Is this the proof that MS is scripting celebs to say nice things about Kinect?

Here's some arguably solid proof that MS is indeed scripting the very nice words that a variety of celebrities have been saying about Kinect. In the video inside, you will see actress Meaghan Martin say the following "its crazy, its soo... weird to me that your body is the controller, it's so weird and overwhelming and I LOVE IT!" Besides the over enthusiam detected, pay careful to attention to the phrase that "your body is the controller". This phrase has commonly been used by Microsoft executives to differentiate Natal/Kinect and IGN called it Microsoft's 'shorthand' for Natal previously.

[deadreckoning666]

"If Kevin Butler paid to come out on stage and make jokes like "Pew Pew Pew" and Ponchos? Yes, their scripted, who the hell cares?"

Well said Clizz. If Kevin Butler can get paid to do it, why can't celebrities? This is nothing new. If I were M$, I'd do the same.

Edit: LMAO, the videos pretty funny though. Shes so fake haha. Money makes the world go round =D

[GWAVE]

But is anyone surprised by this? I'm not saying that this is a good or a bad tactic. It's just marketing, I suppose.

Yet Microsoft knows that the gaming media were very disappointed with Kinect, so they're reaching out to celebrities and advertisement to make their sales. I really do see Kinect as a sign that Microsoft is starting to circle the drain.

[Milamber]

My reaction to this article was so what?! Since when have celebrity endorsements not been a part of marketing strategy? I think MS should not hire that girl again as her reaction looked very fake. Celebrity endorsements are not to impress us, it's for the masses and it exists because it works.

[Bigpappy]

You have all gone mad. I don't know what to say here on N4G anymore. Just Wow!

[edgeofblade]

GWAVE... go away.

For every negative comment I've heard from real game journalists, I've heard five more praising it. Stop putting words in people's mouths. I've seen you like to do that.

And you see a singular tech product in a non-core industry as a sign that Microsoft is circling the drain?

And I'm not the least bit surprised that you buy into what this video supposes. You made your mind up to believe it one way or the other.

On top of this, Sony has a tradition of employing more underhanded tactics than this. Look up David Manning... I'm sure this is new news to some of you, and to others a reminder to your selective memory.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

[sikbeta]

Come on guys, this is not a Surprise, you gonna tell me you believe all that, this is a Common Thing when it comes to Celebs...

[SillySundae]

But here's the thing...

Let's take your KB example.

Kevin Butler is a paid spokesman, he is "openly" a paid actor.
Everyone knows this. Everyone knows he is aid by SONY.
We are fully aware of his agenda.

Which is different compared to

An interview that was made to project someone getting impressed.

Now, I'm NOT saying that's the case here with the CELEBS mentioned.
What I'm saying is that IF that was truly the CASE, then it's unethical.

Consider this illustration
===========================
You're in a store looking for a nice pair of shoes.
The sales associate approaches you and say this model is nice.
(of course you know he wants to sell it to you)

But what if the shoe company deployed people there disguised as shoppers and tells you this is model is awesome.

Can you still tell me they are the same?

[Parapraxis]

It's not surprising really that MS employs these tactics, but it's still frustrating because you know there will be people out there gullible enough to believe the BS.

Hey Microsoft, make the bloody games fun and they'll be fun!!! simple as that...oh wait, you want to do it with hand-free controls, yeah? are you SURE? wow...good luck with that.

[Sony Fiend]

Intelligence bubble +1

[NEWSWATCHERS]

I cant believe people think Move is something original!!! ITS A COPY OF THE WII!!!! KINECT IS ORIGINAL! HAHAHAHA!

[Ri0tSquad]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was in fact scripted. MS has always had celebrities market their products (last two E3s for example).

[Shadow Flare]

Kinetc isn't original

http://www.induviawebdesign...

[jebabcock]

@Shadowflare

nice point out there even the name is a rip from the eye toy. What was MS drinking when they decided on kinect they had to realize that game was out there.

[Elven6]

I take it you guys haven't heard of a little something called "Kinetic Energy", or did Sony discover that too?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Besides, the device is called "Kinect"...

[sikbeta]

I totally get what you are saying, but this is a common thing when we talk about celebrities, they are acting and they probably know crap about the thing they are Hyping it up...

[XabiTheHumble]

that analogy was freaking spot on, bubbles for your intellect!!

[pippoppow]

Gear advertising to ignorant consumers. Reason why MS faults are overlooked. Advertise, advertise and advertise to the blind masses using deception and lies.

[epoxy79]

What are you even talking about.

Kinetic energy is a physics term.

Shadow Flare is talking about how MS pretty much copied what the eyetoy did 5 years ago. and the name is almost the same.

[Elven6]

epoxy: I posted the link to show the term Kinetic is not just a game related "invention" but has real world uses fitting to what you do with the device.

Further, certain studies of Kinetics have to do with the human body and how it moves which is fitting for both the game and camera. Do you actually believe the "theory" that Microsoft simply pulled out a list of PS2 games, found something and made a variation of it?

[epoxy79]

sorry not trying to put words in your mouth.

WARNING!!! Xbox fans dont cry.

proof that natal/Kinect copied PS2 eyetoy. and it does depth perception aka "3d movement" using the eyetoy, 1 camera , all on ps2

this tech demo its about 1h 15mins long. made in 2004 before Wii PS3 360. and its pointed out that they have been working on in since 2000

key points time

18:00 target tracking
25:00 early MOVE type controls
36:00 hand gesture controls
52:00 head tracking / 3d perspectives
56:00 Kinect water craft game
59:00 Use of IR camera, same company that kinect uses
1:06:00 Red ball game.....

http://stanford-online.stan...
open url in windows media player

[Al Bundy]

Wasn't all of the Kinect E3 demos scripted too?

[Mista T]

the e3 demo with the girl and the tiger was definitely scripted, especially when she was acting like she was acting like she was getting licked by the tiger, who the f*** does that, I know normal kids, they wouldn't do that!

[Nike]

@Mista T:

Good ol' fashioned nightmare fuel. That little girl should consider going into horror flicks. Give Samara/Sadako a run for their money.

[edgeofblade]

@Mista T: That is where the presser took a terminal dive. Microsoft should probably learn from this and stop putting 6 year olds on the stage during these things.

And to top it all off, this girl is the cause of her parents' divorce.

[sikbeta]

@Al

Yeah the Whole thing was Pre-recorded with actors preforming the "Movement-playing", was really obvious

MistaT

"especially when she was acting like she was acting like she was getting licked by the tiger, who the f*** does that"

lol'd so Much with that, I really don't get what girl was doing nor the video behind her, it was a total mess...

[Montrealien]

SO a bunch of tiny boppers at a red carpet press event look fake?

*shocked*

[poindat]

Kevin Butler is a paid, official spokesperson for the PS3. He appears in the advertisements, appears on stage, he's essentially part of the marketing team. Kevin Butler is one big advertisement, and Sony makes it obvious.

Here, on the other hand, these celebrities are not spokespeople, and they are not affiliated with MS in any way. Microsoft is trying to make them look as if they are genuine and CANDID opinions when they aren't. That's the big difference: candid (or the illusion of it).

You can't compare the two as they are totally different forms of marketing, with one being a little more deceitful and underhanded than the other.

[Parapraxis]

Right on the money.
Well said poindat.

[Montrealien]

You are wrong, it your are a known celeb and you go to an event, let it be MS, Old SPice, ESPN, a Movie premiere, Album release, or a new Taco bell opening, you become a spokesperson by letting your pic be taken infront of the banner that says.

(Taco bell el portal now open!)

one is an actor portaying a character in an Add campaing saying, hey! I represent this awesome product..

one is a celeb saying, hey! look at me, I like/pretend I like this product, and they invited me here so I can show that I like it. Where is my bag of goodies and the paparazi? I want to be on TMZ!

its pretty much the same thing.

@below

if they do a red carpet and walk in front of the banner of said sponsors of said event, yeah, the support that sponsor. this is pretty basic stuff.

And yes, if kojima and friends where there, it can be seen as them supporting Kinect, then again, it seems they left, so maybe they don`t did they let themselve have picture taken with the product smiling and saying how awesome it is?

That does not change my main point. If you are a celeb and you go to some form of press even, it is clearly to go support this product, especially if you smile and strike a pose in front of the curtaints painted with logos on the red carpet. You are, technically saying, hey, you know my face, and I like this sh*t.

[SillySundae]

@ Montrealien 1.5.2
You're pretty much saying that ALL celebs / superstars / famous people going to events ... represents the event?

So were Hideo Kojima and Tomonobu Itagaki in fact promoting Kinect?
They were at the Cirque event w/ pictures too.
(One of them rumored left)

[XabiTheHumble]

Wow, your an idiot. First of all if your a celebrity you have no choice in the matter if your pic gets taken or not 2. Your examples didn't even show how they are the same thing.

[The Wood]

is a bit of a stretch. They are not totally unrelated but we all know one is a pr guy for sony whereas the celebs are not....be fair

[Biggest]

What kind of dumb comment is that, Clizz/deadreckoning666? Kevin Butler isn't even his name. He works for Sony. People that work for Sony say Sony things. When you go to your job, whatever it may be, you don't do another job. Celebrities aren't Microsoft employees. Maybe they should hire a few. Their public speakers suck right now.

[Montrealien]

You are right. however, Kevin buttler is so awesome, Jerry Lambert is technically a celeb now imho.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm...

And unless you are new to the celeb red carpet events. The idea is that you go there and technically become a PR whore, and become the employées of the event by showing up there, taking pics, and brown nosing the hosts.

@below Ceekay

So you are saying Jerry Lambert would do this for free, for the love of the product? riight.

[BYE]

KB does it for entertainment, Microsoft does it to lie to their customers.

[-MD-]

KB does it for a paycheck.

[Rampant]

I think that it is really surprising that she uses that phrase when MS execs use it all the time. People like Kinect better! Suck it up.

http://search.twitter.com/s...
700+ RT

Move well... less than 100.

Google Trender

http://www.google.se/insigh...

The internet buzz is all over Kinect and if Microsoft can price it at below 100$ with a game then this will be the smash hit this holiday season. Oh, and also Slim. Sales sales sales!!

[Parapraxis]

Be sure to check that again once the Coca-Cola + Move campaign is in full swing.
;)

[voodoopickle]

But after the holiday season it will fall off of the grid. Im sorry but every gamer i know wants to use a controller, doesnt matter what system they own. I have all systems and like them each for different reasons and i personnaly think that kinect is just crap. If i want to flail my arms around and look like an idiot ill try drowning instead

[Patrick]

So the question is "If Sony and Kevin Butler can do it, then why cant MS. And the answer is simple really.
When KB does it, people KNOW that he is on Sony's payroll. When MS has actors do it, they are trying to make it out like the actors are just saying it on their own. For Sony, its advertising and everyone knows it.. For MS its celebrity endorsements and in this case if their truly being paid or given special bribes to say it... its wrong.

[iPad]

In my opinion, Kinect will fail. This whole "your body is the controller" is weird.

Let's say your in the middle of a game, and one of your body parts is itching, or your hair is in the way, or someone is knocking on your door. What if you sneeze? And since you're standing up, what if you get tired and want to play sitting down? Is that gonna AFFECT the GAMEPLAY? I don't even know if you can pause the game. Can you?

[MNicholas]

These people will say/do whatever it takes to get on camera in front of millions.

Their managers set it up for them and they do what they're told.

[EvilBlackCat]

Funny how you PS3 loyalits act to this news

like "OMG!" "OMG!" "OMG!"

[MNicholas]

These comments on Kinect are no different from the fake endorsements you see on late night infomercials for vitamins or time-shares.

[tplarkin7]

Of course, MS won't show the negative comments. If you were selling something, would you prevent negative comments from being leaked? Yes.

[tplarkin7]

Even if they were all paid, it's a free market. No matter how much you pay someone to sell a product, the product has to be good to succeed. You can sell a pet rock, but eventually people learn that the pet rock isn't fun and they don't buy any more pet rocks.

[XxZxX]

Kevin Bulter is openly paid to do PS3 marketing. These celebrities never admit they are paid and if they are paid secretly and scripted to fake a user experiences, now that's a SCAM.

Know the differences!!

[nycredude]

The BIG difference is Sony has content and something that works, MS is faking Natal or Kinect or whatever. It's all smoke and mirrors. Kevin Butler at least delivers his line with conviction. Heck he may even really be a Sony fanboy who knows.

[NS]

He is a paid actor/comic.

These celeraties are saying like they actually mean it when they are believed to be paid to say them. Thats where the problem is.

[n4gno]

money makes the world go wrong, not round.

by the way, it's not the same thing to use celebrity for a tv add, or others (like nintendo, etc), and paid celebrity and video games journalist to lie, it's horrible propaganda for sheep, like "massive destruction weapon" in irak...50% of americans like that, but not the world !

[Lightsaber]

I cant believe this is news have people been living with their head in the sand for like the pass 50 years ? Comapnies have been doing this for ages. Sony was really the 1st in gaming to do it and no one seems to care. No was complaining about companies using celebs a few hours ago. When the ad that that was "to hot for tv" was post for Band Hero.

Its not like any of you would turn down a truck load of cash. Hell the game could be "Gay Kens happy playhouse" and you still be like " It was the most fun I ever had playing a game it like my whole body was the controller" Everyone know you were being paid no big deal.

unless it was shadow flare then well you know

[mopground]

KB is supposed to do that and everyone KNOWS hes supposed to be a fanboy. where as these other CELEBRITIES are being payed to tell the "TRUTH" when its a LIE. DECEIVING and CHEATING the PUBLIC

[GuruStarr78]

This is not a suprise. These people have no idea what gaming is outside of farmville.....

[Tomdc]

Thats a rather rude and judgmental comment there.

[Parapraxis]

welcome to the internets....enjoy your stay.

[Tomdc]

why did i get disagrees? i wasn't being dead serious or whatever but you think what he says isn't judgmental?

[DarkSniper]

Microsoft would never allow honest and personal opinion to be displayed across the internet. Instead, they use their financial power to depict a false sense of quality amongst it's viewers. After having hands-on experience with PlayStation® Move, it's very easy to understand why going back to Kinect feels out of place and inaccurate. Thankfully, celebrities and gamers alike have formulated their own opinions. Seperate from the lies that the Microsoft Illuminati has been ordered to feed to the consumer. The universal opinion is that Microsoft Kinect is doomed for failure.

Dark Sniper wishes those who own Xbox 360 consoles the best of luck as their console is slated to be dumped in the wasteland very soon.

$niper

[ingiomar]

Gamers who have played with natal are usually impressed with it almost every hands-on review is positive.

[Neo Nugget]

Is it "Oh yeah, this is pretty neat.", or is it "Holy SHIT this is awesome!"?

:/

[oldjadedgamer]

Define "gamers" and what are their ages...

Proof would be nice

[HDgamer]

Provide proof that they have had a genuine experience with it as well like a video. Please not this video either.

[Nike]

I wonder how this site would struggle with a REAL investigative report into gaming fraud. This event was scripted? Those celebs were paid to say nice things about Kinect? Oh my god! Next thing you know, movie stars are paid to say nice things about their own movies!

What is this world coming to when everyone can't be as honest and just as Max Console, who've already made it their goal to correct any one who calls Kinect, "Kinectic" (and make a news story trumpeting the same)? /s

[Bellcross]

Shocker! /s

[SPARTANVI]

Ms Martin couldn't have simply heard the phrase used at the event and regurgitated it? "Your body is the controller" isn't exactly the most imaginative way of describing Kinect anyway. This clip doesn't at all prove that she's on MS' bank roll.

[Orange Juice]

Kevin Federline says "your body is the controller" too. I mean its cool to make a commercial, everyone does it. Just look at this like a strange kinect commercial.

[voodoopickle]

Kevin Federline endorses it!! oh now im definetly getting one, rofl

[SPARTANVI]

Red Dead Redemption. Most use, "it's like GTA IV in the wild west," to describe RDR simply because that's the easiest way to so.

"Your body is the controller" is the simplest way one can describe Kinect. Think about it, how can you describe Kinect [OBJECTIVELY] in the fewest amount of words. "It's like moving my body does things on the screen!" Don't be ridiculous people.

[voodoopickle]

Its like my own circle jerk when i masterbate in front of my xbox

[SpaceFox]

That was a pretty pathetic video... amazing how fake some people can be.

[ThaNewDealer]

if it's true that would be hilarious but Kinect should do well with the causal crowd without scripting celebs for positive comments.

[blazBlue]

....It's going to get hot here...

[ThatArtGuy]

Sorry, my clothes are already off.

[midgard227]

REBEL 1!

[blazBlue]

Lol.

[bobrea]

I;m nosure if "proof" is the right word but it's pretty obvious how fake they are. But uhh, half of the people are women/older men/young kids so I think that they're the demographic that Kinect is aiming for anyway. That being said, I'll reiterate how fake they sounded.

[bjornbear]

depressing...xD

[Gun_Senshi]

I got all the games they "played" on PS2 with Eyetoy.

It actually works! Unlike Kinect

[falviousuk]

What a totally Lame article from this website. Gutter press making up stories that arent there.
Microsoft have been saying all along that the use of your whole body as the controller is the key point. I think this may have stuck in some peoples minds, and they are just reusing it as people tend to do.

The gaming websites really are pulling some trash stories at the moment to try and stand out.
Just wish there was a decent gaming website that was impartial, presented the news as it is, didnt make up stories to catch headlines, and didnt post up rumour upon rumour, you know, a gaming news site that just gave us gaming news.

[olos]

alll the kinect positive reviews are BS
only a moron would beleive that crap nad fall for that complete load of bs

they started this PR campaign a year ago and never let up
it only gets worse

thing is it doesnt work as good as they want it to thats why they r not letting real people test it or demo it

sad thing is people actuall fall for their ploys

fanboys included

[rkimoto]

Agreed, but also it says a lot about Microsoft's marketing strategies, their efficiency is above average. It's pretty clear that their target audience for Kinect is the casual gamers in the US.

I still think that if we look at the big picture, if gaming can attract a broader audience, in the end is beneficial to all of us gamers. Less politicians/idiots would bring up gaming "issues" (i.e. violence "caused" by gaming), well have a larger catalog of games, developers getting bigger audiences thus more funding for more quality games for everybody, and more money for our favorite brands.

[Hallmark Moment]

I think PS3 fanboys and Pro Sony media are now grasping through straws. It's starting to show the pro Sony supporters and some fans are realizing Sony disappointed them. Taking it out on Microsoft won't make it better.

[midgard227]

if u were happy with the conference, with kinect, with anything MS did u need to go and stop playing videogames cuz u just bend over for MS.

name one game that they announced exclusive for the 360 thats gonna come out next???? not one. gears 3, reach and fable 3 were known of last year......sux no wonder all ya play is cod.

[falviousuk]

you must be, what, about 3 years old for that very immature baseless attack on someone commenting on here.

[LtSkittles]

Does Microsoft pay her more than you?

[watchman]

Wow what a proof(sacarsm) i'm on my a$$ now. Let' see who's gonna sell more on after they're on sale natal or wiimoteHD(move).go ahead click the disagree lol, like I care.

[dazreah]

You do know all companies pull this sort of crap even Sony, why is it that MS are the only ones that get accused and bashed for it. There are so many butt kissing Sony fans on this site its sickening. MS, Sony and Nintendo do not give a crap about you all they care about is your money!!!

[NEWSWATCHERS]

Everything Microsoft does is of cource "bad" and its because Sony is losing the console battle and always will!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA though I do want Sony to beat MS in the battle because Microsoft would have to make Xbox Live f- cost more.

[-SIXAXIS-]

It's not fair that retards like the iCarly actors get to go to E3 while the dedicated gamers, the ones who pay the game companies, are stuck here.

[charlie1]

some people are idiots, KB is a paid spokesman for Sony. MS are paying people to lie about a product in the hope of duping the public into buying it. What i don't get is that people will buy it in their droves, especially the American public, which is the part I don't understand. My experience of America is that the people have high standards, so why do they keep buying these second rates products from Microsoft?

[PSNTomaz]

hold up hold up!!!.... areYall comparing a Sony Commercial spokesperson who works for sony.. (just like the new kid whos now the spokeperson for the PSP)to Celeb's who isnt related to anything game wise?

yall are officiall dumbasses

[Henry Cain]

Kevin Butler works for Sony yes and is a paid actor yes, but what he did on stage yesterday was excellent. It did not look scripted. A lot of what he was saying was on the fly. When people talk about Kinect it clearly looks scribted especially on stage Monday. A young girl laughing at an imaginary tigher that licking her face but not really licking her face.

[Henry Cain]

Sony is losing the console battle and always will!!!
What the hell are you talking about. M$ will not beat Sony this gen. Last gen Sony mopped the floor with them, they had to come out a year early just to get a lead over Sony. That lead is already gone in Europe and soon will be gone worldwide.

[AliTheBrit19]

Wait

So you're saying that giant companies pay actors to promote their products?

HOLY SH*T, THIS IS A NEW ONE!!!!!!...........

[SephireX]

It's advertising. Every company in the world is the same. I don't like M$ but come on, no company is going to advertise with somebody talking negatively about the product.

[hoops]

And this surprises people? This is a business folks. This type of marketing started with the Atari 2600 and Intellivision...if you were alive when those systems were out

[Tunerboy8732]

Its amazing must be there favorite word..or microsoft.

[G-Ham]

But lets actually be honest, Who gives a S***, Why have you even bothered to make this article, Its a complete waste of time. Absolute Sony fanboy

[xCaptainAmazing]

the above statement is true.

[AutoCad]

Am i missing something...?
I could of told you that you use your body as a controller...

This is just another fanboy trying to read into the line too hard and make something up.

Loved Stacy Keibler tweet Bye Bye Wii.

[absolutecarnage]

I'm really losing respect in the gaming community, You don't like kinect fine move along, But articles like this is why there is such a barrier between fanboys. Yes I agree at the Move wowed me more then kinect but in the same sentence kinect intrigued me as well who to say what Microsoft can do with it in another years time, hopefully something better. Again I can't see into the future NOBODY can so stfu and enjoy what you have now

(I'm just making fun the article) "If you notice the celeberty at 3:05 in the interview looked down for 2 seconds that clearly shows she reading what microsofts is tell her to say." Articles like this are Pathetic

[Vip3r]

MS, paying people to say good things about their product???

Who'd have thought. ¬_¬

[Petebloodyonion]

PPL are really trying hard to find conspiracy

If you were a guest at a corporate event where you have free snacks, drink and a good show. At the end of the Show a spokesperson ask about your thoughts on the presentations. Would you say It's suck and it's gonna fail?

Also if the Compagny is making a video to promote the product by making this kind of video (testimony), don't you think that they would edit the part they didn't like?

[The_Zeitgeist]

I think its sad that anyone can actually be swayed to buy Kinect by some celebrity that does not even play games.

[JJFNIGHTS80]

YEP cause some or half of them don't know WTF their talking bout or know what is KINECT is. Cause M$ pays them thousands of dollars to have consumers see their favorite celebrity to see it cause they know how to sell and make money buy giving Celebrities lots of money to show off what they do. But still I say they PAY THEM $$$$ That's how M$ is.