conflict of interest? SOE paid for VIP's and Community leaders to go to Fan Faire

[Wolfshead]

Today I read a post on the Mage's Tower/Compendium that SOE paid for the hotel and airfare for certain EQ Community Leaders and VIP's (people who attended the EQ Guild Summit this past summer). Presumably they paid for the Fan Faire registration as well.

Here is the Fan Faire report by Xalmat:

http://forum.magecompendium.com/viewtopic.php?t=18681

"How did I get there? Very simple. Much like they did for the guild summit, SOE paid for air faire and hotel reservations for the "Community Leaders" and special VIP, including most of the guild leaders that went to the guild summit and admins for the various class sites. We got a bag of phat loot on arrival (and its a big bag), a special VIP badge, and we got to have lunch with all the devs."

Am I the only person that feels there is something unseemly about certain members of the EQ Community being treated differently then others when they get special VIP status at EQ events and are essentially paid to be there? I really have to wonder if SOE is trying to somehow influence the opinions of the EQ Community when our community leaders are flown out to SOE functions, wined and dined and given special gifts. Is this really ethical?

I have to ask how readily will EQ Community leaders critisize SOE if and when the need arises when issues come up if they are in fact given special status and rewarded with perks, free airline tickets, free hotel rooms and other gifts? I am not accusing anyone of bias but just bringing this matter to the attention of everyone as I believe this is a questionable pratice by SOE and seems unethical. I've read a few Fan Faire reports from Gemdiver and Loral and not once did they mention if they were flown out to New Orleans at SOE's expense.

Why should regular rank and file attendees to the EQ Fan Faire have to pay for their transportation, accomodations and registration while special VIP members get it for free? I also wonder why these VIP's had special lunch with the EQ Devs at a time when they have all but ceased communication on the various class boards and on their very own forums?

If our so-called community leaders are going to represent *us* the community then shouldn't we be given full disclosure of their relationship to SOE to avoid a potential conflict of interest? This goes for every community in EQ regardless of class. I'm very concerned that the advocacy of our class issues will be somewhat potentially hampered if SOE continues to provide perks at SOE events such as the EQ Guild Summit, Fan Faires. Please note this is not an accusation but just attempt to examine whether or not this practice by SOE is really in the best interests of the various class communities. Thank you.

[Onetree Tallbarque]

When trying to develop a community, if there isn't enough of a grassroots effort going on you have to step in and give the process a boost. You do this by enlisting cheerleaders. No, not the kind with pom poms. In this world the cheerleaders are writers of influence. People who frequently command eyeballs.

Makes you wonder if their opinions are wholely their own or the result of subtle marketing tactics. It makes you question their authenticity, doesn't it.


(This aspect can be applied to many types of communities. The world of gaming is but a brush stroke in the big picture. See it. Recognize it. Understand it for what it is. Accept only the real part. Only by policing the thoughts that enter you do you maintain individual self-control.)


"Everyone is equal."

"Some are more equal than others."

--George Orwell, Animal Farm

[Tiane]

Well I didnt go, and nobody around here mentioned getting a free ride within my earshot. /shrug.

http://www.legendmud.org/raph/gaming...iles/frame.htm

All your answers are contained in the slide show, brought to you by our old friend Raph Koster! 8)

[Thicket Tundrabog]

I think it's perfectly Ok for SoE to pay for EQ notables to come to the Fan Faire. It's not the slightest bit unseemly. Why should it upset me that someone got a nice perc? I'm happy for them.

[Anka]

You can't expect volunteer representatives to pay for travel and accomodation to all these events. Conversely, they wouldn't be much good as representatives if they didn't attend.

[Remi]

First, this is all about a game. We're not talking about Judges or Housing inspectors or anything similar where bribes and pay offs would actually make a serious difference.

Second, the community leaders do, in fact, provide a service to SoE, albeit indirectly and voluntarily. Like OneTree mentioned, the communities are like Cheerleaders and help build up enthusiasm and interest in the game.

I have absolutely no problem with SoE rewarding the community leaders' efforts by paying their way to the fan faires. After all, some folks on the Grove would be as interested, if not more so, to meet Sobe in person as they might be interested in meeting a developer. Having the Community Leaders at the Fan Faires also builds interest in attending the Fan Faires. It also allows those Community Leaders to get first hand information to communicate to the rest of us, that they might otherwise miss if they didn't attend the fan faires.

Having said that, most Movie Critics frequently get the movies they review for free. They are sent pre-release to the Critics on CD. This is convenient for the Critic, can help generate pre-release publicity. Critics are also invited to the premiers for free as well as to the Oscar post-parties for schmoozing. While some might be influenced by these freebies, most aren't and continue to critique movies honestly. I think the same can be said for EQ's Community Leaders.

To summarize, I don't see it as a conflict of interest, but rather good business on the part of SOE that doesn't hurt anyone, and rewards the Community Leaders for what they do for the game and for us.

[Chenier]

As someone who has been honored by SOE with a voice and access to those who can effect change, you're asking me to defend myself. Makes me sad.

Yes, SOE paid for my plane ticket, hotel room and Fan Faire registration. Unless Xalmat got a different bag than I got, I got the same bag of goodies that every other attendee received (t-shirt, name badge, demo cd to Champions of Norrath and EverQuest Starter Pack cd, which I think is just old world, to give to a friend). If SOE had not sponsored my trip, I would not have been able to attend.

Can I be "bought" for so little? Probably little I can say that would convince those who want to believe what they want, but to say it plainly, no.

Am a raving, frothing-at-the-mouth, rabid, bitter EverQuest player, pinning their perverable butts to the wall on every issue? Uh, no, because no one listens to those people. Am I persistant? Hell yes. Do I feel like I'm fulfilling this honor that SOE and you, the community, have bestowed upon me? I am certainly trying my hardest.

I will tell you one opinion of mine for certain that has changed since I attended the Guild Summit and is reaffirmed nearly daily; I am amazed at the level and amount of negativity many EQ players can have and how they can absolutely refuse to see anything positive or as a step forward. Perhaps it's just common human nature. I get very depressed by seeing it here and on other boards - to the point where I want to say "fine, I'll just ignore all of this, stop being involved and just play the game"....but that's giving in. I choose to live real life and this, right here, online life less negatively.

Am I going to toot my own horn on every issue or point I feel like that I personally have effected change upon just to prove and defend myself? Good lord no. I am just a single, lowly, humble member of a larger group, a team of people, working, many times cantancerously, together to effect change.

If the millions of dollars of free hardware and world travel I receive as a part of my real life job aren't enough to "buy" me for particular hardware companies I work with, I don't think a plane ticket and a hotel room will either. =)

[Stewwy]

You don't need to defend yourself Chenier! Anyone who frequents and is a member of this community knows you're not a fanboy (or girl) and that you can't be bought.

... after having traveled over half the planet to attend the last Fan Faire, I was lucky enough to have met and spent time with Chenier. I'm a nobody player from a non-uber guild, formerly from Rodcet server. I just want to note that I was very impressed by Chenier's honest efforts to speak with the GMs and developers at the FF. I had no idea SOE paid for her trip, but the end result is that she can bring up to date and accurate information to the player base at large. To lil ol' me, knowing Chenier couldn't have made it to the FF without the paid trip, I'm glad she got it. IMHO SOE paying to bring non-employees to their sponsored functions in order to build trust with the players and get feedback from the community is a good thing. While SOE may never pay for me to go to a Fan Faire, I don't mind paying my own way because when it comes down to it, we all do this in the spirit of fun.

[Len the Druid]

You're only now figuring this out?

[Cassea]

It only becomes a bribe if the people who attended for free let it.

Of course I wonder how many people will be invited back next time if they wrote a bad report ROTFL.

-Cass

P.S. I'm more concerned that there was little or no representation of the "non-raider" or non-large guild player which is the majority of the players.

P.P.S. It's been said that this was just the first of many and that perhaps the casual player will be represented at the next one - well when is the next one?

[Sobe Silvertree]

------------------------------------------------------------
United Airlines (US Airways)
09/07/04 972.40 Master Money Purchase
UNITED WOODALE IL

10/26/04 571.40 Master Money Purchase
AIRTRANAI ATLANTA GA

Hilton (Reservation)
09/07/04 164.59 Master Money Purchase
HILTON HOTELS ADV NEW ORLEANS LA

Hilton
11/03/04 1363.54 Master Money Purchase
HILTON HOTELS NEW ORLEANS LA

Hilton (Reservation)
10/29/04 148.77 Master Money Purchase
HILTON HOTELS ADV

Still waiting for one more charge.

SoE
10/19/04 12.95 Master Money Purchase
SOE*STATION EVERQU858-537-0898 CA

Any questions?

[Len the Druid]

Yes. When is the epic going to be fixed?

[Cassea]

My prior post was about the big summit. I don't think anyone got free portage to the Fan Faire.


Hey Sobe... I thought they had direct flights from Chicago to New Orleans?

-Cass

[Sobe Silvertree]

Originally Posted by Len the Druid

Yes. When is the epic going to be fixed?

You might want to ask your Druid Class Representative in this thread.. that would be Scirocco..

Hey Sobe... I thought they had direct flights from Chicago to New Orleans?

I live in NH (MHT) - I believe what your reading is just where it was billed (as in there address) - thats on my Web Statement and is the Address of United Airlines when you purchase a ticket on line.