Doese Bioware/EA hire people to post on forums?

Thebigthrill · December 2012

Ive given my opinion on SWTOR , Ill leave it at that.

What I do find amazing are some of these swtor posters that defend this mmo (i refuse to call it a mmorpg) to the very end acting like it perfect, finding any way to twist reality to defend the greed of EA / Bioware.

Ive even seen people defend the fact they are charging for content after basically giving the swtor player base nothing for a year.

I read someone defending the fact that ea /bioware charged subs for holiday items.

How many people on these forums if any or on other website forums do you think Ea pays to post positive feedback on swtor?

niceguy3978 · December 2012

Yeah, but every big and even medium size mmo has those people who white knight every topic that posts anything negative about a game. So, it might be better to ask "do most mmo developes hire people to post on forums?"

Ice-Queen · December 2012

I wouldn't think they need too really, there are a lot of fans willing to do that work for them free.

Whitebeards · December 2012

Every MMo has its rabid fan base...but why single out only SWTOR? they are too mild in comparison to GW2 fans.

Arglebargle · December 2012

Unwarrented assumption, imo.

Folks, who like a particular aspect of a game that's done well, will often be really enthused about it. Without pay.

Just look at all the people who think that SWG was some sort of perfect design, as opposed to having some parts that they really liked.

However, I am available, will happily send my rate sheet......

niceguy3978 · December 2012

Originally posted by Whitebeards
Every MMo has its rabid fan base...but why single out only SWTOR? they are too mild in comparison to GW2 fans.

I think now the Darkfall fans have come out to show GW2 fans who the "real fans" are.

Traugar · December 2012

Originally posted by Thebigthrill
Ive given my opinion on SWTOR , Ill leave it at that.

What I do find amazing are some of these swtor posters that defend this mmo (i refuse to call it a mmorpg) to the very end acting like it perfect, finding any way to twist reality to defend the greed of EA / Bioware.

Ive even seen people defend the fact they are charging for content after basically giving the swtor player base nothing for a year.

I read someone defending the fact that ea /bioware charged subs for holiday items.

How many people on these forums if any or on other website forums do you think Ea pays to post positive feedback on swtor?

No they don't. As hard as it is for you to believe there are people who enjoy different things than you. I know. Amazing right? I had a hard time coming to grips with that concept myself.

BlueLantern · December 2012

the only employee of them that i know for a fact is Andryah.

Karteli · December 2012

The term is Astroturfing. It's been loosely in and out of the news.

EA Viral Marketing Exposed, Big Buyout On The Horizon?

published: 2012-03-27 21:15:06

http://www.cinemablend.com/games/EA-Viral-Marketing-Exposed-Big-Buyout-Horizon-40885.html

It was such a problem in industries promoting a product, from electronics to beauty creams, that Astroturfing was made illegal (fairly recently the FTC guidelines were modified to include forum/blog advertising with false pretext & not identifying their relation to the endorsing company): Astroturfing violates the FTC Endorsement and Advertising Guidelines, under section 255.5 (http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div8&view=text&node=16:1.0.1.2.22.0.5.6&idno=16).

Furthering that, a smear campaign got Facebook in some big doodoo a couple years ago. I guess astroturfers nowadays are careful to reveal differences between products and not specifically smear a competitors product or its designers (ie: that game sucks, developers for that "other" game are retards, etc), or instigate arguments & downplay another game outside of a comparison context (under the guise of educational discussion).

So does it still happen on 3rd party websites / forums? Probably, though not legally. Can companies like Blizzard and EA astroturf their own official forums? Absolutely. Food / sugary soft drink companies have been doing it forever on their websites, even without source citations .. in a recent taste test, our soda was #1 ! (If they do it somewhere else where someone wouldn't have a resonable connection between the testimonials/endorsements they read/see and the endorsing company, a link must be stated, usually at the bottom of a tv ad, in a avatar signature, etc.)

That said, it's also highly unethical to spam forums with how great a game is, without telling everyone first that you also are affiliated with the manufacturer and / or the product.

Barrikor · December 2012

If they really payed people to post on forums, I would have quit my day job a long time ago.

Kyleran · December 2012

Where the hell do I go to sign up?

Axehandle · December 2012

I'm a bioware spy that fools people into thinking I despise the terrible and overpriced piece of garbage swtor.

But secretly I don't hate everything about it.

FromHell · December 2012

Originally posted by Thebigthrill

How many people on these forums if any or on other website forums do you think Ea pays to post positive feedback on swtor?

how else do you expect to get a "game of the year" award?

It's happening again, different year, different title

CalmOceans · December 2012

Big companies have many employees, I doubt that none of the employees from EA ever post online. At least with Microsoft this was the case, microsoft didn't hire shills, but because so many people work there, after work they talk about....their work and defend it online.

I bet if you could see who everyone was on this forum, you would get a huge laundry list of people employed by gaming companies. They weren't hired to post here, but they make MMO so where else would they post, a car forum? They will post online just like any other person who spends time on forums.

Sevenstar61 · December 2012

I would ask quite opposite question. Are people who constantly for a year now bashing and hateing the game hired by opposite company? Like Blizzard or SOE? Or FC?

I understand fans who love the game that they defend it. What I do not understand is why person who hates the game and obviously is not playing it, is posting on forums everyday just to complain about it.

See... it can go both ways

Magiknight · December 2012

They have people in their marketing departments that do what you're describing.

Whitebeards · December 2012

If people are being paid to defend the game..are people also being paid to flame the game say by rival companies on daily basis? every coin has two sides.

Karteli · December 2012

Originally posted by Sevenstar61
I would ask quite opposite question. Are people who constantly for a year now bashing and hateing the game hired by opposite company? Like Blizzard or SOE? Or FC?

I understand fans who love the game that they defend it. What I do not understand is why person who hates the game and obviously is not playing it, is posting on forums everyday just to complain about it.

See... it can go both ways

It would be very foolish, assuming it does actually happen. The internet is not that anonymous after all, and any linkage discovered could either lead to a nice juicy news story or blackmail. Proxy's aren't that secure either.

I would imagine stuff like that happens more on official forums than anywhere else, since user info is all internal, and user accounts names / avatars can be flipped around very easily to prevent detection.

Since I know you love SWTOR, I'll bring that up.

I really wonder if Andryah (EA official forums) is an EA shill or just someone really trying to drive people away, lol .. with SWTOR, there are so many disgruntled ex-SWG players, along with SW fans in general that want to get the game better. It might seem like everyone is out to get EA/SWTOR, but then again, 2 million players DID quit .. and they went somewhere :-)

Sevenstar61 · December 2012

Originally posted by Karteli
Originally posted by Sevenstar61
I would ask quite opposite question. Are people who constantly for a year now bashing and hateing the game hired by opposite company? Like Blizzard or SOE? Or FC?

I understand fans who love the game that they defend it. What I do not understand is why person who hates the game and obviously is not playing it, is posting on forums everyday just to complain about it.

See... it can go both ways

It would be very foolish, assuming it does actually happen. The internet is not that anonymous after all, and any linkage discovered could either lead to a nice juicy news story or blackmail. Proxy's aren't that secure either.

I would imagine stuff like that happens more on official forums than anywhere else, since user info is all internal, and user accounts names / avatars can be flipped around very easily to prevent detection.

I don't think it would be so obvious especially if they do not declare love for the company they are working for. Maybe quite opposite. They hate SWTOR and hate.. WoW for example /grin... who would suspect them

killion81 · December 2012

Originally posted by Sevenstar61
I would ask quite opposite question. Are people who constantly for a year now bashing and hateing the game hired by opposite company? Like Blizzard or SOE? Or FC?

I understand fans who love the game that they defend it. What I do not understand is why person who hates the game and obviously is not playing it, is posting on forums everyday just to complain about it.

See... it can go both ways

I think people do it because there aren't any games out they feel are entertaining enough to play and bashing a game that disappointed is something mildly entertaining to do. I'm being loose with the definition of bashing here and allowing it to include any negative comments. Many people probably like to discuss why they were disappointed in a game as well and that's not really "bashing". However, it IS more fun than actually playing the game.

Quizzical · December 2012

Unless you believe that the moderators of the official SWTOR forums are all volunteers, yes, EA does hire people to post on forums.

Oh, you mean here? Well then, I don't know.

GwapoJosh · December 2012

Sevenstar61 you really need to apply for a job with them.. You are without a doubt their number 1 fanboi. I really think you could make some cash doing what you do on these forums. You never know

Sevenstar61 · December 2012

Originally posted by GwapoJosh
Sevenstar61 you really need to apply for a job with them.. You are without a doubt their number 1 fanboi. I really think you could make some cash doing what you do on these forums. You never know

Nah I am going to stick with my Engineer job, but thank you very much for advice.

I don't think I am number 1 fanboy... I know guys who are way more SW fans then I am, but I trully love the game, so I thank you for the honour of naming me fanboy #1. Believe or not I will wear this title proudly

orionblack · December 2012

Originally posted by BlueLantern
the only employee of them that i know for a fact is Andryah.

Quoted for truth.

TribeofOne · December 2012

I don't know about actual paid(salary) shills but i do know of several "friends and Family" programs that give comp'd subs/cash shop $ for lurking on various forums defending and promoting.

Wolfenpride · December 2012

I'm sure they do, and a lot of companies do it for a lot different products.

Best way to make a good guess on a particular user here is to go over their post history since they've joined.

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Doese Bioware/EA hire people to post on forums?

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EA Viral Marketing Exposed, Big Buyout On The Horizon?

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Doese Bioware/EA hire people to post on forums?

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EA Viral Marketing Exposed, Big Buyout On The Horizon?

Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV