Elite Gamer
I am in no way trying to be an ass but penny arcade dug up some interesting facts about how game companies use forums as a venue for getting their games word of mouth.
Penny arcade comic
The comic is kind of funny but he goes on to talk about how a reader of the site interviewed for a job that would require him to do such a thing.
penny arcade news postWe received the following from a young man who we will call "Mr. Smith."
(CW)TB
Hey guys,
I interviewed for a guerilla marketing business in San Francisco that targeted web forums.
I was told that if I accepted the job, I was to have at LEAST 50 identities on as many forums as I could muster (they wanted 100 eventually), with a goal of 5 posts an hour. The posts had to be well thought out, and the idea was that I was to establish multiple identities with a history on the forums, so that when the timing was right a well written but subtly placed marketing post could be finessed in. And regular visitors would recognize the post as coming from a long time poster.
They had 12 people working there full time, and were hiring 10 more. You do the math. No wait, I'll do it for you: that's 880 posts a day (if minimum was met). However he said the better ones could do around 8 or 10 an hour. And they had different "verticals" so there was the sports guy, and the games guy, the hentai, excuse me I mean anime guy, etc.
But the most critical point was this: develop and integrate the identity. No random "HEY EB GAMES IS AWESOME BUY THIS" stuff.
Kinda spooky.
Didn't take the job. It was a fucking mill.
I am not trying to rag on Andy. I don't really know him. He could be a regular on the forum and be a cool guy who just loves the game. I know I do. It is just ever since I read about this, peoples legitimacy always comes to mind when I am reading on forums now.
I believe marketing/PR firms call this "ninja marketing" (serious). I used to work for a startup, we hired a well respected PR firm and they told us they would do this since they have "infiltrated" various forums pertaining to our business and help drive customers to our site.Originally Posted by nameless_one
But then again, I take everything I read (whether it is internet, magazine, TV, whatever) with a grain of salt.
Are you fucking serious.
This has been discussed. Andy has been here forever.
Funner Than Leather
edit fuck beaten.
Of course, I wasn't referring to Andy, just a general statement. I can't vouch for Nameless though
Plus, I preordered, just like the rest of the herd.
can't wake up
Andy is a Gaming Age plant, which is far far worse than an EA one or a Konami one.
Elite Gamer
Just so we are all clear. I am not trying to rip on andy. If you just look at the his post unbiased of who he is, can you at least see how it can be interpreted that way.
Funner Than Leather
Not really. The point of those guerilla marketing firms is to create and establish an identity, and then advertise games really subtlely. Andy is just listing features of the new MGS - not very subtle at all. You can tell he just likes the series and is anticipating this release.
Not like it matters since Andy has been here a long time.
So much ****ing semen.
i want to be a guerilla plant.
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