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General: MMORPG.com Partners with OneBigPlanet
Stradden
Managing EditorMember CommonPosts: 6,696
MMORPG.com is pleased to announce a partnership with OneBigPlanet Corp. This partnership will see MMORPG.com members receive discounts on a number of retail items through OneBigPlanet. This is, of course, 100% optional for our users and requires nothing on your part in order to participate.
New York, NY – June 26, 2008 – OneBigPlanet® Corp., the leader in loyalty platforms for social networks and organizations, has signed a contract with MMORPG.com, the most important provider of information and tools to the Massive Multiplayer Online Role-playing Game (MMORPG) players. OneBigPlanet will provide the member benefits program to MMORPG.com’s registered members.
“Creating loyalty with today's sophisticated consumer is becoming a major challenge,” said Craig McGregor CEO and President of MMORPG.com. “That’s why we brought OneBigPlanet on board – to provide our members with advantages and benefits that they find valuable. We felt they were the only company who shared our concerns for our community’s privacy needs. Also, their platform will provide our members with the best overall benefits program. Our intention is to help our members save as much as possible while shopping from their favorite local and online retailers.”
One-Stop Consumer Portal to Improve Member Loyalty
OneBigPlanet offers a branded Commerce and Loyalty platform dedicated to social networks and organizations, such as MMORPG.com, looking to foster long-term relationships with their members as well as help make their business more profitable.
Via its One-Stop Consumer Portal, OneBigPlanet will empower MMORPG.com members to Save, Simplify and Share, thus helping them enjoy a simpler and more rewarding consumer life. MMORPG.com members will benefit from unique personalized incentives (instant savings), useful consumer tools, and a simplified consumer life where they will be able to easily share ideas and deals with friends and family.
“Loyal members are the key to a strong and profitable business,” said Christopher Hill, Vice President of Marketing at OneBigPlanet Corp. “Our portal drastically improves loyalty by offering great value via unbeatable instant discounts on a full range of products and services from popular merchants nation wide. We are really excited to provide MMORPG.com’s members with an enjoyable and convenient shopping experience, allowing their members to save time and money.”
Check out OneBigPlanet here.
Cheers,
Jon Wood
Managing Editor
MMORPG.com
Comments
Great... you're trying to piggyback some earnings by having us "save" on overpriced Items on "authorized" sites.
Next you'll offer Free iPod deals, if we buy 100 items or more?
- CaesarsGhost
Lead Gameplay and Gameworld Designer for a yet unnamed MMO Title.
"When people tell me designing a game is easy, I try to get them to design a board game. Most people don't last 5 minutes, the rest rarely last more then a day. The final few realize it's neither fun nor easy."
my thoughts too lol. I go to the site and i feel like i am in an early 1997-2000 marketing hitch.
my thoughts too lol. I go to the site and i feel like i am in an early 1997-2000 marketing hitch.
Well, the good news is it will be completely optional. Unless you go into your user settings here and sign up you won't even know we offer it
When I was approached on this I thought it would be cool if MMORPG.com members got an extra 5% off at GameStop or TigerTirect or whatever. I browsed through some of the offers they had in our demo site (Which is not live yet) and there were some pretty cool ones I saw. Like an extra 25% off through Hotels.com (which I use often), $25 off at Crutchfield, etc, etc.
Oh well, can never expect to please everyone I suppose.
- MMORPG.COM Staff -
The dead know only one thing: it is better to be alive.
"One-Stop Consumer Portal."
"Branded Commerce and Loyalty platform."
And my favorite, "Via its One-Stop Consumer Portal, OneBigPlanet will empower MMORPG.com members to Save, Simplify and Share, thus helping them enjoy a simpler and more rewarding consumer life."
These guys are the kings of corporate jargon. I don't know what exactly they do (I think it has to do with saving me a few bucks here and there on stuff I may or may not want), but if I wake up one morning and say to myself, "Gee, I really wish I had a simpler and more rewarding consumer life," I'll go straight to these guys.
my thoughts too lol. I go to the site and i feel like i am in an early 1997-2000 marketing hitch.
Well, the good news is it will be completely optional. Unless you go into your user settings here and sign up you won't even know we offer it
When I was approached on this I thought it would be cool if MMORPG.com members got an extra 5% off at GameStop or TigerTirect or whatever. I browsed through some of the offers they had in our demo site (Which is not live yet) and there were some pretty cool ones I saw. Like an extra 25% off through Hotels.com (which I use often), $25 off at Crutchfield, etc, etc.
Oh well, can never expect to please everyone I suppose.
Here's the problem Mr Admin... we don't know what sites or deals we can get.
To me, it looks like the same classic scam that for years we've been screaming at people for sending us referal links (Against the MMORPG.com EULA, no?)... which now, you've set up a system of Referal based completely on our user accounts being tied to a piggybacking company.
It's a Pyramid on the outside, that probably means it's a Pyramid on the inside.
So when you partner us with somebody, in order to get us "deals"... you should show some of the deals that would interest a Community such as us.
PS: Are we going to start allowing referal links now?
- CaesarsGhost
Lead Gameplay and Gameworld Designer for a yet unnamed MMO Title.
"When people tell me designing a game is easy, I try to get them to design a board game. Most people don't last 5 minutes, the rest rarely last more then a day. The final few realize it's neither fun nor easy."
my thoughts too lol. I go to the site and i feel like i am in an early 1997-2000 marketing hitch.
Well, the good news is it will be completely optional. Unless you go into your user settings here and sign up you won't even know we offer it
When I was approached on this I thought it would be cool if MMORPG.com members got an extra 5% off at GameStop or TigerTirect or whatever. I browsed through some of the offers they had in our demo site (Which is not live yet) and there were some pretty cool ones I saw. Like an extra 25% off through Hotels.com (which I use often), $25 off at Crutchfield, etc, etc.
Oh well, can never expect to please everyone I suppose.
Here's the problem Mr Admin... we don't know what sites or deals we can get.
To me, it looks like the same classic scam that for years we've been screaming at people for sending us referal links (Against the MMORPG.com EULA, no?)... which now, you've set up a system of Referal based completely on our user accounts being tied to a piggybacking company.
It's a Pyramid on the outside, that probably means it's a Pyramid on the inside.
So when you partner us with somebody, in order to get us "deals"... you should show some of the deals that would interest a Community such as us.
PS: Are we going to start allowing referal links now?
Just to set some things straight:
- MMORPG.com can and will place links that result in commissions for us. This is our website and profiting from it is what keeps the gears turning. This kind of thing is just another form of advertising for us. Saying that we do this enables users to use "referral" links is in no way true. We run banner ads on the site too, but if you tried to do this in a post you would be warned or banned as well.
- MMORPG.com will likely make no direct income from this program. While they do have some kind of profit sharing program built in, the point at which we would see that is very unrealistic given our site volume. Believe it or not, the reason I wanted to do this was to give perks to our members...as this will hopefully lead to more members or at least more satisfied members, which in turn will mean indirect income from the program. We like to make our profits from happy members looking at in-page advertisements, not shady tactics.
- You will get to see some the programs that are offered before you decide to do this. While they have thousands of merchants in their system, we will probably try to focus on highlighting the ones that benefit gamers most like discounts on PC gear, software, periphials, etc, etc.
- If after a 3-6 month trial period we don't feel our members are benefiting from this program we are going to remove it. We don't want anything here that you guys don't want.
- Again, this program is 100% opt-in. If you don't go into your control panel and say you want to join, you will never be asked to. The only ads we even plan to run for this will be in our newsletter and daily digest email.
I personally don't like gimmicky programs and annoying adverising. This is why you never see pop up ads here, or ads that expand or have audio - because I forbid them. Even when I started this site over 6 years ago I wanted to enable MMORPG.com members to get a discount at GameStop, NewEgg or other cool merchants, but I honestly never had the connections to do so. Through OneBigPlanet I think we can give our users some kind of perk...and if no one uses it or likes it then we will get rid of it and go about our merry way
- MMORPG.COM Staff -
The dead know only one thing: it is better to be alive.
I dont see a problem with more advertising, if it wasnt for this site i would never know about numerous competitions, beta tests, and special offers from numerous mmo's.
I just hope all these discounts and such wont be exclusive to the states...lets not forget our just as important euro members
I'm sorry to say they will be a US/Canada only thing for the most part. They just don't have the setup to work with worldwide merchants at this time. They did indicate this might happen in the future. I think you could still use the discounts, but most the merchants are US based so by the time you paid shipping and import tariffs it would probably not be worth it.
This is the tricky thing about the Internet...we all feel like one small borderless planet when online, but the logistics of taking things to the real world borders gets tough when you try to ship contest prizes 15,000 miles away or do international promotions like this OneBigPlanet thing. For example, we can ship a $50 keyboard prize to a winner in Germany (which costs us about $35!) - but most won't pay the $15 tariff tax to pick it up at the local depot...and I can't say I blame them, it stinks to pay for a prize!
Perhaps someday the real world will catch up with the online world in these ways, but I'm guessing it will take a while.
If any Euro based companies approach us with discounts for you guys, I would happily set it up on this end. Generally, I will setup just about anything if a company wants to work with us to do it. We have done EU only beta contests in the past like this.
- MMORPG.COM Staff -
The dead know only one thing: it is better to be alive.
Hey guys,
Wow if i worked for mmorpg.com i think i would end up in a padded room if i ever read these forums. Sometimes i wish they would remove the forums completely and just have the rest of the site. I have nothing against a good debate, and i realize the world is not all rainbows and sunshine, but boy the negativity is overwhelming here lately.
I am sure most of you guys, like myself, come to this site on almost a daily basis to check out the gaming news. From your post counts it looks like you spend some time here, and that is ok. Heaven forbid that mmorpg.com try to make a little money or try to add some additional options for members. I remember a previous thread about people complaining about the full page ads on the front page of LotRO and Conan and such. Comments like the site showing favoritism or padding reviews because of advertising revenue. It is just completely mind boggling. The admin couldnt have made it any more clear in the post that it is completely optional, and yet people still cry.
Nothing has changed. It is the best site out there on mmorpg's by far. Everybody take a deep breath, relax, and go play some video games.
Thanks,
Cen
I have no problem with them making any money... I visit this site regularly both as a Developer and a Player. I enjoy a good Debate in OffTopic or Darkfall's Forums more then I enjoy most other sites to be honest.
However, the initial article did not say
1) it would be disabled unless we enable it.
2) what retailers were part of this.
3) what sorts of discounts we could get.
4) basically any information.
My reaction was that of a concerned Netizen who frequents, and enjoys, this site very much... I felt as if in order to use this site, I must become part of a (jargon rich) Pyramid the new partner portrays itself as.
I hold out final judgement till I see the system implemented, of course. But much like MMORPGs, I feel that the announcement was premature to the information they could release.
- CaesarsGhost
Lead Gameplay and Gameworld Designer for a yet unnamed MMO Title.
"When people tell me designing a game is easy, I try to get them to design a board game. Most people don't last 5 minutes, the rest rarely last more then a day. The final few realize it's neither fun nor easy."
Yeah me too. As a commercial game developer for 15+ years I have nothing against efforts to monetize one's site, make a profit, and collaborate with 3rd parties to offer genuine good deals to fans and visitors.
Blues News is an example of someone who has done it right.
I do however have a problem with selling out to Corporate rip-offs, scams and greed, which seems to be the dominant online business model these days.
If the community truly remains free from obligation, and the Hard $ell is only directed at those who "opt in" , then fine.
There seems to be some confusion about this, so I want to help...
Basically, they have deals from everyone...Home Depot, Dell, Target, XM, you name it. Also, they give away a lot of stuff, have contests, etc. It is the same company/program that the US Chamber of Commerce has, so it's definately not a scam.
I use it for Papa Johns Pizza (got a large pizza for .99 when i bought a specialty pizza) and some movie tickets for $6. It also has ebay, amazon, oodle, and a bunch of other stuff as tools.
As long as you use the extra income to hire and pay real staff instead of conning people to volunteer their time while you pocket the savings.
Conning people into volunteering their time? How is recruiting volunteers conning people?I suppose if we told them they would be paid andthen told them they would only be volunteers... THAT would be conning them.
Oh, and so we're clear... I am hired and do consider myself to be "real staff".
Cheers,
Jon Wood
Managing Editor
MMORPG.com
Conning people into volunteering their time? How is recruiting volunteers conning people?I suppose if we told them they would be paid andthen told them they would only be volunteers... THAT would be conning them.
Oh, and so we're clear... I am hired and do consider myself to be "real staff".
Yes , volunteers are "hired" also, this was proven in a class action lawsuit regarding Ultima Online volunteers who filed for backpay and won by settling out of court.
Conning, as in painting pretty pictures of how unpaid labor will result in a promising career in the video gaming industry. Just pay these people minimum wage already. Geez.
Conning people into volunteering their time? How is recruiting volunteers conning people?I suppose if we told them they would be paid andthen told them they would only be volunteers... THAT would be conning them.
Oh, and so we're clear... I am hired and do consider myself to be "real staff".
Yes , volunteers are "hired" also, this was proven in a class action lawsuit regarding Ultima Online volunteers who filed for backpay and won by settling out of court.
Conning, as in painting pretty pictures of how unpaid labor will result in a promising career in the video gaming industry. Just pay these people minimum wage already. Geez.
First off, that's not my call. As I said, I am a paid employee of the site. Second, settling out of court doesn't set precedent it just means that it was easier for UO to pay than to fight it. Third, volunteering to write for a well-respected video game website can indeed lead to a career in the industry. We don't promise that and we don't sugar coat that.
Also, have you even READ the opportunities page? The benefits to volunteering are pretty clearly laid out in terms of the Correspondents (the writers you're refering to). Just in case you don't want to look:
* All Game Correspondents will get a unique forum title (ex: World of Warcraft Correspondent).
* Active Game Correspondents will have their monthly game subscription fully reimbursed (1 game account).
* Proven Game Correspondents may have additional opportunities for special assignments including but not limited to beta previews.
I suppose we do also have a "why should you volunteer section on that page. Let me quote that for you here as well:
* Gain experience and knowledge from within the gaming industry.
* Add MMORPG.com published reviews and features to your resume.
* Broadcast your voice to our 500,000+ members.
* Improve your written communication and team
So where do we promise anybody "a promising career in the video gaming industry"? Just curious.
Cheers,
Jon Wood
Managing Editor
MMORPG.com
This makes no sense, I take my job as a voulanteer and I wouldn't want to get paid; I don't think I should get paid, either. It's a chance to have my (inexperienced and youthful) writing pieces to be read by thousands of people. Thousands of people, man, thousands.
I'm in highschool; pretend I wanted to join, say, the school paper. Everyone around me, no experience, mabye an honors english class. I egt the paper, and it says "Do you have any experience?" and now I can say "Yes, I write for a site that has hundreds of thousands of visitors per month." If I ever want to help write for another site, I have experience. It's just one big step above everyone else.
Not only that, but I learn a lot about writing. I enjoy writing, and I have fun doing it while I improve my skills.
Volunteering isn't for you? Fine, but there's no need to complain.
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In memory of Laura "Taera" Genender. Passed away on Aug/13/08 - Rest In Peace; you will not be forgotten