Jump to content
N-Europe

Recommended Posts

Posted

Fascinating thread here. http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=579641

 

Basically it is when company moles infultrate forums and the such in an attempt to influence and steer on-line viral channels - laying astroturf over real grass roots.

 

Yep, apparently, it's a thing... a big thing. Microsoft seem like the worse offenders.

 

Look at this post from a mod on gaf - ignore the funny meme bit, it's the text you need to read.

 

PNhE57z.gif

Posted

MS take astroturfing to the next level. Here are some accounts from people at the Best Buy Wii U demo events.

 

◆At my best buy, the rep told us they only got one Station to set up.

 

◆They expect low numbers that turned out to be completely wrong.

 

◆There was up around 200 people in line at any time before 40 minutes till 8pm.

 

◆Rep told me they were completely unprepared for the event turnout numbers.

 

◆A best buy employee also talked about how Microsoft and Sony have contracts with them to limit competitor demo stations allowed in different stores.

 

◆Also in another thread I saw how a Microsoft employee visited a best buy to talk about the Xbox One.

 

◆The same thing happened to me where a dude in a Grey-white shirt showed up and asked why everyone was in line. We said Wii U. He said Why?! Why not just go pre-order the Xbox One. He talked about the Xbox One and started to talk to others in line. People in line told him to leave them alone. He didn't wear a Microsoft t-shirt though.

 

◆Culver City here, saw some people in MS shirts, but too many people were bashing the xbone - they didn't speak up at the part of the line I was, but I saw them near the back.

 

O7PctG2.jpg

Posted

its quite obvious who is a paid employee on forums sometimes, others are just fanboys. I remember another forum that started out as a forum for hacking of game consoles like psp and then tried to move to a news site format was absolutely rife with xbox fans and obvious microsoft employees.

 

frankly its a disgusting and dirty practice, if retail stores tried similar tactics with fake customers they'd be in trouble for all sorts of infringements on consumer law, so the fact it goes unchecked on the internet is rediculous

×
×
  • Create New...