Nvidia viral marketing with AEG exposed !!! *UPDATED* *Poll Added*

[rise]

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
Guys, I REALLY doubt there are any AEG members on these forums, just fanboys. I think an AEG sponsored person would be much more effective at a place that doesn't have too many enthusiasts roaming around. Places where most of the people are clueless to begin with and this person jumps in to give some advice about which card to get and why. They might have a few on enthusiast forums as well but I doubt you'd notice them since they would try to seem neutral while still presenting the party line.

stop being reasonable, you'll kill the witch hunt

 

[Munky]

I really dont feel like turning this into a huge flaming thread similar to the other one. Yes, people who've been here long enough will know who the usual suspects are, and the uneducated Joe Schmoe had it coming all along. But I feel it's good to bring up this issue once in awhile to keep newer people informed of it's existence, and to keep AEG aware that we're not braindead.

 

[davidos]

I had a feeling that Rollo was more than just an Nv fanboy... This just makes it 100% clear... The way he works these boards to get people to buy Nv products...

 

[RobertR1]

Originally posted by: v8envy
Reality check, everyone!

First of all, I doubt $2400 monitors are for every rank and file forum zombie. That's probably a one-off reward for the 'outstanding achiever' for the month or quarter or something. Sounds great, but is it worth typing your fingers raw and getting a multiple personality disorder for?

Second, consider the hourly wage of the poor bastages doing this. I could be bribed by hardware to maybe keep some negative thoughts to myself, but post using 50+ identities on dozens of boards constantly? That's real work! I mean, their effective hourly wage must be somewhere between schoolteacher and Chineese WoW gold farmer. Waaay less than what they'd earn flipping burgers at McD's.

So who's going to do this? Probably not anyone professional and knowlegeable. So, basically kids who aren't old enough to get a minimum wage job. In my lifetime I've known very few pre-teens who are effective communicators. Their posts are going to sway no-one.

Besides, it's a good thing if some nublet goes and buys an agp card for $500. That much more money in the pockets of the retailer and manufacturer means they get to stay in business and provide us with products and prices we want.

Edit: for AEG -- if you get a deal going with ATI, I'd love a X1900XTX.

Quite the opposite, really. They'll go after people who're mature, can make rational posts, which are BELIEVEABLE to the readers, thus persuade purchase decisions. Having kids yelling "OMG NVIDIA FTW! ATI SUCK LOLZ!" does more harm than good since their posts will be ignored and nvidia ultimately loses money by funding such people.

 

[crazydingo]

Originally posted by: rise4310

Originally posted by: crazydingo
They are not bound by NDA to speak about their tie-up with either companies. They openly acknowledge working together with ATI & Nvidia and getting samples etc. They are also not binded into promoting the product.

and where are the nda's for aeg?

Some people were approached by AEG and were instructed that if they accept they were not at liberty to divulge their association with AEG or any information about the "program".

 

[5150Joker]

Originally posted by: RobertR1

Originally posted by: v8envy
Reality check, everyone!

First of all, I doubt $2400 monitors are for every rank and file forum zombie. That's probably a one-off reward for the 'outstanding achiever' for the month or quarter or something. Sounds great, but is it worth typing your fingers raw and getting a multiple personality disorder for?

Second, consider the hourly wage of the poor bastages doing this. I could be bribed by hardware to maybe keep some negative thoughts to myself, but post using 50+ identities on dozens of boards constantly? That's real work! I mean, their effective hourly wage must be somewhere between schoolteacher and Chineese WoW gold farmer. Waaay less than what they'd earn flipping burgers at McD's.

So who's going to do this? Probably not anyone professional and knowlegeable. So, basically kids who aren't old enough to get a minimum wage job. In my lifetime I've known very few pre-teens who are effective communicators. Their posts are going to sway no-one.

Besides, it's a good thing if some nublet goes and buys an agp card for $500. That much more money in the pockets of the retailer and manufacturer means they get to stay in business and provide us with products and prices we want.

Edit: for AEG -- if you get a deal going with ATI, I'd love a X1900XTX.

Quite the opposite, really. They'll go after people who're mature, can make rational posts, which are BELIEVEABLE to the readers, thus persuade purchase decisions. Having kids yelling "OMG NVIDIA FTW! ATI SUCK LOLZ!" does more harm than good since their posts will be ignored and nvidia ultimately loses money by funding such people.

Yeah wasn't Pete approached by AEG at some point? Look at his posts - usually fairly neutral and quite coherent. The rest of us tend to bark back and forth so I doubt we'd be the ideal AEG candidate.

 

[xtknight]

Just leave it be. All these threads start is arguing about who is AEG and who isn't. It can never be proved, so it's pointless to start more flaming.

 

[schtuga]

Originally posted by: crazydingo

Originally posted by: schtuga
Yeah but again,look at Fugger,shamino,sampsa macci,etc.

They have been getting free stuff for ages,because they test them out and find their limits and report it.It's good marketing.I believe what they say even though they are compensated and given cherry picked samples.

You guys read way too much into something that most likely won't change your opinion/preference anyways.

You are either informed or not.
If not serves you right.

"let the buyer beware"

It's just marketing.

They are not bound by NDA to speak about their tie-up with either companies. They openly acknowledge working together with ATI & Nvidia and getting samples etc. They are also not binded into promoting the product.

No but would they continue to get the products if they slagged them? Not likely.

Both companies make good cards,you can't really go wrong buying from either.

I think the dammage will be in the form of telling someone to buy the 7900 when they only have a 3200+ and a 17" monitor and could have gotten away with a 7800 or x1800 series card.Other than that both companies make good cards.

Look at Rollo,why give him free stuff if he promotes it for free already?
It's when you see someone like shairharidan or ssxeon start telling everyone that they can only run their new 30"lcd with the 7900Made by Nvidia ,that would be the tip off.

 

[crazydingo]

Originally posted by: xtknight
Just leave it be. All these threads start is arguing about who is AEG and who isn't. It can never be proved, so it's pointless to start more flaming.

There isnt a witch hunt going on here. Just making people aware of this and to use their heads when listening to any (slanted) advice around here.

 

[Wreckage]

ATI calls their people "Beta Testers" they get free stuff and are on many forums singing the praises of ATI. From the article...

We recruit NV fans to help in answering tech questions, test new drivers, give updates, etc. They act as our ?voice? if you will.

Although a few of these people are honest about being ATI beta testers and a few NV "beta testers" are obvious with their "reference cards".

Hell, I wish someone would send me some free equipment.

Did anyone go to that site scroll down and see that toothpaste ad :shocked:

 

[crazydingo]

Originally posted by: Wreckage
ATI calls their people "Beta Testers" they get free stuff and are on many forums singing the praises of ATI. From the article...

We recruit NV fans to help in answering tech questions, test new drivers, give updates, etc. They act as our ?voice? if you will.

Next, we'll believe a murderer who says he's innocent.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: schtuga
Yeah but again,look at Fugger,shamino,sampsa macci,etc.

They have been getting free stuff for ages,because they test them out and find their limits and report it.It's good marketing.I believe what they say even though they are compensated and given cherry picked samples.

You guys read way too much into something that most likely won't change your opinion/preference anyways.

You are either informed or not.
If not serves you right.

"let the buyer beware"

It's just marketing.

well put my friend,

you either know what your talking about or you dont. if you dont then you may get burned. anyone with a shread of intelligence can make their own mind up rationally on which product is for them. look at a few benches, reviews, make your own decision....those who are influenced by faceless people on a forum on what to buy deserve to get stung. if u dont research your purchase your gonna buy the wrong thing.

for example i rarely take any purchase advice from members here in the video foum. i make my own mind up based on reviews.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
Guys, I REALLY doubt there are any AEG members on these forums, just fanboys. I think an AEG sponsored person would be much more effective at a place that doesn't have too many enthusiasts roaming around. Places where most of the people are clueless to begin with and this person jumps in to give some advice about which card to get and why. They might have a few on enthusiast forums as well but I doubt you'd notice them since they would try to seem neutral while still presenting the party line.

also i dont think an AEG guy would be as blatantly obvious as a fanboy....i mean fanboys stick out like sore thumbs (well they dont since this place is fulll of them)

i think an AEG guy would be careful how he goes.

 

[Bobthelost]

Thing is that some stuff is hard to test. Benchmarks can show how well a graphics card performs in most ways, but it's not always that clear cut. Image quality, overclocking potential, support quality and a whole shedload of other features make a component more or less favourable. A person who's had a nightmare with a particular product (such as crossfire or early gen SLI) is going to discourage others from purchasing the same, especially if they say "this new shiny card made everything much nicer".

It's only to be expected but i disagree in so much as it is significant and it's not acceptable.

 

[John Reynolds]

There's a known handful of members at Beyond3D. Now, just how much more traffic does AT generate?

Oh, and after one of my spats with Rollo my buddy who is a member of the program e-mailed me again. He doesn't read AT, but another member of the AEG program who does pointed my posts out to him. So regardless of your feelings on the program and this form of marketing, don't fool yourself into thinking AT's video forum is some haven or safe refuge.

 

[5150Joker]

Originally posted by: John Reynolds
There's a known handful of members at Beyond3D. Now, just how much more traffic does AT generate?

Oh, and after one of my spats with Rollo my buddy who is a member of the program e-mailed me again. He doesn't read AT, but another member of the AEG program who does pointed my posts out to him. So regardless of your feelings on the program and this form of marketing, don't fool yourself into thinking AT's video forum is some haven or safe refuge.

Who are the AEG members at Beyond3D? I'm guessing Chalnoth and DemoCoder.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: John Reynolds
There's a known handful of members at Beyond3D. Now, just how much more traffic does AT generate?

Oh, and after one of my spats with Rollo my buddy who is a member of the program e-mailed me again. He doesn't read AT, but another member of the AEG program who does pointed my posts out to him. So regardless of your feelings on the program and this form of marketing, don't fool yourself into thinking AT's video forum is some haven or safe refuge.

So can you confirm that a member on these boards is an AEG member? Who is it?

 

[5150Joker]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: John Reynolds
There's a known handful of members at Beyond3D. Now, just how much more traffic does AT generate?

Oh, and after one of my spats with Rollo my buddy who is a member of the program e-mailed me again. He doesn't read AT, but another member of the AEG program who does pointed my posts out to him. So regardless of your feelings on the program and this form of marketing, don't fool yourself into thinking AT's video forum is some haven or safe refuge.

So can you confirm that a member on these boards is an AEG member? Who is it?

Don't tell him about me, I'll sue you!

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: 5150Joker

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: John Reynolds
There's a known handful of members at Beyond3D. Now, just how much more traffic does AT generate?

Oh, and after one of my spats with Rollo my buddy who is a member of the program e-mailed me again. He doesn't read AT, but another member of the AEG program who does pointed my posts out to him. So regardless of your feelings on the program and this form of marketing, don't fool yourself into thinking AT's video forum is some haven or safe refuge.

So can you confirm that a member on these boards is an AEG member? Who is it?

Don't tell him about me, I'll sue you!

Aha! Pike!

Bonus marks to anyone who gets the reference

 

[schtuga]

Originally posted by: John Reynolds
There's a known handful of members at Beyond3D. Now, just how much more traffic does AT generate?

Oh, and after one of my spats with Rollo my buddy who is a member of the program e-mailed me again. He doesn't read AT, but another member of the AEG program who does pointed my posts out to him. So regardless of your feelings on the program and this form of marketing, don't fool yourself into thinking AT's video forum is some haven or safe refuge.

So what are you saying? That we should stop reading the forums or we will be duped into buying an Nvidia card that we don't need or want because we listened to someone we 've never heard of before, who suddenly shows up and starts posting how great Nvidia is?

If he is known,then chances are

he was already pro Nvidia,or you would notice the "sudden " change.

And if you don't know him or not that familiar with him,why would you listen?

I'm not worried because when I purchase,I do a little research before hand.


I would do it for either company,because I feel they both have great products,and would have no problems getting a 30' lcd for telling someone the 7800gt/mobo combo is a great buy,or the X1800 xt is at an unbeatable price/performance,but I wouldn't feel right telling someone ,something that is not true.

there is nothing wrong with compensation for promotion.

Are they paid to purposely lie?

If this is the case,then shame on whoever does it and shame on Nvidia,because I have no respect if they are paying people to purposely lie.

It all comes down to morals,I couldn't sleep if I convinced someone to spend the money they scrimped and saved on what I knew was a bad purchase.

 

[John Reynolds]

Umm, no, I didn't say anything like most of what you wrote.

But, honestly, is anyone hurt in any way just being made aware that such marketing programs exist?

 

[Ronin]

Originally posted by: Bull Dog
Why does this make me think of Rollo (and that other guy with 6xreference 7800GTX 512MB?)

Just a hint. If you're going to refer to people and what they receive and why they might be receiving it (since you're new here, I'll tell you that I receive the hardware I get from nVIDIA, AND ATi (among other companies) because of what I do for a living), you might do well do research things first. Neither Rollo, nor I, are employed by nVIDIA, PR teams in relation to nVIDIA, receive hardware from nVIDIA in order to provide favorable remarks about them, etc, so on and so forth.

That being said, sorry to report that I'm still using my lowly 2405's :disgust:

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Ronin

Originally posted by: Bull Dog
Why does this make me think of Rollo (and that other guy with 6xreference 7800GTX 512MB?)

Just a hint. If you're going to refer to people and what they receive and why they might be receiving it (since you're new here, I'll tell you that I receive the hardware I get from nVIDIA, AND ATi (among other companies) because of what I do for a living), you might do well do research things first. Neither Rollo, nor I, are employed by nVIDIA, PR teams in relation to nVIDIA, receive hardware from nVIDIA in order to provide favorable remarks about them, etc, so on and so forth.

That being said, sorry to report that I'm still using my lowly 2405's :disgust:

I have a CRT!
:laugh:

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
Guys, I REALLY doubt there are any AEG members on these forums, just fanboys. I think an AEG sponsored person would be much more effective at a place that doesn't have too many enthusiasts roaming around. Places where most of the people are clueless to begin with and this person jumps in to give some advice about which card to get and why. They might have a few on enthusiast forums as well but I doubt you'd notice them since they would try to seem neutral while still presenting the party line.

nonsense . . . ATF is a pretty big forum . . . look at AEG's own web site . . . they brag there isn't any forum too small or too remote to be infected by them.

And i notice most of the people excusing this Crap Marketing are nVidia fans . . .

. . . there'd be hell to pay if ATi was exposed for doing this.
:roll:

 

[akugami]

I hate this type of viral marketing. If ATI did this too, I'd hate them for doing it as well. It deprives the lesser informed members of the gaming community into buying a card that may not necesarily be the best choice for them.

It's kind of telling the PR department is outraged at the story the Consumerist ran, and yet they never granted an interview nor did they answer questions about the program.

Journalist: Hi, we have reports of you doing X, Y and Z. Is it true?
PR Dept: No, no. We better do an indepth interview so I can explain it all to you. I'll call you and set up a meeting.
Journalist: Great.
...After many attempts to get in contact with PR Dept....
Journalist: Ok, we can't get in contact with PR Dept. Let's just run with the story.
PR Dept: OMFG! You guys got the story totally wrong. That's not what we do at all!

Anyone else find that funny?


In the end, those who are not affected are the informed users will buy what they feel is best and the fanboys will stick with their idols. The lesser informed may not have bought the best card out there for their use.