A Simple Question *deserves* A Simple Answer - Guild Wars Forums

Chunk · Jul 17, 2007, 10:53 AM // 10:53

This is a question directed at the Guild Wars team. It is very simple and I want an answer.

Question:

There are certain towns in Guild Wars that are infested with bots 24 hours a day. (I.E. Granite Citadel) Botters are very easy recognize because they are 55 monk/warriors and follow a specific, repeating path. One only has to observe in-game activity momentarily to discern between bots and real players. Is it not possible for someone from Arena Net to play the game for 1 hour a day and compile a list of character names of suspected botters. Just one person hanging out in the guild wars community could eliminate hundreds of botters a day. Is this method possible or is there some technical reason that human observation is frowned upon by the developers.

Skuld · Jul 17, 2007, 10:57 AM // 10:57

What makes you think ANet would want to stop botters?

God Apprentice · Jul 17, 2007, 10:59 AM // 10:59

This is the most awesome 5,094,761,942 to the second power thread on this topic.

Believe it or not they do monitor, I was in a town one time and a guy talked in the purple gaile chat saying to the idiots not using trade chat "Please use trade chat for all trade purposes."

Chunk · Jul 17, 2007, 11:00 AM // 11:00

Did the purple chat say anything about botting? Stay on topic.

Etta · Jul 17, 2007, 11:11 AM // 11:11

I thought you stop playing GW, Chunky Chunk Chunk.

God Apprentice · Jul 17, 2007, 11:16 AM // 11:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chunk

Did the purple chat say anything about botting? Stay on topic.

No but the purple chat was a dev, which means they watch, which is what you wanted to know.

kurtas · Jul 17, 2007, 11:21 AM // 11:21

Quote:

Is it not possible for someone from Arena Net to play the game for 1 hour a day and compile a list of character names of suspected botters.

Are you kidding me? They'll never get level 70 in WoW if they're busy playing this game.

Renegade26 · Jul 17, 2007, 11:22 AM // 11:22

300 bots a day.

Chunk · Jul 17, 2007, 11:25 AM // 11:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by God Apprentice

No but the purple chat was a dev, which means they watch, which is what you wanted to know.

No disrespect, but that is heresay on your part. I want an official Arena-Net response of why common sense steps are not being taken to eliminate the botting infestation.

Iuris · Jul 17, 2007, 11:25 AM // 11:25

First, Chunk, if you really want an answer, ask Anet. Don't post on a forum where it may, or may not, catch the eye of a passing by Anet employee.

If you want to discuss, though, here's a bit:
Anet only has so many people to do the work. And there's a lot of work competing for resources. Nothing can be done instantly, and things get some priorities. Mass lag in Germany directly affecting players is a bit more important than botting, which only affects the players in an indirect way (Guesstimate, BTW).

Second, with thousands of bot accounts banned each month, Anet seems to be doing something. However, all a botter needs is go and buy new keys to start anew. It's a hydra type fight. Why not doing more? See above.

You must realize that detecting a bot is not quite as simple as it seems. It takes time, observation, and not just in town but also in the instance.

Muspellsheimr · Jul 17, 2007, 12:24 PM // 12:24

More or less what he said ^ ^ ^

However, most of the bot accounts are stolen, not bought by the botters.

Oh, and their was a thread by Gaile about this a while back. If the Guru search ever begins to work, I *might* be able to find it for you.

Mournblade · Jul 17, 2007, 12:32 PM // 12:32

Gaile has claimed 300 bots per day are banned and she seemed pleased with that number. I predict that if she does post in this thread, it will be to reaffirm this information.

You get bonus points though for making it clear you had quit the game, and then showing up a couple months later demanding answers that had already been given from the dev team. GG

Xitoahc · Jul 17, 2007, 12:33 PM // 12:33

Quote:

In June, the Support Teams found, researched, verified and banned 9,009 bots. In July, they are already approaching 4,000 banned bots. As you can see, they're getting very good at this, and in nearly all cases, there is no appeal or the appeal is not supported by the facts upon undertaking a re-check. So we're making very good headway. You should be assured that the team visually checks at least 10 "hot spots for bots." Two of them are indeed Altruum Ruins and Granite Citadel, so they are very much on target. --Gaile

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Talk:Bot

Official Word from Anet like you wanted Chunky.

Bryant Again · Jul 17, 2007, 01:41 PM // 13:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Etta

I thought you stop playing GW, Chunky Chunk Chunk.

And so therefore, he does not have a right to have a general concern over the game?

lucifer_uk · Jul 17, 2007, 01:43 PM // 13:43

Please try use the search feature.

The was a post about bots being discussed literally 1 day ago and Gaile even posted in it:

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10177588

Redfeather1975 · Jul 17, 2007, 01:45 PM // 13:45

As it's been said Gaile commented on the number of bots banned a day and that people from Anet pop into the 'hot spots' often to watch bot activity.
Xitoahc's link to the wiki shows that close to 400 bots a day are being banned in July!

TwinRaven · Jul 17, 2007, 08:06 PM // 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iuris

First, Chunk, if you really want an answer, ask Anet. Don't post on a forum where it may, or may not, catch the eye of a passing by Anet employee.

Sorry to say it, but if you tried sending a note to ANet on such a subject, you would be likely to be referred to the forums...It happens a lot. ANet has sent a few of us an e-mail saying to post concerns here....and for the record: ANet is pretty good about looking at the forums. They may not adequately address every issue according to some folks, but they DO read over the topics and postings here....especially this forum. In the immortal words of Robert A Ripley..."Believe it or not"

lennymon · Jul 17, 2007, 08:18 PM // 20:18

@op it's possible, and they do it (according to them - whom I'd believe)

also @op re your title: working hard *deserves* a decent living but does that always happen?

Regarding the topic at large
Anet folks don't *need* to get rid of bots... don't need to tell us anything about it, and certainly don't need to get crapped on about what you, me or anyone else thinks about how they do what they do. I certainly don't need to know about what they do, rather nice that they are kind enough to tell us stuff don't you think? If you wanna get all wanky with Anet don't do it on guru please (just my personal request).

Coloneh · Jul 18, 2007, 07:13 AM // 07:13

stop complaining. are the bots hurting you? no. are the hurting the economy? no. leave em alone, what a-net is doing is working fine.

shanaya · Jul 18, 2007, 07:47 AM // 07:47

If the botters are buying new accounts (rather than stealing them) after they are banned then Anet is making a nice bit of revenue from them.

Jul 17, 2007, 10:53 AM // 10:53	#1
Chunk Academy Page Join Date: Feb 2007 Profession: Mo/N	*A Simple Question deserves* A Simple Answer** This is a question directed at the Guild Wars team. It is very simple and I want an answer. Question: There are certain towns in Guild Wars that are infested with bots 24 hours a day. (I.E. Granite Citadel) Botters are very easy recognize because they are 55 monk/warriors and follow a specific, repeating path. One only has to observe in-game activity momentarily to discern between bots and real players. Is it not possible for someone from Arena Net to play the game for 1 hour a day and compile a list of character names of suspected botters. Just one person hanging out in the guild wars community could eliminate hundreds of botters a day. Is this method possible or is there some technical reason that human observation is frowned upon by the developers.

Jul 17, 2007, 10:57 AM // 10:57	#2
Skuld Furnace Stoker Join Date: Sep 2005 Guild: Thousend Tigers Apund Ur Head [Ttgr] Profession: A/	What makes you think ANet would want to stop botters?

Jul 17, 2007, 10:59 AM // 10:59	#3
God Apprentice Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Mar 2006 Profession: Mo/N	This is the most awesome 5,094,761,942 to the second power thread on this topic. Believe it or not they do monitor, I was in a town one time and a guy talked in the purple gaile chat saying to the idiots not using trade chat "Please use trade chat for all trade purposes."

Jul 17, 2007, 11:00 AM // 11:00	#4
Chunk Academy Page Join Date: Feb 2007 Profession: Mo/N	Did the purple chat say anything about botting? Stay on topic.

Jul 17, 2007, 11:11 AM // 11:11	#5
Etta Forge Runner Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mancland, British Empire	I thought you stop playing GW, Chunky Chunk Chunk.

Jul 17, 2007, 11:22 AM // 11:22	#8
Renegade26 Krytan Explorer Join Date: Jul 2006 Profession: R/	300 bots a day.

Jul 17, 2007, 11:25 AM // 11:25	#10
Iuris Forge Runner Join Date: Nov 2006 Guild: Crazy ducks from the Forest Profession: W/	First, Chunk, if you really want an answer, ask Anet. Don't post on a forum where it may, or may not, catch the eye of a passing by Anet employee. If you want to discuss, though, here's a bit: Anet only has so many people to do the work. And there's a lot of work competing for resources. Nothing can be done instantly, and things get some priorities. Mass lag in Germany directly affecting players is a bit more important than botting, which only affects the players in an indirect way (Guesstimate, BTW). Second, with thousands of bot accounts banned each month, Anet seems to be doing something. However, all a botter needs is go and buy new keys to start anew. It's a hydra type fight. Why not doing more? See above. You must realize that detecting a bot is not quite as simple as it seems. It takes time, observation, and not just in town but also in the instance.

Jul 17, 2007, 12:24 PM // 12:24	#11
Muspellsheimr Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Feb 2007	More or less what he said ^ ^ ^ However, most of the bot accounts are stolen, not bought by the botters. Oh, and their was a thread by Gaile about this a while back. If the Guru search ever begins to work, I might be able to find it for you.

Jul 17, 2007, 12:32 PM // 12:32	#12
Mournblade Furnace Stoker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Guild: Dawn Treaders [DAWN] Profession: W/Mo	Gaile has claimed 300 bots per day are banned and she seemed pleased with that number. I predict that if she does post in this thread, it will be to reaffirm this information. You get bonus points though for making it clear you had quit the game, and then showing up a couple months later demanding answers that had already been given from the dev team. GG

Jul 17, 2007, 01:43 PM // 13:43	#15
lucifer_uk Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nottingham, England Guild: The Venerable Truth [TvT] The Venerable Alliance [TvH] [TvL] Profession: R/	Please try use the search feature. The was a post about bots being discussed literally 1 day ago and Gaile even posted in it: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10177588

Jul 17, 2007, 01:45 PM // 13:45	#16
Redfeather1975 Forge Runner Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Apartment#306 Guild: Rhedd Asylum Profession: Me/	As it's been said Gaile commented on the number of bots banned a day and that people from Anet pop into the 'hot spots' often to watch bot activity. Xitoahc's link to the wiki shows that close to 400 bots a day are being banned in July!

Jul 17, 2007, 08:18 PM // 20:18	#18
lennymon Forge Runner Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Seattle Guild: Odin's Hammer [OH] - Servant's of Fortuna [SoF] Profession: R/	@op it's possible, and they do it (according to them - whom I'd believe) also @op re your title: working hard deserves a decent living but does that always happen? Regarding the topic at large Anet folks don't need to get rid of bots... don't need to tell us anything about it, and certainly don't need to get crapped on about what you, me or anyone else thinks about how they do what they do. I certainly don't need to know about what they do, rather nice that they are kind enough to tell us stuff don't you think? If you wanna get all wanky with Anet don't do it on guru please (just my personal request).

Jul 18, 2007, 07:13 AM // 07:13	#19
Coloneh Furnace Stoker Join Date: Nov 2006 Profession: D/W	stop complaining. are the bots hurting you? no. are the hurting the economy? no. leave em alone, what a-net is doing is working fine.

Jul 18, 2007, 07:47 AM // 07:47	#20
shanaya Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Nov 2005 Guild: Scouts of Tyria Profession: R/	If the botters are buying new accounts (rather than stealing them) after they are banned then Anet is making a nice bit of revenue from them.