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Spam a forum with reviews, win a 3DS?
Vetarnias
Member UncommonPosts: 630
In a way, I'm grateful that bobboooe asked "when they said write a review with your ign on it what does that meen?" in that other thread. What, there was a contest to write reviews here?
Sure enough, I go to gPotato's site, rummage around the archives, and find this:
"Event 2. Review UWO and Win an Nintendo 3DS
It's simple! Create a review or helpful commentary on UWO page at MMORPG with your IGN on it!
We will pick top 5 reviewers to send our thanks with a Nintendo 3DS.
Event Period: Jun 20, 2011 11:00 PM to Jul 30, 2011 11:00 PM
[PRIZE ONE] Gift Ticket (5 pcs)
10 randomly selected reviewers will receive the 5 pieces of Gift Ticket each.
Gift Ticket gives you a random item among 20 most-needed items.
See where your luck brings you to.
[PRIZE TWO] Nintendo 3DS
Five best reviews posted by the end of July will receive Nintendo 3DS.
Reviews will be fairly evaluated by our GMs."
The page even provided a link directly to this forum. So finally we know why those one-post accounts started writing reviews here. Cagan wasn't really wide off the mark when he suggested they were Netmarble employees, though the contest seemed limited to gPotato. In a way, it's even better than employees: you don't have to pay them or waste their time creating hype if you can have players doing it for you -- as long as you dangle a possible prize in front of them.
How many reviews were they expecting? Looking at this, with five 3DS systems as the grand prize, and ten randomly selected reviewers getting gift tickets, they were expecting a lot more reviews than what we've been seeing.
Now, the obvious question: was MMORPG.com privy to this? Did they give their consent to have their boards used this way? They link to the gPotato page in a feature, but they never mentioned this specific contest (they stick to Event 1, levelling to 80). If they agreed to this, shouldn't they have told the regular users of this board about it? And what's more, shouldn't they have attempted to keep the contest entries separate from the genuine, honest content on this board?
And the last question: Why? Well, that one is obvious: create hype. But why here specifically instead of spreading the hype around other sites? The accumulation of reviews looked suspicious from the start -- I knew something was on, without knowing exactly what. Two or three new reviews would have been different, because it would have been in keeping with the addition of new posts here. So, why here? I'd kinda feel proud if it had been for drowning out my negative review in a sea of reviews. Mine might be limited in scope (nothing much about adventuring, etc), and some parts are outdated, but at least it is what those other "reviews" are not: disinterested.
Caveat lector.
Comments
Whether or not the staff here knew about this doesn't matter. Referral links and reverse referral links are against the rules of conduct on this site. Any post with such a referral should be reported by members here to the staff so that the post can be removed in a timely manner. I report them as often as I find them and almost every single post I'ver reported have been removed.
You and anyone else here can report them too. If you suspect a referral link post then investigate it and report it if you feel it is one.
It's best to report them quickly too. That way the post may be removed before the sponsoring publisher can find the post. If that happens, the poster isn't rewarded for their troubles.
Ijji and Gpotato are the worst at creating these contests.
Done. I have reported every "review" posted within the time frame of the gPotato contest.
Unfortunately, I fear it's too late...
Hah! I knew I smelled a rat there. Just offer a 3DS system and lots of kids will jump on it and write a few paragraphs to get a $170 system.
It is just so wrong to advertise your game offering a "SPAM the forums" contest. I mean any smart user will ignore the 1 post users posting "UWO IS BEST GAME EVA" and hopefully read the real reviews such as yours Vaternias.
I am just so disappointed in this game. I made so many friends sign up with me and It seemed like a great game but day after day I saw the corrupt and greedy business practice done by gpotato and netmarble. I am not gonna go through the pay to win cash shop items or the pay to win in game contests again...
then again I cant stop myself, that was the best thing ever...have a race around the contest and then sell speed boost item in your cash shop? Priceless...
I will report this posts too, lets see what happens
Now, let's see if gPotato gives the prizes anyway... And if they do, what a thing to write about.
Seriously Vet your still bashing UWO? while I do admit the write a review thingy is a bit too much your review of the game is no longer accurate expecially being a none player for so long they already apologized and fixed up most of the problems. I would love to see the next part of you review there are litteraly hundreds of new players and love the game as it is now.
The only thing I see remain static is you things change vet its time to move on or follow up, I have dived back in but I wll remain anonymous for the most part except to the few players I really trust its a good game cant seem to find a replacment till D3 or GW2 comes out shake a leg change nation if you want its available now
an event like that alone tells me im not even going to look anything up about this game. its like a cry for needing more members from the company.
they dont have much in terms of marketing ideas and they take a bit to organize themselves but they have followed up so far
Aika, I never really "bashed" UWO; usually it was Netmarble or the kinds of players who would cheat that I would bash. As a game, it was rather good, but it is meaningless if you have serious questions about both the people running it and the people playing it.
All that I do in-game these days is show up once a month to make my company contributions, and see if any of the old players have returned. I don't trade around anymore, ever since that bond business made investing irrelevant, and I've never been the maritime or adventuring type. Also, I think I have said it a few times before, but I don't think that running away from a dysfunctional nation is the solution; besides, I like French.
As for the review, I know that parts of it are no longer accurate, but they were when I wrote it, and I think the review is still important regarding the history of this game. I'm hardly in a position to comment on recent in-game events, so all I could do would be to mention little things like this contest, but if you think a new review is needed to cover recent events, why not write one yourself?
ill put it down in a few words as im too busy with my new job and PS3 ^ - ^ I practicaly know UWO like my abc's even the staff
UWO is a good game unique as far as the MMOs I have played go and I admit one of my most favorite MMO's and wish they will follow it up with UWO2 I would love to see the game in a modern engine but KOEI is still developing Tierra Amecia expansion so no hopes of that soon
as for players who quit UWO it really has that effect on you, quit do something else then come back I have seen it and felt it myself
some of the bye bye bonds era players are even coming back
Netmarble is a new little kid publisher with really good intentions always but just cant seem to get it right the first time they do something and just fixes it the second time around and with not much experience in a western market they came poorly equiped
but they have done much progress since the start with more GM activity and player interactions UWOPOLICE is no longer a silent robot and can be seen doing his rounds and jokeing with players GM_Bonny loves to play with players too and clean up the forums and help players with their concerns last I knew there were more GMs in trainig.
and they also now listen to players opinions and even ask them for ideas in development of NC items and improvments in game which should come before the game hits its 1st year or anytime soon
I see. So that was why my post review was deleted. I thought I double posted a reply. Anyways, If the game does not give the rewards It is not my problem anymore right? Yes I might not be always here and doing review and such, but I would like to leave that my review was geniune, except that I was not able to provide my gaming pictures. And my review was delete, unfortunately I did not have a back up thinking that it will be here.
I searched online and was able to salvage a copy of it. I'll paste it below, and now that the contest has expired, feel free to repost it if you want. I just have this thing against reviews posted as part of a contest where you can win stuff, which encourages writers to say absolutely nothing negative about the game.
The only thing I can say is that gPotato should have known better than to make people post reviews here. Hell, they could have asked players to post their reviews on gPotato's forums, or submitted them by e-mail or whatever. Urging contestants to post them here -- and obviously not informing MMORPG.com of the fact -- is pretty unethical.
Anyway, here is your review:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
While I was still downloading the game, I noticed that its size was bigger than I expected---it was mostly that I get these types long downloads when a game is indeed intricate, be it the graphics, the content, or simply everything that it has to offer. Well of course just as after I was ready to explore its features, I already had myself dubbed it of a stereotype.
New and Immersive Gaming Styles
Indeed it felt new to me. It was not a generic game of a storyline wherein you have to save the world from the hands of vile creatures--- the game was trying to be realistic; centered in the hearts of the bloom of age of discovery and civilization. This was of course a new vocabulary to me, reflected as early in the character creation wherein I had to choose my country from a list we always learned in geography and history as great conquerors and choose the path to how I manifest in the game.
Be an Adventurer, Opportunist, or a Combatant
Early in the game you can predict how your career will go inside the game. Split into three rather than the usual start the game and kill mobs to advance, I then chose to be an Adventurer, but in light to this, you can still experience the other two areas of the game wholly. I wanted to experience a detailed feature this game has to offer---enroll in the maritime and learn to sail, have the life of a seafarer and tell your discoveries through lands like Marco Polo.
Get guided with a [Lengthy] Tutorial
During your introductory part in knowing the game you will have to finish and master the tutorials. Well I would have to say I was then excited for my first sail, water and food for the expedition, and some timber and munitions just to be ready in case of pirate attacks. Yes, be ready of some epic water actions there, but wait, I was yet to finish the tutorial. It was indeed lengthy, but essential to meet the demands of the game. Furthermore, you will get used with these because they feel like your basic quests to get abreast with the latter.
Graphics with the Right Feel
You would not be expecting an overly done graphical designs and settings on a game set in the ages of set-sails and explorations, right? Uncharted Waters made the right sprinkle on the graphics. The places, NPCs, and elements thereof, felt coherent to make the appropriate environment. You will not say that its graphics is the best that is out, but there is this feel as if you are in the same timeline. From ports, to plaza squares where people roam and rest around, this game has the right design concepts to offer.
Music That Make You Groove
The shriek of doors when opened, to the ticking of buttons here and there. I mean it! Its harmony! Put them all on with a background music that is so cheerful while I visit every door to door in land and sailseas by seas--- then I am boosted enough to pursue while my ears enjoy what it hears. To add to this, I personally liked the background music that I hear while I was roaming around Spain, it was a moderate and lively tone that cheers me and makes me want to hear it again and again.
So It is Worth the Download
I am saying it directly. Uncharted Waters Online is worth the download. It was a real big load of a file but worth it. You would say that the tutorial is long but it is essential in experiencing the more exciting features of the game. You just have to be patient enough and you will tend to appreciate each of the features one by one. Think of being able to trade with the people around! There is enough player base to alleviate the economy. Open a Bazaar of Goods! Battle at sea! And! Sail your own ship!
See you there!
Kyubiness
Adventurer
+++++++++++++++++++