Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Oh well, now we know who employs ackmed, 5150joker and the rest of the fanatics...
I did say when the AEG fuss was being raised that the truth would eventually leak out, didn't I?
What truth? Look at the date of the press release, May 23, 2006. Unless ATI went into the past in a time machine after this announcement to hire Ackmed, Joker, etc.
If they employ viral marketers I think this will be as successful as nVidia's viral marketing and just as with nVidia's viral marketing. One must remember that it was nVidia hemming and hawwing and not giving out info on the exact relationship between nVidia and AEG that started the investigations. If ATI is more open about it's relationship with this new company then there will be less criticism but I for one do not and will never agree with viral marketing. Score another minus for ATI on this one. I consider it a bad move.
It's been known for quite some time ATi used PR focus groups, just noone could pin down exactly who it was until now. ATi has only recently *publically* signed on with these guys, who knows just how farback their "backroom deal" no body was supposed to know about goes though? Some would say at least as far back as digitalwanderer getting a 9700 and spamming every forum known to man. Probably even further back than that - JDPC from 3dnow.net springs instantly to mind for some reason...
All companies have focus groups. Not all companies have viral marketers. However, in todays market, it's more and more likely for companies to hire viral marketers. There is however nothing wrong with focus groups. Repeat, there is nothing wrong with focus groups. The purpose of a focus group is to guage the opinion of certain things like new names for a product, or whether there is public interest in a product which usually involves trying out the product in question. Focus groups do not do viral marketing. Viral marketers are marketing shills disguised as normal users giving out advertisements. It seems almost like lying to me which is why I hate it.
Let's not name names about who does what shall we. This is just playing the blame game. And if were were to go by past posts, I've seen you post negative stuff about ATI that equally applies to nVidia with available proof. Somehow it's excusable for nVidia but not for ATI. You are accusing Ackmed and 5150Joker of being ATI marketing shills much like Rollo and co without proof. Or in the absense solid proof, post why you feel this is so. I mean, with Rollo we had the next thing to real proof until he came out considering his posting style. Always negative to ATI but more than that, he excused similar actions on the part of nVidia that he doesn't for ATI. He constantly harps on issues with ATI but as soon as an issue with nVidia is brought up, it's not important because said bug, feature or performance issue is not in a game he plays. And anyone who says a $800-1000 video card that is suppose to retail for much less a good investment is obviously trying to sell you something.
To reiterate. I completely disagree with this move on ATI's part. I said during the whole nVidia AEG thing that I will criticise ATI if they go this route and I'm true to my word. I think this will be successful for them as it was for nVidia considering the average consumer is an idiot.
I still think they make good products and considering the price performance of when I got my X1900XT, it was the best bang for the buck at the time. Even with the AEG thing I seriously considered a 7900GT but the price was just way too high at the time considering their inability to properly supply enough cards so I wouldn't say I'm forswearing ATI products. As with every single video card purchase to date, I will buy what's the best bang for the buck at the time I'm ready to upgrade.