RPS - All they do is advertise [Archive] - The Rock, Paper, Shotgun Forums

redox

18-09-2011, 11:40 PM

End of Nations
11th August 2011 - http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/08/11/no-coast-end-of-nations-is-free-to-play/

19th August 2011 - http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/08/19/end-of-nations-the-metagame-trailer/

26th August 2011 - http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/08/26/ive-never-been-border-end-of-nations/

2nd September 2011 - http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/09/02/end-of-nations-preview-pc/

19th September 2011 - End of Nations ad - http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/

RPS, what the fuck has happened?

The exact same thing happened with Red Orchestra 2.
You posted regular articles on the game - http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&sa=X&ei=9klxTvucDc6x8QPJm9iOCA&ved=0CBcQBSgA&q=rock+paper+shotgun+Red+Orchestra+2&spell=1&fp=1&biw=1440&bih=726&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&cad=b
Then Red Orchestra ads were splashed all over the site.
The game was released last Tuesday along with some bugs and you've still not posted anything on the game.

Nice ads though!

Edit: I forgot about this -

Jim Rossignol (June 1st 2010) -

"Blimey, news about us! What does it mean? Well, you might have noticed that our adverts are a bit nob. We’ve been working on fixing that so that we can both make a bit more money and look a little less like we’re run out of a shy teenager’s attic. Eurogamer have stepped in to help out, which means RPS is soon going to become bigger and maybe even a bit better. And prettier, too, probably. We’re still editorially independent – we still own the site and control all the content – and will remain a bastion of PC gaming righteousness." http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/06/01/rps-announces-partnership-with-eurogamer/

RPS, you forgot about the games journalism bit. It's not all about promotion you know.

Kodeen

19-09-2011, 12:06 AM

Why would they review a game that is boring?

redox

19-09-2011, 12:08 AM

Why would they review a game that is boring?

What game are you taliking about? EoN or RO2?

duff

19-09-2011, 12:09 AM

Given that this is a pc gaming website it isn't all that surprising that pc game developers choose to advertise here. You know, instead of on a website dedicated to knitting or something equally thrilling.

Kodeen

19-09-2011, 12:14 AM

redox

19-09-2011, 12:18 AM

Here are lots of reviews.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=red+orchestra+2+review

Please go away and read some of these. I'm tired of reading these rants about a game which I didn't care about in first place.

It's not a rant. Please reread - http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/forums/showthread.php?1455-RPS-All-they-do-is-advertise&p=38083&viewfull=1#post38083

sinomatic

19-09-2011, 02:03 AM

I have the overwhelming urge to start talking about the weather again.

redox

19-09-2011, 02:25 AM

I have the overwhelming urge to start talking about the weather again.

Is this that auto defense mechanism I've read about? Something to do with forum members feeling that they need to defend something that they have no interest in either way.

Unless you're going on holiday? http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/

Tikey

19-09-2011, 02:44 AM

RPS are corrupt, you've exposed the conspiracy. You shouldn't read the site any more, and while you're at it, you could stop spamming the forums with these topics. Be free little one.

sinomatic

19-09-2011, 02:48 AM

Indeed, I used my CASIE mod on Walker and he gave it all up - the lies, the deceit, the backroom deals with games companies. It was all for the free tea and biscuits, you see. They were powerless to resist.

DarkNoghri

19-09-2011, 02:59 AM

Firstly, this is a PC gaming site. That means they post stuff about PC games. "Stuff about PC games" is fairly inclusive, and includes small news items, such as "RO2 has been released," or "End of Nations has gone free to play." The reason they do this is so that people who like PC games can stay informed. Maybe Tikey wanted to know that End of Nations went free to play. How would he know if RPS didn't post about it? Should he be subscribed to every single publisher/developer news feed? That's what gaming sites do; they gather all the valuable news in one spot. You're choosing to interpret small news items as ads for some reason.

Secondly, as the hivemind themselves said in your last thread, they are not your slaves. They post about whatever they feel like, which includes reviews, previews, random videos, and news items. You're accusing them of selling out because they're doing what they've always done.

Thirdly, you're acting like an entitled brat, which is not helping your case. Not only that, but you're being repetitive about it. We already saw you being an entitled brat in the other thread, we didn't need a second one. Talking nonsense, having no backup, and then spreading that nonsense across the forums doesn't win you points, it makes you a spammer. Nobody likes spammers. Yes, it is nonsense. RPS has always posted stuff like this. You can go as far back as you want, and you'll find news posts containing screenshots, videos, interviews, and so on. And all of a sudden, because RPS doesn't do a followup article on RO2 as fast as you like, they've sold out?

Fourthly, almost any news item/interview/preview article/review could be considered advertising. So yes, that's what they do. From Dust? There's no such thing as bad publicity. They reviewed Human Revolution? How could they possibly push awareness of a game?! I'm outraged.

Fifthly, the weather here is quite nice. It's been cloudy, but very cool. It's a great change after the sweltering heat we've had all summer.

MD!

19-09-2011, 05:48 AM

Redox has made his point, and lots of people have responded. At this stage, I don't think going back and forth over the same arguments will change anyone's opinion. Time to ease up and let people make up their own minds, I think.

Kadayi

19-09-2011, 07:02 AM

+1 with DarkNoghri tbh.

Rii

19-09-2011, 07:52 AM

An advertisement campaign coinciding with the release of a game? Scandalous.

Grizzly

19-09-2011, 09:05 AM

Darknoghri makes excellent points. A kilogram of salmon to you!

Ian

19-09-2011, 09:13 AM

So presumably the Hivemind are to start writing about PC gaming without actually talking specifically about any games? Should be fun.

"STRATEGY SERIES UNVEILS NEW VERSION BUT YOU'LL NEED TO GOOGLE IT TO FIND OUT WHAT GAME IT IS"

QuantaCat

19-09-2011, 09:24 AM

Pulling stuff out of context, are we?

They only talk about those two games anymore! OH NOES!

Grizzly

19-09-2011, 09:30 AM

The game was released last Tuesday along with some bugs and you've still not posted anything on the game.This is the rule with games, not the exception (unfortunately). If the game is unplayably buggy, RPS would have already posted about it (Since a game being unplayable makes it rather hard to write a WIT). Off-course, you seem to think the game is unplayably buggy, since you own it and have played it, so you just should have emailed RPS about your problems instead of complaining that they are all crooks.

Being 'Advertised' on RPS (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/wot-i-think/) is by no means a garuantee for a good WIT, if you seem to think that. just read trough all high profile releases. All of them were highly advertised (background adds, and if that is not the case, certainly by the means of your interpretation of 'ads') (Deus Ex, Duke Nukem, Maffia 2, Darkspore, Portal 2, any high profile one). Only a few of them got good reviews. Portal 2 you used as an example of 'fair journalism' (even though many used it as proof that RPS was advertising).

You are not the first to make these accusations either (this being a very light example. You should have seen WASD (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/03/26/review-crysis-2-pc/#comment-651777)

kirrus

19-09-2011, 09:32 AM

It's sunny here right now. Pretty nice. Little on the cool side. Not too windy, either, which is a nice change for the fens.

Jorum

19-09-2011, 10:28 AM

Oh ffs again? Just stop reading the site then.
Even if, even if RPS was just an elaborate marketing shill, there are so many better things to crusade over, truly.
Are you really that bothered or just enjoying the ego trip of a no-investment-required sense of righteousness?

deano2099

19-09-2011, 11:21 AM

kirrus

19-09-2011, 11:43 AM

All has been said that needs to be said. Let's move on, shall we?

redox

19-09-2011, 12:22 PM

Aww man, when I saw the thread title I figured this was a parody post: "Look at Saturday's Bargain Bucket! All it is is links to retailers selling games! Advert!"

Seriously, even if there was a connection between the two, why assume corruption? If I was marketing Red Orchestra and saw a site had posted a bunch of preview articles about it then I'd probably want to advertise on that site (because clearly the readers are interested or they wouldn't be posting about it so much).

Some of us are really interested, which is why I'm wondering about the lack of RO2 articles. They posted articles quite regularly right up to the games release along with ads on the site. The game has been out almost a week and I've read nothing about the issues a lot of gamers are having/been having. RO2 has also had 3 or 4 patches too.

They can't just post articles on a game and advertise a game, and when it's released along with quite a few problems not even bother to mention it.

No one else finds that even a little bit strange?

deano2099

19-09-2011, 12:25 PM

They've probably not played it yet. There's only like five of them.

SeanybabeS

19-09-2011, 12:44 PM

They can't just post articles on a game and advertise a game, and when it's released along with quite a few problems not even bother to mention it.

No one else finds that even a little bit strange?

They CAN... because, you know, apparently they have.

You realise a well thought out email to the men of RPS would be the best way for you to air your grievance on the issue, though. Trying to bait them into slapping you in a forum is a poor way to get something across to them.

Kadayi

19-09-2011, 12:47 PM

No one else finds that even a little bit strange?

Jim's the regular RPS FPS writer and he's on Holiday at the moment (thus why KG did the Sunday papers this weekend). As I've not seen him on Steam for the last week or so I'd hazard at a guess it was a vacation and not a staycation (in other words likely catching some sun/doing what the significant other wants). Sinister conspiracy of silence, or lack of Jim? You decide.

redox

19-09-2011, 12:59 PM

Jim's the regular RPS FPS writer and he's on Holiday at the moment (thus why KG did the Sunday papers this weekend). As I've not seen him on Steam for the last week or so I'd hazard at a guess it was a vacation and not a staycation (in other words likely catching some sun/doing what the significant other wants). Sinister conspiracy of silence, or lack of Jim? You decide.

If that's the reason we've had no word of problems with RO2 then that's pretty lame to be honest. Any one of the RPS staff could've written a piece on the game. Both John and Quintin have posted about the game previously - http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&sa=X&ei=9klxTvucDc6x8QPJm9iOCA&ved=0CBcQBSgA&q=rock+paper+shotgun+Red+Orchestra+2&spell=1&fp=1&biw=1440&bih=726&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&cad=b

Auspex

19-09-2011, 01:34 PM

Quintin doesn't live here anymore.

redox

19-09-2011, 01:40 PM

Quintin doesn't live here anymore.

That leaves John then.

I wonder what Quintin does at Paradox?

ntw

19-09-2011, 01:42 PM

trolls forums under an alias posting about RO?

:)

CuriousOrange

19-09-2011, 02:59 PM

I would like you to read and respond to DarkNoghri redox. He summed everything we're all feeling up, but you chose to ignore it.

Kadayi

19-09-2011, 03:28 PM

That leaves John then.

Even John would probably admit that he's not the ideal candidate to get into a game like RO2. Jim's the best candidate for the job. my suspicion is if you carry on along these lines you'll be heading the way of WASD at this rate.

Grizzly

19-09-2011, 04:07 PM

You are selectively ignoring arguments...

No one else finds that even a little bit strange?No. Not at all. Many games have many problems, which are mentioned in due when their review comes out (unless they are huge games, in which case they get mentioned when the impressions come out). If RPS truly would be influenced by advertising, as you believe, then they would have posted a review at launch, or closely at launch, glossing over the bugs and advertising it as the best thing in multiplayer gaming for everyone.

Also, this. It is at page 1. You missed it:

Firstly, this is a PC gaming site. That means they post stuff about PC games. "Stuff about PC games" is fairly inclusive, and includes small news items, such as "RO2 has been released," or "End of Nations has gone free to play." The reason they do this is so that people who like PC games can stay informed. Maybe Tikey wanted to know that End of Nations went free to play. How would he know if RPS didn't post about it? Should he be subscribed to every single publisher/developer news feed? That's what gaming sites do; they gather all the valuable news in one spot. You're choosing to interpret small news items as ads for some reason.

Secondly, as the hivemind themselves said in your last thread, they are not your slaves. They post about whatever they feel like, which includes reviews, previews, random videos, and news items. You're accusing them of selling out because they're doing what they've always done.

Thirdly, you're acting like an entitled brat, which is not helping your case. Not only that, but you're being repetitive about it. We already saw you being an entitled brat in the other thread, we didn't need a second one. Talking nonsense, having no backup, and then spreading that nonsense across the forums doesn't win you points, it makes you a spammer. Nobody likes spammers. Yes, it is nonsense. RPS has always posted stuff like this. You can go as far back as you want, and you'll find news posts containing screenshots, videos, interviews, and so on. And all of a sudden, because RPS doesn't do a followup article on RO2 as fast as you like, they've sold out?

Fourthly, almost any news item/interview/preview article/review could be considered advertising. So yes, that's what they do. From Dust? There's no such thing as bad publicity. They reviewed Human Revolution? How could they possibly push awareness of a game?! I'm outraged.

Fifthly, the weather here is quite nice. It's been cloudy, but very cool. It's a great change after the sweltering heat we've had all summer.

Rossignol

19-09-2011, 04:07 PM

Grizzly

19-09-2011, 04:09 PM

How was the weather, mister Rossignol?

Rossignol

19-09-2011, 04:17 PM

Rather lovely.

President Weasel

19-09-2011, 04:30 PM

Bah, the OP is a thinly disguised attempt to generate an argument and thus page views! Advertising! It's all advertising!
It's like they're trying to run their gaming website in a way that doesn't lose them money!

Alex Bakke

19-09-2011, 04:40 PM

That leaves John then.

I wonder what Quintin does at Paradox?

Quintin is the Creative Marketing Commissar. They let him pick his title.

imirk

19-09-2011, 04:46 PM

Quintin is the Creative Marketing Commissar. They let him pick his title.

Does this means that he executes his underlings to improve morale and make them work harder?

EOT

19-09-2011, 05:18 PM

Does this means that he executes his underlings to improve morale and make them work harder?

They're Swedes. I thinki he just threatens them with a cut to their Lutefisk ration and removal of company Ikea card privileges...or something.

imirk

19-09-2011, 05:30 PM

maybe he hurls meatballs at them?

redox

19-09-2011, 06:14 PM

I'm sorry that you feel we are underperforming, Redox, but the truth is pretty obvious to me: we're producing more and better journalism that we were a year ago, and that's because we can spend money that we make from the advertising. One serious look through the "review" and "feature" tags demonstrates that.

Besides, when have we ever reviewed everything that comes out? Never, that's when. Go back through the archives and try to show that we've been a comprehensive review site. You will find numerous errors and omissions, sometimes because we couldn't be bothered to review them, sometimes because we didn't have anyone available.

As for your specific questions:

End Of Nations = We've done previews and will probably review it when it comes along.

Red Orchestra 2 = I've been playing it, but had a holiday the week it was out, so the WIT is seriously delayed. I wrote about how much I liked the game, and how much work was still to be done on it, here: http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/09/06/red-orchestra-2-preview-1/

So you don't think that one of you should've posted something on what has been a pretty bad launch for RO2?

When Portal 2 was released, one of the complaints from gamers was the games length. RPS posted an article the very same day.

When From Dust was released, RPS posted two articles the following day. One of which mentions the "myriad issues being reported with the game".

RO2 was released last Tuesday. RPS hasn't posted anything regarding the problems with the games launch.

RO2 may be fixed by the time you post your WIT piece Jim. So that's good right?

Quintin is the Creative Marketing Commissar. They let him pick his title.

They may have let him pick his title, but he's still part of the Paradox marketing machine. http://www.develop-online.net/press-releases/74979/Quintin-Smith-appointment

Grizzly

19-09-2011, 06:36 PM

When Portal 2 was released, one of the complaints from gamers was the games length. RPS posted an article the very same day.Exactly. They are advertising for Portal 2!

In all seriousness, RPS posted several articles about Portal 2 and From Dust because both cases were the result of blatant lies or deliberate or indeliberate information being spread around before or after the game. Which left a lot of gamers outraged, either unjustly or justly. Something which I said last time around. Something which you didn't respond to.

RO2 may be fixed by the time you post your WIT piece Jim. So that's good right?It won't.

Also, you've posted quite a few examples yourself proving that RPS does not always advertise, so why have you chosen that as your topic title?

They may have let him pick his title, but he's still part of the Paradox marketing machine. http://www.develop-online.net/press-...th-appointment (http://www.develop-online.net/press-releases/74979/Quintin-Smith-appointment)

He is also no longer part of RPS. Paradox is also unrelated to RO2.

BobsLawnService

19-09-2011, 07:27 PM

I would just like to hi-jack this thread to say that more articles like your Solarium Infernum articles and Mount and Blade articles would be awesome - that is all.

Auspex

19-09-2011, 07:52 PM

I would just like to hi-jack this thread to say that more articles like your Solarium Infernum articles and Mount and Blade articles would be awesome - that is all.

I worry they've gone the way of Quinns and Kieron (since it was them wot wrote them).

Rossignol

19-09-2011, 08:34 PM

Kodeen

19-09-2011, 08:59 PM

Speaking of Quinns, his contact info is still at the bottom of the page. FYI.

imirk

19-09-2011, 09:09 PM

Great News!

This forum has an ignore function, (since the one in my brain doesn't seem to work :S )

redox

19-09-2011, 10:39 PM

I am not really sure what you are saying now, Redox. Yes, posting about stuff is good. Sometimes we don't post about stuff, and that's bad. That's the way it goes.

@Bobs and Auspex, yes it's one of my key concerns that we get back to doing good diaries. Kieron and Quinns were particularly good at them, and we feel the loss of their regular input keenly.

It's ok Jim, I thought you'd say something like that so I'll spell it out for you again. This will be the last time though, so if you don't get it now, you never will. Before I do that though, are you also trying to get a job in marketing?
Silly me, you already have one. < Joke*.
However, Tripwire could probably use your skills.
Silly me, they already have you, right? < Joke*.

Ok, on to business -

Jim, RPS has posted several articles related to Red Orchestra 2. They've/You've also had Red Orchestra 2 ads on the site. The forum still does.

Red Orchestra 2 was released last week. I feel that if Red Orchestra 2 was developed by say, Ubisoft and released in the condition it was, RPS would have slated it.

However, Red Orchestra 2 wasn't developed or even published by Ubisoft so the games release was kept pretty quiet on RPS despite the problems that many gamers had last Tuesday and since. By pretty quiet, I mean non-existent. Apart from this ad - http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/09/14/sound-the-horns-red-orchestra-2-released/

Do you see what I'm saying now Jim?

You cannot post several articles on a game, have ads for the same game on the site and then ignore the release of the game because it wasn't a success. Despite what some forum members say.

However, at least Quintin has a job doing what RPS do well right? < Joke*.

* = Not a joke.

duff

19-09-2011, 11:09 PM

You cannot post several articles on a game, have ads for the same game on the site and then ignore the release of the game because it wasn't a success. Despite what some forum members say.

Somebody help me. Is this serious? I really don't know.

So now RPS don't put out bad reviews for games that are advertised on here? I remember DA2 and Fallout New Vegas getting pretty awful WiT's despite having full page adds plastered on the main page. Do you blame RPS in some way because they failed to warn you it was a bit shit and the adverts tempted you? WHAT IS GOING ON!?

Tikey

19-09-2011, 11:18 PM

I... I'm speechless...

redox

19-09-2011, 11:20 PM

Somebody help me. Is this serious? I really don't know.

So now RPS don't put out bad reviews for games that are advertised on here? I remember DA2 and Fallout New Vegas getting pretty awful WiT's despite having full page adds plastered on the main page. Do you blame RPS in some way because they failed to warn you it was a bit shit and the adverts tempted you? WHAT IS GOING ON!?

No duff, RPS haven't posted anything about Red Orchestra 2 since it's release except this ad - http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/09/14/sound-the-horns-red-orchestra-2-released/

The problematic release of Red Orchestra 2 didn't happen, according to RPS at least.

Auspex

19-09-2011, 11:29 PM

Do you know the weather was so lovely here today that my tortoise refused to come inside until it got dark!

Kadayi

19-09-2011, 11:30 PM

The problematic release of Red Orchestra 2 didn't happen, according to RPS at least.

Yeah, it's not like there's an entire internet out there to cover the news about RO2 is there?

Do you see what I'm saying now Jim?

What part of Jim's away wasn't quite clear exactly? The dudes probably posting from a mobile phone. Get a grip dude, or just leave.

redox

19-09-2011, 11:36 PM

Do you know the weather was so lovely here today that my tortoise refused to come inside until it got dark!

It bought RO2 didn't it? :)

EOT

20-09-2011, 01:57 AM

It bought RO2 didn't it? :)

Yes. We can tell. You are positively the embodiment of its bratty, self-centered, overly-entitled fanbase.

Go you!

redox

20-09-2011, 02:17 AM

Yes. We can tell. You are positively the embodiment of its bratty, self-centered, overly-entitled fanbase.

Go you!

http://www.specsavers.co.uk/&sissr=1

Maykael

20-09-2011, 04:16 AM

They may have let him pick his title, but he's still part of the Paradox marketing machine.

THE PARADOX MARKETING MACHINE!!! LOL!! THEY'RE SPAMMING US WITH MAPS!!!

YOUR MOM HATES VICTORIA II!!!!

My friend, you are unintentionally funny. That's a quality.

Grizzly

20-09-2011, 05:03 AM

The problematic release of Red Orchestra 2 didn't happen, according to RPS at least.

No. You are simply impatient. Just because RPS does not say something in the time span you want it to happen does not mean that it did not happen. They'd also be actively censoring comments...

Krans

20-09-2011, 07:08 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hfYJsQAhl0

Thanks, redox.

Rossignol

20-09-2011, 07:22 AM

"You cannot post several articles on a game, have ads for the same game on the site and then ignore the release of the game because it wasn't a success. Despite what some forum members say."

That's where you are wrong, Redox. Because actually we can post, not not post, whatever we like. We're not under any obligation to do anything other than what we feel like. It's great being your own boss.

But anyway you've proved that you'll believe whatever you want to believe, so go for it, just stop clogging up my forums with your nonsense.