EA bribing Journalists?

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BuddhaPalm
Kotaku recently released an article stating how EA mailed out checks for $200 to game reviewers, here's a snippet of the article

Electronic Arts today mailed out real checks payable to game reviewers for $200.

Each check, mailed in wooden boxes decorated with twin skeletons and the words Dante's Inferno, was affixed to a velvet pillow inside a box. Inside the top of the box is a welcome to the fourth circle of hell which reads:

Click link for full article, which also includes a vid of the actual check getting burned. It's good to see that there are honest game journalists out there that don't buy into these type of tactics.

http://kotaku.com/5355784/electronic-arts-tests-journalists-greed-with-cash/gallery/
 
If EA would've just made games like they did in '97 and '98, they probably wouldn't have to "Bribe" the game reviewers. Need For Speed ProStreet was crap, Need For Speed Undercover was the same and I'm very sure that NFS Shift is going to fall in that category. The only Electronic Arts games that I have are of course from the Need For Speed series. NFS II and NFS III were really great games, nowadays EA's games are CRAP!
 
Is it just me or are they going a little to far with all this Dante's Inferno business. This is the 3rd "gimmic" they have used and so far they are all falling flat and cause more bad press than good.
 
Kotaku recently released an article stating how EA mailed out checks for $200 to game reviewers, here's a snippet of the article



Click link for full article, which also includes a vid of the actual check getting burned. It's good to see that there are honest game journalists out there that don't buy into these type of tactics.

http://kotaku.com/5355784/electronic-arts-tests-journalists-greed-with-cash/gallery/

Brilliant advertising from EA. "Are you greedy? Which circle of Hell is the one destined to you?"

LOL ... brilliant, that's my opinion! 👍
 
I'm not sure. While I really want to jump on the bandwagon and call out EA for their shrewd, ruthless, and evil bribery, I honestly can't see it as any more than clever marketing. This is something that some journalist was obviously going to report, and it isn't as if EA was making it look like a shady back room deal. In fact, it looks like EA was banking on it getting reported and people throwing EA hate signs with how much effort they put into it. I actually think its pretty funny, and I hadn't heard of the game itself before this.
 
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Brilliant advertising from EA. "Are you greedy? Which circle of Hell is the one destined to you?"

LOL ... brilliant, that's my opinion! 👍

I thought the same thing, I must admit the entire box and written check with the detailed text and such was well done, then it crossed my mind that they are targeting game reviewers only and adding in their past actions... most recently with the accusation of holding back PS3 development just doesn't look good for them, plus this isn't the first time that they have been accused of this but this is the first time that a journalist or reviewer documented the act. 👍
 
What happened to the good old slip of the cash filled envelope? No one would have reported that (;)) but this is too interesting not to report, as others said it looks like a marketing ploy.
 
If EA would've just made games like they did in '97 and '98, they probably wouldn't have to "Bribe" the game reviewers. Need For Speed ProStreet was crap, Need For Speed Undercover was the same and I'm very sure that NFS Shift is going to fall in that category. The only Electronic Arts games that I have are of course from the Need For Speed series. NFS II and NFS III were really great games, nowadays EA's games are CRAP!

Have to disagree with some of that. EA have, in my opinion, turned themselves around a lot in the last few years.

Shift is the first NfS game is a very long time that I am seriously considering getting, simply because its the closest to the roots of the original NfS games. Lumping it in with ProStreet and Undercover smacks of commenting without any real idea of the games development, which is in the hands of a team known for producing sim racing titles that are about as far removed from ProStreet and Undercover as you can get.

Outside of the NfS series you have the likes of Burnout Paradise City, easily one of the best arcade racing titles on this generation of machines and one that was supported with huge amounts of DLC (unlike a lot of titles), much of which was totally free.

EA have always in the past been an easy target and to a large degree it has been justified, however I personally think that this has changed a lot over the last 2/3 years and is continuing to do so.

On a broader note, any one who honestly believes this is a real attempt at bribery, rather than a quite amusing marketing stunt is either desperate for something to slam EA with or rather niave.


Regards

Scaff
 
Well, at least bribery is not as bad as forcing magazines and sites to give good review score and at least a four page review by withholding review copies if they don't. A tactic employed by Rockstar with their GTA4 release (several magazines and sites complained about this, and the ones that didn't gave GTA4 a 10/10 and a four page review).
 
Have to disagree with some of that. EA have, in my opinion, turned themselves around a lot in the last few years.

Shift is the first NfS game is a very long time that I am seriously considering getting, simply because its the closest to the roots of the original NfS games. Lumping it in with ProStreet and Undercover smacks of commenting without any real idea of the games development, which is in the hands of a team known for producing sim racing titles that are about as far removed from ProStreet and Undercover as you can get.

Outside of the NfS series you have the likes of Burnout Paradise City, easily one of the best arcade racing titles on this generation of machines and one that was supported with huge amounts of DLC (unlike a lot of titles), much of which was totally free.

EA have always in the past been an easy target and to a large degree it has been justified, however I personally think that this has changed a lot over the last 2/3 years and is continuing to do so.

On a broader note, any one who honestly believes this is a real attempt at bribery, rather than a quite amusing marketing stunt is either desperate for something to slam EA with or rather niave.


Regards

Scaff

DITO 👍


Just add the major turn around of the FIFA series to the story and you summed up my thoughts exactly ;)
 
If EA would've just made games like they did in '97 and '98, they probably wouldn't have to "Bribe" the game reviewers. Need For Speed ProStreet was crap, Need For Speed Undercover was the same and I'm very sure that NFS Shift is going to fall in that category. The only Electronic Arts games that I have are of course from the Need For Speed series. NFS II and NFS III were really great games, nowadays EA's games are CRAP!

While you might not like those games, for the most part their games get good reviews. You (some people) want them to keep making the same games they did in the 90's, while EA is trying to come up with something different to keep from becoming stale. Most people who buy EA games like them. Your dislike for the current games is more a you (some people) problem, than a EA problem. I'm sure they have a reason for sending out checks, it's probably not to bribe reviewers. That would be too obvious.

Is it just me or are they going a little to far with all this Dante's Inferno business. This is the 3rd "gimmic" they have used and so far they are all falling flat and cause more bad press than good.

The "gimmic" is put in place to get press for the game. The fact that you know about 3 of such "gimmics" tells me that these "gimmics" are doing their job.
After all we are posting about it.
 
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Seriously guys, all of their marketing campaigns for Dante's Inferno have been related to a circle of Hell. Unfortunately, what I have seen of the game appears to have little to do with the poem.

Anyway:

  • Fake protesters with hate-filled messages: This could tie to heresy or wrath.
  • Sin to win picture with an E3 booth babe: Lust, no question.
  • Be greedy and get $6.66 off for pre-ordering on 9/9/9 (see what they did there?): Heresy and/or avarice (greed).
  • Now, "bribing" reviewers: Clearly Avarice and/or fraud, possibly treason.
  • Making a game based on a religious poem, but using none of the source material and ripping of God of War: Heresy and/or treason.

And all the negative reactions to EA: Wrath or possibly even violence. Don't be surprised when they point this out at launch.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some demo that unlocks a special DLC code if you let it sit for X amount of time: Sloth.

Honestly, I'll be surprised if there aren't a full nine campaigns each relating to a circle.
 
Shift is the first NfS game is a very long time that I am seriously considering getting, simply because its the closest to the roots of the original NfS games.

I'm sorry, but I don't see the connection between shift and the old games at all.:confused:
 
I'm sorry, but I don't see the connection between shift and the old games at all.:confused:

In that it actually attempts to acurately simulate driving and racing, rather than simply being an arcade racer for 'barried' up sheds with spoilers the size of Denmark.


:)

Scaff
 
Maybe he thinks NFS: Pro Street is one of the original titles:boggled:. That would be sad if he does:lol:

?????????????????

Did my post above not explain clearly enough why I think Shift is closer to the original titles that ProStreet/Underground?

It seemed pretty clear to me, and at my age I'm old enough to not only remember the first titles, but to have also played them the first time around.


:)


Scaff
 
It seemed pretty clear to me, and at my age I'm old enough to not only remember the first titles, but to have also played them the first time around.
I often find people have no clue that I am referring to a C64 game when I mention Need for Speed and Test Drive.
 
In my day we played Taito Chase HQ on a Spectrum, wearing no shoes and we were glad for it!
 
I often find people have no clue that I am referring to a C64 game when I mention Need for Speed and Test Drive.

In my day we played Taito Chase HQ on a Spectrum, wearing no shoes and we were glad for it!

Ah those were the days, when wire frame graphics on Elite (BBC B) were the coolest thing ever....


elite1_tn.png



....oh how much time I wasted on that game, and all these years later I still waste huge amounts of time on games.


:)


Scaff
 
....oh how much time I wasted on that game, and all these years later I still waste huge amounts of time on games.
If you have enjoyed yourself, and your life isn't ruined because of it, it is not a waste.
 
Biggest entertainment industry in the world. No waste at all. It's no waste to listen to music, to watch films, etc.

Shift does look like it might shake a bit of the current NFS image. EA could do with some good results too. The new FIFA is supposed to be a big step up from 09.
 
Ah guys, I didn't say that wasting time on games was a bad thing now did I.

Quite the opposite, I love wasting time, its a perfectly valid thing to do with free time (not that my wife agrees with that - aparently mowing the grass is a much better thing to do).


Scaff
 
I have spent loads of time playing games and now moving into the field of making games! Life is great!
 
Yes, indeed. Besides, what could be more important than saving the universe from the Thargoid invasion? :lol:
Alien mutants don't kill themselves...well, the zealot races will, but if you let a Zerg infestation go unchecked it grows much faster than grass.
 
It seemed pretty clear to me, and at my age I'm old enough to not only remember the first titles, but to have also played them the first time around.


:)


Scaff

And at your age you should also be able to see sarcasm when you read it;)
 
Is this the "oldies" corner? Well then, I bet none of you guys could maneuver (sp?) a lorry like I used to do in "Juggernaut" :D

juggernaut.gif
 
Seriously guys, all of their marketing campaigns for Dante's Inferno have been related to a circle of Hell. Unfortunately, what I have seen of the game appears to have little to do with the poem.

Anyway:

  • Fake protesters with hate-filled messages: This could tie to heresy or wrath.
  • Sin to win picture with an E3 booth babe: Lust, no question.
  • Be greedy and get $6.66 off for pre-ordering on 9/9/9 (see what they did there?): Heresy and/or avarice (greed).
  • Now, "bribing" reviewers: Clearly Avarice and/or fraud, possibly treason.
  • Making a game based on a religious poem, but using none of the source material and ripping of God of War: Heresy and/or treason.

And all the negative reactions to EA: Wrath or possibly even violence. Don't be surprised when they point this out at launch.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some demo that unlocks a special DLC code if you let it sit for X amount of time: Sloth.

Honestly, I'll be surprised if there aren't a full nine campaigns each relating to a circle.

So how about gluttony? Do you have to eat your game? :)
 
I really don't know what to make of all this EA press. But reading about "Test Drive" on the C64...man, I think I was like 14 years old or something. I played that game so much, that game and another one called I think it was "Bruce Lee" or something along that line, that to was a great game. And again I don't know what to make of this EA gimmick?
 
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