I was reading the Federal Trade Commissions article regarding endorsements and testimonials on blogs and disclosing important connections between advertisers and endorsers. It’s a little too vague for my liking but I take it that the FTC would want bloggers to disclose where a blogger receives cash or something from an advertiser to write a produce endorsement.

As the owner of a video games blog, I get stuff all the time, practically anything BUT cash. Funny eh? Read on if you want to know more.

Here’s how I work at Nine Over Ten 9/10. I get press releases, promotional material (images, videos, articles, contests) and demos from PR companies, video game publishers and developers (both established and indie). I do not receive money to put these up on my blog, but since these are usually inside scoop material and/or generally interesting, I put it up because a. it’s cool stuff, b.ย  it brings in traffic, c. I’m a nice guy who likes promoting and talking bout upcoming games.

What I normally do is to put up the articles on Digg and N4G and see how things go from there.

As for video game reviews, I get games coming in both through my e-mail box and my physical mail box. I normally get sent promo codes for iPhone games as part of a request for review, from a PR firm, publisher or developer and I’ll accept them because a. I wantย  to check out these games and get the word out on them, b. I’m not obligated to write glowing reviews about them.

In fact, I’ve trashed several (Spin Guru, Space Snake) and even highlighted issues with some in which the developers actually notice and took steps to remedy the problems.

As for PS3 and Nintendo DS games, I usually receive review copies which I’m allowed to keep but the same review policy applies. I’m not afraid to highlight the issues (must be due to my software development background – bug reporting – LOL) surrounding Terminator Salvation and King of Fighters XII, but at the same time I really hope that developers would come around and fix their stuff (which thankfully at least one of them did).

So there you go, my disclosure on video game reviews on Nine Over Ten 9/10. Now if you would excuse me, I need to redeem the promo code for Hook Champ for the iPhone and then put up a press release for Hip Hop All Star.