Curse

Peewee · Apr 25, 2006, 01:19 AM // 01:19

I am afraid that this is the sad truth. Chinese 'gamers' are working in sweatshop conditions (one report suggested that 50 PCs were in the same room, with no ventilation, and temperatures were as high as 45 degrees celcius)

Essentially the bots they program require some input, so these people are hired and work at rates below the poverty line (in some situacions)

In China there is essentialy 2 cultures. There is the rich westernised east coast, and the poor 3rd world north west. The poorer migrate to the city in the hope of work, and riches, but find themselves in a situacion where they become exploited because they have to work for peanuts or nothing at all.

The solution is to never ever buy gold for any game. There is simply no excuse. To an extent this includes power leveling, as this is often a second service offered by the company, and while it may not rely on such sweat shops is facilitates it.

As an individual i can only advise that you do not buy gold, do not use power leveling services, unless you made an agreement with somebody in game, and do your best to petition against adverts for such services being displayed on fan sites.

PC Gamer, a UK PC magazine recently took a stand against such adverts, and no longer gets any revenue from it, but magazines and fan sites still advertise these things. I understand that often these adverts are what finance fan sites and even magazines. But imo how can a fan site claim to support the game while at the same time facilitate such companies.

If you think such practises are wrong then write to your favorite magazine, start a petition on that Fan Site you frequent, and stop the adverts.

Thanks for starting this thread, its an important issue, not just for people playing the game, and the developers of such games, but as you can see for people on the other side of the world.

shadowfell · Apr 25, 2006, 01:29 AM // 01:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gli

Not entirely true. I'm sure at least some of the eBay gold buyers have done so with the intention of buying a 700,000 gold HoD sword.

Let me know when a gold HoD appears out of magical thin air

Sereng Amaranth · Apr 25, 2006, 02:42 AM // 02:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by eSe

some games tp a char 2 jail and ask question or make them move in certain places bots cant do but not sure if this will work in this case since this game is global and not everyone knows english

i could be rude in response to your comment....but i think it speaks for itself

natuxatu · Apr 25, 2006, 02:53 AM // 02:53

they just need to get rid of the bots as far as A.net goes that should be their main concern not the sweatshops.

HawkofStorms · Apr 25, 2006, 03:54 AM // 03:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peewee

I am afraid that this is the sad truth. Chinese 'gamers' are working in sweatshop conditions (one report suggested that 50 PCs were in the same room, with no ventilation, and temperatures were as high as 45 degrees celcius)
.

I really doubt that report. In those conditions, the computers would all overheat.

Studio Ghibli · Apr 25, 2006, 06:46 AM // 06:46

I'd like to read this report for the sake of veracity, considering I agree with Hawk there.. and it runs contrary to everything I've read.

Gli · Apr 25, 2006, 06:54 AM // 06:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowfell

Let me know when a gold HoD appears out of magical thin air

Errr...

A 700,000 gold HoD sword, gold being the monetary unit?

A (700,000 gold) HoD sword.

A HoD sword costing 700,000 gold;

Sagius Truthbarron · Apr 25, 2006, 06:54 AM // 06:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peewee

I am afraid that this is the sad truth. Chinese 'gamers' are working in sweatshop conditions

Yeah, that Taiwan server they made, everyone playing on that is living in a sweatshop, right?

This is what Gaile Gray said to me about these comments on fan sites:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

Hello, [name],

Thanks for getting in touch. I'm sorry to hear that you've read such racist commentary on our fan forums. I have not seen that sort of thing myself, and I hope that I do not see it! It is not possible or reasonable for us to take account action based on what a person says in a fansite forum. Racist comments within the game that are reported to us will be investigated and, if they are found to be accurate, action can and will be taken on game accounts.

Thanks for your concern, and for your support of Guild Wars.

Regards,

Gaile Gray
Community Relations Manager
Guild Wars

This message was in response to what I said:

Quote:

Originally Posted by me

It has come to my attention that many American players seem to think on an unfounded basis that ALL Chinese people who play the game are "Botting" or that they are "Child Labor Slaves".

This has taken on great presidence on fan forums, I was wondering what your view on this mattter is.

ExDeity · Apr 25, 2006, 08:31 AM // 08:31

Since when was GWGuru a site for debating child labor laws in foreign countries?

This has little to do with guild wars specifically. Better off working in sweatshops earning peanuts than dying of starvation doing nothing.

aron searle · Apr 25, 2006, 09:31 AM // 09:31

Quote:

The solution is to never ever buy gold for any game. There is simply no excuse. To an extent this includes power leveling, as this is often a second service offered by the company, and while it may not rely on such sweat shops is facilitates it.

Ill bet money you were wearing an item of clothing made in a sweatshop whilst you typed that.

God Apprentice · Apr 25, 2006, 10:30 AM // 10:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poison Ivy

And...how do you know this?

Go to Elona Int dis 1 and stand facing the merchant. Watch as a lot of them run at the wall....

Blaster The Warrior · Apr 25, 2006, 11:40 AM // 11:40

i think this is pathetic they ruin the game for us normal players

Fay Vert · Apr 25, 2006, 11:53 AM // 11:53

How long has this been going on for now? ANet doesn't seem to care about it.

Muse of Shadows · Apr 25, 2006, 12:03 PM // 12:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fay Vert

How long has this been going on for now? ANet doesn't seem to care about it.

They claim they care...

cherikku · Apr 25, 2006, 12:38 PM // 12:38

Just how are these "farmers" ruining the game? I'd see it as a plus because it adds more population to the game thus making the game more lively, interesting (for some), and a reassurance that the game is not fading. Ultimately, when you see these farmers disappear then you know that GW is pretty much dead. If no one is playing GW then there is no reason for these "farmers" to farm gold. Leave them be and they wont bother you.

Peace out.

Phaern Majes · Apr 25, 2006, 03:05 PM // 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sagius Truthbarron
It has come to my attention that many American players seem to think on an unfounded basis that ALL Chinese people who play the game are "Botting" or that they are "Child Labor Slaves".

This has taken on great presidence on fan forums, I was wondering what your view on this mattter is.

I don't think anyone is saying that even a majority of the players in China are botters/workers. What I do think they are saying is that the majority of botters/workers seem to be "playing" from that part of the world. There is a big, big, big difference in those two statements. Granted I'll give you I have seen one or two member post things like "Ban all of China" or the like. Again though, one or two members is hardly "many American players". If they are even American.

Continuing on.....

Just because a majority of botters/workers may orginate from areas in Asia (and I'm not saying they do for sure) doesn't mean the entire population is in on it. The problem is that it only takes a few to ruin it for the many. So a few indiscrete groups can give a bad name for an entire area. Really though, when you are talking about the issue of botting or sweatshop, they should never be labled as a Chinese problem. They shouldn't be labled as a Korean problem, an European problem, or an American problem. Yes I understand why certain areas have a higher rate of it than others. That does not mean it happens only in that area, nor does it mean the problem originates from that area.

I've always thought the problem wasn't people selling gold, but rather that people BUY gold. People selling are really just trying to make a living. Personally I have a hard time not liking someone just because they are trying to earn a living. However, I have no qualms disliking the person who can sit there and waste 100's of dollars on in-game gold. Its not even the fact that they are getting an in-game boost. Its more the fact that they are willing to waste so much money on something that isn't real. This is an example of consumerism at its worst. Which brings me to my next point. These consumers are usually American.

I'm not pointing that out because I hate all American players and think they should be banned, as I myself am an American player. I'm just pointing out how alot of you seem to be taking the high horse and accusing other areas of issues that I believe originate here in America. You have to see how hypocritical it is, that we say "Botting is bad.", then we log into Ebay and buy 100's of dollars worth of GW gold. With that said let me restate that I in no way believe that all American players buy gold. Nor do I believe all Chinese players bot/game for profit. I just think that the former is more inexcusable than the latter, regardless of which region is doing it.

Haggard · Apr 25, 2006, 03:29 PM // 15:29

They don't ruin the game, just don't buy gold off ebay and you'll be fine

Besides, bot farming has only caused one nerf to my knowledge, that of the griffons. Tbh, i can live without them.

Seissor · Apr 25, 2006, 03:30 PM // 15:30

The ppl in elonas are not chinese farmers, they are programmed bots. I believe that farmers do exist but these arent at the ones at elonas.

Ppl run to areas/places and pathfind, everyone is different. I run to the merchant one way, someone else runs another.

These monks in elonas all have the same or one of 3 paths they track, how many human players walk into a freaking wall for 10 mins before they wind up at the merchant?

Ive also offered them ecto, money and shards free and they dont do anything. They are bots, not people farmers. But I do believe ppl farmers exist.

Haggard · Apr 25, 2006, 03:36 PM // 15:36

^ If people farmers didn't exist, then the entire of deldrimor war camp, temple of ages etc would be a hallucination.

Sagius Truthbarron · Apr 25, 2006, 03:57 PM // 15:57

The one in the background is running into the wall, most of these were running around the box in circles before all stopping at the same place.

After this screenshot was taken, 5 more came in and started slamming into the wall on my right, and then zinged into the same spot.

Not bots?