Originally posted by: 5150Joker
Guys, I REALLY doubt there are any AEG members on these forums, just fanboys. I think an AEG sponsored person would be much more effective at a place that doesn't have too many enthusiasts roaming around. Places where most of the people are clueless to begin with and this person jumps in to give some advice about which card to get and why. They might have a few on enthusiast forums as well but I doubt you'd notice them since they would try to seem neutral while still presenting the party line.
Well, B3D's forums probably still have a more educated base, or at least core group, than many forums. If they approached me there (and I'm seriously starting to regret not taking them up on it, what with the GTXs and now 3007s being bandied about
), surely there are similar targets elsewhere. Heck, I'm still trying to figure out why they didn't approach me
here. (And they weren't the only ones to approach me there.)
Well, actually, I think it's fairly obvious why: quite a few people have voiced the opinion that Dave is biased toward ATI. B3D also seems to draw more reviewers than the other forums I visit (all two of 'em), so it may be more influential in that sense.
Fans are more enthusiastic than the typical buyer. It may be easier to go after the few fans--who have shown themselves capable of brand favoritism--than to go after the many neutrals.
(I really doubt Chal or Demo are AEG participants. If they are, they don't post in a manner I'd expect, and they're just too knowledgable. Then again, maybe I'm just too gullible.)
Edit: Just to be clear, I didn't turn down AEG's offer out of the pure, grey neutrality of my very soul. I just didn't even respond b/c I thought it was spam, mainly b/c it wasn't the first PM of its kind I'd received. So it's not like I read the NDA and sagely declined with a knowing, wistful shake of my head for simpler times. I never had the chance to turn down a 30" LCD!
Seriously, though, even if I knew free stuff wouldn't sway me, if they do use an NDA that forbids you from even acknowledging involvement, I'd pass. We're talking marketing gaming cards, not matters of national security.
It is a bit depressing to see ppl say it's a caveat emptor world out there. Tho I think ppl who make a "big" (relative to their budget) purchase ought to do some research first, the issue is that the research they do in forums like these may be tainted. And we're not even sure it is! It's the *may be* part that's the key, the supposed NDA, that's casting a pall over our niche of the viral marketing universe. What's being suggested is just not cool. I wouldn't do it to someone else, and I wouldn't want someone else to do it to me--even if I expect it.
No idea, munky. I didn't get a company name or #, it was a much more casual invite to a "focus group."
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