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

[gl1koz3]

But he paid for his game. Some sick logic on EA's side there.

 

[Master_Fubar23]

This is not a freedom of speech issue. I do wish people would quit saying that it is. EA/BW has every right to allow and disallow people on their forums as they see fit. So suspending/temp banning him is fine and even the guy who got banned admits that.

The problem comes when he is locked out of the activation servers. This is inexcusable but again, it isn't about free speech. They grounded him from his own games for 3 days...that is beyond their legal reach and also it is unethical.

I have to disagree. He had an issue at the time and asked a stupid question but the question itself wasnt vulgar or explicit. Its like a guy on EVE had in his bio "I LOVE NAZI'S" and got banned from the game. Although the statement isn't vular,rasist, or explicit but can mean so many things like maybe his wife is a nazi so it would be a true statement so he fought back, won, and was compensated for his troubles. Only difference here is that (as far as we know) the guy isn't banned from using his games only temp banned (oh and he's probably only saying he deserved the temp ban so they dont perma ban him). Either way its wrong what Bioware/EA did.

 

[Fret098]

Wow really? well if they are going to start stuff like that, Ill just take my business elsewhere.

 

[Mcface]

BOTTOM LINE.

The kid was an ass. And EA was also an ass. But it will be EA that suffers more merely because it couldn't be the bigger man. You guys here talking about it are pretty much an indicator of that.

So, question is...why're we still having this conversation? There's nothing left!

If I buy something for 60s dollars and am not satisfied, it's my right to be an ass. It's my property. I can say I dislike it.

Anyone who dosen't see a problem with this has to be blind.
They can revoke your right to something you own, my fucking government can't even do that.

 

[realslimshadowen]

This is not a freedom of speech issue. I do wish people would quit saying that it is. EA/BW has every right to allow and disallow people on their forums as they see fit. So suspending/temp banning him is fine and even the guy who got banned admits that.

The problem comes when he is locked out of the activation servers. This is inexcusable but again, it isn't about free speech. They grounded him from his own games for 3 days...that is beyond their legal reach and also it is unethical.

Pretty much this, but there's an additdional problem.

From what I understand, this occurred because enough people reported his post...at which point an automated EA (not Bioware--they are not precisely blameless, but it's not their setup that caused the suspension) system decided to do the ban. Now I understand that Bioware mods are probably swamped right now, and EA's attitude towards its customers tells me that it just can't be arsed, but allowing a machine whose only criteria is counting flags to make a decision preventing a guy from playing a game he paid money for, even temporarily, is beyond my fucking comprehension.

It's just stupid design. And the absolute worst part is, the rules cited seem to indicate they can do a permanent ban in this way.

 

[DPutna17]

I know it's kind of a bummer to not be able to activate a new game but is it really that hard to suck it up for 3 days?

 

[Sud0_x]

Just wanted to clarify for people, he wasn't banned from playing his games for 72 hours, he was suspended from the Bioware forums for 72 hours, after which he made that thread.

So he came back from a forum suspension only to discover he'd been EA Community banned and couldn't activate his game or play his old games with the DLC he'd paid for.
Thought I'd spell it out for the many of you who can't read...
Honestly some of you people are pants on head.. silly. Yeah you're silly.
At least do some fucking research before you go writing dumbass replies to people. Am I still the butthurt fanboy elitist? This shit is getting old.
Good day.

In the end he was grounded from his games because of behavior on the forums. That is the problem here.

And I think that's bullshit. There. Those are my thoughts on the matter.

Also, I just re-read that forum post and apparently he posted that from another account, so maybe his EA community ban will be lifted to coincide with the end of the suspension, I'm not sure. I'm just tired of all the people not having any general courtesy or actually reading up on the subject material before they begin crazed arguments with one another, turned out rather ironic considering I mis-read the OP's forum link myself.
You don't seem like a bad fellow so thanks for not being completely batshit insane but I think I've had enough of the subject.

Edit I got probated... wow. Thanks guys.

 

[Spencer Petersen]

So we agree.

Yes, I saw this stuff coming too. I made a fuss over the SC2 cheating/banning thing but I was shouted down, this is just a step beyond that. I am glad that most people are finally fighting back. It's about time.

EULA's have some purpose, they can be used to keep an online community in check and allow moderation and banning for legitimate reasons (like cheating), but this isn't about banning because of cheating. This is about refusing a product because of personal reasons. If the OP had been banned from his games for stealing DLC or generally making the experience less enjoyable for others I wouldn't bother defending him.

A EULA should be a promise from a company to protect you from toxic community by banning those who would attempt to bring down the experience for everyone. This is not one of those cases, this is a case of pure company hubris.

This all arises from Bioware's stance of trying to have their cake and eat it too. They want the funding benefits of being under a major publisher, but also want the creative benefits of being self publishing. They cant have both, and as long as they hide under EA's funding they need to own up to the fact that they don't own their intellectual property, its all EA.

 

[Hulten]

Well shit. I get the banning, but cutting him off from the game he bought? That doesn't seem right. I get his ignorance though. Not reading what you agree to is within their rights as long as you hit the yes option. I just see it as a very harsh punishment for something so small.

Though it is wrong. your hands are tied if you make an agreement to it.

There seems to be this attitude that clicking "I Agree" trumps consumer protection laws, it doesn't.

Well... when you say like that... But what can the guy really do to such an agreement? It even says in the beginning that by clicking yes you have read and agree with all the terms? It just seems like an uphill battle. I know it is wrong what they did, but what can you do?

 

[Sixcess]

Bioware better man up and get used to being criticised before TOR is released, because whatever negativity DA2 has attracted will be totally eclipsed by the sort of feedback they will inevitably get from subscription paying MMO players, no matter how good the game is.

 

[Nova Helix]

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

Free speech just applies to the government making law not private companies. Wasn't there a thread about this awhile ago?

Bioware may make good games but they have shit for customer service. About a year ago they did a contest thing-long story short there was a big issue but the customer service people just stayed silent on the issue after they threatened bans (like this guys).

This is one reason I won't be playing their MMO, you need good CS for MMO's and they have some of the worst.

 

[FalloutJack]

BOTTOM LINE.

The kid was an ass. And EA was also an ass. But it will be EA that suffers more merely because it couldn't be the bigger man. You guys here talking about it are pretty much an indicator of that.

So, question is...why're we still having this conversation? There's nothing left!

If I buy something for 60s dollars and am not satisfied, it's my right to be an ass. It's my property. I can say I dislike it.

Anyone who dosen't see a problem with this has to be blind.
They can revoke your right to something you own, my fucking government can't even do that.

Again, I said that EA was also an ass. The concensus I see here is that both parties lacked when one or both of them should not have. This isn't an opinion. This is what I see the thread coming to in terms of a conclusion. Neither side did what they should, so both of 'em are taking a hit in some way.

 

[Danpascooch]

Well if you sucker-punch a heavy weight boxer, you shouldn't be surprised when he turns around and clocks you. If you get sanctioned on steam, the sane thing happens, you're locked out of your games. If he's that unhappy with them, fuck if I know why he bought it.

Is it unreasonable to think he has the right to use the product he bought!?

 

[znix]

This is just added incentive to pirate their games and not rely on their draconian DRM measures which now are used to BULLY people into not criticizing them. Apparently EA is far too corporate to realize that ass raping users won't make more flock to them. Bioware accepts this kind of over-the-top reaction to critical users, which puts them on exactly the same level as EA.
Even if users hit a button to report a post, that does NOT excuse them barring a user from a legally bought and paid for game.

I'm so disgusted at EA/Bioware now.

 

[MercurySteam]

72 hours isn't that bad, though he shouldn't have badmouthed EA on their own chat. I guess EA is extra vigilant these days.

 

[alexxcodered]

Dear user
Even though you have bought a game from us for fifty Euro we deem it appropriate that we remove all of your on site abilities. Remember our employees work hard to bring you the games that you love. saying we have "sold our souls to the EA devil" was found to be hurtful by one of our moderators and several of our employees. we have suspended all rights from you as you have shown no respect for the people who make the interactive experiences that you all enjoy.
It was however not our decision to completely cut off your account, we had a representative from our publisher (EA) looking at our work on a new project we are working on. When this representative saw the email that was being sent about this particular comment, he demanded action.
Also all these new measures that apparently annoy many of you when you are buying one of our or any other of EA's games, are there to protect people from piracy.

yours sincerely
fishy McSketcherson

p.s.
we still own our products so f&%k off!
p.p.s.
this isn't from bioware or EA