Photo courtesy of: http://www.youtube.com/user/Rev3Games
According to an article on Gamespot.com and what looks like a copy of a legally binding agreement, Microsoft is finding creative ways to advertise.
With the advent of the internet, social media, and especially YouTube, large corporations have needed to innovate in order to compete in this new market. To accompany the release of the Xbox One and its new games, Microsoft commissioned Machinima to promote the console.
In their agreement, Microsoft stipulated that Machinima needs to create at least one 1-minute video that features “30 seconds of Xbox One gameplay footage,” a verbal “mention that you are playing the game shown,” and nothing “negative or disparaging about Machinima or Xbox One.”
In return, Machinima will receive $1 of “CPM Compensation.” So, for every 1,000 views their promotional video receives, Microsoft will pay them $1, up to 1,250,000 views. That's a possible $1,250 per promotional video.
The main controversy is whether this type of activity is illegal since Machinima is not allowed to directly mention that they are advertising for Microsoft. Instead, Machinima must make it appear that they are genuinely enjoying an objectively fun game.
Sneaky, Microsoft.
It's no surprise that they have sold over 3 million consoles worldwide before the end of 2013.