Ive given my opinion on SWTOR , Ill leave it at that.

What I do find amazing are some of these swtor posters that defend this mmo (i refuse to call it a mmorpg) to the very end acting like it perfect, finding any way to twist reality to defend the greed of EA / Bioware.

Ive even seen people defend the fact they are charging for content after basically giving the swtor player base nothing for a year.

I read someone defending the fact that ea /bioware charged subs for holiday items.

How many people on these forums if any or on other website forums do you think Ea pays to post positive feedback on swtor?

Unwarrented assumption, imo.

Folks, who like a particular aspect of a game that's done well,  will often be really enthused about it.  Without pay.

Just look at all the people who think that SWG was some sort of perfect design, as opposed to having some parts that they really liked.

However, I am available, will happily send my rate sheet...... ;)

Originally posted by Whitebeards
Every MMo has its rabid fan base...but why single out only SWTOR? they are too mild in comparison to GW2 fans.

I think now the Darkfall fans have come out to show GW2 fans who the "real fans" are.

Originally posted by Thebigthrill

Ive given my opinion on SWTOR , Ill leave it at that.

What I do find amazing are some of these swtor posters that defend this mmo (i refuse to call it a mmorpg) to the very end acting like it perfect, finding any way to twist reality to defend the greed of EA / Bioware.

Ive even seen people defend the fact they are charging for content after basically giving the swtor player base nothing for a year.

I read someone defending the fact that ea /bioware charged subs for holiday items.

How many people on these forums if any or on other website forums do you think Ea pays to post positive feedback on swtor?

 

No they don't.  As hard as it is for you to believe there are people who enjoy different things than you.  I know.  Amazing right?  I had a hard time coming to grips with that concept myself.  

EA Viral Marketing Exposed, Big Buyout On The Horizon?

published: 2012-03-27 21:15:06

http://www.cinemablend.com/games/EA-Viral-Marketing-Exposed-Big-Buyout-Horizon-40885.html

It was such a problem in industries promoting a product, from electronics to beauty creams, that Astroturfing was made illegal (fairly recently the FTC guidelines were modified to include forum/blog advertising with false pretext & not identifying their relation to the endorsing company):  Astroturfing violates the FTC Endorsement and Advertising Guidelines, under section 255.5 (http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div8&view=text&node=16:1.0.1.2.22.0.5.6&idno=16).

Furthering that, a smear campaign got Facebook in some big doodoo a couple years ago.  I guess astroturfers nowadays are careful to reveal differences between products and not specifically smear a competitors product or its designers (ie: that game sucks, developers for that "other" game are retards, etc), or instigate arguments & downplay another game outside of a comparison context (under the guise of educational discussion).

So does it still happen on 3rd party websites / forums?  Probably, though not legally.  Can companies like Blizzard and EA astroturf their own official forums?  Absolutely.  Food / sugary soft drink companies have been doing it forever on their websites, even without source citations .. in a recent taste test, our soda was #1 ! (If they do it somewhere else where someone wouldn't have a resonable connection between the testimonials/endorsements they read/see and the endorsing company, a link must be stated, usually at the bottom of a tv ad, in a avatar signature, etc.)

That said, it's also highly unethical to spam forums with how great a game is, without telling everyone first that you also are affiliated with the manufacturer and / or the product.

If they really payed people to post on forums, I would have quit my day job a long time ago.

I'm a bioware spy that fools people into thinking I despise the terrible and overpriced piece of garbage swtor. 

But secretly I don't hate everything about it.

Originally posted by Thebigthrill

 

How many people on these forums if any or on other website forums do you think Ea pays to post positive feedback on swtor?

 

how else do you expect to get a "game of the year" award?

It's happening again, different year, different title

Big companies have many employees, I doubt that none of the employees from EA ever post online. At least with Microsoft this was the case, microsoft didn't hire shills, but because so many people work there, after work they talk about....their work and defend it online.

I bet if you could see who everyone was on this forum, you would get a huge laundry list of people employed by gaming companies. They weren't hired to post here, but they make MMO so where else would they post, a car forum? They will post online just like any other person who spends time on forums.

I would ask quite opposite question. Are people who constantly for a year now bashing and hateing the game hired by opposite company? Like Blizzard or SOE? Or FC?

I understand fans who love the game that they defend it. What I do not understand is why person who hates the game and obviously is not playing it, is posting on forums everyday just to complain about it.

See... it can go both ways

Originally posted by Sevenstar61

I would ask quite opposite question. Are people who constantly for a year now bashing and hateing the game hired by opposite company? Like Blizzard or SOE? Or FC?

I understand fans who love the game that they defend it. What I do not understand is why person who hates the game and obviously is not playing it, is posting on forums everyday just to complain about it.

See... it can go both ways

It would be very foolish, assuming it does actually happen.  The internet is not that anonymous after all, and any linkage discovered could either lead to a nice juicy news story or blackmail.  Proxy's aren't that secure either.

I would imagine stuff like that happens more on official forums than anywhere else, since user info is all internal, and user accounts names / avatars can be flipped around very easily to prevent detection.

Since I know you love SWTOR, I'll bring that up.

I really wonder if Andryah (EA official forums) is an EA shill or just someone really trying to drive people away, lol ..  with SWTOR, there are so many disgruntled ex-SWG players, along with SW fans in general that want to get the game better.  It might seem like everyone is out to get EA/SWTOR, but then again, 2 million players DID quit .. and they went somewhere :-)

Originally posted by Karteli

Originally posted by Sevenstar61

I would ask quite opposite question. Are people who constantly for a year now bashing and hateing the game hired by opposite company? Like Blizzard or SOE? Or FC?

I understand fans who love the game that they defend it. What I do not understand is why person who hates the game and obviously is not playing it, is posting on forums everyday just to complain about it.

See... it can go both ways

It would be very foolish, assuming it does actually happen.  The internet is not that anonymous after all, and any linkage discovered could either lead to a nice juicy news story or blackmail.  Proxy's aren't that secure either.

 

I would imagine stuff like that happens more on official forums than anywhere else, since user info is all internal, and user accounts names / avatars can be flipped around very easily to prevent detection.

 

I don't think it would be so obvious especially if they do not declare love for the company they are working for. Maybe quite opposite. They hate SWTOR and hate.. WoW for example /grin... who would suspect them :)

Originally posted by Sevenstar61

I would ask quite opposite question. Are people who constantly for a year now bashing and hateing the game hired by opposite company? Like Blizzard or SOE? Or FC?

I understand fans who love the game that they defend it. What I do not understand is why person who hates the game and obviously is not playing it, is posting on forums everyday just to complain about it.

See... it can go both ways

I think people do it because there aren't any games out they feel are entertaining enough to play and bashing a game that disappointed is something mildly entertaining to do.  I'm being loose with the definition of bashing here and allowing it to include any negative comments.  Many people probably like to discuss why they were disappointed in a game as well and that's not really "bashing".  However, it IS more fun than actually playing the game.