Microsoft Rewards Political Interest on Xbox Live

[Marshall Honorof]

Microsoft Rewards Political Interest on Xbox Live

Watch the presidential debates on XBL, get Halo avatar armor.

Even if your primary form of conflict resolution involves two armored, hulking space marines with preposterous alien weaponry, you may want to tune into the upcoming presidential debates on Xbox Live. These quiet, reasoned, nonviolent discussions of presidential policy may not have the same kind of raw impact as standard Halo deathmatch, but Microsoft wants to attract fans of the bestselling sci-fi franchise just the same. If you register for Xbox Live Rewards [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/119853-Xbox-Live-Rewarding-Gold-Members-Based-on-Gamerscore] and watch three of the four debates, you'll receive exclusive Halo 4 armor for your avatar.

This initiative is part of Xbox Live's "Election 2012 [http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/elections-2012/home]" coverage, which aims to get gamers involved in the U.S. political process by polling them for opinions on the candidates, helping them register to vote, and broadcasting the presidential and vice presidential debates live. With three presidential debates on October 3, October 16, and October 22, and one vice-presidential debate on October 11, gamers can choose to watch any three for half an hour apiece. A token for the Halo 4 Warrior Armor will arrive in their inboxes around the beginning of November.

Leaving aside the tenuous connections between political involvement and a bright yellow set of space armor, this is a novel way of rewarding politically active people while hopefully drawing in a less-informed crowd that might just learn something. Since this offer works for all Xbox Live Rewards members, people in other parts of the world can tune in, too, but listening to Obama and Romney go at it for an hour and a half might not be as relevant as actually getting a few rounds of Halo in.

Source: Xbox Live Rewards [http://rewards.xbox.com/get-yours/landing/election-2012]

Permalink

 

[Lt. Rocky]

Why do I feel this is Microsoft's attempt to cover up the fact Halo 4 comes out on the American election day?

 

[AzrealMaximillion]

Wonder of Romney will call 47% percent of all Xbox owners 12 year olds with potty mouths.

All jokes aside.

Seriously though, this is a lamesauce way of trying to get gamers into politics. If you are a gamer who already is interested in politics you have the internet or a television for watching the debates. Virtual armour is a horrible incentive.

 

[chiefohara]

I think this is a pretty novel way to get people interested actually, hell, if they just want the armour they can just walk out with the TV switched on... but anything that helps get people involved is okay with me.

 

[The_Emperor]

There is no point in voting, they both work for the same guys.

It's pretty much pro wrestling now except you get to pick the winner and flavours of shit you will be eating for the next 4/8 years.

Same with Britain. except we have 3 flavours. All of them centre left vanilla

 

[ecoho]

Microsoft Rewards Political Interest on Xbox Live

Watch the presidential debates on XBL, get Halo avatar armor.

Even if your primary form of conflict resolution involves two armored, hulking space marines with preposterous alien weaponry, you may want to tune into the upcoming presidential debates on Xbox Live. These quiet, reasoned, nonviolent discussions of presidential policy may not have the same kind of raw impact as standard Halo deathmatch, but Microsoft wants to attract fans of the bestselling sci-fi franchise just the same. If you register for Xbox Live Rewards [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/119853-Xbox-Live-Rewarding-Gold-Members-Based-on-Gamerscore] and watch three of the four debates, you'll receive exclusive Halo 4 armor for your avatar.

This initiative is part of Xbox Live's "Election 2012 [http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/elections-2012/home]" coverage, which aims to get gamers involved in the U.S. political process by polling them for opinions on the candidates, helping them register to vote, and broadcasting the presidential and vice presidential debates live. With three presidential debates on October 3, October 16, and October 22, and one vice-presidential debate on October 11, gamers can choose to watch any three for half an hour apiece. A token for the Halo 4 Warrior Armor will arrive in their inboxes around the beginning of November.

Leaving aside the tenuous connections between political involvement and a bright yellow set of space armor, this is a novel way of rewarding politically active people while hopefully drawing in a less-informed crowd that might just learn something. Since this offer works for all Xbox Live Rewards members, people in other parts of the world can tune in, too, but listening to Obama and Romney go at it for an hour and a half might not be as relevant as actually getting a few rounds of Halo in.

Source: Xbox Live Rewards [http://rewards.xbox.com/get-yours/landing/election-2012]

Permalink

ok so could you clearify wehter its just watch any of them for 30 mins or do we have to watch all 3 for what ammounts to 30 mins?

 

[Baresark]

I hate this. As someone who is politically far more aware then your average person (and about 1 billion times more aware than your average gamer) it's just a facade. There is no truth in the debates. It's just a grounds for liars to lie to more people. And I don't believe for one second they are going to cover all the candidates, so it doesn't matter. It's not even fair in that capacity. Just more false reasons to believe in a completely broken and useless political system. Working within the confines of a broken system will not change the system. It will only keep the same broken system on life support.

 

[Marshall Honorof]

ok so could you clearify wehter its just watch any of them for 30 mins or do we have to watch all 3 for what ammounts to 30 mins?

As I understand it, you'll have to watch three of the four debates, and you'll have to watch each debate for at least half an hour. That's 90 minutes total.

 

[ecoho]

ok so could you clearify wehter its just watch any of them for 30 mins or do we have to watch all 3 for what ammounts to 30 mins?

As I understand it, you'll have to watch three of the four debates, and you'll have to watch each debate for at least half an hour. That's 90 minutes total.

ok thank you. lol i was planing on watching at least 2 of these but i guess i can do a 3rd and get the armor

 

[DustyDrB]

So let's welcome in a new crowd who can get jaded and disenfranchised like the rest of us...

 

[Mid Boss]

I hate this. As someone who is politically far more aware then your average person (and about 1 billion times more aware than your average gamer) it's just a facade. There is no truth in the debates. It's just a grounds for liars to lie to more people. And I don't believe for one second they are going to cover all the candidates, so it doesn't matter. It's not even fair in that capacity. Just more false reasons to believe in a completely broken and useless political system. Working within the confines of a broken system will not change the system. It will only keep the same broken system on life support.

What would you have us do then? Don't tell me you're one of those people who doesn't believe in voting.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

Still can't bring myself to care. Mitt Romney as the governor of my state had has been effectively campaigning for over two years, and I've been following Obama since the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Any who's been paying attention should already know who to vote for.
Contrary to popular belief the debates do not revel good presidents, all it filters is the ability to survive the debate

Is that an ME2 reference, or just coincidental?

Anyway, it's kind of sad that incentives need to be offered to get people to care about their own right to vote, but if needs must... good move Microsoft.

 

[Andy Shandy]

Fair play to Microsoft for encouraging trying to get some interest in politics, but I doubt anyone is now suddenly going to watch the debates just so they can get some armour for their avatar. I suppose it's a nice thing for those who were going to and decide to now watch it on their Xbox.

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

why do snarky 12 year olds need to watch political debates?

All them can just keep playing CoD, this is for the more sophisticated Xbox LIVE subscriber. Like a large portion of the people who frequent The Escapist for example.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

Still can't bring myself to care. Mitt Romney as the governor of my state had has been effectively campaigning for over two years, and I've been following Obama since the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Any who's been paying attention should already know who to vote for.
Contrary to popular belief the debates do not revel good presidents, all it filters is the ability to survive the debate

Is that an ME2 reference, or just coincidental?

Anyway, it's kind of sad that incentives need to be offered to get people to care about their own right to vote, but if needs must... good move Microsoft.

Indeed it is. I'm kinda surprised you got that: going by the Youtube Let's plays you'd think nobody ever really talked to Okeer.

Well, I suppose if the aim of Let's Plays are to show people how to get past the challenges, they don't want to waste the viewer's time on dialogue they can just do themselves. I hope people do talk to him though, it's a very interesting conversation.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

Microsoft.

Stop filling Xbox with things that aren't fun or cool.

Stop putting ads and Presidential Debates on the Xbox dashboard. It's a gaming system. Sell a Windows 8 box that does everything. Or the next Xbox. But for gods sake, guys, stop trying to cram things into a machine that doesn't do those thins. I do not want ads on a system I pay $60 for every year. I do not want presidential debates when I go to play a videogame. Either make it go away, or give us the option to make it go away.

Seriously. I'm so fucking pissed.