One of our newer members over at EB wrote to ATi about their involvement in AEG-type web promoting programs and got a response:
I know Terry had said they didn't do it before as well as a few others, but in light of recent events I thought it worth mentioning that they still don't.z3r0C00L at Elite Bastards said:About a week and a half ago there was some suspicion about gamer's being hired by a firm working under contract for nVidia to promote nVidia products.
Lot's has been discussed about this issue and I don't want to bring it back but I did email ATi on the issue at the time. I got a response from ATi which I posted on another forum... figured I'd post it here.
My email:
Hi Chris,
I had a question that's a tad touchy. It seems that your competitor was caught with there hands in a cookie jar when it comes to giving well respected members of online communities hardware (secretly might I add) in exchange for there PR. I know you cannot comment on anything involving a competitor but I had to ask... is this something ATi also does?
It is pretty important that I get an answer to this question. As with many other hardware fans (of either company) this news did disturb me and it seems right now the finger is being pointed towards ATi using the same practice. If you do use the same practice then please elaborate on the specifics. These findings will be published, unbiased, onto a forum named x-3Dfx.
It's ATi's chance to show that they're more ethical then there competitors. I ask that you not ignore this email... your customers are anxious awaiting your reply.
Thank You,
Richard La Rose
x-3Dfx
I figured ATi wouldn't respond because most companies would stay away from this. But ATi is different I guess.. they replied..
Richard,
No, we don’t. If we did, we would be public about it. It’s not in our DNA to behave any other way.
Regards,
Chris
Chris Evenden
Director, PR
ATI Technologies, Inc.
So yes.. there you have it.. ATi does not use the same practice. Which for me is more ethical. This may have swayed me a tad more onto ATi's side.. only time will tell.