Curse

Fay Vert · May 27, 2010, 07:23 PM // 19:23

I don't think it is appropriate for all. The problem is that ANet ignored this problem as it grew for a very long time. It almost became accepted that ANet didn't care and people were starting to say that it didn't matter, it's a five year old dead game. In that context, many people will have been persuaded to bot, especially if the alternative was to grind away at the time>skill content that ANet has been adding a lot of for a long time.

Serious PvP botting and massive farming (presumably RMT) should have been hit with a permaban, but I think for most people a sharp two week-one month ban and a last chance mark on their account would do the job.

Also, I am certain that at least some will have been wrongfully banned. I hope is few enough to be resolvable, but the fear is that there may be many dozens of inocent players caught in this.

10/10 for the Dhumm ban ceremony though

code · May 27, 2010, 07:26 PM // 19:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fay Vert

I don't think it is appropriate for all. The problem is that ANet ignored this problem as it grew for a very long time. It almost became accepted that ANet didn't care and people were starting to say that it didn't matter, it's a five year old dead game. In that context, many people will have been persuaded to bot, especially if the alternative was to grind away at the time>skill content that ANet has been adding a lot of for a long time.

Serious PvP botting and massive farming (presumably RMT) should have been hit with a permaban, but I think for most people a sharp two week-one month ban and a last chance mark on their account would do the job.

Also, I am certain that at least some will have been wrongfully banned. I hope is few enough to be resolvable, but the fear is that there may be many dozens of inocent players caught in this.

10/10 for the Dhumm ban ceremony though

I very much share this opinion.

By setting up a climate of hatred/ignorance of their own players, ArenaNet provoked this a lot more than it should have been.

Sir Cusfreak · May 27, 2010, 07:26 PM // 19:26

Termination: ABSOLUTELY appropriate. It's too bad they dont get to do other things to bottors ON TOP OF being terminated, like a good swift kick in the nuts would be appropriate, too.
I wish they were more thorough, and banned every botter, and every account that was touched by the same IP as a botter, EVER. But I am THRILLED with the progress made,
they got a good chunk, and I'm glad. and they say they arent done, and I'm glad.

BYE, SCUM. HAPPY DHUUMSDAY!!!!

cormac ap dunn · May 27, 2010, 07:26 PM // 19:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by code

Don't come with the EULA excuses, the EULA says ArenaNet can ban you for any or no reason whatsoever. So you know that you are going to get banned, even if you abide by the agreement, AMIRITE?

That is, if the EULA were even a binding agreement, because at least in Europe, it is NOT.

well wether you consider it a binding agreement or not, if the account was justly banned for botting, i'm guessing your belief won't get your account back... you should wish for a unicorn while your at it, cuz in the end, you have as good a chance at getting one as you do of unbanning your tainted account

Aleta · May 27, 2010, 07:26 PM // 19:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShaneOfMach

I'm pretty sure if Anet just issued a 2 week ban on everyone who was suspected of botting and possibly wiping their platinum/ectos, it would've been more than enough to kill the momentum while still giving the players a chance to reflect on their misdemeanors.

It also means it wouldn't hinder the activity of GW and still allow them to keep around 2000 active players who are willing to change their ways. It's not like you can have a bot for everything in the game, and the people who've achieved titles and completions like vanquishing, exploration, and guardian titles must've done it through hard work as well.

I might just be a little irritated that my account has been banned as well, but the worst part of it is I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to my friends and guild members, whom I've gotten very close to.

Bottom line is: Permament bans for people with no prior offenses might be a little harsh. If you've effectively found a way to stop botting and detect it, then the people that you've banned don't become much of a threat to the game anymore.

The punishment fit the crime.

lorenna · May 27, 2010, 07:31 PM // 19:31

=---------------------

Bob Slydell · May 27, 2010, 07:31 PM // 19:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fay Vert

I don't think it is appropriate for all. The problem is that ANet ignored this problem as it grew for a very long time. It almost became accepted that ANet didn't care and people were starting to say that it didn't matter, it's a five year old dead game. In that context, many people will have been persuaded to bot, especially if the alternative was to grind away at the time>skill content that ANet has been adding a lot of for a long time.

Serious PvP botting and massive farming (presumably RMT) should have been hit with a permaban, but I think for most people a sharp two week-one month ban and a last chance mark on their account would do the job.

Also, I am certain that at least some will have been wrongfully banned. I hope is few enough to be resolvable, but the fear is that there may be many dozens of inocent players caught in this.

10/10 for the Dhumm ban ceremony though

You use the game's age as an excuse to bot your achievements because you can't bother to play it yourself.

Tell me, if the game is so old and dead, then wouldn't the achievements in it also be old and dead (aka not worth it to get)?

Femmefatal · May 27, 2010, 07:32 PM // 19:32

They won't get any of the benefits in GW2 either and you know they shouldn't even let them in that come to think of it. They should IP/ISP or however they do the permanent ban to include GW2 now that would really stoke them wouldn't it? tee hee

Bob Slydell · May 27, 2010, 07:35 PM // 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Femmefatal

They won't get any of the benefits in GW2 either and you know they shouldn't even let them in that come to think of it. They should IP/ISP or however they do the permanent ban to include GW2 now that would really stoke them wouldn't it? tee hee

I agree. Problem is, some ISP's nowadays use dynamic IP addressing rather than static. Yes, they use the same DHCP method out in ISP's that a WiFi router can use. So if an innocent guy comes along on GW and gets the banned IP not only can they not play but they might even risk losing their account too in a really sucky non Anet fault way.

code · May 27, 2010, 07:39 PM // 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Slydell

You use the game's age as an excuse to bot your achievements because you can't bother to play it yourself.

Tell me, if the game is so old and dead, then wouldn't the achievements in it also be old and dead (aka not worth it to get)?

Excuse me, but I am about certain he did not mean to imply botting was so easy for players to start because of the game's age; but much more because of the lowering interest ArenaNet seems to be putting in the game coupled with these months with absence of acknowledgement of the bots and any punishments for them.

Do you remember the recent scandals with the portals in Slaver's Exile? While I knew of it, I would have NEVER tried it out.
Result: No one was punished.

Or even the green moddings, just now?
Result: No one was punished.

Or maybe bypassing the bosses in Slaver's Exile at the beginning of GW:EN? I didn't participate.
Result: No one was punished.

Is it fair in this regard, that players skipping the bosses before Mallyx were permanently banned? (FYI it did turn out that NO ONE in the whole Mallyx incident used a third party program, and the steps to access the outpost through normaly gameplay have been acknowledged by ArenaNet, but those ""guilty"" of the exploit have been told that they CANNOT be unbanned due to the negative image an unbanning would shed on the GW community as a whole)
Is it fair that those who were unwise enough to download candy farming bots were permanently banned?

Fear The Apocalypse · May 27, 2010, 07:40 PM // 19:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Slydell

I really hope I don't see some threads on guru later like:

"Petition for Mass Banned to get Second Chance"

They can make a bot for that!..

iPhone commercial spoof... "There is an app for that."
GW "there is a bot for that"

Karate Jesus · May 27, 2010, 07:41 PM // 19:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by code

Oh come on. No one knew of the repercussions or they would not have botted in the first place.

Bullshit. Pure bullshit. If you didn't know you could be banned for botting, then you're either a terrible liar or a fool.

Quote:

Originally Posted by code

It doesn't help that there were Anti-Bot threads lingering on the forums for months without any sign of acknowledgement from ArenaNet.

Again, bullshit. I'll respond to that by quoting Regina:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regina

We saw the threads about your concerns with botting over the past couple months. We weren’t ignoring you, but we couldn't talk about what we were doing beforehand, as we didn’t want to tip our hand and inadvertently alert the botters to our plans. We take this issue very seriously and will continue to hunt for botters and cheaters of all sorts. There are consequences if you engage in botting or match manipulation.

They didn't want you to know.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by code

But maybe this is how ArenaNet expects to make business; apply enough psychological pressure on your customers and get them to breach your contract and have to buy a new game box. After all it's a Win-Win situation for them, they get to free up server space OR get paid for it a second time.

Quit whining. You got caught. Sucks to be you, but don't play the innocent. You can't bot in any online game. Welcome to real life.

Ka Tet · May 27, 2010, 07:41 PM // 19:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fay Vert

I don't think it is appropriate for all. The problem is that ANet ignored this problem as it grew for a very long time. It almost became accepted that ANet didn't care and people were starting to say that it didn't matter, it's a five year old dead game.

It would seem that by not effectively curtailing the issue sooner, Anet and NC actually helped to fuel the fire. I would imagine that if you were playing HA or GVG and constantly getting bot-raped, or doing comp mishes and watching the same bots ruin your team's chances of winning on a regular basis, and see those people allowed to engage in that behavior over and over with no repercussions, I would think that some would turn to interrupt-bots to even the score in higher end pvp or use their own bots to afk farm the small faction rewards they were getting from matches ruined by the original botters.
Just my two cents. Thought I'd throw them in before this post gets closed.

cormac ap dunn · May 27, 2010, 07:42 PM // 19:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenna

..and im going to quit too since i have nobody to play with. i know me and at least 2-3 of my friends bought every costume, every add on and every single thing that we could for our accounts. ...i mean thats nearly 4000 customers right there they have just lost..+ the people like me who wont play cause they have no friends.

Rather sad that you lost some friends that were less then reputable, but rather then quit because of people who didn't care enough about their accounts or their friendship with you to not bot, why not use this as an opportunity to make new , more ethical friends?

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenna

i mean seriously those players who had god walking or close to it through hard work and botted just for items like festival drops or ectos or whatever else you can bot for i dont know..do anet seriously think those people are going to go out and buy new accounts and begin again? i doubt it

once again anet have done what needed to be done..but i think personally did it the wrong way...4000 at once is a bit excessive. well i had fun playing anyway..nice 1 punishing players who did nothing wrong

My opinion is, that losing people who felt that any degree of cheating, regardless of digital "status" is EXACTLY what needed to happen. why should one person or group be immune to the rules?

Del · May 27, 2010, 07:42 PM // 19:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by code

Don't come with the EULA excuses, the EULA says ArenaNet can ban you for any or no reason whatsoever. So you know that you are going to get banned, even if you abide by the agreement, AMIRITE?

That is, if the EULA were even a binding agreement, because at least in Europe, it is NOT.

don't use that no one knew of the repercussions bullshit. it was said that they could terminate a user's account for violating the eula, botters violated the eula, so they got banned, it's all fair and just, quit your bitching, grow up, and deal with it.

code · May 27, 2010, 07:43 PM // 19:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karate Jesus

They didn't want you to know.....

AHAH, did you ever ask yourself why, and what consequences that would have?
Of course they did not want their players to know, or there would not have been so many botters to ban (read: get the payment for a second copy of Guild Wars)

Oh, and I did not bot, no, I would not risk my account with such trivial things.

MisterB · May 27, 2010, 07:44 PM // 19:44

Read the warnings next time. ANet said don't bot or we'll ban you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fay Vert

I don't think it is appropriate for all. The problem is that ANet ignored this problem as it grew for a very long time. It almost became accepted that ANet didn't care and people were starting to say that it didn't matter, it's a five year old dead game. In that context, many people will have been persuaded to bot, especially if the alternative was to grind away at the time>skill content that ANet has been adding a lot of for a long time.

It is also an alternative to ignore any title that any player feels may have too much grind, and this alternative is not expressly forbidden by ANet's rules. Titles really are optional. Well, except for a few like Luxon/Kurzick and Sunspear.

Bob Slydell · May 27, 2010, 07:44 PM // 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by code

Excuse me, but I am about certain he did not mean to imply botting was so easy for players to start because of the game's age; but much more because of the lowering interest ArenaNet seems to be putting in the game coupled with these months with absence of acknowledgement of the bots and any punishments for them.

Do you remember the recent scandals with the portals in Slaver's Exile? While I knew of it, I would have NEVER tried it out.
Result: No one was punished.

Or even the green moddings, just now?
Result: No one was punished.

Or maybe bypassing the bosses in Slaver's Exile at the beginning of GW:EN? I didn't participate.
Result: No one was punished.

Is it fair in this regard, that players skipping the bosses before Mallyx were permanently banned? (FYI it did turn out that NO ONE in the whole Mallyx incident used a third party program, and the steps to access the outpost through normaly gameplay have been acknowledged by ArenaNet, but those ""guilty"" of the exploit have been told that they CANNOT be unbanned due to the negative image an unbanning would shed on the GW community as a whole)
Is it fair that those who were unwise enough to download candy farming bots were permanently banned?

Who cares?

And don't even ask me if the Mallyx Exploit or the Candy Farming bots were bannable, they were because arenanet felt they were.

I suggest you move on with your life at this point...really man.

EDIT: Now that I think of it, the Mallyx exploit had people gaining access to a hidden outpost using hacks, THAT is a ban right there, along with the bot you mentioned.

But your first three examples? No.. they are not bannable.

code · May 27, 2010, 07:46 PM // 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Del

don't use that no one knew of the repercussions bullshit. it was said that they could terminate a user's account for violating the eula, boters violated the eula, so they got banned, it's all fair and just, quit your bitching, grow up, and deal with it.

It has also been said that they can terminate your account for any reason, and even for no reason.

Now grow up and get some english spelling lessons.

code · May 27, 2010, 07:47 PM // 19:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterB

Read the warnings next time. ANet said don't bot or we'll ban you.

It is also an alternative to ignore any title that any player feels may have too much grind, and this alternative is not expressly forbidden by ANet's rules. Titles really are optional. Well, except for a few like Luxon/Kurzick and Sunspear.

Next one... "Titles are optional", do you realize the whole game is optional? Heck, even your life is optional.