Uh-oh!
Someone could be in trouble:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061213-8413.html
FTC says stealth marketing unethical (updated)
12/13/2006 11:06:41 AM, by Nate AndersonThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has just issued a staff opinion letter (PDF) that could quell marketers' enthusiasm for "stealth marketing." That practice, where people are paid to use or pitch products in public settings without disclosing the fact that they are being paid to do so, falls afoul of the FTC's "Endorsement Guidelines." The agency concludes that "the failure to disclose the relationship between the marketer and the consumer would be deceptive unless the relationship were otherwise clear from the context."
The occasion of the opinion is a letter from Commercial Alert (PDF), a group dedicated to "protecting communities from commercialism." Commercial Alert asked the FTC to launch a full investigation of the buzz marketing industry, claiming that "some of these companies are perpetrating large-scale deception upon consumers by deploying buzz marketers who failed to disclose that they have been enlisted to promote products." One case in point, mentioned in the complaint, was a campaign by Sony Ericsson that had the company pay 60 models to hang out at New York tourist attractions with the T68i cell phone. The models would ask passers-by to take their pictures using the phones in an attempt to build buzz about the product.
This kind of campaign has become widespread in the electronics industry. Take sites like the recently-launched alliwantforxmasisapsp.com (that's "All I Want for Christmas is a PSP," by the way), which purports to have bloggers raving about how much they love Sony's PSP. The site is hardly grass-roots, though; it's registered to Zipatoni, a marketing firm that does buzz marketing and counts Sony among its customers.
Commercial Alert has four basic problems with this type of marketing: 1) it's deceptive, 2) it's intrusive, 3) it can take advantage of the kindness of strangers (like the camera phone example), and 4) it can turn family and friends into corporate spokespeople, eroding bonds of trust.
Even the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) frowns on such stealth tactics, drawing a distinction between legitimate buzz marketing (trying to build a viral campaign that gets people talking about a product without compensation) and stealth marketing, "a practice we strongly condemn and oppose."
In its letter, the FTC declined to launch a broad investigation of the industry, saying instead that it would investigate companies on a "case-by-case basis." It also encouraged groups like Commercial Alert to bring these campaigns to the FTC's attention, but said nothing about the numerous cases listed in the Commercial Alert complaint.
This prompted Commercial Alert director Gary Ruskin to say that "the Commission gave the word of mouth marketing industry a giant Christmas present by refusing to launch a wholesale investigation of the industry for deceptive marketing." But by indicating that the government officially frowns on stealth advertising campaigns, the FTC could harshen the industry's buzz.
"I LOVE THE BIG SCREEN
SO FRESH SO CLEAN
IT'S ALL IN MY DREAMS
IT MAKES ME WANNA SCREAM
PSP PSP PSP PSP PSP PSP PSP
GAME'S SO CRAZY
THEY TOTALLY AMAZE ME
GOTTA ASK MY MOM FOR ONE
FOSHIZZY
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY PSP
WANNA PLAY WHEN WALKING DOWN THE STREET
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY PSP
TELL MY MOM AND DAD GET ONE FOR ME
PSP PSP PSP PSP PSP PSP PSP PSP PSP"
Originally posted by Ricodrayz
"I LOVE THE BIG SCREEN
SO FRESH SO CLEAN
IT'S ALL IN MY DREAMS
IT MAKES ME WANNA SCREAM
PSP PSP PSP PSP PSP PSP PSPGAME'S SO CRAZY
THEY TOTALLY AMAZE ME
GOTTA ASK MY MOM FOR ONE
FOSHIZZYALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY PSP
WANNA PLAY WHEN WALKING DOWN THE STREET
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY PSP
TELL MY MOM AND DAD GET ONE FOR ME
PSP PSP PSP PSP PSP PSP PSP PSP PSP"
I am now brain washed and must go buy....p...s....p
Originally posted by dirkdirdenlol it worked!
I am now brain washed and must go buy....p...s....p
Anotehr case of Wii damage- http://uk.news.yahoo.com/14122006/80-132/video-gamers-share-pain-active.html lol on the side note my friends GF broke his strap and the Wii remote smacke dthe TV (Didn't break the Tv, wasn't that much power) lol sweaty hands he said she claimed. I SAY STUPID.
Interesting tidbit of info:
Originally posted by H. S. 6
Interesting tidbit of info:
Well not next gen stuff but this feels liek a news thread too so *hides*
Rumors
Nintendo is planning to announce another revision of the Nintendo DS sometime in 2007. This revision will give the DS bigger screens, either 3.5 or 3.8 inches compared to the 3 inch screens now.
Will Nintendo release a new version of the DS…I say yes. Will it have bigger screens…I have no idea. What else could they include in a second revision that would get you guys to purchase one?
http://gonintendo.com/
Maybe Anolog stick?
In other news....SONY
How's that SIXAXIS controller treatin' ya these days? Missing the Dual Shock right about now?
Well, as much as you have shown your disappointment with the "new" controller that Sony shipped with the PS3, they seem to be feeling the same way. Filing for a new patent, Sony has taken a step towards adding a new functionality to their PS3 controllers, motion tracking.
But wait, who else might be using that very same technology...here's your hint, it rhymes with "me."
Yup, Sony knows that it has been outgunned and outfunned with this novel feature absent from the SIXAXIS. To counter and hopefully avoid a lawsuit, Sony will be employing a LED-infused controller that will work in conjunction with an "external camera to capture the movements" of the user.
Although many were disappointed at the lack of design in this next-gen controller, the only superficial calling card for the motion tracking will be 4 embedded LED lights seen on the front of the controller.
The only redeeming part of this news is the possibility that you will be able to play games like Resistance: Fall of Man in a similar fashion to Call of Duty 3 on the Wii.
Engadget: Sony patents