A Penny Arcade strip you like and why

Bill_Dungsroman · 2011-12-27T15:53:51.000Z

Telefrog:

Right, I think the PA mob did determine it was the Christofo person in question that did at least a few of the 5-star reviews. There are a ton of 1-star “reviews” that are lambasting the product over this fiasco. From following the Twitter of the actual Avenger guy, it sounds like they were blindsided by the internet witch hunt for this PR stooge.

I understand that they get partial blame for not vetting the guy, but this seems like the opposite of justice.

It is absolutely justice. You can’t have dickheads like this in any position of authority in, or in direct conjunction with, your company unless you like the idea of being out of business. I presume you read the entire email exchange between Gabe and that bastard. It may be a decent product but after the poor decision-making shown in hiring Numbnuts Marketing, would you really pay them a red cent for any of their products? I wouldn’t, and I don’t think it’s remotely unfair.

mrmolecule88 · 2011-12-27T16:20:51.000Z

Anyone who spells that poorly deserves to be taken out behind an elementary school and shot.

delirium · 2011-12-27T16:25:26.000Z

Bill Dungsroman:

It is absolutely justice. You can’t have dickheads like this in any position of authority in, or in direct conjunction with, your company unless you like the idea of being out of business. I presume you read the entire email exchange between Gabe and that bastard. It may be a decent product but after the poor decision-making shown in hiring Numbnuts Marketing, would you really pay them a red cent for any of their products? I wouldn’t, and I don’t think it’s remotely unfair.

It is what it is. They made the decision to hire this idiot, and now their product is associated with this mess. Why would you boycott a company if they sell good stuff for a good cause just because they unintentionally made an unfortunate business decision? Note: I don’t know if they actually sell good stuff, I’m just illustrating a point.

It’s not like you’re choosing to invest in this company. You’re simply deciding whether their product is worth the price they’re selling it for, and maybe taking into account that you shouldn’t necessarily preorder from them or expect a reliable delivery date.

Hanacker · 2011-12-27T16:30:40.000Z

Yeah, if it was some giant corporation then they share a large amount of the blame in picking the PR firm. But it sounds like some small company that probably doesn’t have anyone with much expertise in marketing or choosing a marketing firm. They made a mistake, but I think they apologized, and that should be good enough.

rei · 2011-12-27T16:32:08.000Z

His latest tweets are interesting.

“stretagy” …really?

http://penny-arcade.com/resources/an-update1.html

Sorry–the first is a parody account to clarify.

Apparently he did say this which is being mocked by…Geico’s Twitter presence.

Quaro · 2011-12-27T16:43:42.000Z

rei:

His latest tweets are interesting.

“stretagy” …really?

Oh c’mon, obvious parody account unless the guy is completely insane.

The real one I think: https://twitter.com/#!/oceanstratagy

Arbit · 2011-12-27T16:47:47.000Z

That twitter account is probably fake. The spelling and grammar are not atrocious.

rei · 2011-12-27T16:52:25.000Z

More, plagiarism: http://www.examiner.com/video-game-industry-in-national/ocean-marketing-gaming-pr-rep-to-avoid-at-all-cost

Memes.

Linoleum · 2011-12-27T16:58:58.000Z

they shouldn’t have delayed the gecko’s pre-order

Sten_Friberg · 2011-12-27T17:04:09.000Z

Huh?
I must be missing something here… I don’t get it at all. Could someone please explain? (re Linoleums post, that is)

Quaro · 2011-12-27T17:05:28.000Z

Were in 6 countries and you.re not going to take my money for a booth that.s a crock I can guarantee I.ll get a booth if I want one money buys a lot and connections go even further. He.s a native Bostonian from Little Italy . Who are you again ?

all you do and lease a center in Cities you have no pull in its all about who you know not what you do. I.ll see space where ever I want , with who I want when I want and where I want so many ways around you and so many connections in this industry its silly.

Honestly this guy sounds like he’s had a stroke. Or he really is messing with some pharmaceuticals and isn’t completely with it at the moment.

rei · 2011-12-27T17:14:52.000Z

The update on Kotaku seems to indicate he’s on 'roids.

kedaha · 2011-12-27T17:25:39.000Z

All the people both 5starring and 1starring the product on Amazon should have their accounts banned by Amazon posthaste.

One of the reasons I like Amazon is being able to read user reviews, people using it to jump on a nerdrage bandwagon to be cool can fuck off.

Aeon221 · 2011-12-27T17:38:20.000Z

Internet lynch mobs are always kind of scary. Even when you’re helping one (not this one for me) it’s very what

Blackadar · 2011-12-27T17:42:58.000Z

Bill Dungsroman:

It is absolutely justice. You can’t have dickheads like this in any position of authority in, or in direct conjunction with, your company unless you like the idea of being out of business. I presume you read the entire email exchange between Gabe and that bastard. It may be a decent product but after the poor decision-making shown in hiring Numbnuts Marketing, would you really pay them a red cent for any of their products? I wouldn’t, and I don’t think it’s remotely unfair.

I agree 100%. You are the company you keep. When you outsource your marketing, you’re outsourcing your reputation. If these guys didn’t understand that, it’s their own damn fault.

rei · 2011-12-27T17:46:15.000Z

From the reddit thread: http://courtindex.sdcourt.ca.gov/CISPublic/casedetail?casenum=DVN14325&casesite=NC&applcode=D

sinnick · 2011-12-27T18:02:24.000Z

rei:

From the reddit thread: http://courtindex.sdcourt.ca.gov/CISPublic/casedetail?casenum=DVN14325&casesite=NC&applcode=D

Good lord. This guy is getting the fire hose.

Valentine · 2011-12-27T18:25:36.000Z

The Penny Arcade fanbase pretty much proves that some nerds are just powerless assholes and, given enough power, will be as assholish as the assholes they despise so this, in no way, will end well for the company.

Skorin · 2011-12-27T18:45:21.000Z

Sten Friberg:

Huh?
I must be missing something here… I don’t get it at all. Could someone please explain? (re Linoleums post, that is)

The Geico post was riffing off this:

PR idiot's email:

Son Im 38 I wwebsite as on the internet when you were a sperm in your daddys balls and before it was the internet, thanks for the welcome to message wurd up. Grow up you look like a complete child bro. I Don’t have my controller so im gonna cry to the world … Really ?? Hey take that free time and do something more productive. All you had to do was check the like everyone else , people have inquired but you’re the douchiest of them all J

Emphasis mine.

Bill_Dungsroman · 2011-12-27T19:03:03.000Z

delirium:

It is what it is. They made the decision to hire this idiot, and now their product is associated with this mess. Why would you boycott a company if they sell good stuff for a good cause just because they unintentionally made an unfortunate business decision? Note: I don’t know if they actually sell good stuff, I’m just illustrating a point.

It’s not like you’re choosing to invest in this company. You’re simply deciding whether their product is worth the price they’re selling it for, and maybe taking into account that you shouldn’t necessarily preorder from them or expect a reliable delivery date.

Because if you don’t boycott them, then what lesson does anyone learn about using sketchy marketing firms? Oh well, no big deal, it’s not like it hurt our sales in fact it helped them because now the story is out! Fuck that. That just encourages or at best fails to discourage this kind of behavior.

Furthermore, they did make the mistake. They wanted 3rd party marketing firms to make a big holiday push (so they say) and clearly they hired any idiot who said he was a PR firm. Also as I understand it, nobody has received any of the controllers as of yet despite paying for them and being assured they would get them as early as Dec. 17th. So hey, if you want to give them your money despite every red flag in the book flapping in your face, that’s totally your prerogative.

EDIT: I guess some people have received theirs…like the guy who had his CC charged in February and didn’t get the thing until April.