Bioware blocks user from playing his store-bought copy of DA2, for bad-mouthing EA?

[Lord Devius]

If you don't mind I'm gonna continue purchasing my disks that I can play no matter what. I guess I'm just stuck in my ways.

In all seriousness I'm glad I never bought into steam. If bioware is pulling shit like this, can we really trust valve?

Uh... Did you read the post of the suspended person at all? Or even the title of THIS thread?

He bought the Signature Edition. In a store.

They're doing this with his account, which strips him of his save files and DLC.

Not quite as bad as purely digital distribution's equivalent would be, but purely digi-dist runs that risk.

 

[A Pious Cultist]

If this is true I have officially lost the last bit of respect I had for Bioware.

The people who make the game don't police or manage the forum in any way I'd bet.

 

[The Wykydtron]

Wait so he slagged off Bioware and EA on the offical Bioware boards?

*facepalm*

It might be a little harsh but if you're dumb enough to not think before you post and more importantly where you're posting it, then you kinda deserve most of what's coming to you.

That said blocking a game that he bought legally does seem a bit overboard... Though this is EA we're talking about...

 

[The Urban Moose]

They're probably going to gain more negative press than it's worth for keeping that guy out of his games.

 

[BRMXJzjsoawk321]

-

 

[SteewpidZombie]

This is the type of thing that could loose Bioware and EA some customers if it persists. If this is a isolated incident where ONE idiot decided to ban someone for making a comment, sure people will overlook it and keep buying and playing the games. Personally if this happens more and becomes common, I can already say that I personally won't be buying any Bioware or EA products ever again.

Plus since it appears like EA is blocking 'Freedom of speech', you can bet your arse that a American or Canadian gamer would be able to sue and win a lawsuit. I am not entirely sure if a European gamer has the same right, but I'm sure that this guy could sue both companies if they don't let him play the game or refund his money. Even though it is in their policy that negative comments or actions can be banned, "Have you sold your souls to the EA devil?" is such a small comment that it makes EA and Bioware look like morons for even taking action against it. If EVERYONE took small comments seriously, I'm sure we would see people killing one-another just because they disagree over their favorite flavor of icecream.

 

[KeyMaster45]

I don't have anything to add to this discussion but regardless of what this guy did on the EA forums there is no reason why a ban there should affect the games he's bought. It'd be like if getting a forum ban on the WoW forums prevented you from ever logging into your characters again.

I don't care if it's in the ToS, you don't revoke access to people's games because of misbehavior on a forum.

 

[Leg End]

Well Bioware, I was about to by Dragon Age: Origins and 2, along with Mass Effect 1&2 but...

You can now suck my PSN ID saying I am playing Metal Gear Solid 4.

umad?

 

[Something Amyss]

Pretty sure that's theft on Bioware/EA's part?

People misuse theft a lot of the time. Nothing was actually taken from him. At worst, his ability to play a game was infringed upon, but by his own actions. I don't like the way EULAs are run, but in this country they're currently poorly defined, and companies can get away with a lot. Suspensions that take away game access? Bit harsh. But EA thinks they can get away with it, and they're probably right.

Is it right? Is it even legal? No, and maybe not, respectively. But it rarely matters whether something is legal if you can get away with it.

 

[Eldarion]

If you don't mind I'm gonna continue purchasing my disks that I can play no matter what. I guess I'm just stuck in my ways.

In all seriousness I'm glad I never bought into steam. If bioware is pulling shit like this, can we really trust valve?

Uh... Did you read the post of the suspended person at all? Or even the title of THIS thread?

He bought the Signature Edition. In a store.

They're doing this with his account, which strips him of his save files and DLC.

Not quite as bad as purely digital distribution's equivalent would be, but purely digi-dist runs that risk.

I did read that. He bought it in a store? Wow how did I miss that? Thats just insane.

Still, its DRM and I'll take this opportunity to remind you that digital distribution IS DRM. I hate them both.

 

[jayman52]

Wait so he slagged off Bioware and EA on the offical Bioware boards?

*facepalm*

It might be a little harsh but if you're dumb enough to not think before you post and more importantly where you're posting it, then you kinda deserve most of what's coming to you.

That said blocking a game that he bought legally does seem a bit overboard... Though this is EA we're talking about...

It doesn't matter what he said on their forums. This is theft by EA and Bioware and absolute obliteration of any form of freedom of speech. This is why pirating is a good thing. If we pirate enough the DMCA will be brought down as will EULAs as legally binding contracts.

 

[Something Amyss]

Wait so he slagged off Bioware and EA on the offical Bioware boards?

*facepalm*

It might be a little harsh but if you're dumb enough to not think before you post and more importantly where you're posting it, then you kinda deserve most of what's coming to you.

That said blocking a game that he bought legally does seem a bit overboard... Though this is EA we're talking about...

It's not just a little harsh, it's bad business.

 

[Eldarion]

So now he can't play games that he paid money for because he expressed his opinion? Yhea, that digital distribution is the wave of the future. If you don't mind I'm gonna continue purchasing my disks that I can play no matter what. I guess I'm just stuck in my ways.

In all seriousness I'm glad I never bought into steam. If bioware is pulling shit like this, can we really trust valve?

It has nothing to do with Steam or Valve. You have to log into the game with an EA account.

Also, if none of you have been looking at what the mods are saying on other posts on their forum, you should. It's hilarious.

I thought he downloaded it, I read the post and my brain didn't accept that he is locked out of a store bought game. Like, thats so much BS I missed it the first time.

 

[manaman]

Looking at the ToS, they CAN do that. It doesn't make it right, though.

From a mod/admin: "Consider it an added incentive to follow the rules you say you're going to follow."

Yeah, Bioware has lost all of the respect I once had for them.

The only incentive that would give me is to never post in the forums, or even converse in any way with that ridiculous company.

It's not like it should surprise anyone they are not the first company to do this. It's not right either, but themselves the chops until someone wants to finally take a stand. Well until a lot of people take a stand. We all know the government isn't going to give a damn. About people.

 

[Staskala]

There are places where the EULA isn't considered a binding contract? Damn, wish I could get in on that.

At least according to EU consumer guidelines, their enforcement is up to the individual member nations.

In Germany, for example, a EULA is only considered binding if the consumer has known the terms before the purchase.
Online-services have to make important guidelines apparent and not just hide them away in the ToS; clicking a box is not considered signing a binding contract.
Then there's the aspect of reasonability, terms that are overly extreme are also illegal.

Shit like this wouldn't fly here, at least in theory, because as I said, noone will sue over a few dollars.

 

[babinro]

He's effectively grounded for 3 days for breaking the terms of the website. There is absolutely nothing unjust or unfair going on here as far as I can tell.

Seems to me people are making a big deal out of something they shouldn't be.

 

[Diligent]

Pretty sure that's theft on Bioware/EA's part?

People misuse theft a lot of the time. Nothing was actually taken from him. At worst, his ability to play a game was infringed upon, but by his own actions. I don't like the way EULAs are run, but in this country they're currently poorly defined, and companies can get away with a lot. Suspensions that take away game access? Bit harsh. But EA thinks they can get away with it, and they're probably right.

Is it right? Is it even legal? No, and maybe not, respectively. But it rarely matters whether something is legal if you can get away with it.

I don't know man, if piracy is considered theft, then I don't see why it wouldn't work the same in reverse.

 

[ImprovizoR]

What they did is illegal. It's that simple. It's his opinion and his right to free speech.

Not true, at least for the reason you mentioned.
Free speech doesn't extend to what you do in a privately-owned location. That'd be like saying I can't kick you out of my house if you start making remarks about my wife (just an example, I don't have a wife). They can limit his speech while he's using their forums.

However, I do believe that taking his game from him is illegal. However, they didn't really do that, since he can make a new account. It sucks, but he can still work around it.

Still, I've lost a lot of respect for Bioware. Which is funny since I'm replaying Jade Empire.

Edit: It's probably mostly EA, but the Bioware mod was a bit of a jerk anyway.

Yes you do have the right to kick someone out of your apartment if he's talking shit about your wife, but you don't have the right to cut out his tongue. I hope now you understand what I was aiming for.

 

[Serenegoose]

It's amazing the way people will line up to defend a corporation being absolutely ridiculous over a person. They're quite clearly in the wrong.