Based on reader votes, we anoint Sony’s Alliwantforxmasisapsp as the best flog of 2006.

Sony takes the golden poo, because they should have known better. We know that Walmart and McDonalds are creepy and they have few scruples about exploiting a medium to gain market share, but Sony is supposed to be better. Sure, they can come across as a little cold and bitchy, but at least “cool.” Not engaging in the lamest attempt to do a pretend customer blog the world has ever seen.

Now, where do we deliver this award? Do we mail it to the CEO? To the company that made the blog? Where o where do we fling our golden poo?

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CONTENDERS’ FLOGS

McDonald’s, for 4Railroads and Mcdmillionwinner
Walmart, for Walmarting Across America
Sony, for All I Want For Xmas Is A PSP

AFTERTHOUGHTS

While pretend sites and stunts are common in video game marketing, there’s a difference between spinning an engaging story virally and outright duplicity.

Douchebags are attracted by the cost/benefit ratio and they go, “Wow, we could spend $500 on a video and become an internet sensation!”

Instead, people should be asking, “How can we use these really powerful and interesting tools to tell a better story?”

To take full advantage of blogs, companies should stop hiring b-school and j-school dropouts or former web developers, and start grabbing up hungry English majors. — BEN POPKEN

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