GameZone writes, "The big story right now is that Microsoft and Machinima has been paying YouTubers for positive Xbox One coverage, and that EA paid YouTube video producers to promote its next-gen games. Surprise surprise. That's probably the worst-kept secret in the world. To me, it seems like a horrible waste of money. Video producers will want to cover your game or console if it's trending, hot, new, good -- you name it. These paid promotions that are supposed to come off as sincere are deceptive. Gamers just want honesty. Despite a joint response from Machinima and Microsoft, here's some honesty for you publishers out there; take the money you were paying off YouTubers with and spend it on these things instead."
Alan Wake, from Max Payne and Control creator Remedy, is a horror classic, prompting one player to buy 4,000 copies that don’t even work.
Kind of a goody story...
On a serious note, that is why I try activating gift cards asap. It's happened to me where the store didnt scan it right where the card was unusuable. Happened at Wally World.
Usually most of those redemption card have an expiry date on them. If they expired all buyer did was buy recycled paper. And some of those codes are country locked to certain countries. I buy a card from the States I can't use it in Canada.
UKIE published its latest Consumer Market Valuation Report, showing that the UK games market was worth £7.82 billion in 2023, a 4.4% increase compared to 2022's revised total of £7.49 billion.
"The Melbourne.based (Australia) indie games developer PlaySide Studios (the award-winning developers behind "Age of Darkness: Final Stand)today") announced with great joy and thrill that their arcade-inspired isometric action shooter "KILL KNIGHT", is coming to PC (via Steam) and consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) in 2024." - Jonas Ek, TGG.
Spot on. Spend money to create a good game/product and you won't have to pay people to say good stuff about it. They will do so because it's true!
How about free dlc like killzone:sf so the community doesnt get split in two instead of heavly marketing a game all you need is word of mouth if it is a good game people will praise it without having to pay them to do so!
It definitely has its place in marketing a product. I would imagine a lot of companies use this option. It could be the difference between a decent sales and mega sales. But ultimately its up to a product to be good or great before a product will catch on.
7. Fix their sh*t before releasing it.
The Kenny Powers pic by itself makes this a great article but the suggestions were pretty good too.