"We do not "hire actors" to pose as marketing people.", says Nvidia.
Following the rumors posted on various gaming websites and blogs claiming that Nvidia was paying actors to promote its products in forums through a cooperation with Arbuthnot Entertainment Group (AEG), an Nvidia executive sent this response that comes from Derek Perez, public relations director of Nvidia, to the CDRinfo news team:
"Yes, we work with a company (AEG) who helps us manage the online
enthusiast community.
AEG has found that monitoring forums and reporting to NVIDIA problems,
bugs or fixes, and they monitor discussion in the community as a way to
seek feedback from consumers, be it positive or negative, so NVIDIA can
improve its current and future products.
We do not "hire actors" to pose as marketing people.
We have developed relationship with a number of online enthusiasts who
do help us by answering questions, solving issues, and distributing
important tech information to the online world. They are not paid, they
are not employees of either company (NV or AEG). They are enthusiast who
love NV."
The rumor that was started at the beginning of the month was firstly posted on
various gaming sites (
Elite Bastards and
Beyond 3D) and was then resumed on
the Consumerist, a blogging Web site that gave it huge proportions which
forced Nvidia to respond to it.