YouTubers are all the rage these days when it comes to getting word out on a game. Whether said word translates to actual sales is whole other debate. Still, PR loves them, because YouTube videos from particularly dedicated personalities are pretty much positive endorsements of games.
And free ones at that. Sponsoring a video isn’t unheard of, with some YouTubers even making a living off of that. Which is all well and fine, when such deals aren’t kept secret. And then you’ve got the tale of one YouTuber, who offered to cover a game in a video.
For $22 000.
That’s according to the PR and marketing dev for Wales Interactive, who claims that a popular YouTuber asked for the ludicrous sum, to spread the word on a title from their studio. Ben Tester, who also happens to be an environment artist, wrote on Reddit that his “jaw dropped” when a YouTuber who apparently had “a few million subscribers,” made the offer.
“On one of my normal PR rounds I received an email from a very popular YouTuber with a few million subscribers offering to have one of our games featured on their YouTube channel for a rate of either $17,600 for 2-3 talking points or $22,000 for 2-3 talking points AND a description link,” Tester wrote.
Upon reading this my jaw dropped. Is this real? Are there developers out there that pay that sort of money to have their game featured in one video?
It’s unclear if the coverage have even been labelled as sponsored or a paid promotion, but since doing so is something that is very rarely seen in YouTube circles, I doubt such a business deal would ever be made public. Wales Interactive declined the offer.
“I must stress that I emailed the YTer first to ask if they would like to receive a free code for our game to play for their channel,” Tester wrote.
The YTer did NOT mention anything about making a ‘positive’ promotion nor was this a scam from a fake YTer. Finally I’d like to state that I refused the offer.
It smacks of pure exploitation on the part of the guilty culprit, but it’s hardly illegal. If said business deal is made public, that is, something that YouTubers Syndicate and SkyVsGaming experienced when it was revealed that they were paid up to $30 000 for positive coverage on the Xbox One and failed to disclose the deal to their viewers.
In that same Reddit thread, YouTube Let’s Play pioneer slowbeef lamented on just how much the industry was being exploited by a certain minority of YouTubers and channels:
I obviously am in no position to speak on behalf of the LP community, I can only say personally that I’m really sorry that this happened.
We always wanted to foster a symbiotic relationship with game developers (we used to have rules about LPing games early so as not to impact sales before learning devs generally liked early LPs/coverage).
I don’t like this trend, and I want to do what I can to spread the word about it. Game developers shouldn’t be exploited like this and most every Let’s Player I’ve talked to about this agrees that it’s disgusting.
I still think that honesty is indeed the best policy. If you’re making money by spinning some hyperbole, you owe it to your readers to be open about that. Hell, even a few seconds before every video just quickly confirming that said videos are sponsored, can help build a reputation.
Honestly, was that difficult? Not at all. Because it’s about ethics in YouTuberismz.
Last Updated: September 11, 2015
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 11, 2015 at 13:26
They should all get one of these…
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
September 11, 2015 at 13:30
*They should be thrown with these
There I fixed it 😛
VampyreSquirrel
September 11, 2015 at 13:38
*They should have one of these thrown at them
There I fixed it
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
September 11, 2015 at 13:39
http://i.imgur.com/TVLs8.gif
VampyreSquirrel
September 11, 2015 at 13:55
Oh Warframe and Rocket League are going to be fun this weekend.
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
September 11, 2015 at 13:58
Friday is always “gaming night” where we play late into the night 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 11, 2015 at 13:58
If we play a defense mission, wait until he’s away from the pod then activate the lasers. huehuehue
Wait… did I say that out loud? O_o
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
September 11, 2015 at 13:59
http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130102152734/paranorman/images/2/2b/Im-watching-you-meme.gif
RinceThis
September 11, 2015 at 14:04
Mean, again! http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view1/3344907/yellow-card-o.gif
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 11, 2015 at 14:06
…
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
September 11, 2015 at 14:08
I am bringing a Speed Nova to the next Defense, muhahahahaha!
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 11, 2015 at 14:10
I’ll bring Limbo ;P
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
September 11, 2015 at 14:11
You are gonna be in Limbo after wave 20!
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 11, 2015 at 14:12
I’ll be in the rift, where it’s safe. 😀
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
September 11, 2015 at 14:12
I think we might actually fail our first void mission xD
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 11, 2015 at 14:16
lol, this may come as a surprise, but I can actually play Limbo – I spent a while maining him a while back & he’s really good for defense missions.
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
September 11, 2015 at 14:17
Is Ember P done yet?
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 11, 2015 at 14:19
Yes! Played a few missions with her, think she’s on lvl 11 right now.
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
September 11, 2015 at 14:20
That 4th ability is so much fun with a continuity and duration MOD
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 11, 2015 at 14:22
Yip, good for higher lvl enemies too if you add the syndicate aug that knocks enemies down
VampyreSquirrel
September 11, 2015 at 14:14
I’ll bring Rhino… higher chance of survival… especially with you two out to get each other
RinceThis
September 11, 2015 at 14:13
I will do as I must!
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
September 11, 2015 at 14:06
HAHAHAHAHA
VampyreSquirrel
September 11, 2015 at 14:06
Hahaha… That’s evil… I like it!!!
http://i.imgur.com/YEAwm.gif
Brady miaau
September 11, 2015 at 14:18
That pic is just, somehow, wrong.
RinceThis
September 11, 2015 at 14:02
hahahaha
Victor "Vicky" Moolman
September 11, 2015 at 13:40
I don’t know throwing someone while trying to throw a Potato seems kind of difficult…
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 11, 2015 at 13:41
You strap them to the potato & then throw the potato. What’s easier than that?
Admiral Chief Returns
September 11, 2015 at 13:53
POTATO CANNON, that is easier
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
September 11, 2015 at 13:41
Now I’m even more confused… curse you English speaking/spoking rules!
Also HELLO Vicky!
Sageville
September 11, 2015 at 13:34
Anyone know who the tuber was?
Admiral Chief Returns
September 11, 2015 at 13:41
Een of ander belaglike werf-etter
Sageville
September 11, 2015 at 13:55
Haai, daai kombiustaal!
Admiral Chief Returns
September 11, 2015 at 13:56
*kombuis
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
September 11, 2015 at 14:02
*laughs in Afrikaans
Sageville
September 11, 2015 at 14:40
*KissMyAss