Did Nvidia Hire Online Actors to Promote Their Products?

[digitalwanderer]

I just posted this up at EB (http://www.elitebastards.com/#news13682), thought y'all might be interested:

Over at The Consumerist (http://www.consumerist.com) there is a really interesting article entitled, "Did Nvidia Hire Online Actors to Promote Their Products?" (http://www.consumerist.com/consumer/evil/did-nvidia-hire-online-actors-to-promote-their-products-152874.php):

About a week ago, The Consumerist stumbled upon claims made by various gaming websites (specifically, Elite Bastards (http://www.elitebastards.com/page.php?pageid=12863) and Beyond3D (http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26199)) that graphics chip manufacturer Nvidia, in cooperation with the Arbuthnot Entertainment Group (AEG), had seeded various gaming and PC hardware enthusiast sites with pro-Nvidia shills. That is to say, that AEG would hire employees to create ‘personas’ in various gaming communities, slowly building up the trust of other members by frequent posting unrelated to Nvidia, to later cash in that trust with message board postings talking up the positive qualities of Nvidia’s products.

The research done by these gaming websites and communities fingered a few likely suspects, but did not prove outright that AEG’s work—quoted on their web site as “Message board monitoring and response” and “Strategic seeding viral assets to ensure they are spread far and wide”—included placing ringers in their communities.

Thanks to our good buddy Geo (http://www.elitebastards.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=185540#185540) for the heads-up.
I have sooo been waiting for the AEG story to go mainstream. 8)

[shanewu]

So, does this really piss people off?

It's not like fanboys are new, regardless if they are actors or not.

[Scott]

Are right which on of you guys is smoozing NVIDIA stuff?
:evil:

[nam-ng]

That's just so wrong... Fanatical dumbfcks should do their things for free and not be paid for being dumbfcks. :D

[digitalwanderer]

So, does this really piss people off?

It's not like fanboys are new, regardless if they are actors or not.
It does me. You have no clue at how many times I've been accused of being a tinhat wearing psycho for even IMPLYING that some people might be paid shills! :lol:

I'm trying to get some straight answers out of ATi on this, I don't think I ever asked them all hardball like if they ever participated in anything like this. (Or else I did and they said they didn't, I can't recall so I re-asked. They'll understand, they know me pretty well. :oops: )

[digitalwanderer]

Derek Perez responds (http://www.consumerist.com/consumer/evil/nvidias-derek-perez-responds-153011.php):

Hey Joel.

Boy - read your article - you couldn’t have gotten it more wrong.

Do you really not know what AEG does? Did you go to their website? Do you understand their business?

Seems before you write an editorial article on this you would educate yourself.

AEG helps us to manage the online community - we engage with some NV fans to help educate people on the web.

They are NOT hired actors!

They are NOT “shils”!

Happy to answer more questions - but it seems as if you need to do some research first.

Cheers Derek

[Null]

Are right which on of you guys is smoozing NVIDIA stuff?
:evil:

Said in my best robot voice:

I love nVidia.

nVidia is the best.

Buy nVidia.

You will love nVidia.

nVidia: The World Leader in Programmable Graphics Processor Technology.

[digitalwanderer]

More update fun! (http://www.consumerist.com/consumer/evil/nvidias-perez-they-act-as-our-voice-153036.php) The money quotes:

Mr. Perez:

I would hardly say ‘unwilling’ - I responed on Wed and Thursday.

Again - we do not hire ‘actors’ as marketers.

We recruit NV fans to help in answering tech questions, test new drivers, give updates, etc. They act as our ‘voice’ if you will.

We do not pay these people. We sometimes give them hardware…but we give out lots of hardware.

We hired AEG to help manage this process - just like a company will hire a PR firm to help with PR. As we can not talk to everyone.

And what do you mean by ‘fully’ disclosing those gifts?

I give press gifts all the time - and its not disclosed…

Like I said - it easier to talk this through vs. email.

An anonymous reader:

I spoke on the phone with Stephanie at AEG after this story broke in an effort to investigate the situation. She flat-out told me that AEG actively seeks influential members of message boards to approach for membership in their marketing program. These members are required to sign a NDA about the program’s very existence. The recent news I was told by a member of this program is that NVIDIA is now offering them 30” widescreen LCDs. This suggests just how much $$$ is being poured into this new outreach effort.

These people are indeed viral marketers, but NVIDIA also expects them to provide the company feedback on the parts they’re given, so I think the company likes to promote this angle as an excuse for the fact that, at the end of the day, it’s still viral marketing. Ask Perez why AEG requires an NDA from its members preventing them from even admitting that the program even exists!

[Rafal]

That is pretty funny. I admire those guys over at Consumerist :D

Update:: Mr. Perez called! After informing us that he would be having his legal department contact us for posting his emails, he assured us, among other things, that no members of this program were under NDA from Nvidia or AEG nor were they given any 30-inch LCD monitors for participation in the program. Mr. Perez also attempted to explain to us how marketing works.

We tried to explain to Mr. Perez that if the fan program from Nvidia was as innocuous as he claims, he should have no problem sending us the details of the program, what products are given away to fans to “pass on” information about Nvidia, and who from the community was a participant in the program.

Mr. Perez’s response? “Why does that matter?”

We suppose that if no one else is angry about this, it doesn’t, actually.

[shanewu]

It is an interesting story... one we may never really know the truth on.

[digitalwanderer]

That is pretty funny. I admire those guys over at Consumerist :D

Update:: Mr. Perez called! After informing us that he would be having his legal department contact us for posting his emails, he assured us, among other things, that no members of this program were under NDA from Nvidia or AEG nor were they given any 30-inch LCD monitors for participation in the program. Mr. Perez also attempted to explain to us how marketing works.

We tried to explain to Mr. Perez that if the fan program from Nvidia was as innocuous as he claims, he should have no problem sending us the details of the program, what products are given away to fans to “pass on” information about Nvidia, and who from the community was a participant in the program.

Mr. Perez’s response? “Why does that matter?”

We suppose that if no one else is angry about this, it doesn’t, actually.
OMG is that funny to me! Threatening a law suit and then denying their claim, yet not wanting to go on any kind of record denying their claim! http://69.93.88.162/forum/images/smiles/rofl.gifhttp://69.93.88.162/forum/images/smiles/rofl.gifhttp://69.93.88.162/forum/images/smiles/rofl.gif

DP always cracks me up, always.

[Rafal]

It is an interesting story... one we may never really know the truth on.

Unless AEG is pushed with a stick, maybe they will talk heh

[Schwarz]

Well well well...
first off the gifts...
Maybe they are not paid but getting hardware for talking good of them is still some kind of payment.
I find this very disturbing.
2nd off Nvidia to be honest would allow people to KNOW who took part in the project because hiding them makes it dishonest.
And third what are the gifts given because i want part of it !!
No seriously this is another little trick used by nvidia...
Such as tricking drivers for getting better FPS in benchmarks.
These guys are agresive business man...but tricking people ain``t cool

[Scott]

Well I can tell you that all NVIDIA e-mail says that the e-mail is meant for the person it is sent to and no part of it may be reproduced or published.

My buddys that work there that I yack about football and other stuff by e-mail have that note at the bottom. So NVIDIA legal could tear them a new one.

[digitalwanderer]

Well I can tell you that all NVIDIA e-mail says that the e-mail is meant for the person it is sent to and no part of it may be reproduced or published.

My buddys that work there that I yack about football and other stuff by e-mail have that note at the bottom. So NVIDIA legal could tear them a new one.
True that they do all say that, but that does NOT make it legally binding.

Check with your lawyer, it's just a BS scare tactic. nVidia ain't got a legal leg to stand on unless the receiving party agreed to the terms nVidia attached, receiving the e-mail does not constitute compliancy to the terms. ;)

It's great to have free legal, it really helped me with my last dealings with Derek. :)

[Null]

no part of it may be reproduced or published.

The "no part" part really depends on what that "no part" part is.

Say for instance the president of a World Leader in Programmable Graphics Processor Technology admitted to a crime, a heinous crime.

You can bet for sure that that part would be reproduced and/or published.

This ain't doctor/lawyer/spiritual advisor client privilege stuff going on here.

Note: I am not a lawyer nor do I play one on TV.

[PUTALE]

well, it's part of advertising I think

[Rafal]

........It's great to have free legal, it really helped me with my last dealings with Derek. :)

Whaa he threatened you before??

[nam-ng]

nVIDIA could learn PR from ATI, the ATI's pom-pom waving ignorant dumbfcks in this thread did it for free (http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33662916).

[digitalwanderer]

Whaa he threatened you before??
Very mildly, but in fairness to him I had just cursed him out and pointed out he was flat-out lying to me at the time. http://mastabeta.com/forum/images/smilies/yep.gif

It was many years ago and it's all water under the bridge, but we don't communicate much anymore and I think we're both pretty happy with that solution.

[digitalwanderer]

nVIDIA could learn PR from ATI, the ATI's pom-pom waving ignorant dumbfcks in this thread did it for free (http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33662916).
That's a three year old thread, hell that's from back when I hung there. :?

[nam-ng]

nVIDIA could learn PR from ATI, the ATI's pom-pom waving ignorant dumbfcks in this thread did it for free (http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33662916).
That's a three year old thread, hell that's from back when I hung there. :?
Ha ha... :D The only true consistant thing about ignorant pom-pom waving dumbfcks is that - they "talked like ignorant dumbfcks, acted like ignorant dumbfcks, insisted on being ignorant dumbfcks"... No matter the length of time passing in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005... and you will still find them the very identical same ignorant dumbfcks in 2005 as they were in 2000 (http://www.xbitlabs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8330), the same ones as in the previous 3 years old ATI's link above.

They had not much a single clue of subject matter at hand whatever that may be, pom-pom waving ignorant dumbfcks - is their actual expertise. Lots of them came with perfect superior English, you'll need at least a minimum 6 months for "simple garden-variety common sense" facts.

[digitalwanderer]

You got banned in the thread you listed for trolling the PIV over an AMD chip? :?

Yeah, I think I'm not gonna discuss this with you a whole lot further....let's leave it at "we'll agree to disagree" before it gets all ugly, mmm-kay?

The Inquirerererer has a story on this for the first time this morning, and it's finally being discussed over at nVnews. (Or so I've heard, I've recently been re-banned a few more times over there....me and some of the fellows got bored a few weeks back)

Guess who their lead suspect/example for probable ATi shills is? :roll:

[Rafal]

Nooo it can't be you my friend :lol:

[Scott]

You got banned from NVNEWS, man that sucks.

[Scott]

Here the link for those of you not banned at NVNEWS: http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=64476

But it beats the hell out of me why you would want to hang out over there.

[digitalwanderer]

You got banned from NVNEWS, man that sucks.
Three times so far, but I'm resisting the temptation to go play there as I'm a bit busy IRL today.

(Probably for the best, I'd get ban #4 about as quick as I could post there today I'd wager. :lol: )

In my own defense, I've also been perma-banned over at Rage3D. I was banned at [H] & DriverHeaven for a few years, but Kyle and Allan both let me back in about a year ago.

I tend to be a bit extreme at times, but I've been mellowing a bit lately...

[nam-ng]

You got banned in the thread you listed for trolling the PIV over an AMD chip? :?
Giving an answer to someone who asked for it which ignorant dumbfcks had no clue about is usually "trolling" and responding to no-clue dumbfck experts is a very great crime to humanity.

It is OK to be ignorant dumbfcks, talking back to ignorant dumbfcks isn't typically allowed.

[digitalwanderer]

You got banned in the thread you listed for trolling the PIV over an AMD chip? :?
Giving an answer to someone who asked for it which ignorant dumbfcks had no clue about is usually "trolling" and responding to no-clue dumbfcks experts is a very great crime to humanity.

It is OK to be ignorant dumbfcks, talking back to ignorant dumbfcks isn't typically allowed.
Like I said, "we'll agree to disagree".

[nam-ng]

Like I said, "we'll agree to disagree".
:D That's surely so.

I remembered an ignorant dumbfck expert with a master in English who told me my responses to him were from someone with no clue to debating of subject at hand.

I myself did otherwise than debating. :) it isn't possible debating with dumbfcks having no clue.

Do you suppose anyone actually needed a master in English for "Jittered blending of adjacent pixels caused bluriness in V5's FSAA"??

[digitalwanderer]

I remembered an ignorant dumbfck with a master in English who told me my responses to him were from someone with no clue to debating of subject at hand.
His name wasn't "Ropey" (http://69.93.88.162/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13438) by any chance, was it? :lol:

[Scott]

How the hell does someone get banned at EB? That is the last place I thought that could happen.

[digitalwanderer]

How the hell does someone get banned at EB? That is the last place I thought that could happen.
You gotta really piss Hanners off, at least in Ropey's case.

With me, it could just be me having a pissy day and taking it out on some random member....keeps 'em on their toes. :twisted:




;)

[nam-ng]

I remembered an ignorant dumbfck with a master in English who told me my responses to him were from someone with no clue to debating of subject at hand.
His name wasn't "Ropey" (http://69.93.88.162/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13438) by any chance, was it? :lol:

I don't bother with EB at all, most posters I met elsewhere which came from EB were typical dumbfcks wannabe elites.

Their English tended to be good, their technical enginering skill belong to highschool drop-outs.

[digitalwanderer]

I don't bother with EB at all, most posters I met elsewhere which came from EB were typical dumbfcks wannabe elites.

Their English tended to be good, their technical enginering skill belong to highschool drop-outs.
Glad to hear it. :roll:

[nam-ng]

Glad to hear it. :roll:
Yep, their debating skillz is excellent, but ain't got WTF to debate about.

Simple garden-variety common sense will require a minimum 6 months as typical. Circle round and round debating of WTF technical is their expertise.

Master of English, highschool drop-out engineering class.

[Rafal]

Nam calm down and take it elsewhere. I'm gonna close this if needed.

[digitalwanderer]

Nam calm down and take it elsewhere. I'm gonna close this if needed.
Please don't on my account, it doesn't offend me so much as amuse me. ;)

[nam-ng]

Nam calm down and take it elsewhere. I'm gonna close this if needed.
Please don't on my account, it doesn't offend me so much as amuse me. ;)
The fanatical ignorant dumbfcks who did for free had a superior moral position than fanatical ignorant dumbfcks who did it for money? :)

[digitalwanderer]

Xbit just put up a pretty in-depth looking article on this (http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/editorial/display/nvda-accusations2006.html).

[Scott]

Debate is healthy, the thread will stay open. Besides I do not want to be like a certian website that closes threads all the time.

[digitalwanderer]

Your benevolence shall be rewarded, the first person in the program steps forward (http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/showpost.php?p=691810&postcount=575):

I have been following this thread for weeks now. I'm going to try to be as blunt and to the point as possible. A while back I was aproached out becoming a member of the Focus Group. We signed an NDA which covered generic material regarding propietary, unreleased hardware/software which prohibited me from discussing such topics.

I was contacted because I was a tweaker. Someone who enjoys fiddling with hardware and playing with the drivers. Finding out how to get the most from my hardware. To this day nothing has changed regarding what I enjoy most from hardware.

Onto the allegations that we are payed to do this. This is false. Wish we were though!. If I could work for Nvidia I would be one hell of a happy man. Does Nvidia sometimes give us hardware for testing purposes? Absolutely. Nvidia has sent us a few select items which has allowed us to get in tune with their new technology. I am not required to post anything pro Nvidia when I recieve them. When I recieve a piece of hardware. I usually get the memo, "Have Fun. Tell us, and everyone what you think of it". Nvidia is honestly interested in direct enthusiast feedback.

When I take time to play with the new hardware. I'll post information about things I've discovered and enjoyed. Such as my anti aliasing investigations I used to do which showed other people how to unlock and use these functions on the newer geforce 6 hardware. Or in some cases. I have been given an opurtunity to intricately test SLI. Since I am a tweaker. I have very much enjoyed learning Nvidias profile system. And figuring out which games scale and with what rendering mode. I posted SLI investigations explaining the profile system. If questions arise regarding things I have done and tested. I am not obligated to reply to them. But I choose too because I have been fortunate enough to test these products and situations. And when I post my positive opinion about something. Its because I am actually positive and like it.

That does not mean I always post things positive about Nvidia. Or that I like everything they do. An example would be SLIAA. I am not very fond of this rendering mode and I have made it clear recently. I would much prefer to use modes such as 8xS or 16xS. I also have many times delivered negative feedback to Nvidia about things I simply dont like. About their Drivers, About their hardware. Ect.

This was the entire purpose of the Focus Group. To allow Nvidia to have a better idea of what "real" enthusiasts want. Both positive and negative. As its pointed out. Some would say we are possibly their eyes and ears. Some examples.

When Everquest 2 first came out. I spent enormous amounts of time feedbacking the famous "stutter" issue in that game. I delivered feedback directly to Nvidia regarding settings and performance issues regarding Everquest 2. When the LoD clamp was first introduced. I once again spent a great deal of my time relating the sensitivity of the issue and even reported specific instances and games when it occured. When the 7800 series was released and the shimmering issue was brought up again. I recorded videos of the 6800GT and 7800GTX running High Quality and directed them straight to the driver team allowing them to compare and help analyze the problem all while delivering user feedback on the issue. I have spent time reporting SLI rendering issues which occured right when the hardware was released and has thus been fixed early on. Me and the focus group have been largely responcible in the past for quick Nvidia's responces on certain issues such as the Geforce 7800 high quality fix. They provide us the hardware so we can do these things. Not so we can rage on about how great they are.

I'm not saying Nvidia is incapable of doing these things without us. But Nvidia wants to better understand the community and how we relate to them. Which is the entire point of the program. Being a part of this program has not made any more or any less pro Nvidia than I already was. Before they contacted me I was an Nvidia fan. After they contacted me I was an Nvidia fan. Infact in the past I probably was more a "******" ((you edit out f@nboy? :P )) than I am now. Over the past year and half I have come to a better understanding of how the review system works. On my own I've learned how to not let others get under my skin. Even when I dont agree with their views and opinions. I have even left communities with higher Nvidia preference to surround myself with conflicting views on the matter so I am not seeing blind out of one eye.

As to why we didnt respnd to this sooner? Well. Why would we? I mean look at the posts here. Incomplete conclusions, Witch Hunts, accusations of being a sellout and shrill. Do you honestly think me or anyone else wants to deal with such things? I fully expect some people here to attack me and go after me anyway even after I have clarified my position on this issue. And you know what? It really wont matter either way. I know where we stand and what the group actually means. Nothing will change afterwards. But I also have no intention of allowing myself to be interrogated. I wont disclose any further information about the other members. That is there choice as to if they wish to be named. Personally I couldnt blame them for not wanting too. Considering the types of responces seen here and people believing we are some kind of Nvidia marketing machine.

Chris
I can't say he was my first suspect, he was actually number three on my list. ;)

[Scott]

Was he ever a mod over at NVNEWS?

[digitalwanderer]

I don't think Chris was a mod there, although I'm not sure. He used to post over there an awful lot though.

Oh, and I do believe he hates my guts too... :lol:

[Scott]

Man your world is getting smaller by the minute :oops:

Don't worry the staff here does not hate you.

[digitalwanderer]

Chris doesn't either, I had the wrong one. :oops:

Aside from Rollo admitting he works with AEG at Anand (http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=31&threadid=1797519&STARTPAGE=8&enterthread=y) the big shocker was Chalnoth just came out too (http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/showpost.php?p=692095&postcount=630)! :shock:





















Oh wait, that's not all that shocking is it... :lol:

It got interestinger fast, eh? I can't wait to see what the 'morrow brings.

[nam-ng]

I'd yet ever seen Chrisray talking like an ignorant dumbfck, not even just once.

I can not say the same thing for Rollo or Chalnoth. Though they're nothing like the multitude of highschool drop-out class dumbfck experts found on the net.

[digitalwanderer]

I find ChrisRay and Chalnoth to be knowledgeable and helpful.

Rollo, on the other hand, is pretty much the poster boy for nVidiot fanboy....no offense intended.

Now I'm just waiting to hear from Ruined.... ;)

[digitalwanderer]

Ailuros came out too (http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/showpost.php?p=692222&postcount=667)! :shock:

I'm starting to rethink this AEG thing, Ailuros is one of the good guys too.

So far the AEG program is at 75%, and rising fast! :shock:

[Rafal]

I'm sure there a whole lot more members. Interesting.

[digitalwanderer]

I'm sure there a whole lot more members. Interesting.
You'd probably be wrong, the inside skinny is that there are less than 10 people in the AEG program. ;)

[shanewu]

I'm sure there a whole lot more members. Interesting.
You'd probably be wrong, the inside skinny is that there are less than 10 people in the AEG program. ;)
Really? I was leaning to less than 20 so that it is more manageable. 10 seems easy to deal with and keep track of. Hrmm...

[digitalwanderer]

I don't know the exact number, I was just told by someone who knows "that there are less than 10".

Just thought I'd share it. Looks like AnanannananandaTech forums are in a full-scale civil war over Rollo and that damned big thread at B3D is starting to attract some serious ugliness to it at times. :?

Fun stuff, the kind of stuff I thrive on! :lol:

[shanewu]

I don't know the exact number, I was just told by someone who knows "that there are less than 10".

Just thought I'd share it. Looks like AnanannananandaTech forums are in a full-scale civil war over Rollo and that damned big thread at B3D is starting to attract some serious ugliness to it at times. :?

Fun stuff, the kind of stuff I thrive on! :lol:
I got sick of reading the crap on AT last night...

So feel free to give us a digi-political-style-play-by-play if you feel the need. :)

[nam-ng]

:D Ha ha... ChrisRay is a paid shill.

Whatever AEG paid ChrisRay before, they or nVIDIA should be paying him at least 4 times more, nVIDIA should be paying AEG more money for their worth.

The whole thing brought to mind --> "The ****s of literature".

[digitalwanderer]

Sorry I didn't post up about this yesterday, bloody real-life kept me away from my keyboard too much and when I had free time I got stuck in Beyond3D's IRC channel for too long just absorbing everything.....eeeenteresting times in the graphics world right now!

Quick/dirty updates as I'm not sure how my day will fall today (Oh, and I F-ING HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND NISSAN REPAIR RIGHT NOW!!!!!):

-The Beyond3D thread was closed last night mainly due to it getting all repetitive and too many people were registering just to post up how pissed off they were/how stupid getting pissed off was/fanboy crap. Nothing sinister, that's just how B3D operates.

-A fun thread entitled "AEG witchhunt" (http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=42&threadid=1799413&enterthread=y) at AnanananananandaTech started by Rollo

(BTW-Rollo's "two other people" in the program are apparently all in Rollo's head according to AEG insiders, we really do know all the people in AEG graphics focus group...yes there is a reason for the bold...)

-My bestest virtual friend and bossman Hanners is doing an interview with ChrisRay to be posted at EB soon.

I think the next few days are gonna just be adjusting/settling in to the new reality of the focus groups. With the exception of Rollo I really ain't got much problem with it myself since I really think ChrisRay, Ailuros, and Chalnoth are all bright and helpful puppies who are pure value-added to any community they belong to.

If anything of real interest happens I'll let ya know, I'm still working on breaking in some fresh contacts in ATi's offices due to Patti M leaving early for maternity leave. (A boy 6-1/2 weeks early, but both mother and son are doing fine. :D ) For some odd reason me and any new folks I meet who work for ATi always seem to hit it off really well, but it still takes a bit of time to establish the relationship....I'll find out what's up on their side of the fence soon enough and what their take on this is.

[Rafal]

I'm sure there a whole lot more members. Interesting.
You'd probably be wrong, the inside skinny is that there are less than 10 people in the AEG program. ;)

Let me rephrase...there are more people who did not confess being in the focus group

[digitalwanderer]

I'm sure there a whole lot more members. Interesting.
You'd probably be wrong, the inside skinny is that there are less than 10 people in the AEG program. ;)

Let me rephrase...there are more people who did not confess being in the focus group
Let me rephrase since I learned a bit more since then; there are less than 10 people in AEG's graphic focus program and I believe that all of them have came out publically except for one who dropped out of the group a while ago.

Sort of guessing on this one, but if you held me toes to a fire I'd probably say the person dropped out about 6 months ago and that's when they approached Pete to join (the guy at B3D who posted up about them approaching him about a month ago) who turned them down so they asked Chalnoth.

Just a guess.... ;)

Biddy day today again, fun web melodrama! :D

[shanewu]

I'm sure there a whole lot more members. Interesting.
You'd probably be wrong, the inside skinny is that there are less than 10 people in the AEG program. ;)

Let me rephrase...there are more people who did not confess being in the focus group
Let me rephrase since I learned a bit more since then; there are less than 10 people in AEG's graphic focus program and I believe that all of them have came out publically except for one who dropped out of the group a while ago.
Does that mean there's a mobo focus group too, amongst others?

[nam-ng]

Let me rephrase...there are more people who did not confess being in the focus group
Would all past forum contest winners confess to be "paid shill" :D??? "IMPLYING" to be pom-pom waving dumbfcks for material gain rather than for free?

[digitalwanderer]

Does that mean there's a mobo focus group too, amongst others?
On that I have no clue, I just had it pointed out to me so I thought I should stress it also.

If they do have other focus groups, I haven't heard anything about them yet....but the day is still young here. ;)

Would all past forum contest winners confess to be "paid shill" :D??? "IMPLYING" to be pom-pom waving dumbfcks for material gain rather than for free?
Entirely different situation, there is transparency when someone wins a contest here; you know who won what so you can use your own discretion to decide just how much that influences their recomendations/advice.

When this focus group was secret it was a different matter.

[nam-ng]

Entirely different situation, there is transparency when someone wins a contest here; you know who won what so you can use your own discretion to decide just how much that influences their recomendations/advice.

When this focus group was secret it was a different matter.
Ah? ChrisRay was paid in secret to be a pom-pom waving dumbfck? Past Forum winners was paid publicly to be pom-pom waving dumbfcks?

[digitalwanderer]

Ah? ChrisRay was paid in secret to be a pom-pom waving dumbfck? Past Forum winners was paid publicly to be pom-pom waving dumbfcks?
Hey, you ain't as thick as I thought! Yup, that's it exactly. :)

[Scott]

Past Forum winners was paid publicly to be pom-pom waving dumbfcks?

Ok now maybe you are starting to upset me. Do not suggest my forums winners are being paid off or dumb ****s.

Scott

[digitalwanderer]

People are going to assume what they want to assume, that's why I feel that transparency on the issue is important.

If someone knows ATi gave me something, they can use that however they want to determine my level of bias. As long as I disclose it, I figure my ass is covered....and I just ain't got the will-power to ever turn down free kit! :oops:

[Null]

forums winners are being paid off

Is the check in the mail? :)

j/k :P

PayPal will be fine. :D

[Bryan]

Remember the old Rendition Evangelists (I think that was the name)? They got a t-shirt for acting similarly on behalf of Rendition. Not that it did much good, of course. I have no problem with a similar program being operated by NVIDIA. But it would good to know that upfront about a person so his or her opinion could be taken with the appropriate grain of salt.

[nam-ng]

Ok now maybe you are starting to upset me. Do not suggest my forums winners are being paid off or dumb ****s.

Scott
I never did "suggest" nor "IMPLYING" (example - "I'd yet ever seen Chrisray talking like an ignorant dumbfck, not even just once." ).

I recognized dumbfcks from many years of experience encountering them. I don't "call" or "IMPLYING" people are "dumbfcks", I only recognized dumbfcks being themselves. (For example - one time at Rage3D forum, "bossman Hanners" talked like a pom-pom waving ignorant dumbfck and I mentioned it, which I was instantly banned.)

If I had learned "IMPLYING" as well as digitalwanderer way back then, it would probably be less likely for getting banned.

In most places, it is OK to IMPLY, or be a dumbfck, actually recognizing ignorant dumbfcks is usually a greater crime to humanity. ;)

Hey, you ain't as thick as I thought! Yup, that's it exactly. :)
Not bad... eh? I didn't even need a master in English (never yet even read an English grammar book), nor 6 months, nor years and years :D . Your "IMPLYING" ain't real hard at all, I myself occasionally do Jerry Springer's shows with real pom-pom waving dumbfcks.... for amusement when dumbfcks insisted on being themselves.

Do you also have a master in English? Ph.D. even? "IMPLYING" probably require much better English than I had.

[The Doctor]

Oh this is great. I hate I missed this one.

[digitalwanderer]

Oh this is great. I hate I missed this one.
It really ended with a whimper and no bang, the AEG program members (with the exception of Rollo) are all pretty good peeps and have been helpful.

Well, Chalnoth is a bit fanboyish at times...but Chalnoth has ALWAYS been a bit fanboyish at times, can't blame him for taking hardware for being himself. I do it myself whenever the opportunity presents itself. ;)