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[Stumpokapow]

Question: Hulu continually asks me whether their ads are of interest to me, and they use that to better target me as a consumer. Does this eventually mean they go from being ads to content promotion because it's possibly of interest to me?

I don't feel a need to engage the hypothetical; regardless of which are acceptable and how you label them, there is clearly a categorical distinction between a store-type "You might also like" ad/promotion/whatever promoting games, a store-type "You might also like" ad/promotion/whatever promoting non-game services that you would rather not use, and an animation of a fatso sliding a big mac down their engorged gullet. I would also place a categorical distinction between any of these used in an interstitial manner versus any of these used in a static manner. This doesn't connote or denote acceptance of any or all, but rather a recognition of the distinction.

 

[The Albatross]

I wouldn't expect that the final product will be like the promotional view from E3. I don't think they ever showed ads for McDonalds when unveiling the new dash at any events prior. I've got no problem with media promotions... I don't see those as ads, and in other online marketplaces we call that "content discovery" like in the GOogle Play or iOS App store

 

[Bitmap Frogs]

For now.

 

[PopcornMegaphone]

I have no problem with content ads like sales or new games. On the other hand, I dislike the big mac ads, etc.

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

Targetted adverts are just adverts that people find more acceptable.

If I hand my friend the controller and let him play, how is the recommended tile not an advert? Without his input on what he likes on my machine, it only serves up what I like and may buy. That may be of no interest to him, therefore it can only be classed as an advert.

Whether that helps developers or introduces people to things they would never have bought is besides the point. Introducting people to compelling products is what advertising is all about. Just because you find it useful doesnt make it less of an advert.


I think the problem is people dont like to admit an advert sold them something. We all like to pretend we are always informed consumers who pick out every purchase carefully and are not swayed by marketing doublespeak.

Its nonsense. We succumb to advertising all the time and we love it. There is no point in trying to move the goalposts. The fact is people convince us to part with our money on a regular basis. No shame in it, but lets be honest about it.

 

[Tylahedras]

But could you not argue that putting store content on the main page is actually beneficial to developers/publishers in terms of highlighting releases. Games on the Xbox Live Marketplace often get much less press than those AAA blockbusters - if MS place a direct link/promote such a new release on their main page then is it such a bad thing? Would be interesting to see how many more sales a game gets if it's promoted across the home screen as opposed to hidden away in the dedicated store. I realise that sounds like some form of corporate apologism lol, but from another perspective you can't expect MS to drop something to little benefit if it's actually serving these companies well.

Similarly with marketplace deals which would otherwise have gone unnoticed - anecdotally I've purchased items because of their promotion on the tiles, and whether you believe it's right for MS to try and get you to buy things on their digital service, you can't deny that it makes perfect sense from their perspective.

Of course it'd be nicer for ME if there was nothing there or they were replaced with other features, but as of current they are unobtrusive and do not affect the user experience in any form other than their appearance.

Oh I agree. You misunderstand, it annoys me people would pretend these are not ads, I don't actually mind ads. I'm well aware that Facebook is free because of it's "recommendations," and that's a trade off I'm totally willing to make. I don't think ads are inherently bad, far from it, the better they target you the more useful they are to both you and the purveyor of those ads. To your game example I love games, and if I play flower a lot and thus they think that I might like Flow and recommend it and I like that too then it was a win-win.

BUT

People need to call them what they are, failure to do so implies they think of MS as their personal buddy saying, "Hey I saw Startrek Into Darkness, I think you'd like it," MS IS NOT YOUR FRIEND, and people should regard their "recommendations" with appropriate skepticism lest their existence be boiled down to that of a walking wallet with no brain.

 

[uuaschbaer]

All ads are targeted, by virtue of their being ads. These are advertisements.

 

[20cent]

Seems like the time of endless McDonald's wraps on a loop is almost over.

didn't used my 360 for years. they really have that?

 

[travisbickle]

I have no problem with content ads like sales or new games. On the other hand, I dislike the big mac ads, etc.

We are talking about "content promotions" decided on by information collected about you from the Kinect. The Kinect ain't judging but it takes a photo of what it sees and if it decides you are a prime candidate for Big Mac ads then you get to watch Big Mac ads.

 

[Puppet Shadow]

They should have an option like Steam where you pick your home page, Games, Friends, News ect. if you don't want to ever see an ad.

 

[LuchaShaq]

I honestly think the promotion of new games on the dash is great.

The promotion of tv/movies? Fuck off and die.

 

[Emitan]

Put ads on a store tab. My home space should be my home. My house isnt covered in posters for the latest movies and music videos.

 

[Zach]

TBH it's the distortion of language that annoys me. I can totally understand someone liking or having no issue with content recommendation. I can totally respect some people have no issue with it being on various menus/screens of devices they own.

Whether you like it or not is an opinion. But I just can't ignore people trying to say content promotion isn't advertising. That's not an opinion. It is advertising.

I'm personally fine with content promotion/advertising so long as I retain enough control of it and can determine whether to opt in/out of it (such as with Steam).

But I hate to watch people try and twist the meaning of words.

Exactly.

 

[RukusProvider]

I don't feel a need to engage the hypothetical; regardless of which are acceptable and how you label them, there is clearly a categorical distinction between a store-type "You might also like" ad/promotion/whatever promoting games, a store-type "You might also like" ad/promotion/whatever promoting non-game services that you would rather not use, and an animation of a fatso sliding a big mac down their engorged gullet. I would also place a categorical distinction between any of these used in an interstitial manner versus any of these used in a static manner. This doesn't connote or denote acceptance of any or all, but rather a recognition of the distinction.

Gamers want a screen with just the title they have in disc.

Then turn around and sympathize with devs that their XBLA title was sent to die because it didn't get any front page exposure on Live.

Hypocrisy, I salute you!

As service content continues to grow, presenting it to the customer is an important task. Not only are you promoting the content for consumption but you're also providing confidence for the customer that your service offers the latest and greatest content currently trending for their tastes. Somehow this is bad.

 

[NullPointer]

As service content continues to grow, presenting it to the customer is an important task. Not only are you promoting the content for consumption but you're also providing confidence for the customer that your service offers the latest and greatest content currently trending for their tastes. Somehow this is bad.

Let me opt out entirely, select which aspects of Xbox Live services I'm interested in, and put the focus on bubbling content up on the various store apps instead of injecting this stuff into my basic usage of the console.

These seem like reasonable requests to me.

 

[LukasTaves]

Will the home tab be customizable this time? Perhaps it shows ads by default but you can remove them?

Edit: Damn, didn't realized it was a old thread, sorry XD

 

[Vane_MagicCity]

People who are ok with recommendations on their dashboard, would you be ok with the same on your Desktop?

 

[Steverulez]

My pins now has its own tab? Hallelujah!!

 

[ElektroDragon]

This would be fantastic if they are being honest and don't introduce them again later. The third party dashboard ads are one of the most disgusting things about my X360 experience.

 

[DTLIONS1013]

Eh, I like Deadmau5

 

[ElFly]

My house isnt covered in posters for the latest movies and music videos.

I am sure people are working on this problem as we speak.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

People who are ok with recommendations on their dashboard, would you be ok with the same on your Desktop?

Yeah, why not? If they work though, I've noticed that XBL sometimes recommends games I already own.

 

[rudieboy77]

The PR dept recommended they come up with an alternative word to advertising.

 

[injurai]

The PR dept recommended they come up with an alternative word to advertising.

the PR for the industry has been busier than ever this year

 

[IHaveCandy]

I don't like recommendations or ads on the main UI. Keep all of that in the storefront.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

And whats wrong with that?

They are likely recommendations based on what the user already watches and listens to on their Xbox. I don't view those the same as your typical advertisements.

 

[zruben]

there's nothing wrong on having ads... if that's your business model, that's respectable...

but there's SOMETHING wrong with saying that you don't have ads when you clearly do...

 

[Vane_MagicCity]

Yeah, why not? If they work though, I've noticed that XBL sometimes recommends games I already own.

You truly wouldn't mind Microsoft putting ads on your Windows desktop?

 

[Steverulez]

Im not entirely happy at the recommended section, simply because whilst I am interested in Star Trek, Rihanna and Deadmau, (I'm not even sure what that is) are not what I want to see on the front page.

If it was game stuff "HEY GUYZ NEW VIDEO FOR QUANTUM BREAK!" I can dig, or the usual stuff of demos, general games advertising doesn't bother me. Don't care about other things.

 

[amnesiac]

Why wouldn't recommendations be considered ads? They are trying to get you to buy something, like a Deadmau5 album.

 

[ElektroDragon]

Why wouldn't recommendations be considered ads? They are trying to get you to buy something, like a Deadmau5 album.

Because a static image of Deadmau5 when the console has figured out I like electronic music is not nearly as offensive and in your face as a self animating ad for McDonalds's or Old Spice or Dew or Doritos?!

 

[Teletraan1]

My favorite part of the Superbowl is the recommendations they show between plays.

 

[BigDug13]

They are likely recommendations based on what the user already watches and listens to on their Xbox. I don't view those the same as your typical advertisements.

But that's targeted advertising. It's the result of all the incredible data mining of your habits they are able to collect these days. Changing the name of it doesn't stop it from being advertising.

 

[Vane_MagicCity]

Because a static image of Deadmau5 when the console has figured out I like electronic music is not nearly as offensive and in your face as a self animating ad for McDonalds's or Old Spice or Dew or Doritos?!

So what is/is not an ad is based on the level of offensiveness?

 

[Miles Quaritch]

You truly wouldn't mind Microsoft putting ads on your Windows desktop?

If those ads are recommending new content I might like? Sure, why not?

 

[Vane_MagicCity]

If those ads are recommending new content I might like? Sure, why not?

Oh wow. Are there any sacred places where you would not allow ads?

 

[EvB]

Oh wow. Are there any sacred places where you would not allow ads?

Come into my bedroom and I'll show you.....

 

[Sub_Level]

As long as they keep this shit out of games I'll be fine. I remember being disgusted when ads were put into Wipeout HD. Didn't help my feelings towards Counter Strike Source either.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Oh wow. Are there any sacred places where you would not allow ads?

I don't see the problem to be honest. So long as they don't start advertising McDonald's or other similar garbage, I don't see any real problem with recommendation ads that highlight content I might like to check out based on my purchasing habits.

 

[Minyobi]

Yeah I'd take a few recommendations based one something I have bought (or whatever) over a completely random, lengthy ad running the second I start my console up.

Hey, if a recommendation leads me to a cool game/movie/album that has been hovering under the radar, then more power to them.

 

[adamsappel]

Will those "recommendations" rotate, or are they static? I wouldn't mind one tile for advertising that cycled through ads, and didn't immediately blare loudly when you highlighted it.

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

I'd just like to recommend some delicious burger king whoppers to everyone in this thread.

 

[GamerJM]

How are they going to know what music and movies I watch if I don't watch any on my Xbox One? What are they going to recommend me?

Honestly I'd rather them recommend me McDonalds than pop music, at least I eat McDonalds somewhat regularly.

 

[Durante]

Because a static image of Deadmau5 when the console has figured out I like electronic music is not nearly as offensive and in your face as a self animating ad for McDonalds's or Old Spice or Dew or Doritos?!

How offensive something is has no bearing on whether it is an advertisement. Google didn't call their text ads text non-ads.

 

[RedNumberFive]

Because a static image of Deadmau5 when the console has figured out I like electronic music is not nearly as offensive and in your face as a self animating ad for McDonalds's or Old Spice or Dew or Doritos?!

Except it's exactly the same. They have already done a great job reprogramming you.

 

[Wickerbasket]

They shouldn't be "recommending" me anything unless I'm on the store screen; especially if I'm paying a fee to use their service.

 

[Parch]

How are they going to know what music and movies I watch if I don't watch any on my Xbox One? What are they going to recommend me?

Kinect will always be watching you. What you do. What you eat.
And listening. What you say. What you watch on TV. What music you listen to.
All for tailoring your specific advertising needs. Because they care about you.

 

[KenOD]

I wish, I truly wish, not for a lack of adverts, but instead for a dedicated and customisable page to truly make that which is most relevant to me front and centre. Sadly not to be for business reasons.

 

[xxracerxx]

.

moved to new page

 

[3rdamention]

Kinda funny and quite telling that the 3 Ads on the Home Screen, Errr the "recommendations," have absolutely nothing to do with video games.


Its pretty apparant the direction Microsoft is going with this system. The Xbox One is not a gaming console first, obviously.