In an effort to downplay SimCity’s always online component that has rendered thousands of players unable to play the game due to unexpected maintenance, EA has hired hundreds of Chinese internet spammers to spin the news positively.
On gaming boards like GameFAQs, IGN and NeoGAF, new registrations have spiked causing some forum administrators to shut down registration. They have reported that a majority of the IPs originate from China and that those users have only posted in threads regarding SimCity complaints. Many share similar themes and phrases including:
“I like to think of this game as an MMO. You can only play MMOs online so I’m okay with this!”
“Only losers like to play alone. We should make friends with all SimCity players for a better gameplay!”
“Thank you EA for making sure our game will always be up to date!”
“Our patience will be rewarded with a wonderful game!”
“Don’t get a refund so soon, you should give EA another chance!”
We spoke to one of these spammers in an exclusive interview:
Play4Real: Rumor has it that you are being paid by EA, is this true?
citybuilder229: No, this is not true.
Play4Real: Then why are you posting only good things about SimCity’s always online requirement?
citybuilder229: Because I was told by EA representative to post them.
Play4Real: But you said you weren’t being paid by EA.
citybuilder229: I have not been paid yet.
Play4Real: Oh, okay. Is there anything else you can tell us about this deal you made?
citybuilder229: I am to be paid one RMB (approximately .16 USD) per good post I make.
Play4Real: How many posts have you made?
citybuilder229: 780.
An EA spokesperson has denied these claims saying, “We would never stoop so low as to hire Chinese spammers to post positive spin about SimCity’s always online requirement. There is no reason to since the always online requirement is a good thing.”
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
I don’t know why run article like this, always online is good thing.
Good point.
I agree! SimCity is best working when multiplayer is online permanently present!
Really, what a load of bullshit. None of the gaming boards mentioned in this article officially stated anything about registration spikes from China.
Great job attracting gullible people…
So people actually thought this is real?? HAha! check p4r’s other “news” items, all these are just for fun. I assume it was obvious since there isn’t any reliable source links to these outrageous claims.
In this economy 16 cents is looking mighty fine!
Where do I sign up?
EA?????! ????EA, ??????! ?????SIMCITY! ?????,?????????.
I’m desperate for attention, thanks for clicking our site.
Guys, EA is working on it. Give them a chance and they will deliver an amazing game!
Guys, don’t get a refund so soon, you should give EA another chance!
hahahahaa.
780×0.16 = roughly $120
That’s pretty good for a day’s work living in China, where you can easily work at a job that you make only $20 a month.
Please buying the SimCity only $59.99 and online always with friend. Don’t be hesitating!
I’m not sure anymore – on one hand, I’m being told that this isn’t a good thing. On the other, Chinese people generally are on the ball – so maybe I should buy Sim City?
Did the same thing on Metacritic, too. There used to be no green reviews, checked back in an hour and there were two-hundred. All one or two sentences long, all obviously written by people who never actually touched the game. Amazing.
So how can I sign up for this? I will happily post positive things about this game…at least I could “get a refund” this way. :)
No matter what they do and who they will pay , this game is doomed this will teach these stupid capitalists to install more DRM in our future games.
This is what think. Always game is MMO so fun with times.
I like to play with myself….
Can we play with yourself together?
EA best comapny! citysim best game! we love game!
good game! do not believe article!
^ these two people are correct! Good on you for choosing best game
I love SimCity and I love tha fact that its not working to play at all when the network is down. WHO WANT TO PLAY AT ALL IF A SEVER NOT WORKING? I love it beacuse its so good becasue all games have bad servers sometimes
Please, “hundreds”. I expect some standards from my gaming journalism.
I apologize for not meeting your standards; however, we have responded to your criticisms.
Simcity always play good, always with friends.
One great game, one never with self.
One great game, one never play with self.
Many with glorious praises to honorable company of EA. They deliver experience of great fortitude by benevolent developer Maxis. Do not belive stinky poo-journalist who is lying scoundrel. By more Sim City!
Servers need rest too, unlike sweatshop workers.
Yeah, the Multiplayer mode is very cool, but a single mode be useful and offline ;-) or a LAN mode, LAN mode died :-/.
Diablo 3 have Problems too, with her Servers, i dont know why, they do Server Power test on last beta Phase, but i think the result eat the Trainee ^^.
I hope on Weekend are no Problems more :). gn8
Dis be de best simcity evah. Buy it!
I would like to see some actual evidence for these claims.
WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON IN THE COMMENTS SECTION?!
no idea this is mental, I think the Chinese need to stop sticking up for EA and get back to making our Nike runners…they wont make themselves.
Always online happened. :P
City simulator is most fortuitous. If you no pay, go away!
Its easy to just post this and say EA does. I could aswell say some one who hates EA hired chinese spammers to talk negative about the game.I had server problems myself and i hate it, but the game just released a couple of days. Give them some time to solve this and dont throw away this game so soon. When possible to play this is a epic game. and i’m sure they will solve it.
So…I did a little hunting in the SimCity forums at EA – very amusing. Oddly, only 7 posts in the Technical Issues forum. It appears to be a dumping ground by the mods…including this lovely mod from Origin. Hmm…
City build game A Number 1 Okey-dokey! You no good person if play by youself. Always online bring smile fun happy time for all who buy.
Don’t get a refund so soon, you should give EA another chance!
Ea games is most honorable company, dont lisen to evil game jonalist fat cat.
You pay! You Pay NOW!
EA, Swidgen! San Francisco Cocksucka!
Me so horny. Me luv u long time if u buy SimCity!
I dun not understood, always online is good
Hi buddys. SimCity, online Sims love to play with it : 2013 Scorching game play comes, in order thank everyone, characteristic, novel style, varieties, low price and good quality, and the low sale price. Thank everyone ==== ( http://www.simfail5.com ) ===== Purchase Sims t-shirt,caps,jerseys,handbag and brand watches!!! Plus $15 Ed Hardy ,LV ,Gucci Bikini $15 Polo, Ed Hardy, Gucci, LV, Lacoste T-shirts $25 Coach,Gucci,LV,Prada,Juicy,Chanel handbag, $10 Gucci,Ed Hardy sunglasses $9 New Era caps. SimCity gives you the unexpected reward ==== ( http://www.sorrymaxis.com ) ===== http://www.drmheaven.com ) ===== ( http://www.wtfzombieattack.com ) ===== ( http://www.ea-serversgone.com ) ===== ( http://www.buysims.com )
gamers play video games too much anyway, they should just take a break and when they get back from what they are doing they can enjoy the amazing game SimCity.
This article is DING DONG BUNNU!
End of rine!
No problem, I think people are desperate for truth in this changing world of trick the customer, rob him blind, skin his family….
EA is good company, others is bad. Buy game, always online, always happy. No only, only sad.
Funniest. Comment. Ever.
“An EA spokesperson has denied these claims saying, ‘We would never stoop so low as to hire Chinese spammers to post positive spin about SimCity’s always online requirement. There is no reason to since the always online requirement is a good thing.’”
Was the spokesperson also Chinese or something?
Keep standing up against galopping stupidity. One would have though we have come farther than this, but obviously not.
Not sure if sarcasm…
Hey EA! Hire me! I need some money… where do I sign for this job? lol
:P
Hi I very much liking SimsCity. No problems with server only fun time. EA do great job with release. Please continue excellent efforts. Servers working 100% of all time.
Thumbs up.
Preez dont give up on ShimSheety.
You Americans lie! There is nothing wong with SimCity servers. I get in no problem. Servers always up. Must be your computers. All should by game. Buy game now!
EA very good a++
The greatness all the things EA SimCimy was best I in all day. None wonder why so great a wong the day. Hey I am not kidding the best is here to come. Please don’t judge from best of only one day. Give more time to wait.
STUPID MONGORIANS! DESTROY MY SHITY WALL.
Yoo soo rooong to hate. We arl share game. No sitty in corner in SimShitty. You rog in again, you pay again.
Are you chinese?
Best comment I ever saw so far… =w=)b
to anyone who’s wondering if the chinese spammer rumours are true, well uh, they are. Don’t believe me? Head over to the official “EA Games Australia” facebook page, and then take a look at the comments on their current “Simcity Available Now” cover photo.
At about midnight last night (Adelaide time), you’ll find a comment by a certain Scott Jun-Young Hong, which goes as follows: “available now for purchase, not for playing. it’s like pre-ordering that I didn’t intend to do :) I thought I could play it right away when I bought it but turned out I was wrong :) ! Thanks to EA for teaching me patience :)”
I honestly believed that this company could not sink any lower?
Might I add both ‘Adelaide is awesome’ and ‘Adelaide represent’.
*Simcity 5 the best game ever made.
* if no other games were ever made.
Can’t tell if sarcastic….
Always online is always joy. SimCity buy for everyone my friends online! Lucky to have EA. We love SimCity online! <3
@Kildorrangh96: While I also buy such allegation, your example is flawed.
1. The name sounds like Korean instead.
2. If you understand english good enough, you should have understood this is a sarcastic remark.
Hello yes this is America I love EA I am from America!!!!! George bush!! I love sim city and EA is best American friend, happy make these good game for me as America!!!!! EA Sam City good game best game in love Sam city!
You can play with friends because I have the best game of the sim. EA is my dream! Author of this article does not make it right. Do not believe his lies.
[...] positiven Einfluss auf die Kundenbewertungen nimmt. Einem unbestätigten und bereits dementierten Gerücht zufolge soll EA hunderte Chinesen angeheuert haben, die auf Plattformen wie Amazon und Metacritic [...]
I see that the waiting is formidable for the SimCity. When I wait it is harmonious with the information that we will doing SimCity in friendship. When connection is happy, all together we make golden luck game time! Simcity A+!
Activision actually pays us for this
EA best! games online always is fun, simcity is joy :D
how could not you see?
[...] aufzuräumen (Klick – Anscheinend bezahlt EA Leute dafür gute Posts in Foren zu spamen (klick uvm. [...]
[...] of Chinese Spammers to Post Positively About SimCity’s Always Online Requirement << EA Hires Hundreds of Chinese Spammers to Post Positively About SimCity’s Always Online Require… [...]
Sim City 4 Good Game Buy now love game long long time…. Ea Make Good Game
Good game ea make sim city good DRM make game good like fried noodle at 5 star resteraunt
Watah!! pow! Crack! Boom! Sim City deliver round house kick that knock all other game out ,Sim City Master Of City Building Dojo ,Buy Now Good Game
The article is lie. I played the game for the last fourth days and it works so amasing! I love the always online feature, it is like a mmo. Very good work EA, I am grate full for your great gaming experiences: Will buy DLC and saiquels if they are made.
The bad English jokes stopped being funny after 3 comments, folks, your racism is starting to show. Please stop.
Anonymous is not so funny either :-)
Hi mate, Hitler much? U work for EA? :-)
Only losers like to play alone. We should make friends with all SimCity players for a better gameplay! -im racism
Everybody in family has buy simcity twice. Its best game in universe and always online make a lot of fun. We love u EA!
was gonna do a spoof,,,but after reading all the comments,,cant do it,,,great article,,,and have to say just one final thing,,,I KNEW IT.
SimCity play fine on NetherRealm, i no understand your hate :(
U.S.A. Number 1!
Number 1 George Bush!
100% EA is capable of doing s%1! like this…. Hope they come around and the next releases will be better.
EA game good. Sin City nice game but no online. We sell Sin City for $5 no online too. Very Good copy.Come with Sin City the movie too . Jessica Alba very fine cookie.
This is weird. I cannot imaging EA paying so low for per useful post. And how can EA find so many english speaking posters at such a short time? I dont think EA has the channel to organise so many english speaking posters. I had worked in EA Shanghai for 3 years. Maybe they came from competitors, for instance Activision?
But you can’t play if you bought the game because servers is a piece of shit, and there is no offline mode. Worst DRM ever
Simcity is very good. I play very much. Not Simcity because it good but online update soon comes. Then I play Simcity yes! EA very good company and you give EA a change ok? Yes.
Actually, that’s about $19.29 USD (check exchange rates from RMB to USD).
Best comment ever!
Not sure if stupid… but 780 RMB is $124… They even gave you the currency conversion of 1 RMB is ~0.16 USD in the article…
That was meant in reply to John Longson.
Can you live in China with $20 monthly income?
Your outdated impression is pretty pathetic.
That was meant in reply to Jake Lamata.
Hrmmm, I do not know one way or the other about the sim city online requirement. I do know that after reading the responses to this article, I have to say it does appear strange to see all the protests about online being a good thing, when the artcle while related to that was more of the topic of Did EA hire chinese employees to post. To me it looks like EA did exactly that…..
Yes!
[...] add insult to injury EA has been caught paying Chinese Spammers to write good reviews of Sim City: EA Hires Hundreds of Chinese Spammers to Post Positively About SimCity’s Always Online Require… Another slap in the face for their customers. So don't trust the positive reviews here or [...]
Game. Vely Gold. Buy now
I waited 10 years
[...] (EA paying commenters): Play 4 Real (funny, worth [...]
Yea, your so asian
CitySim best game whole world. Love happy!
Me love this game long time! It is better than spring roll!
Always on lines has truely increased fun, interactiity and immersion in my Sim City ™ experience.
This article is just propaganda from Nintendo
DWill it Blend? – Facebook
Hi! I would very much like to see if the new simcity will blend? And if you have the time too spare, I would love to see if the EA-logo will blend. But please dont mix those 2 together becouse it seems the end-result tastes horrible :P Thanks for your time, nn
u by more sim city now! vary gud game! by by by! u vary hapy if by now!
u vary hapy and make ae vary hapy if by more now! we all hapy
god
[...] EA Hires Hundreds of Chinese Spammers to Post Positively About SimCity***8217;s Always Online Requir… [...]
[...] Hundreds of Chinese Spammers to Post Positively About SimCity's Always Online Requirement http://www.p4rgaming.com/?p=1473 can't leave this thread with show you this xD http://i.imgur.com/rUvSn7L.jpg. [...]
Is this real?
Is this just fantasy?
Ea makea the best games The last est Ea city simulator is the best of all games I played would very much recommend to everyone online secure server prevent dirty chinese pirates ye? ?
HURRY UP AND BUY!
Me buy game, game belly goody , me no problem internet, internet velly velly fast, belly good!
You no like game, you cityxl owner, shooo go away.
sim city velly velly good 60euros very cheap!
They’re not jokes. They’re getting paid to post here even though their comments are obviously sarcastic.
It’s a chinese troll’s dream come true.
You buy game now. It be what you want when fix they make.
EA very good company, you just wait fix server and play good.
Game will has been improved, and then, we’ll forget all of this. Just wait, you see!
>There is no reason to since the always online requirement is a good thing.
seems legit
SimCity love you long time. You play now have good happiness.
Really, what a load of bullshit. None of the gaming sites in this article officially mentioned anything about registration spikes from China.
Great job attracting morons.
Really, what a load of bullshit. None of the gaming boards mentioned in this article officially stated anything about registration spikes from China.
Great job attracting gullible people.
Honestly it’s Pot Noodle time
Best Game, play with friends forever dont loser be buy now!
EA is the greatest, no such problems from Sim City, Battlefield 3, Mass Effect 3 or Dead Space 3. Best company I’ve ever wasted 60$ x 4 games on.
Okay now where’s my .16 cents EA
Me love SimCity 2013 long time.
Don’t mad always. Play SimCity long today. This site is best for news today.
THIS IS THE GOOD BEST GAME ! IT IS SO GOOD IT WILL PROLIFERATE EXCITING OF YOUR DANGER ZONE! PLUS I BOUGHT THE DVD AT ONLY 5RMB IN SHENZHEN
I find it funny that the comment about paid positive commenting is one of the highest commented topic with most of everyone attempting to praise or defend EA and Simcity. Makes you think….
This game very good, I like alway being online with my friendliness.
You buy game now and play online all day. No server, no problem.
Add me on Origin and I am very good gamer and I win you all.
Why do I not find it hard to actually believe this?
would be funny if it wasnt so close to the truth
So apparently chinese characters don’t render in the comments… HOW CONVENIENT
SimCity is awesome, arways onrine is the best thing ever. Just knowing EA courd turn off the servers any time they wish makes me want to pray it even more!
I love EA and Simcity 5!
All ur SimCity belong to us!
EA good company, Sim City good game. Me luv Sim City long time.
Hahaahahahahahahahahahahahaha lmao lmao lmao Hahahahahahahahahahahaha thigh smack shake and howdy