Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Vanishing Point (alternate reality game) (2nd nomination)


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.  

The result was DELETE. There is minimal support for retaining the article, and the longest comment relies entirely on personal awe. Make a mention within the Vista article, or something, that's plenty. -Splash - tk 22:38, 15 April 2007 (UTC)

Vanishing Point (alternate reality game) (2nd nomination)

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The article still strikes me as advertising for Microsoft. The only sources of substance are from the Neowin forums and The Register. The rest came from blogs or minor mentions in articles that were actually about Vista. During the first deletion discussion there was but one staunch defender of the article, and I wound up even convincing him. Many of the other arguments for keeping it went along the lines of WP:ILIKEIT. Lunch 01:50, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

(On a minor note, this also went through DRV.) Lunch 18:56, 9 April 2007 (UTC)


 * Weak delete, as as one time non notable advertising. DGG 02:45, 9 April 2007 (UTC)
 * Weak keep but I would prefer a merge to an article describing the marketing of Windows Vista. FrozenPurpleCube 04:36, 9 April 2007 (UTC)
 * Delete, I'm not seeing any reliable secondary sources asserting that this low-key marketing campaign was notable. At best, it might merit a quick mention somewhere at Windows Vista. Krimpet (talk/review) 16:30, 9 April 2007 (UTC)
 * Delete per Krimpet. A little mention in Windows Vista is enough. --TeckWiz Parlate Contribs@(Lets go Yankees!) 17:44, 9 April 2007 (UTC)
 * Weak delete, I found the article quite interesting which means that someone other than me finds it interesting too. I see no problem in keeping this if sources can be found and the article undergoes some rewriting to squeeze out a few subjective phrases. --Cremepuff222  ( talk,  review me! ) 00:03, 10 April 2007 (UTC)
 * I would agree if sources could be found, but none have been. I made a good faith effort the first time around to find sources, but couldn't.  Neither could anyone else.  It's now a couple of months later, and no one who was so enthusiastic about the article the first time around has added any sources or made any substantive effort to clean up the article.  Lunch 19:44, 10 April 2007 (UTC)
 * Strong Keep, I think the campaign was the best example of viral marketing conducted to date, with the biggest real-world impact (we are talking about projections on the brandenburg gate!) and pretty big media coverage. It also gathered quite some buzz on the net, so i think it has a strong right to remain as an independent article in Wiki. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Special:Contributions/ (talk)
 * "Pretty big media coverage" where? Can you provide any references?  "The best example of viral marketing" according to who?  Lunch 19:44, 10 April 2007 (UTC)
 * The best example, as i wrote, according to me..every "best" is subjective. It was however the most well-funded, and most spectacular ever. (I don't think i need to mention references for this, i can't recall any other viral campaign with worldwide live events). It did provide pretty "out of the ordinary" prices (trip in "space") and was an unusual attempt to be made by such a huge company, who can dispose of tons of standard-media coverage. Regarding the media coverage, i can only speak for Italy, it was on the news here...but i'm assuming other references could be found in the States. But even if it hadn't got any...well it was viral marketing anyway, and such a huge attempt at it, i think it would deserve to be mentioned. Some of the main tech blogs talked about it for ages..i don't think Wikipedia can be silent. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 87.14.121.88 (talk) 21:14, 10 April 2007 (UTC).
 * If Wikipedia is to claim that Vanishing Point was "the best example of viral marketing conducted to date," then yes, we need sources for that. That sort of statement is clearly in the bounds of WP:V and WP:ATT.  See #4 at What_Wikipedia_is_not. "It was on the news here [in Italy]."  Where?  Please, add sources to the article. "Blogs ... talked about it for ages."  And after the 15 minutes of fame are up, how now?  Is this something you want in an encyclopedia a year from now?  Five years?  Ten?  Lunch 21:54, 10 April 2007 (UTC)
 * This is one of the best examples of a viral marketing campaign because of the live events that unfolded during this campaign, and the nature of the prize that was at stake. I really do think that people under appreciate the effort and resources spent on this comapaign. And I think part of the reason is that the article fails to elaborate on these 'live events' which is a major component of this campaign that really makes it stand out from past viral campaigns. During this campaign, the live events consists of displaying a video clue during the middle of a water fountain show in Las Vegas, Live Event #1, skywrting clues all over the world, Skywriting, and projecting clues on famous landmarks around the world. Projecting clues I don't know of any viral marketing campaign, other than Year Zero that has as much complexity involved. --Stoppedcode12 15:58, 11 April 2007 (UTC)
 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.