17 comments:

Ysharros said...

The cynic in me says: sites getting that much regular traffic can be used as community info outlets, since Mythic won't be hosting WAR forums. Therefore the least they could do for the free work *you're* doing for them, is give you a sub.

September 6, 2008 8:55 AM

br3ntbr0 said...

Despite the QQ sound of my post, my point actually isn't to crusade for a free subscription for myself (although I wouldn't complain ;p) but more to know if that is indeed why Mythic would give out a free sub. Is it because of the popularity of a blog, or some other reason?

September 6, 2008 9:02 AM

Alek said...

Mythic are doing a BIG commercial so everybody know Warhammer Online.
They've just given out a big number of betakeys for free.. so sure it's only for the commercial.
My brother only bought CE-edition because he thought it was the only way to get in Open Beta (europe)

September 6, 2008 10:19 AM

Jim said...

I haven't always agreed with his opinions, but Tobold has always struck as being an honest and up front person. I think he was right in pointing out what he got from Mythic.

I got the sense from his post that he was a bit uncomfortable about how it might be viewed. He was quick to point out that he's going to pay for a subscription on the European servers.

This is really not that unusual. Vendors regularly provide press with free copies of games, free access to subscription content, complimentary passes to events, etc.

Bloggers are increasingly becoming as important to influencing the gaming community as the "official" gaming press (probably one of the reasons so many publications have folded in recent years) and it's only natural vendors will look to build those relationships.

I'd guess in Tobold's case, they may be particularly interested in his influence on European gamers and his accout is probably a direct response to his complaints about there being no preview access in Europe like there was in the US.

Still, if you want to present your blog as being an unbiased voice, I'd say it's generally better to avoid these kind of entanglements. Beta access, press invites, etc are pretty accepted, but when vendors give you free subscriptions, no matter how careful you are, some people are going to wonder if that will influence what you say.

September 6, 2008 10:32 AM

Snafzg said...

For the record, I haven't received jack! Mythic sent Michael Zenke of MMOGNation and Massively a free copy of their Empire in Chaos book for review, so they're apparently showing some love, but no love for me. :P

I probably wouldn't take it though. I'd feel like I was on the payroll.

September 6, 2008 12:18 PM

Greg (Wyeth) said...

Considering that part of the reason why I finally decided to drop my WoW account and seriously go after WAR was after seeing all the class vids you have posted up. They should definitely give all the major bloggers something in appreciation. Maybe not a subscription, mind you, but what about some kind of recognition on the Mythic website??

September 6, 2008 3:58 PM

Anonymous said...

lets hope tob isn in the eu coz that free sub will mean shit as he wont be able to log into goa epic fail of an account system along with 500k other poor bastards

September 7, 2008 1:47 PM

cor said...

im so annoyed with mythic and GOA after all the warnings adn reservations of the account center going up the same day as beta starts were ignored and low and behold its one big mess and now theyve capped the server pop to 1000 per server im really annoyed just hope the head start doesnt end up the same way

September 7, 2008 2:07 PM

Anonymous said...

Tobold doesn't get 1.8 million visitors, he "only" gets about 3,000 a day, plus his 2000 readership.

I'm sure many other bloggers/fansite people have received free copies of games and free subscriptions. I've known of some that have and it isn't that unheard of. Hell, some people get flown out to San Diego/Las Vegas for free to meet with SOE.

September 7, 2008 3:45 PM

br3ntbr0 said...

Go look at this link and then come back here and tell me his blog hasn't had 2 million visitors...

http://www.sitemeter.com/?a=stats&s=s18tobold

And I guarantee he gets more than 3000 visitors a day, this blog gets more than that daily. Check your facts before such statements friend.

September 7, 2008 6:06 PM

Sylar said...

if in eu they continue with these problems they wont have more than 1k people playing GOA is a disgrace in eu. if nobody knows about it they have turned off all acont registrations and open beta keys registration since yesterday 1 day has alredy gone and we havent played cause of their failitures.

September 8, 2008 1:45 AM

JoBildo said...

What bugs me more? The hard-working folks at fansites (ahem) don't get free subs for promoting their game. Though I guess what TTH pays me more than covers it, it's still odd that Tobold gets one... usually they're reserved for game journalists. Are they officially calling him such?

September 8, 2008 1:33 PM

Anonymous said...

Hi there.
Checked most of your vids. And they are nice =)
Have anyone asked you to make a list of all race that you have played? Like Ironbreaker armor 5/5 damage 3/5 ...etc. /apa

September 9, 2008 2:33 AM

Muckbeast said...

I have a better idea. Work to get the subscription model killed in the first place, and then this won't be an issue.

-Cambios
Blogging about Online Gaming and Virtual Worlds:
http://www.muckbeast.com

September 10, 2008 2:37 AM

Joao said...

Well I personally didn't knew his blog or yours for that matter but If I could I would vote for br3ntbr0 :).
Your videos are great I did enjoy them very much, then I check out your blog and and it gave me a good idea about war.
Keep up the good work, maybe soon you get the same oportunity or in other future game, who knows if you get Diablo 3 first copy.

September 10, 2008 11:20 AM

Zelmor said...

I do not think that Keen and many others qualify as more than mere fanbois. Especially Keen, who loves every new mmo release 4 months before release, gets burned after two weeks, only to start hyping the next one coming.

September 10, 2008 1:00 PM

Catastrophe said...

Long time no update! :O What do you think of WAR after the second beta you have played in? :o

September 10, 2008 1:59 PM

Disclaimer: This is in no way meant as a shot at one of my favorite bloggers. But what's up with this? Tobold gets a free subscription to Warhammer Online? Why? What qualified him for that? I mean, if he's simply just the most connected man in the business and gets free stuff all the time, then I guess there's not much to grumble about as I don't have any connections other than a few industry folks in my guild (who barely know me anyway) so my connections are almost non-existent. But if that kind of stuff comes his way simply for being a highly followed blogger, then the title of this article stands. It looks like I only have 1800 subscribers and about 1.8 million visitors left to go, judging by his SiteMeter stats. I'm curious, is this a trend? Will other bloggers get similar offers? Is it only for people that have highly visible blogs? Is it for people who look favorably on War? Does this blog qualify? I think I've helped alot of people decide to at least try War, based on the hundreds of messages I got in response to my Warhammer Online video series. Perhaps all the free publicity I've given Mythic doesn't warrant a reward, since I'm already doing it on my own and have already pre-ordered the game with the intent of paying a monthly subscription, so there's no need to entice me to play the game?

Ok, enough with the whiney me, me, me stuff... How about a free sub for Keen, Syp, Snafzg or many of the other bloggers that have been following War for quite a while now? Maybe there's alot more than meets the eye here? Tobold has not touched on why he thinks he got this offer, so I'm still wondering about this one. Perhaps Mythic wants to give him a chance to play the game because the beta is not yet available in Europe? Surely there is a reasonable explanation for this? Inquiring minds want to know, Mythic...