Apparently Microsoft are ambushing Wii U Best Buy events?

Sorry if its been posted already but this one is just weird, no idea if this is real or not or whatever so, take it at face value.

So basically Nintendo are attempting to (sort of) bring E3 to its fans by putting kiosks with new Wii U games in them at best buys around the US which, personally, I think is a pretty cool move.

However if this article is correct Microsoft are sending representatives to these events to try and convince people waiting in line to play these Wii U games to purchase an Xbox One? Like, straight up sending people there to say "Wii U? Fuck that, hows about an xboooxxxxxx eh?? eh??????".

I dunno Im not as against MS as most people seem to have been recently and I'm not really that bothered by this (in fact I think its kinda funny) but damn if this is real it seems like a bad move considering the kind of press they've been receiving as of late. Whatever though, I'm not here to tell you what to think.

Here's the article beeteedubs: http://www.ubergizmo.com/2013/06/microsoft-employees-ambush-wii-u-best-buy-events-to-promote-xbox-one/

Certainly one of the funnier ways for a business to troll the competition.

@video_game_king: it happens all the time. Companies send reps to stores to convert customers.

Damn it. Time to add that to the list of reasons I generally don't like advertising.

A store near me is hosting one of those Nintendo E3 things. I might investigate for myself one of these days. Depending how long this goes on for. I don't really like going to Best Buy that much.

@video_game_king: I am literally right now looking at a Boars Head *deli meat company" try and talk a person out of buying the store brand and to get Boars Head instead.

It seems way overblown. I just keep seeing the same picture of the one guy.

That Boars Head is pretty good, yo.

@hatking: @hatking:

True that, have you ever tried their deli dressing? It'll take your sandwich to god tier.

I think Best Buy is gonna demo some E3 games on Saturday as well, I'd go but they picked a location with the shittiest traffic area in all of Dallas. Screw that.

Yeah, same here. You know, I've never actually had it happen to me or even seen it happen... That's rather pathetic if companies are doing that.

I can't even imagine how effective it is. Is pressuring someone really that effective when you not only risk making them uncomfortable but also risk having this sort of story spread? Regardless of the fact that it's a scummy tactic, whatever impact Microsoft was hoping for, it doesn't seem worth it.

It's generally how advertising works: be intrusive as all hell because money or something.

It works a bit differently when the advertiser is a human being within punching range.

I know. All the TVs I've punched to death because of 5 Hour Energy taught me as much.

Looks like some dude from a in store Microsoft stores going out or in. I mean those stores do have employee lockers.

From the stuff i've seen the only evidence is that 1 dude's pic and nothing else.

BUT I'M A SHILL.

I was about to say, if an MS employee went up to me and said that, not only would I call him an asshole, but I would be as loud as possible stating the faults of their system so that everyone around me heard it.

Too true! Piss a person off at your own peril.

At best its prob some random MS employees who happened to be there. You would have to be STUPID as all fuck to send official employees there to troll.

You here to demo and purchase a Wii U? Perhaps you'd be interested in this console that isn't currently available?

It's arguable that "stupid as all fuck" is the only strategy Microsoft have in their cards right now.

lol no shit poor guys wtf happen but I don't think this is what's going on but who knows.

I went to a participating Best Buy yesterday and they didn't have anything set up, and I couldn't even download my Animal Crossing item.

My questions is "Are reps still as terrible as they were when I worked at Electronics Boutique?"

Our Nintendo rep in 1997 was this woman/mother whose experience with video games amounted to skimming all the promotional materials and her kids playing the game in front of her. Oh she tried, but being an Avon Lady or selling Tupperware is different than games she soon figured out.

My memory is that all reps were garbage and did more harm that good. They annoyed the employees who knew more about the product, and customers just want to shop and not be quizzed on why they picked this or that off the rack first. Just tell us what is on the script, drop off the stickers, key fobs, and tee-shirts and then please leave.