Tom Syndicate and others were paid $30,000 for positive XboxOne promos

4.7
Machinima paid YouTubers tens of thousands of dollars to promote the Xbox One launch positively without declaring their work was the result of an advertising deal.

The US Federal Trade Commission has found that Machinima paid a group of YouTubers tens of thousands of dollars to promote the launch of Microsoft’s Xbox One without declaring the videos were the result of a lucrative advertising deal.

As part of the deal the videos had to “showcase Microsoft products in positive light”.

YouTuber Syndicate was paid $30,000 and SkyVsGaming $15,000 as part of the deal. Neither disclosed that Machinima paid them to create and upload their videos.

Machinima then paid more YouTubers a total of $25,000 to create videos that “could not contain anything negative or disparaging regarding Machinima, Xbox One, or any launch title” and “keep confidential at all times all matters relating to [the] agreement.”

The FTC found that the promotions were not independently produced or impartial and labelled them “false and misleading”.

“In numerous instances, [Machinima] has failed to disclose, or disclose adequately, that the individuals who posted the reviews were compensated in connection with their endorsements,” it said.

“This fact would be material to consumers in their purchasing decisions regarding Xbox One and the Launch Titles. The failure to disclose this fact, in light of the representations made, was, and is, a deceptive practice.”

Posted:
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: https://www.vg247.com/2015/09/03/youtubers-paid-for-false-misleading-xbox-one-promo/

Comments

"Tom Syndicate and others were paid $30,000 for positive XboxOne promos" :: Login/Create an Account :: 78 comments

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SuperNerdgasmPosted:

Znait
JRMH
Maintain
ODST
TwiiistR Sony have done this too so all you sony fans can't really say much


Proof to argument? I'd love to see your claims.


No proof is needed. It's just common sense and having a mind of running a corporation. Seems like something that you lack. Sorry to say bud.


your argument is sh/t, lol. "common sense" but you have no proof. I play xb1 so im not even being biased, you're just an idiot lol


no he's right. It is stupid to assume a corporation doesn't have their own interests in mind.


Companies nowadays will do anything in there power to sell their product. Almost every company does this. I could spend all day naming them.

FibrilPosted:

I would have done the same with the horrible announcement and details they did before XbOne was released at E3. They could have named it TSA Box before everyone raged and they removed those features like connecting to HSI once every 24 hours, blah blah.

FriskyPandaPosted:

L33t-Ninja-Much i love the xbox one i just hate the interface they need to update it like they did with the 360 i dont know how many dashboard updates it had but they got it perfect imo


I agree with you! The xbox one is great but I cannot wait for the new dashboard. Ps4 is great but Machinima has just gone downhill over the past years as people can see. Syndicate already has enough cash damn smh. Gaming has gone full mainstream years ago and unfortunately this will happen

L33t-Ninja-MuchPosted:

i love the xbox one i just hate the interface they need to update it like they did with the 360 i dont know how many dashboard updates it had but they got it perfect imo

DaedricMcDaedricsonPosted:

JRMH
Maintain
ODST
TwiiistR Sony have done this too so all you sony fans can't really say much


Proof to argument? I'd love to see your claims.


No proof is needed. It's just common sense and having a mind of running a corporation. Seems like something that you lack. Sorry to say bud.


your argument is sh/t, lol. "common sense" but you have no proof. I play xb1 so im not even being biased, you're just an idiot lol


no he's right. It is stupid to assume a corporation doesn't have their own interests in mind.

ProPosted:

This is respectable, any money he can get he might as well promote it :) Someones gotta pay his bills.

XenoChristPosted:

I respect it, Syndicate has to pay his bills man. Nothing wrong with taking offers like that.

DanielPosted:

$30,000 thats alot of good days

JRMHPosted:

Maintain
ODST
TwiiistR Sony have done this too so all you sony fans can't really say much


Proof to argument? I'd love to see your claims.


No proof is needed. It's just common sense and having a mind of running a corporation. Seems like something that you lack. Sorry to say bud.


your argument is sh/t, lol. "common sense" but you have no proof. I play xb1 so im not even being biased, you're just an idiot lol

SpeedomPosted:

DeluxeHazard_Jr So? why does it matter its the same as TV adverting


Well said, i don't see it being really bad.