EA paying YouTubers for positive coverage

[J4MES OX4D 9,821]

I think we all knew the crack with some uploaders and their vids on YouTube but EA and Micro$oft have been finally exposed on an arrangement where money exchanges hands for positive coverage based on views http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/ea-accused-paying-youtubers-highlight-games-without-telling-public/

 

I was only saying the other week how Activision seem to have the likes of Ali-A and TmarTn in their pockets and it wouldn't surprise me if Activision had an even larger arrangement on paid-for-positive videos.  

 

I also wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if companies like EA and Activision pay the likes of IGN for good reviews. The trolls usually have a field day with these lines when a new COD gets a good score but there could be plausible meaning to their gibberish after all! 

[techno 3,478]

Saw this the other day.

[Plumbers Crack 4,036]

That's Roy Wood from Wizzard !!

[OTC Mike 53]

I honestly do see it as that big a deal. These YouTubers are marketing their product, so why not pay them?

[lepercolony 275]

I honestly do see it as that big a deal. These YouTubers are marketing their product, so why not pay them?

 

yeah, this hasn't shattered my reality or anything, but there's something at least a little bit disingenuous about what they're doing that doesn't sit well.  i think the issue lies with their viewers (falsely) assuming that when they watch one of these vids they're getting an objective opinion of a product, and not a pitch from a paid spokesman. 

 

sounds like payola all over again.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payola

 

let's face it, none of us can imagine one of these YouTubers actually standing on principle and rejecting cash they're offered.  and don't get me wrong, i have no problem with kids getting popular online and making a buck out of it . . . but misleading viewers by accepting bribes under the table which dictate the content you put out there is kinda gross.

[Dattebayo 446]

I never trusted YouTubers working for Machinima anyway, so I'm good as gold. x)

[J4MES OX4D 9,821]

yeah, this hasn't shattered my reality or anything, but there's something at least a little bit disingenuous about what they're doing that doesn't sit well.  i think the issue lies with their viewers (falsely) assuming that when they watch one of these vids they're getting an objective opinion of a product, and not a pitch from a paid spokesman. 

 

sounds like payola all over again.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payola

 

let's face it, none of us can imagine one of these YouTubers actually standing on principle and rejecting cash they're offered.  and don't get me wrong, i have no problem with kids getting popular online and making a buck out of it . . . but misleading viewers by accepting bribes under the table which dictate the content you put out there is kinda gross.

I saw a programme ages ago which went through the strict policies surrounding things like advertisement, product placement and plugging that companies have to abide by but it seems YouTube is a grey area. The show explained that if someone was knowingly advertising a product and being paid for it; they would have to demonstrate that this was the case and not all of their opinions expressed were that of themselves or the product in question. 

 

I tend to avoid many corporate mainstream gaming sites these days as you can never be sure if what is said is an opinion generated by the writer or just been placed in at a cost by the publisher. Many avoid the subject of negatives of a title and too much emphasis is put post-release on the reliance of get out of jail patches and updates.  In the old days, if a game was not living up to expectation; magazines would happily lambaste the title as they had no fear of repercussions and opted to side with the gamer rather than keeping the publisher sweet due to £/$.

 

I tend to only watch independent YouTubers who aren't tied to a particular game or franchise. At least you'll get an honest and open opinion from them and not a 'I'm soo excited for this' scrpit from puppets like Ali-A or TmarTn. I think many people are unaware of the relationship with certain uploaders publishers have in terms of their content arrangement. Someone like the Cynicalbrit or FrankieonPCin1080HD are always on the side of the gamer and deliver a balanced and organised opinion and that's what I like to see from true gamers. I don't like this culture we see too often today where videos are favorable and unbalanced.  Transparency is a key value which seems to be diminishing in the gaming arena today and at the end of the day; it's the loyal gamers that suffer.