Does banning bots bring additional revenue to Anet? - Page 4 - Guild Wars Forums

Dweasel · Jan 24, 2008, 09:03 PM // 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Entreri

Let's look at the wikipedia definition of estimate "Estimation is the calculated approximation of a result which is usable even if input data may be incomplete, uncertain, or noisy.". You are saying we can't make an estimate on this problem because the input data is incomplete. That argument goes against the definition of 'estimate'.

No, I'm saying we can't make a good, reasonable, quality estimate because the input data doesn't exist.

Let me put it this way. If your boss asked you, "How long will it take you to do XX?" you would be able to give him a good estimate because you are familiar with your job and you have a good idea how much effort and time it takes to do things. If your boss then pulled someone off the street and asked them how long it would take to do XX, they wouldn't be able to give a good estimate. By the dictionary definition, whatever they say might be an estimate, but I suspect you would think it was just a guess they pulled out of their ass.

Entreri · Jan 24, 2008, 09:54 PM // 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dweasel

No, I'm saying we can't make a good, reasonable, quality estimate because the input data doesn't exist.

Let me put it this way. If your boss asked you, "How long will it take you to do XX?" you would be able to give him a good estimate because you are familiar with your job and you have a good idea how much effort and time it takes to do things. If your boss then pulled someone off the street and asked them how long it would take to do XX, they wouldn't be able to give a good estimate. By the dictionary definition, whatever they say might be an estimate, but I suspect you would think it was just a guess they pulled out of their ass.

Fair enough. I'll agree that we're not likely to get a quality accurate estimate of the amount spent per bot. Keep in mind that the question being asked is more general then that. It's just "Does banning bots bring additional revenue to Anet?" which is a lot more broad. And people aren't just saying yes and no, they're trying to say why they think one way or the other. That's the interesting part even if the answer is wrong.

It's kind of like one of those "how many jellybeans are in this clear container" contest questions. Yeah, you're practically guaranteed to be off but if you think about it you might be able to come up with something closer then a random guess. This is actually easier... it's the equivalent of "are there more or less then 100,000 jellybeans in this container" so you've got a way better chance.

hurdlebeast · Jan 24, 2008, 11:24 PM // 23:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Meth

I don't think its really feasible for them to take down sites. Gold selling isn't illegal or anything, just against the EULA. AFAIK Anet's options are to either A. try to ban them in game or B. Engage in a very costly, time consuming lawsuit in which they can't even be sure to win, while nothing will prevent another site springing up a week later. Besides, a gold seller's site might be located in china or something, in which case the government will just tell Anet to go to hell.

The problem with the sites breaking the EULA is that the individual account is breaking the contract, so to speak. You can ban the account, but they make so much real world money from the time they spend on it that it doesn't matter. They prolly have a couple master accounts to run the new chars on new accounts up to lvl and speed, and then those chars will make the real moolah...meanwhile, ANet's busy trying to catch as many of the "minion" char accounts, but really can't go after the big fish at all...

but yeah, anyways, I don't do anything with bots, because it ruins the game. And despite some of it's flaws (every game has flaws) it's a great game.

Fril Estelin · Jan 25, 2008, 09:28 AM // 09:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by pygar

So have they ever iced a seller site? Taken anybody to court and forced them out of buisness?

From what I've read on RMT, the companies are not in the USA. Difficult to sue a Chinese company ...