Earth Contest issues a press release claiming “over 60,000 new users” since its “initial launch” two weeks ago. That confuses me. Are we talking about the old game, which was actually launched in October, and then relaunched on December 17? Or are we talking about the “big game”, which was announced then and scheduled to launch at “midnight January 2006” but which isn’t actually running yet? All you can do is pre-register and hang out in a deserted players lounge forum (275 registered members), where posts by different authors sound the same. The game is free and promises “big prizes”. What could the business model possibly be? Had to go read the small print… Ah, yes:
We may share information with other reputable companies or organizations whose products or services we think you might find interesting. […]
From time to time, we may also make our customer postal addresses list available to other reputable companies or organizations whose products or services we think you might find interesting. […]
Persons who supply us with their telephone numbers on-line may receive telephone contact from us with information regarding new products and services or upcoming events. From time to time, we may also make our customer telephone number list available to other reputable companies or organizations whose products or services we think you might find interesting. […]
caveat emptor.
Although I think the idea is intriguing, the execution of this contest leaves plenty to be desired. The creators have turned a simple concept into their very own Tacoma Narrows. If only someone serious were to start from scratch with a similar idea….
“From time to time”…This phrase seems to be repeated again and again in Small Print “We Reserve The Right To Spam You To H-E-Double-Toothpicks-and-Back” disclaimers. What a weasel-word phrase it is. “From time to time” is meant to sound like “very occasionally” but it can mean “every five minutes” just as easily.