Xbox One EA Also Reportedly Paying YouTube Channels for Coverage

[KN1GHTMARE]

On the heels of the revelation that some YouTube channel producers were paid to present positive coverage of Xbox One, images have surfaced online allegedly showing Electronic Arts to be involved with a similar arrangement.

A post on NeoGAF includes screenshots of an "assignment" from Electronic Arts which outlines the guidelines that YouTube channel owners would have to follow in order to be paid. These details include showing footage from specific versions of the game (in the case of Need for Speed Rivals, only PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 footage qualified), not highlighting "major bugs" in commentary (while still allowing "minor glitches in footage" to be shown from Rivals), and not focusing on glitches (in Battlefield 4). Among the other games to be promoted in this way, according to the post, are Madden 25, FIFA 14, NHL 14, and Plants vs. Zombies 2.

Most distressing about these EA campaigns is the fact that YouTube channels involved with them were apparently not allowed to disclose any details regarding them. This was also believed to be the case with the Xbox One arrangement, something which would potentially violate FTC guidelines stipulating that such an arrangement be made public.

Source: IGN

Well it looks like may have stated, MSFT is indeed not the only company to have such shady practices. I am curious to see what other companies are found out in the days to come and whether or not this will eventually turn into a legal matter.

 

[silvananoir]

EA at least isn't news since I've heard of this before. They aren't really in bed with Machinima but there were small rumors among game video creators that they were paying for favorable reviews and coverage. There were suspicisions with Sims/Simcity reviewers for a while now but this kinda confirms my belief. Just rampant shadiness going around now apparently.

 

[thedoodseven]

Well, seems it's true that this news about the shady practice of paying uploaders money to promote something has happened already before. Now they're admitting it one by one and EA. This might add to their rep for being the worst company in America award.

 

[marthyrocks]

Well, then it's out. But I don't think this is the last of the agreements. As I saw from Boogie (the fat guy Youtuber), he said stuff like this happens almost everyday. So who knows? Maybe Square Enix, Activision or Ubisoft have been involved with this. We don't know but this isn't the last of it.

 

[spark_777]

Well, then it's out. But I don't think this is the last of the agreements. As I saw from Boogie (the fat guy Youtuber), he said stuff like this happens almost everyday. So who knows? Maybe Square Enix, Activision or Ubisoft have been involved with this. We don't know but this isn't the last of it.

You're right man. This isn't the last of it. I'm sure there are more businesses doing this than we all thought. If what Boogie said is true, then I guess it's already been done way, way back.

 

[thecreed4life]

Source: IGN

Well it looks like may have stated, MSFT is indeed not the only company to have such shady practices. I am curious to see what other companies are found out in the days to come and whether or not this will eventually turn into a legal matter.

Agreed. But there's probably more to it than we think. Plus, Machinima did something like this last year without us knowing so it could be that it's already been done before anybody found them out. Quite sad, to see businesses do practices like this.