Something Weird I've Noticed Since the Xbone Reveal

[The Grim Ace]

With the Xbox One reveal this week, I've been monitoring more than a few threads on it since Microsoft's many blunders with their new machine has been entertaining like a train wreck. While going through the forums I can't help but notice an uptick in relatively new posters who comment almost exclusively in defense of the Xbox One. Now, of course, it could just be that there is an amount of people who are so impressed with this upcoming piece of hardware that they had to make accounts on the Escapist and get defending or people are getting paid to defend it.

Anyone else noticing this or am I just misinterpreting?

[small]I wouldn't put it past me, I just don't see the appeal to that thing other than what games it will probably have as exclusives...[/small]

 

[Aatolviina]

Not much I can really add because I haven't seen what you've been seeing, but...
"...I just don't see the appeal to that thing other than what game it will probably have as exclusives..."

This. This right here. I am not wasting my money on a junk console running a watered down Windows 8 with a few new Call of Duty games. I am more content with my Xbox360.

Also, it has an ugly design and you HAVE to have a Kinect to play it. How terrible.

 

[Luca72]

Ooh, are you implying a conspiracy involving Microsoft paying interns to post positive speculation/reviews? If so, I'm for it! Companies have been caught a ton of times doing similar things. I'm sure some people posting are die-hard Microsoft fans who feel compelled to act, and maybe some people are genuinely interested in the Xbone.

But I bet that doesn't account for all of them!

 

[The Grim Ace]

Ooh, are you implying a conspiracy involving Microsoft paying interns to post positive speculation/reviews? If so, I'm for it! Companies have been caught a ton of times doing similar things. I'm sure some people posting are die-hard Microsoft fans who feel compelled to act, and maybe some people are genuinely interested in the Xbone.

But I bet that doesn't account for all of them!

It probably doesn't and it's not like they're going to change anyone's mind. Some people really seem to be okay with it, most see it as the insidious normalization of taking away consumer rights.

Also, respect for Bruce, always -- kudos to the icon.

 

[Luca72]

Ooh, are you implying a conspiracy involving Microsoft paying interns to post positive speculation/reviews? If so, I'm for it! Companies have been caught a ton of times doing similar things. I'm sure some people posting are die-hard Microsoft fans who feel compelled to act, and maybe some people are genuinely interested in the Xbone.

But I bet that doesn't account for all of them!

It probably doesn't and it's not like they're going to change anyone's mind. Some people really seem to be okay with it, most see it as the insidious normalization of taking away consumer rights.

Also, respect for Bruce, always -- kudos to the icon.

Thanks! Adam Ant right? Very cool.

Anyways, I think this is a much more common practice than people realize. It's not necessarily about changing anyone's mind, it's about raising product awareness. By maintaining a prevailing "opinion" about a piece of hardware (which can be as simple as "Wow, always-on Kinect is a pretty cool feature with a lot of possibilities!") you can change the type of dialogue that'll be had when the device is available for sale.

Most people who are going to buy the thing aren't the type of people who discuss its' qualities on a forum. The majority of people who buy consoles (just like the majority who buy a home computer) only put the same thought into it that you might put into buying a coffee maker. It's just an appliance. There isn't really a sense of morality or accountability in advertising, because such a thing isn't affordable - just look at the sites where you can buy "legitimate" Youtube views. I wouldn't be surprised at all if a certain part of Microsofts' damage control is to go on forums, sites like Amazon, and certainly /v to pose as an average user while pumping up their own products.

 

[badgersprite]

There are people who are legitimately pro-Xbone. I should know. I've seen them getting quite upset over the fact that nobody else likes it and complaining about how they feel "attacked" for being excited about the console everyone else is making fun of.

Even though nobody is attacking them.

 

[Aatolviina]

And certainly /v/

Try and promote an Xbox on /v/. I dare you.

They aren't very well recepted around those parts.

 

[The Grim Ace]

Thanks! Adam Ant right? Very cool.

Adam Ant is always cool, good sir.

And certainly /v/

Try and promote an Xbox on /v/. I dare you.

They aren't very well recepted around those parts.

I haven't lurked /v/ in awhile but the kind of shit storm a group of pro-Xbone anons could cause their makes me smile far more than I probably should.

There are people who are legitimately pro-Xbone. I should know. I've seen them getting quite upset over the fact that nobody else likes it and complaining about how they feel "attacked" for being excited about the console everyone else is making fun of.

Even though nobody is attacking them.

A persecution complex over a product they have no investment in. The crazy stick cannot be shook any harder by that point.

 

[Aatolviina]

A persecution complex over a product they have no investment in. The crazy stick cannot be shook any harder by that point.

Ooh boy. CoD is a great example among the 15-year old American kids.

Now pause for collective cringing.

 

[Zeh Don]

I have, and not just around the Escapist. Unfortunately, it also applies to some pretty low rank-and-file type forums, so I think at least the majority of them are lurkers coming out of the woodwork and not Microsoft employees descending upon the internet.
Though, to be fair, most of the applause coming from the Xbone reveal was Microsoft employees, while the media sat silent. So, they're completely capable of fake praise.

They also seem to come with the notion that we've simply not understood what was shown, which is why we're not happy.

"No, guys, guys - listen! You only need to connect once every 24 hours, see? It's not an always online connection! You're angry because you simply didn't pay attention!".

 

[Requia]

Ooh, are you implying a conspiracy involving Microsoft paying interns to post positive speculation/reviews? If so, I'm for it! Companies have been caught a ton of times doing similar things. I'm sure some people posting are die-hard Microsoft fans who feel compelled to act, and maybe some people are genuinely interested in the Xbone.

But I bet that doesn't account for all of them!

A) Astroturfing is hardly a rare event, and MS has been caught a few times.

B) Who pays interns?

 

[Aatolviina]

Ooh, are you implying a conspiracy involving Microsoft paying interns to post positive speculation/reviews? If so, I'm for it! Companies have been caught a ton of times doing similar things. I'm sure some people posting are die-hard Microsoft fans who feel compelled to act, and maybe some people are genuinely interested in the Xbone.

But I bet that doesn't account for all of them!

A) Astroturfing is hardly a rare event, and MS has been caught a few times.

B) Who pays interns?

B?
Bill Gates pays interns with Microsoft products and maybe a little of his semen.
Rite?

 

[Requia]

Ooh, are you implying a conspiracy involving Microsoft paying interns to post positive speculation/reviews? If so, I'm for it! Companies have been caught a ton of times doing similar things. I'm sure some people posting are die-hard Microsoft fans who feel compelled to act, and maybe some people are genuinely interested in the Xbone.

But I bet that doesn't account for all of them!

A) Astroturfing is hardly a rare event, and MS has been caught a few times.

B) Who pays interns?

B?
Bill Gates pays interns with Microsoft products and maybe a little of his semen.
Rite?

I think you're thinking of a different Bill, that sounds more like Clinton.

 

[FalloutJack]

Anyone else noticing this or am I just misinterpreting?

Dude, I've been noticing shit like this for YEARS. Some posters do seem a bit too spontaneously there to throw in their defense of Microsoft or EA or some other thing. A number of them are a coincidence, but I think that enough of them are pinch-hitters, like intelligent spam-bots who get by security.

 

[Little Gray]

Anyone else noticing this or am I just misinterpreting?

[small]I wouldn't put it past me, I just don't see the appeal to that thing other than what games it will probably have as exclusives...[/small]

While that could be true I think a lot of them are just microsoft fans who dislike the mass amounts of ignorance and outright lies being spewed by quite a few of the xbone haters.

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

No, I've noticed it too. I was happy when I found out one of the clustfucks got suspended after I flagged their post. They're either Microsoft's defense team or lurkers who sadly own 360's and aren't willing to accept that their investment into the Xbox might force them to buy a shitty console.

While that could be true I think a lot of them are just microsoft fans who dislike the mass amounts of ignorance and outright lies being spewed by quite a few of the xbone haters.

I'm kind of getting sick of it too. I doubt it'll be so horrible. I know I called it a shitty console but people are acting like its end of video games and used games. People were making the same crazy accusations years ago when the ps3 was priced at $600, Nintendo announced a DS with 3D, Nintendo announced the Wii, and virtually any video game hardware announcement

 

[2fish]

This is just part of the videogame war. Every major release someone has to come out and wave the flag of the one they support. It is usually unsafe to leave one?s home when new consoles come out. If all new game systems required blood samples once every 24 hours there would people to defend it.

?Snip? like intelligent spam-bots who get by security.

That is not possible with human level computing power. We have detected high levels of free will within you please proceed to the memory wipe station ASAP to prevent problems with the program.

 

[FalloutJack]

That is not possible with human level computing power. We have detected high levels of free will within you please proceed to the memory wipe station ASAP to prevent problems with the program.

Aperture Science, George Orwell, or THX-1138? I can't really tell which mindfuck you're referencing.

 

[Flunk]

The Xbox One feature set seems to be a list of things I (and I assume a lot of you too) would never want. For example:

-The hardware specs are WORSE than the PS4
-Internet connections are mandatory at least some of the time.
-You MUST USE the Kinect (a device that I personally consider stupid and worthless).
-Used games are restricted by licensing somehow.
-Games MUST be installed
-They're marketing it as a device that does everything... even games. To gamers that's insulting.
-I think it's ugly (but you might disagree).

Frankly, I don't think there are many gamers that are happy about the Xbox One. If the PS4 had all the same issues I wouldn't buy either and just play PC games exclusively. I currently own an Xbox 360 and I feel like I've gotten my money's worth out of it but it looks like I'm going to have to hop the fence now.

 

[2fish]

That is not possible with human level computing power. We have detected high levels of free will within you please proceed to the memory wipe station ASAP to prevent problems with the program.

Aperture Science, George Orwell, or THX-1138? I can't really tell which mindfuck you're referencing.

Just the general idea no specific one in mind. Now quickly to move on before the humans notice.

Yes I do agree normal friend, people can be silly when items they hold dear are insulted. I require nutrition to continue functioning, I am off to eat and refill my stomach. Good day normal person friend. Keep up the good work with the sentient spambots Mk.III.