Battlefield 2142 Includes Spyware
October 18th, 2006 by Darren Stevens in Business, Multiplayer, Online, PC, Rumor, Software
Many were stunned when EA announced that Battlefield 2142 would have in-game advertising billboards, provided by IGA Interactive. Now it turns out that the game includes monitoring software (read: spyware) that tracks your IP address and surfing hobbits, so ad-companies can display “targeted ads”. Some suggest however, that this software only runs while you’re playing the game, and not while generally surfing the Internet.
IGA Worldwide stated to Joystiq that if you don’t want the spyware to run on your computer, don’t play or install the game. It’s as simple as that. Furthermore, they state on their website that “70% of gamers [are] saying that advertisements inside computer and video games help improve the realism of the gaming experience”. Which is complete bulls**t, to say the least.
For us living in countries with decent privacy laws (e.g. Europe), there is little to do since the “servers” are located in places where this kind of actions are allowed (e.g. USA).
I’ll be reviewing the game here on DigitalBattle soon, and this will certainly be taken into consideration.
Tags: Business, Multiplayer, Online, PC, Rumor, Software
October 18th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
EA crossed the line!
however I got a notion the masses will still buy this game like the retarded sheep they are.
I think that 10 years from now EA will put a charge on air and includes brain parasites on it’s BF series.
October 18th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
“I’ll be reviewing the game here on DigitalBattle soon, and this will certainly be taken into consideration. ”
GOOD! You’ll be the first one, since neither GameSpot nor any other review/site so far dared to do it!
October 18th, 2006 at 4:29 pm
Meh … what do I always say about EA? Well they won’t be getting my money. When the demo didn’t seamlessly install I knew right then and there that there was no way EA was getting money from me for this game. Now if I hear that Crysis has in game advertising and this spyware BS I will be really angry because I really want that game.
October 18th, 2006 at 4:39 pm
I dislike in game advertising, but am pretty much convinced that it is a fact of life we will have to put up with as gamers.
Heres a Q&A with someone from IGA:
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=11300
I definitely hope that you take the ads and how their presence effects your experience in your review, thats very important to me as a gamer. If the ads actually ruin my experience; ie are they obnoxious, all over the place? Spam like “You want larger Johnson?” crap… thats the stuff you should review the game on
Until there is some sort of viable proof that they are doing something nefarious, review the ads for their effect on your gameplay, not the paranoid internuts rambling rumors about the game tracking everything from your porn cookies to your bowel movements…
October 18th, 2006 at 5:36 pm
Wow! EA WTF are you thinking! Ah only the best from EA. I’m not buying any more of their games! I don’t care if its Need for Speed, Burnout, Def Jam or any game they make. Screw you EA!
October 18th, 2006 at 6:03 pm
@Murr: Not all games are going to have in-game advertising. It is not the way of the future … it’s just that a few supremely greedy companies have gotten together to figure out yet another to make money off of gamers. Plenty and I do mean plenty of games will shy away from these ads and also it probably depends on the game genre as well. I mean can you really see in game ads for Fantasy RPGs? Or RTS’s like C&C and Supreme Commander. Gears of War won’t have any and neither will UT2K7. And of course there will be none of that garbage in Halo 3 or Too Human or Bioshock or Mass Effect. So really it is mainly just lousy EA (probably with some help from Rockstar} that is really driving this forward.
One place though that they do work is in Driving games like TDU and PGR3 … since those are based on real life places then having real advertisements does help make the game feel more immersive. But rarely do I feel like there is a need or place for true life ads in games. There is enough Internet Space, newspapers, TV, radio stations, etc. for people to sell and market their products. We really don’t need that crap in games spyware or not.
October 18th, 2006 at 6:46 pm
shit im bleeding this company,sure illg et their games but never pay for it i have so many games form them, madden,sims2pets,nfl head coach,nhl07,nba07,bf2–i just brough it back 5 times and got 5 copies,need for speed carbon,need for speed most wanted,the god fahter,nhl06,medal of honer aa,and pacific assualt,tiger woods 07,06,mafia, i have obut 100 games,maybe more but not crappy ones im never gonna buy.Im tired of this crap and they have to pay
October 18th, 2006 at 7:44 pm
If I interpreted the EA EULA correctly (for bf2142), if you disable the spyware, EA can disable your CDKEY (EULA Violation).
October 18th, 2006 at 7:50 pm
”So really it is mainly just lousy EA (probably with some help from Rockstar}”
Once again your fanboyism kills your argument Anuban. If you posessed or even played another console then the GC (and soon wii), you would have played some games by rockstar and you WOULD have KNOWN they never have any commercials in it. Also, they are heavy with their critisism on the american way of life, but you do not know that.. so again
Shut the FUCK UP!
October 18th, 2006 at 9:56 pm
I don’t own a GC and I am not getting a Wii right away you FREAK. Wait why am I talking to a lowlife like you? Nevermind. It’s so easy to say STFU to someone you will never have to contend with face to face over the internet it basically means nothing … Notice I am mature enough to forgo the vulgar language … you P-I-G.
October 18th, 2006 at 11:20 pm
Fuck EA
October 21st, 2006 at 5:25 pm
EA ANNOUNCES BATTLEFIELD 2142 EXPANSION PACK.
Today, EA, DICE, and IGA announced the first BF2142 expansion pack, tentatively titled: CYA: Cover Your A$$.
Again teaming up with IGA, and with new corporate sponsors Hanes, Victoria Secret, and Depends, the expansion pack will offer the newest generation of graphics, audio, and 22nd Century Weapons and Armor.
In addition to several weapons upgrades and a new game mode, this expansion will feature the latest personal armor kit for your rear flank. Incorporating AD space and a place for a scrolling EULA, you will never be caught by surprise by someone coming up behind you with a shotgun, a tube of KY, or a small piece of paper informing you of spyware and adware (NO MORE PAPER CUTS!). In addition, after leveling up in rank, you can choose the color and style of your REAR ARMOR (Boxers, Briefs, Thong, or Diaper are currently available…other styles may be added upon release).
During an interview about the CYA expansion, IGA CEO, Justin Townsend, was particularly excited about this new Armor feature. “After extensive research of player actions in the game, IGA found that players were spending 80% of their time in the game staring at fellow Squad Members rear ends. We realized that this had untapped potential as advertising space. It was like combining chocolate and peanut butter for us.”
Battlefield 2142: CYA - Available Winter 2007
October 21st, 2006 at 8:10 pm
@ anuban nice rant about moral ethic and other nonsense in the internet debating. But, I owned your quasi-argument so friggin’ hard.
”It’s so easy to say STFU to someone you will never have to contend with face to face over the internet it basically means nothing … ”
I got one for you as well: If it means nothing to you, why bother telling you don’t care? WAHAHHA owned!
October 29th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
[...] Source : DigitalBattle Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | live it! Published Sunday, October 29, 2006 3:33 PM by jeanmarc Filed under Malwares, Informations,Sécurité [...]
November 1st, 2006 at 7:40 pm
ok…look Doom ,we all know that you are a 6 year old kid with problems…but that does not give you the right to act like such a newbish moron. EA thought they could get away with this idiotic idea and they are not. Anuban is right, rockstar is lousy and should be dissed, I admit not as much as the idiots at EA but still. in closing stop acting like a morn….please….
February 12th, 2007 at 7:15 am
I was really looking forward to playing 2142 but I guess I will just have to give that up just on principle. Its all about choices, I suppose. If we want to avoid exposure to certain ads, we make the choice to avoid the media they come in eg. TV, magazines, etc.
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:09 am
BF2142 - my last game from EA. no Broadband where I live and the single player reeks less than a demo. just try getting assist from EA -they suggest reading the small print on the package or, well, too bad. why, when, they have so much potential - do they wish to fuck themselves??!!