Anyone saying "but sponsored content"
Do you have proof of this?
Cuz I think we've done maybe 2-3 sponsored videos in the last year yet, between the four of us, we made 273 videos. Logitech did a general sponsor for one month but this has zero impact on the videos. So, where is this advertorial content exactly?
I chose my words specifically to denote the difference between my
perception of
generally less 'critical' coverage vs outright accusing you of being paid shills. This is what I actually wrote:
somewhat more 'advertorial' vein in the past year imo.
That does
not mean I am implying
all of your content is all sponsored. If I thought that, I would have just said it. The use of quotation marks and 'vein' means that I'm finding the content of DF is
seemingly less critical and comparative than in the early days, there's far more 20-30 minute videos (that I feel are somewhat padded) that are more of a somewhat promotional style of particular products. Part of that may just be due to the better production values, sure, and a part of that is just the inherent nature of the tech industry which I've always been critical of.
I don't think it's fair to make such a statement without backing it up with actual examples of what you perceive to fit this description. Especially since, if you didn't realize, we all work remotely from our homes in different countries.
Your geographic location disparity has no relation to my comment, so I'm wondering what is even the point of it unless you're implying I think you're all meeting with industry execs in a smoke filled room underneath a single lightbulb and unless that comical scenario is re-enacted fully then you're beyond slight critique. Come on.
What I can say is that doing these occasional sponsored videos is precisely the kind of thing that allows us to actually do OK and create more content we want to create like DF Retro.
Look, when you do what is in effect, a 20 minute ad for what people expect is an unbiased review site - even if you label it - you're going to have to accept that some slight pushback is going to come. To be frank I'm not entirely surprised by this response as I've noticed the DF crew can be somewhat reactionary to critique on here at times (and yes, I am positive you get tons of shit from trolls as well).
But hey - you're not drilling ice cores in the arctic guys, and neither am I - we're all doing corporate promotion on here
to an extent when we talk in detail about the toys we like. You need to do that at times more overtly to pay the bills? Fine! But don't present it as some sort of personal sacrifice where critique of that end product is inherently off-limits and presenting this strawman that anyone voicing their objection to what they perceive as a slight shift in style means you're winking and accepting a burlap sack with a dollar sign stamped on it from MS/Sony.
