Forza Developer Using Bribes to Skew CNET Poll
We live in a very competitive world, and this is apparent in the video game industry where publishers and developers are constantly trying to get a leg up on their competition, whether it’s through clever marketing or brilliant feats of engineering. But what is NOT acceptable is when a publisher or developer uses bribes to gain an advantage. [shal]Che Chou[/shal], the community manager at Turn 10, has done exactly this, and we feel compelled to inform our readers about the dishonest tactics that the [shal]Forza[/shal] Motorsport developer has chosen to carry out.
Here is Chou’s post on the Forza forums:
“Hey all. Apparently, CNET.com is having a face-off between Forza and GT. We all know which game is we’d like to see win, so go here: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10256571-48.html
And vote for Forza Motorsport 3! Afterwards, come to this thread and post a message letting us know you’ve done it. We’ll gift you a random unicorn! It’s that easy. Do it now!”
So what’s a “unicorn”? It’s a very rare type of car in Forza 2 that can only be found in the game’s Auction House. Some of them are sold for millions of credits, and are comprised of a handful of vehicles, including the 2005 Lotus Exige Espionage, and 2000 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI TME. So the fact that Turn 10 is giving these out for free to users who vote for Forza over [shal]Gran Turismo[/shal] in CNET’s poll is a very big deal.
You can check out the Forza bribery forum thread here, where you can literally see feedback on how the poll’s results steadily turned in favor of Forza 3. Here are just a few of the comments you can find from the thread’s posters.
MorroidaZico:
“Done voting for Forza. But man, honestly, us Forza lovers know how better Forza is as a game, but for those who have no idea what a racing simultator is or what the two franchises are all about, the GT video looks a lot more appealing.”
LightnigWarr:
“Ha ha, you’re bribing us with a nice car …. I like it.”
Trystan Spyder:
“What are we basing these votes on? I’m not sure CNET would be happy to know that the developer of Forza were bribing people for votes.”
Lnin0:
“I voted Forza 3 but I have to say based on the trailers GT looks more impressive.”
Here’s what we’d like to know at PSLS: What’s your opinion on this matter? Is it fair to give out freebies in order to skew poll results? Let us know in the comment section below.
79 Responses to “Forza Developer Using Bribes to Skew CNET Poll”
@Curt2k1,
Wow, that is really cool. Just bookmarked iRacing.com
@John Draisey
Yea its by far the best sim I’ve played, I found a 30 day trial of it somewhere online. Other than that it definitely gets pricey, but they have some package deals you can get.
so basically forza has admitted defeat.
The math-
Page 1 of 103 (2,054 items) – the number of comments for receiving a unicorn, factoring in double posts etc its around 2000 votes.
13181 votes for Forza 3
12490 votes for GT5
difference – 691 in Forza 3′s favour
Take away the 2000 votes leaves 11181 votes for Forza 3
and 12490 votes for GT5
difference – 1309 in GT5′s favour
So if you factor this in GT5 is in the lead. HOWEVER a vast proportion of these people would probably have voted for F3 anyway, so it is safe to say that they are both neck and neck, in a poll that does not mean anything.
One word: sad.
Wait, I am a fanboy for thinking that is fucked up? Last time I checked I DIDN’T say anything about a system. I just said I think it was fucked up they were doing this, just like I would if it was the makers of GT5 doing it.
@Curt:
See I am in a different trend, FPS are not my “cup of tea”. So I was given the PS3 as a present and must say I am happy I got one. I love MGS4 and games like that, as well as like you said GOW, FF, etc. The better system is by opinion, how hard is it for people to see that?
@Evil:
So Evil, when you say a system is better, that makes it so? Are you the tell all on everything? I disagree with you and think the PS3 is better and play it everyday, but does that mean it is better? NO. So yes, I will call you a fan boy. As the saying goes, “different stroked for different folks.” Here is a good idea, you stick with Xbox and I will stick with the PS3. Each has it pluses and minuses for every person. The PS3 is better for me, I love it and am so glad I got one instead of the 360. You seem to like the 360 and are probably glad you got one over a PS3. Enjoy your system man and stop hating so much. Is it that hard for everyone to see it is opinion based? I mean KZ2 has amazing graphics imo, but that doesn’t mean you think so. Also, if you do reply to this, don’t bring up sales please because that has nothing to do with anything. Of course the Xbox is ahead, it came out a year earlier. Who really cares anyways? The Wii has outsold both systems by a huge amount, does that mean it is better then 360 or PS3 (I would be surprised if any non-casual gamer does)? Man, rant over. I just hate being called a fanboy for liking one system over another. Oh no, I am a Football fanboy because I like it better than basketball! Give me a break. lol. :p
Haha, see that. I sent your article to two websites and now GT5 is up 1000 votes today (as apposed to down 2000 last night).
http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2009/06/10/forza-3-better-than-gt-5-says-vote/
http://www.ps3news.com/forums/console-news/forza-developer-using-bribes-skew-cnet-poll-results-106428.html
You know I wasn’t going to buy GT at all, but these guys have been such asses lately now I’m going to on launch day…..way to go idiots up the GT5 sales.
Which racing sim will be the best? (Poll Closed)
Gran Turismo 5 52% (15731 votes)
feedback bar
Forza Motorsport 3 48% (14530 votes)
feedback bar
Total Votes: 30261
thats the final result.
funniest thing is that this is the final result. GT still won.
Moreover, i wont say forza is a bad game infact i think its a great game in its own right, but so is gt5. Imitation is the best form of flattery and i think forza has imitated GT on many aspects.
I think this is one of the most blasphemous blog articles I have ever read. First off, how is offering an incentive to vote for Forza on a FORZA FORUM a bribe? Those people were going to vote for Forza anyway. It’s a smart form of marketing.
Secondly, this article was just a scandalous attempt to draw PS3/GT fans to participate in the vote. See what happens here? This blog is contradictory. You’re trying to use bad press to gain votes for your beloved game. Now that is a shady tactic. What Turn 10 did was smart.
I think that Playstation Lifestyle is just pissed off that Turn 10 thought of that idea first. The tactics that they used are the same as a website would use to have their users vote for them in the Webbys.
I’m sick of PSLifestyle. The slanderous articles are outrageous and you have lost complete credibility with me.
Hmmmm… Let’s see. GT5′s been in production for multiple years. Forza 3′s been in production for 2 years. Forza 3′s gonna release October 27, *2009* GT5′s gon’ release hmmmm… Hell, only Polyphony knows. I’ve got to admit GT5 looks amazing. But it’s GT-fricken-FIVE. Forza Motorsport 3 isn’t completely up to par with GT5 visually but it looks amazing as well. peace
@SleepyG
First of all, this site isn’t affiliated with Gran Turismo… Why would we want to skew the votes for GT on a poll for a different site? Obviously we’re only in the interest for this site. Where in the post did we influence the votes of a reader? The post even asks whether you think this is a fair practice or not. If you think it’s fair, then say that. But to bash the article and accuse the writers of negatively influencing the readers is not only uncalled for but irrelevant since the post isn’t trying to influence anyone in anyway.
@Kishen Patel
I’m not saying it’s directly influencing. It’s nonchalant, reverse psychology. You’re pissing off the fanboys, and in turn, they are going out in droves to vote for GT5. The site is basically raising awareness the same way Take 10 did, but PSL is doing it in a negative way.
@sleepyg
nice point of view. i am a PS fan but i didnt vote and i am sure many others didnt. None of my PS3 owning-friends did.
Call it a promotional marketing strategy, but what Turn 10 did is make everyone vote. You give anything free and people will run after it. Thats a basic marketing tool. But what you fail to understand (no offense) is that the effect the poll will have. If and only if the vote went Forza’s way, it would be splashed all over the net starting from N4g. So call it a bribe, or marketing strategy, its effect would be long term which in my opinion goes as a bribe.
For the record, I am no fanboy, I am a gamer. I just love games. I have a ps3 but i play COD 4 on a pc. I love gears of war, but not Halo. But i will give you this that as far as value and not screwing the customer stands, SONY is much better than Microsoft.
Oh did i mention i do own a 360 as well and play wii at my friends place.
if you hate it so much why are you here?
If i hate what so much. This is a playstation site.
[...] PlayStation LifeStyle – On PSP, On PS3, Videos PSP, Videos PS3, PS3 Trophies, PS3 Trophy, Trophy Gui… jesus christ! in ce lume traim __________________ Online: GT5 Prologue, Ferrari Challenge, Metal Gear Online, Top Spin 3, Rainbow Six Vegas 2, Lost Planet, Bad Company, Socom Confrontation, Resistance 2, Quantum of Solace, Call of Duty 5, FEAR 2, Tom Clancy EndWar, Killzone 2, Street Fighter 4, Soul Calibur 4, Tekken 5 Online, Resident Evil 5 VS, Bionic Commando. Hell is empty. All the devils are here. [...]
this isnt shocking to me at all in fact money is the only reason why theres even an xbox360 out in the market, microsoft goes around buying there way through its how they’ve always done and they will continue to do it because they know if they werent so damn rich sony would of ate them alive along time ago. forza can have all the options in the but the truth is that it feels more like project gotham(arcade) than gt(racing simulator) there will never be a better racing simulator Gran Turismo is king!
ahahaha this is incredible…good article.
Well, they lost 1 sold copy of the game….i really cannot accept this kind of acts from developers.
[...] one from PlayStation Life Style is a silly little head scratcher. A CNET poll to vote for Forza or GT went horrible wrong. Ballet [...]
This poll has only confirmed one obvious fact: THE XBOX 360 IS MADE FOR LOSERS BY LOSERS!
END OF STORY!
It’s obnoxious, but they’re both exclusives. PS3 people will buy GT5, 360 people will buy Forza 3. I don’t see the big deal.
[...] contrary to what others have reported, Gran Turismo has reigned supreme. This is in spite of Forza’s Community Manager greasing the palms of Forza forum users with rare DLC for Forza 2. Some may feel that this is merely an incentive, [...]
[...] these days. First, Che Chou of Turn 10 Studios called Gran Turismo 5 stagnant. Then, Che tried to bribe people with in-game cars for Forza 2 if they voted in a CNET poll (which GT5 promptly won!). Now EA [...]
well… hey, if you can get the free car… vote and get your freebie. Then go buy GT5 anyways. The true test of which is better is the sales records when the games release. End of story.
so what? Microsoft’s been bribing game developers and reviewers for years and noone complains
So the only competition that GT5 now has is Shift? A sleeper with half the tracks and a tenth of the cars? Makes one glad that ‘driver experience’ might keep Polyphony on their toes.
[...] there was the CNET Poll bribery incident which caused some raised eyebrows. CNET ran a poll as to which race SIM will be the best between [...]
1) GT won that poll
2) Cheating is a form of showing FEAR
I played Forza recently and it played well, but it’s a huge difference to GT5 that I played at GamesCom and the last demo at home!