EA/Microsoft Paying Youtubers for Positive Promotion

[Bruce LeRoy]

Im shocked no one has posted this yet and I wonder why this isn't front page news on this site yet. Anyway what do yall think, is this legit promotion or being deceitful? Its weird to me that companies feel the need to pay people for something they were already doing for free. Youtubers have to agree to FTC Terms of Agreement which basically state they can only focus on marketing buzz words and positive aspects of the game. So what do you guys think?


http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-.../1100-6417271/

[Knight165]

Sort of reminds me of the "payola" scheme of the early radio days of rock.
DJ's would be paid to play the records of certain artists more than others, regardless of actual popularity.

I can't say I'm shocked...but I'm also pretty certain that today's masses will be pretty blase about it.
Personally....I don't think it's a good practice.

M.K.
Knight165

[XtremeDunkz]

a lot of companies do this. It is really no big deal. Gamefly does it, Netflix does, Loot Crate does it, I could go on. It is just one of a million ways to advertise these days.

[Knight165]

On cue!

M.K.
Knight165

[Gotmadskillzson]

No different then every other company that pays Youtubers. They call it endorsement deals. Some companies paying big money, in the thousands of dollars range to Youtubers to endorse their product to their followers. I mean you don't HONESTLY think game companies fly people out to their studios and to gaming events, give them a handful of copies of their game a week or 2 early out of the KINDNESS of their heart do you ?

Paying Youtubers to endorse your product is cheaper then running a commercial nowadays. As a person who be on Youtube a lot, I see first hand the cult like following these big Youtubers have. Young subscribers BUY EVERYTHING their favorite Youtuber wears, plays and uses.

So it isn't just an EA and Microsoft thing. All companies do it on Youtube.

[JohnDoe8865]

This IS huge news because EA and Microsoft both had language in their agreements that said those that participate may not let anyone know that their opinions were "sponsored". It's not only slimy and unethical, but potentially illegal.

This is NOT business as usual. The YTers that participated were told NOT to reveal that they were being compensated AT ALL. No mention, not even in the description.

This will lead to some kind of backlash and/or reform on this kind of "advertising". It should be front page news in all honesty.

[Gotmadskillzson]

No serious back lash will come from it. Google is making too much damn money off of Youtubers and so are game companies. They will pay the tiny fine and keep it business as usual.

[KG]

I've thought for a long-time that EA paid youtubers, especially all those FIFA kids who put together highlight videos.