Sunday, January 1, 2012

BioWare Bans for Swearing, Restricts Account Management Access

[DISCLAIMER: I can't provide any confirmation as to the authenticity of these images or the claims of the poster in question. I found these screenshots posted on another forum. Whether the claims being made are true or not are for you to decide. Perhaps someone else who has been banned can confirm.]

Maybe you've had enough of the BioWare hate since Star Wars: The Old Republic launched, but it seems like every day we get a new screenshot of a forum post, BioWare support e-mail, or controversial in-game feature that fuels heated discussion (SPOILER: flame wars) between all kinds of MMORPG players.

Today is no different. Behold:






















First of all... does anyone know the meaning of "game experience may change during online play?" What it means is that the ESRB isn't responsible for the content that you come across online that's created by other players or entities not associated with BioWare. In other words, the ESRB rating is not a valid basis upon which you ban someone from your game service for something they type in chat. Whether they would use this as a basis for the ban is no more relevant than it is likely, however, because BioWare can ban people for whatever they want and we can't really do anything about it.

Though, I do feel it's my duty to touch on the ethical aspect of BioWare's decision here. Not only is it absurd to ban someone for saying a naughty word that - for anyone who doesn't want to read it - can be easily filtered by their in-game profanity filter, but he was talking exclusively to his friends through whispers. What this means is that either the f-word is filtered and messages containing it are forwarded directly to the customer service representatives, or a game master is reading your private messages. Is either option one that you would prefer? Just when you thought your only freedom left in the real world was to retreat to a virtual world, your freedom there is being stripped as well.

But that's not all.


















I didn't go to law school, but isn't this somehow an illegal business practice? They are denying you the opportunity to cancel your subscription to a service that they're restricting your access from. If being required to purchase a subscription plan by providing your credit card information before being given the one month of free game time you were promised isn't enough, this should be. An organization that operates in this manner doesn't deserve any of our business, no matter how delicious the carrot might look at first glance. Don't fall for it.

9 comments:

  1. Stories like these almost always have sides to them that aren't told. Do you really think "IrishDrunk" only ever swore twice in PM?

    It is irresponsible to assume accusations without anything more than anecdotal evidence are warrented. I highly doubt that bioware/ea are reading your PM's and even if they are, so what? They are PM's within the community that they own and operate.

    ReplyDelete
  2. There's a chat filter, so even if he WAS swearing like an Irish Drunk he shouldn't be banned.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Whether he deserved the ban or not is irrelevant.

    The issue is that EA is forcibly charging him money in the future and there's nothing he can do about it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, for sure, Jordan, they have every right to operate the way they are. Just like you would have every right to kick guests out of your house/apartment for any reason you want. But – and this is a big but – just because you’re legally within your rights to do something doesn’t make it reasonable. There’s a point where you’re just being a jerk.

    BioWare is obviously overreaching here.

    ReplyDelete
  5. @DrunkyMcSwervenCrash
    To add to that, it is like kicking your guest out for little to no reason when their wallet is on the table and pushing them out the door while they try to get it. Then, ignoring their e-mails and calls asking for their wallet back.

    ReplyDelete
  6. @Drew
    More like, the guest thought he left his wallet in your house after insulting you. Then emailed your boss asking for it back while lying about why you kicked him out. And then ringing you for 10 seconds, and complaining that you stole from him because you were having a party with your other friends and didn't hear the phone.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My husband and i were now joyful when Jordan managed to do his preliminary research because of the ideas he acquired out of your web pages. It's not at all simplistic to simply happen to be giving for free information some other people could have been trying to sell. And now we do know we now have the writer to give thanks to for that. The illustrations you've made, the easy website menu, the friendships you can assist to create - it's got all superb, and it is assisting our son and us understand this concept is entertaining, which is certainly really essential. Thanks for all the pieces!
    Maasdam Pow'R Lift MPL4136 Trolley Jack, 2 Ton, Green

    ReplyDelete
  8. You made a number of nice points there. I did a search on the theme and found most people will agree with your blog.
    Kamik Women's Jennifer Rain Boot

    ReplyDelete