EA Forcing Good Behavior: Banned on Forum and You

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

A recent post by an EA Community Staff member on the company’s Command and Conquer message board outlines changes to their policy, stating their intent to link a gamer’s forum account to their EA gaming account. Why does this matter? Because EA is planning on banning those who get banned on their forum from their games as well.

The post by the EA Community Staff member can be seen below:

Your forum account will be directly tied to your Master EA Account, so if we ban you on the forums, you would be banned from the game as well since the login process is the same. And you’d actually be banned from your other EA games as well since its all tied to your account. So if you have SPORE and Red Alert 3 and you get yourself banned on our forums or in-game, well, your SPORE account would be banned to. It’s all one in the same, so I strongly [recommend] people play nice and act mature.

All in all, we expect people to come on here and abide by our ToS. We hate banning people, it makes our lives a lot tougher, but its what we have to do.

Those banned will stay banned, but like most other internet services, its not that hard to create a new fake e-mail account. However, its a lot harder to get a new serial key =)

While I am not a fan of fanboy or over the top argumentative banter, this still seems like it is a bit much. Is it just me, or is there a hint of corporate greed in this disciplinary action? Maybe it’s the smiley face after the “harder to get a new serial key” comment that is getting under my skin, but I am not agreeing with this move.

They are essentially saying that if you have the financial means to be an ******* (i.e. you’re rich bitch), you can be as nasty as you want as long as you keep feeding their corporate machine. I have a bad feeling about this.

Aterthought: What do you think of EA’s policy change? Are you happy to see them lay the smack down, or do you think they are going about this all wrong?

Source: http://www.ripten.com/2008/10/29/ea-hits-g...om-their-games/

Not sure, but I think this could be quite a good move if it's kept to extreme idiots.

I'd be a lot happier if some of the douche bags on forums not only get banned there, but get banned from ruining my online experience at the same time (Y)

As well as if they get their account banned in one game, it applies to all EA games.

That should really crack down on the abuse you get online.

Edited October 30, 2008 by Audioboxer

[Sethos]

Kudos EA (Y)

[Japlabot]

They are essentially saying that if you have the financial means to be an ******* (i.e. you’re rich bitch), you can be as nasty as you want as long as you keep feeding their corporate machine. I have a bad feeling about this.

Thats just stupid, why would anyone pay $X for a game just so that they can troll on some crappy forum. This motivation not to troll sounds fair to me, but I don't know how they are going to force existing members to reveal what they actual EA account is, I would take it that existing members will have the option to open a new account in case they 'dont already have an EA account'

[DJ-Light]

good idea

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Thats just stupid, why would anyone pay $X for a game just so that they can troll on some crappy forum. This motivation not to troll sounds fair to me, but I don't know how they are going to force existing members to reveal what they actual EA account is, I would take it that existing members will have the option to open a new account in case they 'dont already have an EA account'

Most likely when the new system is in place, if you log in to the forums it will force you to tie in your EA game account to your forum name or something? Or tie your email address you use on the forums, to your serial keys?

And secondly it says that if you're banned in-game, a universal ban applies as well, not just on the forums.

[Brad.]

I've seen people banned on the FIFA forums for basically disagreeing with the OP. People get banned for minor offences. Best to just not post on the forum if your opinion is different than others.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

I've seen people banned on the FIFA forums for basically disagreeing with the OP. People get banned for minor offences. Best to just not post on the forum if your opinion is different than others.

You sure?

You sure the person disagreeing didn't flame/abuse?

Most online forums have warning systems in place. If you get banned for a minor offense it's most likely you've been warned many times before, and it's not really the thing you lastly done that got you banned, it's a collection of everything you done wrong.

[That Guy Veteran]

This is good news, providing there are strict guidelines about what is and isn't bannable

[darren89]

hmm..............looks weird why they do that. :/

ain't customers have their own rights to play after they pay for the game?

[spacer]

My God. If only Blizzard did this with WoW, or Microsoft did this with Live. The world would be much brighter.

[Sethos]

My God. If only Blizzard did this with WoW, or Microsoft did this with Live. The world would be much brighter.

WoW would be pretty empty then.

[Michael1406]

I'm in two minds about this move. On one hand you have the point that you should play by the rules on their forums, which is fair enough. But on the other hand, someone's paid money for that game - why should a forum banning be related to that game?

I suppose it comes down to the MO of the moderators and admins. Obviously their power now has added strength to it, so they will have to be more lenient (more warnings, less bannings). I can't be bothered to read to see if they've become less strict with the rules now that there's essentially a real life price to pay for getting banned, but I hope they've at least done that.

[Brad.]

You sure?

You sure the person disagreeing didn't flame/abuse?

Most online forums have warning systems in place. If you get banned for a minor offense it's most likely you've been warned many times before, and it's not really the thing you lastly done that got you banned, it's a collection of everything you done wrong.

Yeah, they hand out bans like nobodies business there. One guy made a topic asking what happened to one of the members (who had been banned) and he was banned shortly after.

They just eliminate any chance of hassle.

[Rudy]

that will keep the forums nice and clean :p

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

I'm in two minds about this move. On one hand you have the point that you should play by the rules on their forums, which is fair enough. But on the other hand, someone's paid money for that game - why should a forum banning be related to that game?

I suppose it comes down to the MO of the moderators and admins. Obviously their power now has added strength to it, so they will have to be more lenient (more warnings, less bannings). I can't be bothered to read to see if they've become less strict with the rules now that there's essentially a real life price to pay for getting banned, but I hope they've at least done that.

When you use your game account on a forum you represent that account in the same way you would online.

If you racially abuse someone online in a game, and you do it on a forum, there really shouldn't be a let off either way.... IMO anyway.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Yeah, they hand out bans like nobodies business there. One guy made a topic asking what happened to one of the members (who had been banned) and he was banned shortly after.

They just eliminate any chance of hassle.

That is against the rules though on many forums.

NW doesn't allow you to discuss bannings publicly.

Warns should be handed out for that kind of stuff though, unless the guy got warned and he was on his last chance.

[Raa]

No I don't agree. What's to say EA bans someone for a really stupid reason (Lets face it, it HAS happened and it WILL happen)

What recourse does a customer have? Do I smell a lawsuit coming on for this? Linking the accounts - great idea. Banning in games that you've PAID for? Not cool.

IMO anyway!

[Axel]

At least this will enourage people to be more respectful and think about something twice before they hit enter. Behaviour that there is a distinct lack of on the internet these days.

[DrCheese]

Even Blizzard doesn't feel the need to do this, and the wow forums are the dregs of the internet. Afaik the only time they ban users accounts based on forum posts is if they've publicly posted cheats and hacks which is fair enough but in all other cases they will just forum ban.

This is just EA abusing it's virtual monopoly nowadays. They know that anyone they ban will likely have to buy another EA game in the future so they won't really lose out.

[Athernar]

I can only hope that a moderator goes nuts on the EA forums and bans everyone, that would be hilarious.

[exotoxic]

sounds like a good idea to me (Y)

What's to say EA bans someone for a really stupid reason (Lets face it, it HAS happened and it WILL happen)

Well with the new system there would be no "stupid reason" bannings, they would have to set out clear guidlines of whats right and whats wrong. They could always implement an appeal system.

Banning in games that you've PAID for?

Other people paid for the game too and shouldnt have to put up with silly kids giving them abuse. Just because you paid doesnt give you the right to abuse people.

Maybe people would start having a better attitude in real life too.

[(Spork)]

man that's the true meaning of the word OWND

PS blizzard's forums are sicking ...... if they did this wow would be done

[what]

I don't like the idea, but it's easy enough to stay off of EAs forums and rant about them elsewhere.

[Coldgunner]

I can actually see the merits of such a system too. Play nice or lose it basically. Although it should not be all down to how the mod is feeling at the time.

[+mrbester MVC]

This is too easy to abuse / get wrong and is probably illegal.

Even though access to the forums is restricted to those who have bought the game(s), the actions on a forum don't necessarily reflect actions taken in the game(s). If you call someone a <snipped/> and get banned from a forum, fair enough, except if provoked. Then that's just unfair. Restriction from being able to utilise the functionality built into the game(s) is a totally different matter as you are prevented from using what you have directly paid for by an arbitrary decision. This is a breach of contract and no EULA can wriggle out of it.

And what if there's a brainfart on EA's servers and innocent people get banned (who might not even have ever used the forums)?

Get caught cheating, get banned from the game. Fair enough.

Abuse the forum, get banned from it. Also fair enough.

"East is East, and West is West..."