Blkizzard and WoW and crazy policies

[Aries]

Grabbed this from over at Wargamer.

Thursday, December 22, 2005
Industry News : Blizzard Cancels 18,000 WoW Accounts
Posted by Sean Drummy @ 13:09 EST

Note to self: Don't cheat with Blizzard games.

Maintaining their unrivaled commitment to stopping cheaters and hackers for all of their titles, Blizzard has today sent word that they have permanently closed more than 18,000 accounts over the past three months for "participating in activities that violate the game's Terms of Use." Many have speculated that this mass-banning is a result of a recent rise of gold and item "farming" whereby complex AI programs control a character in WoW that is designed for play by a human. These AI characters perform menial or repetitive tasks that yield high payouts in terms of digital items which are then sold on eBay or other auction sites for real money. Just as the maxim "Business is business" goes, anytime capitalism enters into the videogame realm, things get a lot less fun for the recreational player.

Blizzard also released word that they will remain vigilante for anyone still looking to make a buck off of their MMORPG saying that cheating, exploiting, or selling items of ANY kind for real money are all grounds for a permanent ban of accounts.

end quote


You know, I don't care for the MMORPG scene, you have to spend too much time on it to actually get anything out of it.
You have to be part of a guild to be safe, the guild insists on you playing enough so you are powerful enough so that when you join in you're not just an instant casualty.

That all said though, I applaud anyone actually bright enough to design a program capable of artificially simulating a human's playing of the game, enough the program can actually "play the game" and actually generate credible usable real world coin from selling in game coin.

I think over all, Blizzard needs to accept, the world is what it really is, and its game exists in the real world, even if their game isn't part of the actual real world.
Bust cheaters yes, but bust smart people that are only making good use out of the game? No that's dumb.

That's as dumb as saying you can't play Magic the Gathering professionally for real cash.
That's like saying there's something wrong for getting paid to play hockey well.

We all like to make a quick easy buck when we can. And does it actually hurt anyone, if you sell in game items, to other players, for actual real world money?
I can see it being unfair to have cheats.
But I have known people that made good money off of game coin. It's possible those same people should eat better, sleep more, and occasionally expose themselves to sunlight.

Blizzard, you need to get a grip. So what if your game is being exploited for gain, and so what if it runs contrary to your EUA.

What I wantr to know though, is can we get some of these dudes making these programs to speak with some of our wargame designers
I wouldn't mind playing against an AI that was actually useful hehe.

[sickpup]

No offense, Les, but that was spoken exactly like someone who has never played WoW.

Your comment about guilds, while it may have been accurate for past MMORPG's, is completely off the mark when it comes to WoW.

I know nearly three dozen players who are or have invested time in WoW and every single one of them agrees with what Blizzard is doing in regards to cheaters.

If Blizzard allows this type of thing, their virtual economy will go down the tube, and their subscriber base, which just recently hit the 5 million mark, will begin to shrink as well. Additionally, it's not a matter of someone being smart enough to "design a program capable of artificially simulating a human's playing of the game". These applications are freely available on the web to folks who know where to look, and as more folks use them, it ruins the game for folks who won't or can't.

[Overseer]

I think they may actually be well behind what Valve's been doing with Steam in terms of cancelling accounts.

[Aries]

No offense taken.

Of course I have never played WoW (or any other MMORPG) I have a life

But I know a few friends that play them too much (and I can assure you, I get a lot more procreating practice than they do ).

I am not 100% privvy to the fairness or lack there of. It just seems to this observer, that automated non human product generators is not really a game killer (like cheating would be).

But I am prepared to be incorrect in that opinion.

[Patrocles]

I'm interested to know if any of the players banned were from the chinese gold farmer sweatshops?

[jayedub7423]

No offense taken.

Of course I have never played WoW (or any other MMORPG) I have a life

But I know a few friends that play them too much (and I can assure you, I get a lot more procreating practice than they do ).

I am not 100% privvy to the fairness or lack there of. It just seems to this observer, that automated non human product generators is not really a game killer (like cheating would be).

But I am prepared to be incorrect in that opinion.

using 3rd party programs to farm gold or items ruins the game economy, which ruins the overall expierience of the game. i dont believe its a game killer either, that would be those who hack the game to give them and advantage in pvp, those people suck

i do take exception to your statements about having a life. i have a job i go to, a family that loves me, and friends that care about me, doesnt that mean i have a life? or is it what you do in a 24 hour period that makes up ones life? if it sounds like i have taken this personally, i have. i love my family, provide for them, i do my job the best i can, and video games happen to be my hobby. does spending 20hrs a week playing a game i like mean i have no life? i think not!

with that said, if you were to say to me 'no no jason, it's those who forsake family, friends, hygiene, food, work, sleep for such and such game', then i would agree with you!!!

[Aries]

You have to understand, those that often play MMORPG games, often don't do anything else. Often DON"T truely have a life. You could always be an exception, but, you have to understand, you might be just that, an exception

I have yet to meet anyone that plays them, that does much of anything else. They often also complain, occasionally, that they don't have any success in you know meeting people. Not easy to actually meet anyone if you never go anywhere though

And while it is true, these people DO need a means of support, if the second they can get away from that means of support, their every energy is devoted to the one single game, they still qualify as having a dangerously limited life.

Wasn't meant to offend though. It's known I am an over the top biased wargamer of the board gaming sort. I don't mind being called a grognard. I am one

[vyshka]

Has the economy been ruined in WoW? They seemed to be doing a better job of it than most. It is odd that people will go to such lengths in these games. I have played a couple of MMORPGs, but for me it always ends up being repititive so I don't play them anymore. WoW is supposedly the best of the breed though.

[Leftie]

I play Everquest on a bit off and on. Right now I would say I average 6 hours a week or so. I still manage to work 50 hours or so a week, spend time with my family in the evenings and on weekends, moderate the Napoleonic Battles section of the forums, run the Waterloo tourney we have going on, play a few boardgames like Whistling Death, and work on my scale models.

So I wouldn't say that the majority of MMORPG players don't have a life. There are some who are definitely like that and those are the ones you remember.

[Aries]

I don't actually know of any other MMORPGs other than EQ2 and WoW that actually are getting much attention. I suppose that says something about how many people like EQ2 and WoW. But the same thing happens with wargames too. People play the "good" ones, and anything that doesn't "really" cut the mustard, simply is NOT going tp get played as much.

I have been told, that EQ2 is a more "serious" game, while WoW is more playable solo if you insist. I can't verify that personally beyond observing friends that play them, and their remarks to that effect.

I am not sure that anyone older than 30, is going to be subjected to the same potential for excessive behaviour. A teen is likely only really missing out on some fumbling novice sex and getting homework done on time if they play too much.

An adult has bills to be paid, household duties that likely WON'T be allowed to be ignored, kids to look after, a spouse that will TELL you they are more important than a game, and friends and work that probably will not let it go to far.

Like as much as I do, the things that I like, but I really don't have the option. Not that my life is better, merely that my life is not as willing to let it occur. I had a LOT more disposable daylight as a teen to waste frivolously without serious harm

Of the three young lads I know, that play MMORPGs, neither has a woman, neither has a job of specific merit, neither has kids, neither has trappings that would burden them if they suddenly decided to get on a bus and go live somewhere else.
It does tend to ensure that things STAY that way though, if they average more than 5 hours a day on a computer online game.

I post a lot online, but in between posts, I am almost always doing something off the computer in between. My life simply would never allow me to start playing MMORPGs. Which explains why I have never played one.

Besides, they look deadly dull. I have watched buddies play them, and I just don't understand what's so thrilling.