every Best Buy I've been to in the last few weeks.
The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."
Thanks for keeping us posted on how the PC gaming community doesn't like consoles. Without your post, I would never have guessed.
The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."
Yup. I won't buy Sony (seriously, rootkits?) and MS's behaviour around the XBone has written that off, so when my 360 dies (it's actually been a great wee machine) I'll be getting a SteamBox.
Cue the Microsoft paid shills... err, I mean paid supporters... err, I mean unpaid people who shill out of their love for their great and wonderful employer. Non-employer.
in plain sight? not quite http://www.bloomberg.com/davos/
Companies, not just Microsoft, pay Youtubers to mention their product in their videos. People make a living posting videos to Youtube and some Youtubers have sponsors pay them for mentioning products in their videos without disclosing that they are being paid to do so. If this controversy with Microsoft becomes a thing, there may be collateral impact on Youtube land beyond Microsoft.
regardless of what garbage they spew.
Yeah, like the other article today where they claim their researchers have cut fraud in Skype by 68%.
Why don't they set those researchers onto their own fraudulent practices? Just an untrustworthy, unethical company, through and through.
as they can account for the people out their who say it's good and you need to learn to get use to the start screen.
https://twitter.com/KyleOrl/st...
Its still not really apparent what, if any, involvement MS actually had in this.
The authors of the articles freely admit its an assumption
Witty Comment Here
'''
You agree to keep confidential at all times all matters relating to this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Promotional Requirements, and the CPM Compensation, listed above. You understand that You may not post a copy of this Agreement or any terms thereof online or share them with any third party (other than a legal or financial representative). You agree that You have read the Nondisclosure Agreement (attached hereto and marked as Exhibit “A”) and You understand and agree to all of terms of the Nondisclosure Agreement, which is incorporated as part of this Agreement.
'''
The sketchy bit for me is that Machinima bills itself as "Machinima is the dominant video entertainment network for young males around the world. " Doesn't seem to clearly state that it is, perhaps, a promotional entity as well.
M$ has always used and will always use astroturfing to do whatever it can to push their DRM infested non free software, even use astroturfers on multiple accounts to shill for M$ and M$ using astroturfers to shill for their failed Xbone. They know their days are numbered Windoze as GNU/Linux and GNU/Hurd are both gaining ground so they will now astroturf to get a monopoly in the gaming arena just as they are using digital restrictions management infested features in a BIOS called restricted boot so M$ can regain and keep their illegal monopoly. M$ is a convicted monopolist and this is what happens when the sheeple forget the history of M$.
--
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
Friends do assist M$ addicted friends in committing suicide.
Didn't they do this same payola tactic for Bing? "Bing bucks" or something like that?
Machinima is getting ad buy from MS. They're not promoting the XBone out of the kindness of their hearts. They got money from Microsoft, they take a cut, the pass on a pittance to the "influencers". If you honestly think MS is not connected you are deluded. The whole idea that this is some sort of rogue operation is ridiculous.
Besides, this was not even the first campaign. It happened around the release also (at $1 CMR). But I guess Microsoft just didn't notice that one and Machinima snuck another one past them?
"Sure this doctor is saying smoking Camel isn't bad for you, but where's the evidence? Don't leap to conclusions about who's paying him!". Please.
Machinima sucks anyway. Please avoid. You're much better off with the independent reviewers like Angry Joe and TotalBiscuit.
Anyone notice whenever Microsoft has a new song you've never heard of on a new commercial, all of a sudden they are playing it on every radio station?
I've been at that point for the last ten years. Once I grew out of Pokémon and Zelda I haven't had any reason to play a console game.
Oblivion Awaits
Full contract at http://pastebin.com/vec6vjv5/
Machinima lives of these kind of promotions (all Machinima affiliates get multiple offers per month)
The total cost for this promotion for Machinima is 3750$ (promotion ends when this CPM target is met)
It is likely Microsoft entered into a deal with Machinima to increase it's visibility and Machinima did the promotion on it's own (like it has done with a lot of brands before)
...is this the first proof of them doing it illegally?"
Er, no.
Because an unsupported assertion on a chat board ain't proof...
Got any factual evidence of this rootkits exclusive to sony?
BTW: steam also supports securom, and so does every single other platform out there on the planet..
so once again (slow claps) bravo for being a sucker for marketing bullshit..
and BTW: that xbox360 has a rootkit, it's called xbox live and you're paying for it... (genius)
your PC already is a steambox..
Well, I never did play Pokémon, but I have to ask: does one ever really outgrow Zelda? Maybe the new games don't do it for you, but don't you ever find yourself wanting to play Ocarina again?
I thought it would be the case: I would come back to OoT but I just couldn't get into it. I've been trying to play Majora's Mask for years and I just can't find the inspiration. I certainly believe those to be great games, I just can't play them anymore.
Oblivion Awaits
Clap, Clap, Clap.
Good for you. Guess what, some people do.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Geesh, I just read your sentence but thought Super Mario Bros 3 and Super Mario world as opposed to Ocarina. I'm getting old...
Stop feeding the trolls, dumbass.
Obviously those are great classics, too. But the post I replied to specifically mentioned Pokémon and Zelda. As I said, I've never played Pokémon. I've not been much of a fan of that style of game, including the FF series.
Steam doesn't have anything to do with securom, they just allow 3rd party DRM. There is a major difference.
That whole FTC ruling was directed primary at bloggers (people who use affiliate programs were hooked in there too). Remember, the initial ruling came back in 2009 when searching for some sort of product review usually brought up a bunch of blogs. If you look at http://www.business.ftc.gov/do... , over half of the document references bloggers.
That particular problem doesn't really exist anymore for a number of products/services, because Google's Penguin/Panda updates have shoved most independent "blog" type reviews down a few pages in favour of Amazon (for products), ResellerRatings/RipOffReport (for retailers), and similar sites. Those are way easier to astroturf, so companies just hire "marketing agencies" to take care of those now instead of wasting time chasing after individual unpredictable bloggers who might have their sense of morality kick in at any time.
Aside: Microsoft's a little behind the times, as usual. The "new" way to do things would be to hire a company to make a few YouTube "reviews" and then use their multiple accounts to like them all, while searching for negative ones and disliking them. It's cheaper and easier.
Anyway, technically they could get a warning/fine from the FTC (or those who make the videos could) for what's being done here, but it's pretty unlikely. The video rules to qualify for the CPM bump are a little convoluted, and if the FTC actually pushed for fines, in court MS could make the case that paying out a higher CPM for Xbox videos has a similar outcome to bidding more for specific search terms on AdWords with "-sucks -awful -terrible" as negative keywords and then publicly stating that they bit more for ad clicks from non-negative reviews.
By the way, who *doesn't* assume that there could be some bias in videos from Machinima/partners and similar outlets? Surely I'm not the only one who sees them in the same light as gaming publications where if they say something too negative they suddenly stop getting free/early access to future products or have advertising revenue cut back. It's one thing when you see "Gus's XBOX 1 review" where he's taken video with a handheld camcorder from 2005 and you kind of assume he spent his own money and just wanted to talk about it and you maybe even take what he says at face value. The clean-cut commercialized stuff, you always take with a grain of salt.
Ignoring all that, even if Microsoft were to somehow eat a fine, I doubt they'd care. They sold the original Xbox at a loss for years, and FTC fines at most are a slap on the wrist for the big players. If you're a large corporation, you can usually find a way to make breaking the law profitable even when you're caught.
Personally, Machinima content is so appallingly bad that this story is not surprising at all. Machinima needs a serious upgrade.
That's interesting. Most people I know grew out of playing Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto and start playing grownup games like Pokémon instead.
There's a reason infomercials have to tell you "this is a paid advertisement by the following"
Heads will roll and possible litigation in the future for Microsoft's shady actions.
Aaaand here goes the positive coverage of the Xbox One on youtube. This is the start of flaming and mocking of MS's attempts to get positive feedback there.
How and sane marketing department can think they can come positive out of something if it backfires is a bit hard to understand. They *know* people wait for throw dirty things in their direction and they still risk it... it is like the marketing department responsible for the Xbox One was a bit removed from the Real World.... wait, never mind, I just remembered fully who we are speaking about...
Well, I never did play Pokémon, but I have to ask: does one ever really outgrow Zelda? Maybe the new games don't do it for you, but don't you ever find yourself wanting to play Ocarina again?
I outgrew the Zelda games when I had to wave the stupid wiimote around like i was on crack.
Be seeing you...
That killed any and all nostalgia value that Ocarina of Time had? "I hate Windows 8/8.1 so completely, that I'm going to uninstall Windows 7 and switch to Fedora or Ubuntu."
wave the stupid wiimote around like i was on crack.
Yeah I'm sure you did, guy. That's just you being your own stupid self, though. Nobody else had to do that.
Wow, I imagine most of us see orcania as part of the new zelda games.
Hello Internet!
I'm writing this comment to let you know how cool the Xbox One is! It's the awesomest Xbox out there! There's no Xbox like it! Best news yet, there's nothing wrong with it either! Yes, you heard that right! There's nothing wrong with it. It's bug free, gameplay experience is from best upwards, there are no crashes, you don't lose your saved games when Mr. Ballmer throws a chair into the datacentre, doesn't send all your Kinect live feeds to the NSA, nothing!
And while Microsoft offered to pay me to say the above, I refused their money! I'll shill for free y'all! They could use that money to plug the big ass hole left behind by the Surface RT, Surface Pro, Windows Phone, Windows 8, and Mr. Ballmer's golden parachute!
Regards,
Shill MacShilling
Got any factual evidence of this rootkits exclusive to sony?
Are you serious?
And, as we saw with OtherOS, Sony won't hesitate to remove features if you're a minority. The fanboy idiots will say that ripping people off and crippling the console's functionality is okay because the piracy bogeymen would destroy us all otherwise, and you're in the minority, so who cares? Microsoft and Nintendo are hardly any better.
Gotta do something when it ain't selling. A guy I know working at GameStop has told me they can't keep the play station 4s on the shelf and can't get the Xbones out the door.
Chewbacon
The Bible is like Wikipedia: written by a bunch of people and verifiable by questionable sources.
Maybe when you grow up you can learn to enjoy games for what they are. Concerning motion controls, if you're exhausting yourself in Skyward Sword of all things you're a dumbass - not the hardware.
I am praying for the day my son out grown Pokemon. Please let me know who long I should expect to wait?
. .
If the question was "are rootkits exclusive to Sony or have other consumer product manufacturers/distributors been caught using them?" then I'm curious too.
I'd be curious to know what games you currently play. I've gotten the other way around, where most of the games that actually interest me are not available on PC, unless they are small independent titles.
they just allow 3rd party DRM
Thereby having something to do with it. Also, as another AC has already said, Steam is DRM itself. You can deny it all you want, but it doesn't make it any less true.
I only buy games from gog.com these days. It's the only place where you can be absolutely certain that you won't have to deal with DRM. They have very fair prices, a large back catalogue of games I never got around to playing and they are even getting more new games.
I play a lot of different games, though most of them are towards the surreal or horror setting. Currently I am playing Cry of Fear, Left 4 Dead 2 and DOTA2, plus a few games I play to kill time, those being The Binding of Isaac and Prisoner of Ice. I also play whatever indie release sounds like fun, the last ones I played were Papers, Please, Sword and Sworcery and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs.
Oblivion Awaits