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Topic: Immoral Advertising

Posts 1 to 20 of 28

BadWaluigi

Anyone else notice that this site is increasingly posting "news articles" that are simply disguised advertisements? Wondering when/hoping the FCC starts cracking down on these sites. Would like the sites I read to maintain some sort of integrity.

BadWaluigi

Eel

Wait, the gaming site that reports on gaming and gaming-related products is secretly trying to make us buy things?

Bloop.

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RupeeClock

You know that affiliate links help to keep this site operating, and that such links are fully disclosed in the relevant articles?

I bet Nintendo Life would love if Nintendo operated their own form of affiliate links for eShop purchases, since they readily link to the relevant parts of Nintendo.com where you can buy eShop games.

RupeeClock

BadWaluigi

@Eel @RupeeClock you've missed the point. I'm not talking about advertising in general. I'm talking about hiding advertisements under the guise of a news article. If their advertisements were properly labeled as such, there'd be no complaint from me.

It's exactly why infomercials pretending to be a news talk show need to have the "advertisement" disclaimer posted. It's not some new thing lol. It's sad the younger generation doesn't understand the importance of this. The only thing is that the internet for some reason doesn't have to live up to the same standards all other forms of entertainment do. It's gross and needs to be called out.

Edited on by BadWaluigi

BadWaluigi

Eel

I don't think we're missing the point.

I think it simply is not as deep as you think it is.

It's kind of... Obvious. Yes they will usually try to write articles about upcoming games and products in a mostly positive way. Yes that might contribute sales to products that may not live up to the expectative. But... That's about it.

You and I can do the same right here in the forums, hype up a game and "selling" it to other people. After all, when it comes to upcoming products, we kind of have access to the same pool information as they do, which is usually limited to what the developers want us to know.

Edited on by Eel

Bloop.

<My slightly less dead youtube channel>

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Sisilly_G

And I thought this was going to be about the targeted ads that appear throughout the site.

I don't know why I keep getting McDonald's ads seeing as I don't eat there (nor have any intention of doing so). But if it means that their money is being wasted on a non-customer like me, then I guess I can find satisfaction in that.

"Gee, that's really persuasive. Do you have any actual points to make other than to essentially say 'me Tarzan, physical bad, digital good'?"

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BadWaluigi

@Eel Let me cite a specific example - those Mario pajamas.

Not in a single place does the article mention it is an advertisement. However, all it is is an affiliate link to buy the pajamas. Even websites and Youtubers (Engadget, Kotaku, Linus Tech Tips, etc) that have articles/videos for the primary purpose of getting you to click an affiliate link have a disclaimer somewhere saying that they will receive commission and that it is in fact an advertisement.

Pretending to be a news article to inform people of something, when in reality it's simply an advertisement, is not only immoral but likely in violation of FCC standards. Taking advantage of a legally grey area is hardly an ethical defense. I just don't see how you can defend the practice, especially considering countries across the globe unanimously agree it's shady.

Edited on by BadWaluigi

BadWaluigi

dmcc0

@BadWaluigi Any articles in particular? I mean they'll obviously have news article on new stuff that's coming out and the "where to buy" articles usually only point to sites that have affiliate links which is understandable too.

Edit: must've posted before the site refreshed with your example. Don't really see a problem with it - especially as that example is Japan only anyway so hardly advertising if most of the folk reading can't easily buy the stuff.

Edited on by dmcc0

dmcc0

Eel

Now that would've been a nice way to start your thread, since all I had to go on was your recent comment history, where you complain about positive previews for mediocre games.

Then again, that article in particular is talking about Japan-exclusive products that most of the people here would not even be able to buy, and none of the links are affiliate.

Edited on by Eel

Bloop.

<My slightly less dead youtube channel>

SMM2 Maker ID: 69R-F81-NLG

My Nintendo: Abgarok | Nintendo Network ID: Abgarok

BadWaluigi

@Eel sites have become very effective at hiding their affiliations - affiliate links are so easy to catch that websites are using other means to promote partnering company products under the guise of "news".

BadWaluigi

dmcc0

@BadWaluigi Already responded with an edit to my previous post, but just to add that quite a lot of @KateGray articles are a little off-beat so I don't doubt for a second she's looking around Japanese sites looking at random game-related merch to highlight.

dmcc0

Eel

@BadWaluigi Well then, let's ask them:

@KateGray sorry to bother, we were just curious. Is the site affiliated to or getting anything out of making articles about Gelato Pique products?

Edited on by Eel

Bloop.

<My slightly less dead youtube channel>

SMM2 Maker ID: 69R-F81-NLG

My Nintendo: Abgarok | Nintendo Network ID: Abgarok

BadWaluigi

@Eel @dmcc0

Nov 2020: Wow Tom Nook slippers!
Feb 2021: Random: These Tom Nook slippers are amazing!

Come on guys...either this is shady marketing or middle school tier journalism.

Edited on by BadWaluigi

BadWaluigi

Snatcher

Uses the site for free, yet complains about them needing to pay the bills.

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Zuljaras

@BadWaluigi May I ask what is so wrong with making articles about Gaming related products and merch and place affiliate links?

No one is making you buy those things and I am 100% sure that people who bought them are not feeling forced to buy them and regret it afterwards.

Why call out something that is normal?

I prefer those articles than some "political" crap.

BadWaluigi

@Snatcher you've missed the point. Never railed against advertising itself, but the way in which it's implemented. An easy skim through the thread would have clarified that for you 10 times over.

BadWaluigi

BadWaluigi

@Zuljaras the issue is in refusing to DISCLOSE that information. What aren't you people getting about this lol. Thankfully a couple of you do get it.

Not calling out shady practices is what normalizes them in the first place.

Edited on by BadWaluigi

BadWaluigi

Eel

Well they're both citing different websites as their source. Chances are it's likely a communication thing between the writers.

Still. Again, none of these links seem to be affiliated, and hiding that would be pretty much illegal as far as I know. So yes, it doesn't need to be a nefarious plot.

Edited on by Eel

Bloop.

<My slightly less dead youtube channel>

SMM2 Maker ID: 69R-F81-NLG

My Nintendo: Abgarok | Nintendo Network ID: Abgarok

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