FTC Ruling Might Affect Video Game Reviews

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http://kotaku.com/5374981/ftc-ruling-might-affect-video-game-reviews

A unanimous ruling by the Federal Trade Commission today would update truth-in-advertising language to require the disclosure of "material connections" - hint, hint "cash or an in-kind payment to review a product" - by the recipient of such considerations.

Bloggers, as reported earlier, are specifically mentioned by the recommendation, which has obvious implications for the specialty press covering video games. "The post of a blogger who receives cash or in-kind payment to review a product is considered an endorsement. Thus, bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material connections they share with the seller of the product or service."

The pivot here is what constitutes an in-kind payment. Games do have a value, but is agreeing to review a game an endorsement, regardless of whether the review recommends it or not?

It's also important to note these new guidelines do not themselves have the force of law. They are:

"[...] administrative interpretations of the law intended to help advertisers comply with the Federal Trade Commission Act; they are not binding law themselves. In any law enforcement action challenging the allegedly deceptive use of testimonials or endorsements, the Commission would have the burden of proving that the challenged conduct violates the FTC Act."

So there are two layers here: One, that it's not even law and two, does it even apply to video game reviews? Either way, the singling out of a blogger's endorsement is significant.
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all i can say is I'm surprised the government is doing something right by gamers
 
Its silly to think that game companies don't give cash incentives to game review websites.
 
Heard that on the radio this evening. But yeah this might affect blogging. But still...meh, I'll just wait and see.
 
So this means game compainies will stop paying people to give there sites good reviews?
 
Magmortar said:
So this means game compainies will stop paying people to give there sites good reviews?
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Games good reviews, and yeah mostly and hopefully. I hate it when shit gets treated like gold.
 
Of course it happens
Warner Brothers gives Game Review Magazine A a few thousand pounds to make sure that Snot Man 4 the game tie in to their new movies gets a good review sells a lot of copies and makes a few rich people richer, I dont know if the UK or EU governments have anything similar
 
Mitchman said:
Games good reviews, and yeah mostly and hopefully. I hate it when shit gets treated like gold.
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I agree wasn't there a metal gear game were konami paid game reviewers to review not to count this bad part of the game in there review.
 
Aw crap, there go Halo's good reviews. :lol:
 
There goes MOST of Microsofts good reviews u mean
 
Dang, there goes all of Nintendo Powers 8/10 sonic team game reviews (they take a 6/10 game and call it a must have, same with a 3/10 game.) And also, no more biased reviews (i saw a game that had a 6/10 user review, but it had a 8/10 ign review)

Oh, and it only says that they must DISCLOSE if they were given anything, like a review copy and that stuff.
 
ashita said:
There goes MOST of Microsofts good reviews u mean
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Not really, I'm sure some of the games deserved it.

Halo, however, was a mediocre shooting game that was in no way revolutionary or anything like that. I will never understand how it, or it's sequels got anything above a 7 at most.
 
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