News
Too Many Press Releases are Ads
Cordova, TN; August 1, in the year of our Lord 2016--Family
Friendly Gaming, the industry leader in covering the family
friendly video games is discussing a disturbing trend in the
video game industry. Too many of the press releases that
companies are sending out are just advertisements. Look at many
of the press releases for Day One Editions of video games. How
about the Collector’s Editions? Many of these press releases
come with advertisement links to the company’s stores. Then
readers can give those companies excessive amounts of money for
worthless trinkets. Maybe it hits me harder since some of my
ancestors sold portions of America for trinkets.
This is one of the reasons Family Friendly Gaming heavily edits
the press releases these companies send out. There is the
propaganda and lying problem in many of the press releases. We
are also realizing that too many companies are including
advertisement links to their Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, and
stores. They are trying to use the gaming media as free
advertisement avenues. This is insulting when it comes from
millionaire and billionaire companies. They can afford to pay
for the advertisements they are sending out. Instead they lie
and say it is a press release. That can be a pretty blurry line.
Know what is not blurry? Statements like: “Purchase it now.”
We are always on the look out here at Family Friendly Gaming for
companies trying to sneak by their advertisements as press
releases. I love the press releases that are all about how they
have a new video on their Youtube channel. *cough* ADVERTISEMENT
*cough*. What dismays me is to see other gaming sites publish
these advertisements as if they are actual, real, and genuine
news. How about the statement in some press releases that says:
“for more information on this game go to the company’s website.”
Guess readers never need to use that gaming site for information
again huh? Publishing that shoots gaming media outlets in the
foot.
What can be done when company employees masquerade as fanboys
and demand the coverage? Well, for anyone with a backbone the
answer is simple. Report the news and ask for payment for the
advertisements. Or drop the advertisements and be ready for an
answer when the PR contact checks in if you saw the
advertisement they tried to sneak in as a press release. When
enough gaming media outlets band together, change will happen.
When too many gaming sites give away the milk, the cow will
never get sold. Unity, and solidarity are needed in the video
game industry. Let us make the video game industry great again.
God bless,
Paul Bury
Family Friendly Gaming