GW2 Reportedly Banning the Handicapped

[Victoria Victrix]

Once I go to journalists with it, IF I find good reason to address this, no one will know it originated with me, or anyone associated with Titan. 

This is basically crap coding and laziness, but it is unfair that someone who has paid $60 gets banned because, essentially, they're handicapped and need game help.  And the only way anything will actually get done about it in a reasonable length of time is if the guilty party gets a media nastygram. 

[Servantes]

And as I explained earlier your friend, Kaiser Tarantula is wrong. I've even given several reasons as to why that is.

As I said before, which is more likely? That the evil folks at ArenaNet are banning handicapped people for fun, or that a few mistakes were made?

Please, before you go to any game journalists with anything make sure that you have screenshots of ArenaNet's responses where they specifically say "we know you're handicapped but we're still not going to unban you." And then have an expert check to verify that they weren't photoshopped.

And you do realize that, even if you're right, if you go to the media and they run with it that it'll only make NCSoft more angry at us and less likely to give us what we want.

All I'm asking is that you think before you act. Please.

At this point and time it would be Damned if you do, Damned if you don't.

What matters is its pointed out if NCSoft or Arena Net is doing more Wrong then Right, if it carries over to effect us, so be it, but any injustice from them go by is worse then doing nothing.

And I believe they wouldn't post this willy nilly bad without a reason, especially when how badly it can turn around.

[Peregrine Falcon]

Once I go to journalists with it, IF I find good reason to address this, no one will know it originated with me, or anyone associated with Titan.

Really? Do you really think that the folks at NCSoft don't know about this forum? I'm not saying that they read it on a daily basis, but they could. And thanks to various archives around the internet even if this thread is deleted right now they could still end up reading it at a later date.

This is basically crap coding and laziness, but it is unfair that someone who has paid $60 gets banned because, essentially, they're handicapped and need game help.

You don't know that's what's happened. They've banned tens of thousands of botters in the last couple of months. How many handicapped people does your friend know? 3? 4? That's less than one tenth of one percent. That's well within the margin of error for any human endeavor.

[TimtheEnchanter]

They've banned tens of thousands of botters in the last couple of months. How many handicapped people does your friend know? 3? 4? That's less than one tenth of one percent. That's well within the margin of error for any human endeavor.

It's an error when casualties get caught in a crossfire. When you don't do anything to repair the damage, that's not an error. That's negligence.

[Peregrine Falcon]

Take a look at this thread:

https://forum-en.guildwars2.com/forum/support/account/Account-Issue-Follow-ups-Updated-Regularly/page/2#post1130780

They're trying to help as many people as they can as fast as they can. And they're being very transparent about it.

Please don't let the blood that's in the water around here for NCSoft splash on ArenaNet. Don't assume they're automatically in the wrong. And please, just think before you act. That's all that I'm asking.

[Servantes]

What's it called when a group of people agree on a subject but argue anyways?

[houtex]

A Monte Python skit?  :shrugs:

/I came here for an argument! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y

[TimtheEnchanter]

What's it called when a group of people agree on a subject but argue anyways?

The Internet. 

[FatherXmas]

What's it called when a group of people agree on a subject but argue anyways?

A family. 

[Electric-Knight]

I really wish more people would have the perspective that posts in forums such as these are discussions not announcements and declarations of some half-cocked officiality.
The key word in the subject title is "Reportedly".
The original post is clearly just a "hey, here's what I was just told... I'm going to try and find out more!".

So, all that being said and, hopefully, understood...

The only thing I'll say is that when you are one of the affected people, it's not as simple as being just a miniscule percentage of an error.


Anyway, I certainly hope that they'll be doing well and right by people wrongfully banned.
It's honestly an interesting angle of gaming and game protection that I had not considered before... Some games really do need to prevent automated setups, so I can see there being legitimate reasons for wanting to prevent any and all such activity (I am not saying it is or isn't so for this particular game, as I have never played it and know next-to-nothing about it). Don't get me wrong, if it's not necessary and/or it should be handled entirely upfront and all that... plus, there should absolutely be options and games for such people in need of automation... all I am saying (risking being seen as entirely insensitive to some people's special needs... even though I am most assuredly NOT insensitive to that), it may actually be okay if a game did decide that they do not allow such automated devices (if you can really see that it would be a major advantage and/or create some sort of imbalances and such).
I say all that also believing that most such options can probably be balanced out and worked so that the handicapped and otherwise assisted players would not have a problem and/or create any problems.
In the end though, I don't honestly view it as a complete travesty IF a particular game just doesn't allow for it.
I would, however, expect compensations, full refunds and all that.

Anyway, hah... my main point was actually just going to be that... when you live through that sort of stuff 24/7, if it is not needed and you're treated like that... being just a tiny percentage of human error is sort of the point of being rather critical about it.
I (and they more-so than me) know, however, that not everyone takes such lifestyles into consideration.

Anyway, I hope it all works out for everyone involved.

One of the great things I learned, over the years, was how many injured, disabled, handicapped, assisted players were able to enjoy CoH. It was another aspect that quite possibly contributed to the friendly and positive atmosphere in and around the game.
That being said, that was a special case and I do not believe that every other game out there will, or should, match up to CoH's standards. That's what the best are for... being better.

Okay, enough rambling from me... I have other posts I was supposed to reply to... and now probably won't because I spent my allotted 5 minutes posting this one, lol.

[Victoria Victrix]

Really? Do you really think that the folks at NCSoft don't know about this forum? I'm not saying that they read it on a daily basis, but they could. And thanks to various archives around the internet even if this thread is deleted right now they could still end up reading it at a later date.

Nope.  They can't read it, unless they demand some poor peon go over to Starbucks with his laptop and report back.  Codewalker blocked them at the IP level.

[Xieveral]

Also, you can't play the game at an Internet Cafe or risk being banned?  Wow.  I didn't know that before I went and looked just now.

Considering how popular internet cafes focused on gaming are in the east, that is strange. They probably look the other way for that one.

Nope.  They can't read it, unless they demand some poor peon go over to Starbucks with his laptop and report back.  Codewalker blocked them at the IP level.

Unfortunately, IP blocks are quite easy to get around (foolish as they are, I'm sure NCsoft knows a thing or two about the internet) Also, what's to stop them from spying on us from their home computers? Unless the people behind the scenes here have access to the appropriate information to block their personal devices. (if so... damn, you guys are scary!)

[Peregrine Falcon]

Unfortunately, IP blocks are quite easy to get around...

Yes. This is my point exactly. While I know who VV is, I don't know her personally. So I don't know if I should read the OP in a hysterical tone of voice or as if it's being read aloud by Mr. Spock.

But I do know that every technical statement that she's made in this thread is incorrect. I'm concerned that her lack of knowledge may cause her to draw an incorrect conclusion. If it were anyone else in the community I'd make one post and be done with it. I think we all know that she's something of a special case though, given her ability to get the media to really listen to her should she choose to do so. I'm concerned about the damage to our cause that taking this issue to the media could create.

I apologize if I've misconstrued anything that you've written VV, or if I've given offense. I'm really only trying to advise.

[therain93]

Also, notice this thread is in Other Games, not Save Paragon. This would be a bad thing regardless of who was doing it. I also don't see anyone blaming NCsoft for this. The worst I have seen is the question, "Is Arenanet doing this on their own, or is the strictness coming from higher up?"

Actually, the quote was "NCsoft edict" not "Arenanet or NCsoft", which has a bit more weight. And regardless if this is posted in a different subforum, Titan is still associated with City of Heroes and is collecitvely smarting from the shutdown.  If you're thoroughly convinced that this is a black hat plan, then I advise you take it to ablegamer.com, a platform where this is a central issue, and let them pursue it if they so wish.

Furthermore, if it isn't libel to accuse a company that producing violent video games as being responsible for gun-related massacres (this has probably happened a few thousand times) then it certainly isn't libel to say that Arenanet is banning handicapped players. That they're just casualties in a war on bots is irrelevant. The thread title says they're Banning the Handicapped, not that they're intentionally doing it.

First, let's not bring gun control into this.  It's a sensitive topic and, frankly, I don't think anyone here is making such an accusation.  So just let that one go.  Second, the statement "GW2 Reportedly Banning the Handicapped" connotes GW2 is targetting those people, which is clearly not the place.  It is sensationalizing the situation.

And my original statement about what it takes to even have a CHANCE at convincing a corporation to change anything, still stands. If there isn't a threat of some kind, they see no point in changing anything. And that's not war-mongering. That's just how businesses think. If they can get away with it, they do it.

Considering every account petition is getting a review (glancing through PI's link), I'm really not convinced of that.  Again, you guys are on this like white on rice -- given where you're coming from, your motive is suspect, regardless of the circumstances.  Flip it over to cooler minds like ablegamer, that have a more clearly defined and longstanding vested interest and let them look into it (or even sign up over there and discuss it with them).

[therain93]

Wow you sure as hell took everything I said out of context.

Aren't you the same person who posted this?

Would you want to mess with this?

What I SAID is that according to my friend, who actually knows some of these people, they are being banned, and when they attempted to get redress, they were dismissed and were told they would remain banned. 

I also said I didn't know if this was coming from ArenaNet or an NCSoft edict and that I was just going to collect some data and turn real journalists loose on it.  Because whether you realize it or not, I actually have work and a job to do to pay the bills, and helping as 1/4 of Team Wildcard is pretty much taking up all of my available time.

And that this is pretty heinous, because it's perfectly easy, according to Kaiser Tarantula, to tell the difference between a bot and someone using kb helps.

Yes, you're 1/4 of Team Wildcard and a very vocal (as well as relatively high-profile) person in the SaveCOH movement, and yet you have a habit of posting things that can so easily be misconstrued and discredit us.   And frankly, you said a lot more than just that as you already made judgement on the situation -- re-read your first sentence in the OP:

OK.  THIS is just wrong on so many levels I cannot even begin to count them.

It really reads as if you've made judgement, are now looking for the evidence to support it, and already have the plan to go the press. Assuming you're "Misty" in that quoted conversation, you even go so far as to suggest ADA should launch a lawsuit. I'm pretty sure I didn't take things out of context so much as that you are one of the few people in particular that need to post more responsibly.
 

I think you and PI need to start actually reading what I write, and not what you think I wrote.

Here's the thing -- we're not against you.  But, we both read your post and had the same reaction - ALARM.  Right or wrong, what you may have intended to write, does not appear to have come across that way.

[Servantes]

Aren't you the same person who posted this?


Yes, you're 1/4 of Team Wildcard and a very vocal (as well as relatively high-profile) person in the SaveCOH movement, and yet you have a habit of posting things that can so easily be misconstrued and discredit us.   And frankly, you said a lot more than just that as you already made judgement on the situation -- re-read your first sentence in the OP:

It really reads as if you've made judgement, are now looking for the evidence to support it, and already have the plan to go the press. Assuming you're "Misty" in that quoted conversation, you even go so far as to suggest ADA should launch a lawsuit. I'm pretty sure I didn't take things out of context so much as that you are one of the few people in particular that need to post more responsibly.
 
Here's the thing -- we're not against you.  But, we both read your post and had the same reaction - ALARM.  Right or wrong, what you may have intended to write, does not appear to have come across that way.

Summery: Use more Emote Con's VV. 

[therain93]

What's it called when a group of people agree on a subject but argue anyways?

Summery: Use more Emote Con's VV. 

Are the other 86% of your posts more productive, or at least wittier?  ( ' :

[Servantes]

Are the other 86% of your posts more productive, or at least wittier?  ( ' :

nope, there's enough people trying to be intelligent, I need to fill out the bottom end.

[therain93]

nope, there's enough people trying to be intelligent, I need to fill out the bottom end.

You are what you aspire to be, but that doesn't mean we lower the bar for you ( ' :

[Servantes]

You are what you aspire to be, but that doesn't mean we lower the bar for you ( ' :

well we can keep spouting irrelevance to one another raising our post count, but I suppose that's what you want.