mtvx0505.jpgThere was something resoundingly fraudulent about MTV’s presentation of a Microsoft Xbox 360 infomercial last night. Bill Gates’s company bought the half-hour spot on MTV at 9:30 to promote its forthcoming videogame console to its ideal audience.

The infomercial was called ”MTV Presents Xbox: The Next Generation Revealed,” and not ”Microsoft Presents.” It appeared in the middle of MTV’s nightly schedule looking suspiciously similar to an MTV news report on the history of gaming in general and what one MTV correspondent called ”the holy grail of gaming.” It was never clearly designated as an ad or as paid programming. The Killers were shown performing two songs, Elijah Wood was on hand as the host, celebrities such as Wilmer Valderrama had cameos; it all seemed like just more of MTV’s typically hyped-up view of the world.(BOSTON GLOBE)
http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2005/05/13/xbox_infomercial_crosses_line_on_mtv/

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/17/technology/17sony.html?ex=1273982400&en=515df04381ab2dc1&ei=5088&partner=psfk&emc=psfk