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I played Battlefield 3 for like two weeks after release. Super fun for a little while but severely lacks re-playability and thus bores me to tears. As for the rest of EA games on Origin... I'll just say that the quality of their forum moderation seems to follow the quality of their product evenhandedly.
As for the option of piracy that people bring up, I'm all for it. If the company is being unfair to the people who buy the games and support them, why support them?
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What does everyone expect from the worst online gaming company in the world? I stopped buying EA games after CnC Red Alert 3 in 2008. Sequel to my child hood game and they ruined it. Not only that, but all of the CnC games under EA were terrible and the online support was something a child could do better.
It's not only this but they have a long list of fails *cough* MOH online.
A company that big shouldn't get away with what they have for so long and that's basically a slap in the face to online gamers. Their online support is atrocious and has been for a decade.
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This is why Piracy is what it is today.
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On December 06 2011 08:01 Latedi wrote:Show nested quote +On December 06 2011 06:53 overt wrote:On December 06 2011 06:48 BeMannerDuPenner wrote:On December 06 2011 06:40 overt wrote: The solution to all of this is to just not buy EA or Activision products. You're supporting the two companies that are ruining video games when you do.
If you boycott those companies (which would include not buying Blizzard games btw) you can actually hope for things to change. Like for Origin to be less shitty. For EA's customer service to be better. For Activision to stop being dicks to their employees and producing games like they're all Madden.
Boycotts work. Buying EA/Activision games and then bitching about lack of features and shitty customer service doesn't because they're still getting your money. thats the problem in the game industry. in a sense a company has the monopoly on a product. while in most other branches the products more or less do the same there is only ONE starcraft and only ONE assassins creed and only ONE Fifa etc. so boycotting a company(esp big publishers) shuts yourself out of products you might really want and have no alternative to. names like that will sell no matter what. even if tomorrow came out that EA is extracting kids souls to power their servers people would still buy the next fifa. also in todays grand global videogame industry you have a hard time getting noticed that way . i mean i agree with you and as said in my previous post dont plan to buy EA games anytime soon. but i WILL buy hots and d3 even tho i hate much of what they done with sc2, hate activision, HATE kotick etc just because i need to have them and i cant get them from anyone else. I understand why most people don't choose to boycott EA/Activision but those two companies are, imo, ruining the video game industry. If people want shit to change you have to actually do something rather than complain about it on reddit or TL and send angry emails. Most of the people bitching about Origin and EA will probably end up buying Mass Effect 3 regardless. Most of the people who are mad about Activision laying off the guys at Infinity Ward, not putting LAN in SC2, and all of the other shenanigans that they pull will still buy the new Call of Duty or StarCraft expansion. You have to show companies that you're mad with your wallet not with your words. The answer is easy if you ask me :p PiracyJust download the games you want to play but are being made by some douche company and pay for games from studios you like. Don't give money to Blizzard, give it to indie developers or other companies which are not controlled by money
Two wrongs don't make a right. Doing something illegal just because someone's being a prick doesn't justify your illegal action.
Your legal choices are to buy the game or not buy it. There's nothing stopping you from just not buying the game. You don't have to play it; as you point out, you can buy some indie game or whatever.
BTW, there are no companies that are not controlled by money. Pro tip.
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After all the bullshit EA has pulled, are people really still surprised when this happens?
I mean, its not like EA is some beacon of truth and righteousness; they're about as far from that as possible.
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I got battlefield 3, because a friend of mine accidently bought two copies of it abroad for 20 bucks, each. I bought it from him, so that I can play coop with him. I got a freaking legal version of it and can play the game without a problem, except that I can't fucking play coop with him, because EA's servers will just disconnect us and close the game. And now they pull shit like this. If shareholders knew, they certainly wouldn't be happy.
The only games, that I don't regret buying are those from Blizzard, and some of steam.
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If they just played Starcraft instead this wouldn't be a problem
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Someone was perma-banned because he/she called someone a "Fucking camper noob" in-game chat. Lol
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On December 06 2011 11:31 NicolBolas wrote:Show nested quote +On December 06 2011 08:01 Latedi wrote:On December 06 2011 06:53 overt wrote:On December 06 2011 06:48 BeMannerDuPenner wrote:On December 06 2011 06:40 overt wrote: The solution to all of this is to just not buy EA or Activision products. You're supporting the two companies that are ruining video games when you do.
If you boycott those companies (which would include not buying Blizzard games btw) you can actually hope for things to change. Like for Origin to be less shitty. For EA's customer service to be better. For Activision to stop being dicks to their employees and producing games like they're all Madden.
Boycotts work. Buying EA/Activision games and then bitching about lack of features and shitty customer service doesn't because they're still getting your money. thats the problem in the game industry. in a sense a company has the monopoly on a product. while in most other branches the products more or less do the same there is only ONE starcraft and only ONE assassins creed and only ONE Fifa etc. so boycotting a company(esp big publishers) shuts yourself out of products you might really want and have no alternative to. names like that will sell no matter what. even if tomorrow came out that EA is extracting kids souls to power their servers people would still buy the next fifa. also in todays grand global videogame industry you have a hard time getting noticed that way . i mean i agree with you and as said in my previous post dont plan to buy EA games anytime soon. but i WILL buy hots and d3 even tho i hate much of what they done with sc2, hate activision, HATE kotick etc just because i need to have them and i cant get them from anyone else. I understand why most people don't choose to boycott EA/Activision but those two companies are, imo, ruining the video game industry. If people want shit to change you have to actually do something rather than complain about it on reddit or TL and send angry emails. Most of the people bitching about Origin and EA will probably end up buying Mass Effect 3 regardless. Most of the people who are mad about Activision laying off the guys at Infinity Ward, not putting LAN in SC2, and all of the other shenanigans that they pull will still buy the new Call of Duty or StarCraft expansion. You have to show companies that you're mad with your wallet not with your words. The answer is easy if you ask me :p PiracyJust download the games you want to play but are being made by some douche company and pay for games from studios you like. Don't give money to Blizzard, give it to indie developers or other companies which are not controlled by money Two wrongs don't make a right. Doing something illegal just because someone's being a prick doesn't justify your illegal action. Your legal choices are to buy the game or not buy it. There's nothing stopping you from just not buying the game. You don't have to play it; as you point out, you can buy some indie game or whatever. BTW, there are no companies that are not controlled by money. Pro tip.
You make a strong statement that "illegal" == "wrong". I wonder if there's anything illegal you've done that you've written off as ok because you justified it somehow?
This whole EA thing is pretty sickening. Looking forward to whatever resolution comes up. The Escapist thread on this also has some interesting back and forth between the original article's OP and someone who's looking like EA damage control. Fun stuff ^^
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United States22883 Posts
I bet that must've felt great.
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On December 06 2011 10:31 Euronyme wrote:Show nested quote +On December 06 2011 10:12 Belisarius wrote: In a strange way, I'm kind of excited to see this kind of thing going down. For the past five or so years, game publishers have been pushing a very thin and very important line where they, by the terms of their EULAs, can revoke players' access to games they've paid for, for no reason at all, and we've stood around and let it happen it on the understanding that they won't use that power.
Now that a major publisher is starting to go straight-up batshit insane and delete accounts left and right for not just suspicious but outright ridiculous reasons, I see an opportunity for some game-loving lawyer out there to kick them in the balls and take back our right to play the games we've paid for.
In fact, I'm anxiously waiting for someone to take EA's class action clause to the supreme court as unlawful - which I'm absolutely sure it must be - and then dismantle the rest of this absurd edifice.
Probably the most ironic thing is that the Gamers vs Origin Battle To End All Battles is going to have nothing to do with what players were most furious over at Origin's inception - its spyware component - but is in fact going to be fought over people's rights to use trollfaces as avatars on EA's own forum. I'm 95% certain that somewhere in that agreement we all press "I agree", there's a foot note about them having the power to revoke the game of anyone, and legally amputating your legs for science. They probably own your house ^_^ but it cant be legal just to force the user to say i agree to anything they say in order to play the game you pay for O_O
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Baltimore, USA22225 Posts
I think a lot of people though aren't considering that Multiplayer isn't necessarily a right when you purchase the game. I'm sure the game itself (ie, singleplayer) is, but is MP? I'm sure the EULA mentions they have the right to remove your MP privileges (obviously it's a stupid mis-use in this case, but I'm responding to those claiming there is a legal issue here).
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On December 06 2011 10:12 Belisarius wrote: In a strange way, I'm kind of excited to see this kind of thing going down. For the past five or so years, game publishers have been pushing a very thin and very important line where they, by the terms of their EULAs, can revoke players' access to games they've paid for, for no reason at all, and we've stood around and let it happen it on the understanding that they won't use that power.
Now that a major publisher is starting to go straight-up batshit insane and delete accounts left and right for not just suspicious but outright ridiculous reasons, I see an opportunity for some game-loving lawyer out there to kick them in the balls and take back our right to play the games we've paid for.
In fact, I'm anxiously waiting for someone to take EA's class action clause to the supreme court as unlawful - which I'm absolutely sure it must be - and then dismantle the rest of this absurd edifice.
Probably the most ironic thing is that the Gamers vs Origin Battle To End All Battles is going to have nothing to do with what players were most furious over at Origin's inception - its spyware component - but is in fact going to be fought over people's rights to use trollfaces as avatars on EA's own forum. Great insight, and I think something like this (class action) can happen. There is definitely a possibility that the EULA terms that game companies make us sign can be unconstitutional.
For those that doubt this - in Australia, consumers are filing a class action against ANZ Bank on what they consider excessive late fees.
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On December 06 2011 13:29 EvilTeletubby wrote: I think a lot of people though aren't considering that Multiplayer isn't necessarily a right when you purchase the game. I'm sure the game itself (ie, singleplayer) is, but is MP? I'm sure the EULA mentions they have the right to remove your MP privileges (obviously it's a stupid mis-use in this case, but I'm responding to those claiming there is a legal issue here). But the EULA itself can be unconstitutional - a game company should not be able to take away your gaming rights because they feel like it.
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EA is dumb but seriously who goes on these 'official' forums for companies/games anyways? It is always the same, just a massive shitfest with a bunch of little kids trolling and flaming eachother like theres no tomorrow.
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This makes me so incredibly angry. What the fuck is EA thinking? ASGJASFAWGJKQ
I seriously hope there is a class action taken against EA. Goodbye free speech, EA is out to crush you.
I would, however, completely understand this action if it was because people were caught hacking. Swearing on the forums though is a complete and utter joke.
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On December 06 2011 13:29 EvilTeletubby wrote: I think a lot of people though aren't considering that Multiplayer isn't necessarily a right when you purchase the game. I'm sure the game itself (ie, singleplayer) is, but is MP? I'm sure the EULA mentions they have the right to remove your MP privileges (obviously it's a stupid mis-use in this case, but I'm responding to those claiming there is a legal issue here).
People have a "right" to access everything that was advertised when they made the purchased by default. The only time companies should be able to take that away is when the player repetitively abuses other players or cheats. Anything marginal IMO shouldn't be bannable straight up (saying fuck you once because you are emotional and angry for a split second during a frustrating game shouldn't cost you access to your game). Of course there are exceptions e.g. racism where even one occurrence should be bannable but overall it should be something pretty extreme that gets you a ban and denies you something you paid for. The legal issue I guess is whether you can prove that EA is not sticking by their own EULA.
Edit: yay 400 posts
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On December 06 2011 13:31 Azzur wrote:Show nested quote +On December 06 2011 10:12 Belisarius wrote: In a strange way, I'm kind of excited to see this kind of thing going down. For the past five or so years, game publishers have been pushing a very thin and very important line where they, by the terms of their EULAs, can revoke players' access to games they've paid for, for no reason at all, and we've stood around and let it happen it on the understanding that they won't use that power.
Now that a major publisher is starting to go straight-up batshit insane and delete accounts left and right for not just suspicious but outright ridiculous reasons, I see an opportunity for some game-loving lawyer out there to kick them in the balls and take back our right to play the games we've paid for.
In fact, I'm anxiously waiting for someone to take EA's class action clause to the supreme court as unlawful - which I'm absolutely sure it must be - and then dismantle the rest of this absurd edifice.
Probably the most ironic thing is that the Gamers vs Origin Battle To End All Battles is going to have nothing to do with what players were most furious over at Origin's inception - its spyware component - but is in fact going to be fought over people's rights to use trollfaces as avatars on EA's own forum. Great insight, and I think something like this (class action) can happen. There is definitely a possibility that the EULA terms that game companies make us sign can be unconstitutional. For those that doubt this - in Australia, consumers are filing a class action against ANZ Bank on what they consider excessive late fees.
Mate, it's got nothing to do with the constitution. This is private contract law. But yes, depending on the jurisdiction and circumstances, there may be cause for challenging an unreasonable term in the contract (but hard to say either way in this case).
And for all the people saying "they can't get us to agree to them having this power in exchange for paying for their game!". Yes they can, because you agreed to it, and when it comes to contracts, almost anything goes.
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On December 06 2011 14:15 Trang wrote:Show nested quote +On December 06 2011 13:31 Azzur wrote:On December 06 2011 10:12 Belisarius wrote: In a strange way, I'm kind of excited to see this kind of thing going down. For the past five or so years, game publishers have been pushing a very thin and very important line where they, by the terms of their EULAs, can revoke players' access to games they've paid for, for no reason at all, and we've stood around and let it happen it on the understanding that they won't use that power.
Now that a major publisher is starting to go straight-up batshit insane and delete accounts left and right for not just suspicious but outright ridiculous reasons, I see an opportunity for some game-loving lawyer out there to kick them in the balls and take back our right to play the games we've paid for.
In fact, I'm anxiously waiting for someone to take EA's class action clause to the supreme court as unlawful - which I'm absolutely sure it must be - and then dismantle the rest of this absurd edifice.
Probably the most ironic thing is that the Gamers vs Origin Battle To End All Battles is going to have nothing to do with what players were most furious over at Origin's inception - its spyware component - but is in fact going to be fought over people's rights to use trollfaces as avatars on EA's own forum. Great insight, and I think something like this (class action) can happen. There is definitely a possibility that the EULA terms that game companies make us sign can be unconstitutional. For those that doubt this - in Australia, consumers are filing a class action against ANZ Bank on what they consider excessive late fees. Mate, it's got nothing to do with the constitution. This is private contract law. But yes, depending on the jurisdiction and circumstances, there may be cause for challenging an unreasonable term in the contract (but hard to say either way in this case). And for all the people saying "they can't get us to agree to them having this power in exchange for paying for their game!". Yes they can, because you agreed to it, and when it comes to contracts, almost anything goes. Well, the Australian ANZ bank customers agreed to their terms and conditions when using their services. However, the class action suit against the bank has been allowed to go ahead. Thus, it is shown that there are grounds to challenge unreasonable terms in a contract (whether in the constitution or wherever).
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On December 06 2011 09:53 killa_robot wrote:Show nested quote +On December 06 2011 08:01 Latedi wrote:On December 06 2011 06:53 overt wrote:On December 06 2011 06:48 BeMannerDuPenner wrote:On December 06 2011 06:40 overt wrote: The solution to all of this is to just not buy EA or Activision products. You're supporting the two companies that are ruining video games when you do.
If you boycott those companies (which would include not buying Blizzard games btw) you can actually hope for things to change. Like for Origin to be less shitty. For EA's customer service to be better. For Activision to stop being dicks to their employees and producing games like they're all Madden.
Boycotts work. Buying EA/Activision games and then bitching about lack of features and shitty customer service doesn't because they're still getting your money. thats the problem in the game industry. in a sense a company has the monopoly on a product. while in most other branches the products more or less do the same there is only ONE starcraft and only ONE assassins creed and only ONE Fifa etc. so boycotting a company(esp big publishers) shuts yourself out of products you might really want and have no alternative to. names like that will sell no matter what. even if tomorrow came out that EA is extracting kids souls to power their servers people would still buy the next fifa. also in todays grand global videogame industry you have a hard time getting noticed that way . i mean i agree with you and as said in my previous post dont plan to buy EA games anytime soon. but i WILL buy hots and d3 even tho i hate much of what they done with sc2, hate activision, HATE kotick etc just because i need to have them and i cant get them from anyone else. I understand why most people don't choose to boycott EA/Activision but those two companies are, imo, ruining the video game industry. If people want shit to change you have to actually do something rather than complain about it on reddit or TL and send angry emails. Most of the people bitching about Origin and EA will probably end up buying Mass Effect 3 regardless. Most of the people who are mad about Activision laying off the guys at Infinity Ward, not putting LAN in SC2, and all of the other shenanigans that they pull will still buy the new Call of Duty or StarCraft expansion. You have to show companies that you're mad with your wallet not with your words. The answer is easy if you ask me :p PiracyJust download the games you want to play but are being made by some douche company and pay for games from studios you like. Don't give money to Blizzard, give it to indie developers or other companies which are not controlled by money Money is how businesses work, the only different between Indie developers and ones like Blizzard is that ones like Blizzard have the room to be an ass. If the Indie developer has even the smallest screw-up with how they treat their customers, no one will buy their product. The same can not be said for larger developers.
Valve? Probably one of the biggest video game companies after EA/Activision and they generally do things that are good and awesome. I can't really think of any major grievance I have with Valve. They even created Steam, which while benefiting them greatly, works fantastic and the notion of me only having to buy a game once and I can download it at any point in the future is pretty fantastic. They're at least one example of a very large video game company that generates a lot of revenue and doesn't screw over their fanbase.
Money is important but so is keeping your consumer happy. The problem with gaming companies like EA and Activision is that they create policies that give them more control over their games and don't see a decrease in profits because most gamers don't care enough to stop buying their products. Just because an indie company gets big doesn't mean they'll adopt policies that punish the consumer.
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