Maxis/EA Caught Trying to Spin SimCity Disaster on NeoGAF

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=521502

Detective GAF does it again.

A user on page two or so makes a valid point, I wonder if we'll start seeing more and more of these kinds of viral marketers show up more frequently on high profile gaming websites who's sole purpose is to spin and manage the "internet community" PR for said game? Or is it more widespread than people tend to think it is?

Your post lacks a description of what was found on GAF, so please add one because I don't want to go through another forum to understand what you're talking about

Its a account made ONLY to post that information...Just look at the account name that made the thread on GAF.

@brighty said:

You could've simply said "No" and I would've been like "OK," and I don't see what's so entitled about asking you to clarify what the fuck your thread is about. We're not supposed to keep alt-tabbing between your empty thread and the shit you're referring to on the pages of another forum. That's why there's a quote function on here.

This makes me wonder what the Geico guy on Polygon has been up to.

Like it or not, isn't that kind of the job of the PR department? Public relations and all. Well, I suppose being covertly instead of openly deceptive isn't necessarily the thing... but it's certainly become it.

Making your account name "Glassbox" is not really covert...

@the_laughing_man: I don't get it, is it the OP that's supposedly using viral marketing, or what? I assume so, since Gaf banned the account?

Either way, doesn't it take 2 weeks *minimum* before you're able to post on Gaf (that was my activation period, at least)? Not to mention the OP have 600+ posts prior to the ban?

@the_laughing_man: Nor is it overt. The person isn't claiming to be involved with the company, which they certainly could do and have it be equally effective. I'd certainly rather hear official company apologies even as someone who doesn't own the game (but would like to and has owned every SimCity game since the original, barring Societies).

Rather, not apologies, but explanations and word on how they're dealing with it.

No

Uh, astroturfing has been a "problem" for decades.

Further reading shows Glassbox posted ALOT of EA stuff involving SimCity

Caught? Is it crazy to see a user with the name of the SimCity engine posting about these things? The way I see it the only problem here is that the GlassBox poster didn't identify himself as an EA employee when posting in threads concerning the company, so neogaf banned him before allowing him to respond to a question he was never asked.

Neogaf = paranoid retard infested internet hell

I just read through 4 pages of that thread and from what I can gather someone spotted the username being similar to EA defending in the past and leadup through the game, everyone just took that as enough that this person seemed shady. Near the end of page 2 there is a mess of comments complaining about posts being deleted, replies being messed up and the thread going all wrong.

From what i can guess and from this quote "

GlassBox we know you work for Maxis. Come out, we won't bite ;).

Edit: The man has spoken! vv

Edit 2: Oh shit banned!

" by killer. It seems glassbox actually replied to people stating who he was, the gaf mods thought it was awkward after a few responded to the outing of himself, deleted it and banned the person. But because im at least an hour late and already read through 4 of the pages with no info on the comments I guess thats that for what im going to get out of that thread. If anyone was there or possibly seen the deleted posts could summarize, then that would be ideal.

Well then fuck this thread.

I just received this newsletter from gamersfirst.

Hilarious.

Threads like these really make me wish forum moderation was a little more stringent.

You must hate free speech or something.

Say what you will about EA, but those motherfuckers think ahead.

Not when it comes to how many users will play their game.

It's truly maddening to know that companies pay people to post on internet forums all day.

No I just hate it when people put zero effort into a thread and then say "so what do you think?"

@kitsikitsi said:

ding!

I agree. I call them "I like cake" posts where they have no content and want everyone else to create the discussion.

Thats some great proof there

Oh wait its just people on neogaf shouting: BOT! BOT! VIRAL MARKETER!

Knowing more about this SimCity debacle is relevant to my interest but i will not read anything on neogaf.

@humanity said:

Agreed. There seems to be an epidemic lately of relatively new users creating relatively useless threads. Then being hostile about it? Fuck that.

That is something I missed about 1Up (RIP) moderation: No list threads. No link baiting. No "What do you think?" threads. Basically, all thread starting posts need content or they would be deleted.

from Brighty, hahahaha. I legit laughed out loud.

So you would prefer this thread be locked and then... what? Someone else post a new thread where they discuss the link in more detail to avoid their threat being locked?

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=49513902&postcount=7323

Is amazing.

@barrock: That GAF thread is amazing, I agree.

I'm not saying that this thread needs to be locked, I just have a problem with Brighty telling The_Laughing_Man to stop being "entitled" for expecting a post that actually contributes to the conversation. I think it's super disrespectful, and I've been seeing more and more of that shit here lately.

TL;DR - EA have been discovered to employ 'viral marketers'. Which means some of the fanboys you see posting bullshit about how amazing EA/The Game are. Are sometimes employed. A few pages in it has a separate post, which has a link to a different thread showing a guy on 4Chan posting graphs, etc, of various things. And claims to be an ex-employee of EA.

Link to said thread here: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=468091

Oh his response was the worst. I'm not defending him acting like an asshole.

@kerned: You mean OfficeGamer, not The_Laughing_Man, right?

@dacnomaniac: Yup, that is what I meant. My bad.

I feel like I should work for EA because even if I don't specifically like their games, I hate nonsense Internet consumer populism.

But I'm probably too aggro to work for EA. Because I'll tell someone they're wrong whereas a real PR person basically spends the entire time apologizing and ensuring everyone is working real hard!

I thought the term was "stealth marketing", not viral marketing. Viral marketing is stuff like the no hope left page for RE6.

I groaned out loud, funny how different we are!

agreed, it's one of the worst places on the entire internet. also, this sort of thing is in no way new, and happens for probably ever major game release. this is just one that was caught.

what a god damn lazy thread. just dumps a link without quoting or explaining what happens in it? screw this nonsense.

"Real cities don't exist in bubbles"?

Good call. They exist in 2km squares

DAMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNN