smh @ some of the corporate cheerleaders here.

Morons. Both the banner and the banned.

Looking at at at face value it seems (From what we know) the guy got treated like a dick for being a dick, and in that sense a forum ban is fine. Spreading that ban to a completely separate medium is rather dodgy in my eyes whatever the term. If I left a comment on Amazon stating that I thought an artist had sold out (Not that I would, just an easy example) I wouldn't expect the music I own for that artist to be disabled for any period of time. 
 
In regards to the legality of the EULA; it's very much up in the air and there are cases that favour each side, because once something is purchased and removed from shrink wrap there is virtually no chance of a refund with most retailers and this can be done before actually seeing a EULA, let alone agreeing to one. The only real solution to this would be you being offered the opportunity to see the EULA before paying. However, I doubt this would ever happen. 

First of all, I'm willing to be there's more to the story and he's just trying to get a sympathy vote. 
 
Second of all, I say good. I'm sick and tired of gamers being complete, unrepentant assholes to the companies that make the games. If you don't like shit, get out. The people that work for Bioware and EA are just that, they're people too, and having some complete stranger walk up to you and insult you like that is fucking disgusting. This would be the equivalent of being walked up to on the street and asked how it felt fucking your own mother. It's called common decency, and if you have a problem with the game, drum up some constructive criticism, don't just be an asshole about it.
 
I say people who are assholes deserve whatever happens to 'em. No two ways around it.

All right, color me curious, would people be freaking out if this didn't affect his ability to play the single player aspect of a game/all bioware/ea games, but instead only affected the multiplayer aspects?  Or would you feel that it's just as bad and still should be beyond their rights so long as he didn't do something in game?  That something being undetermined at this point - it could be as little as he claims he's done, or far, far worse skirting the bounds of illegal activity on the forums, doesn't matter. 

If you want to say whatever you want about a specific company without fear of retaliation, might I suggest not spewing hateful opinions and insults on the forum that said company owns. He got what was coming to him for being an idiot. Internet tough-guys are far too rampant. He said something out of line in a very rude manner - there are consequences for his actions. Hopefully he learned something from this, but I doubt it. If it was a permanent ban from his account I would think worse of EA/BioWare, but since it is just a 72 hour ban I guess he should learn some common sense.

" lol fuck that guy, what was he even thinking?  They're Bioware; they make the games, EA does the marketting, if you come right up on their doorstep n say "Hey guess what you all suck" then they're totally ALLOWED to slap you in the face. It's like if someone blocked you from Twitter for bein a huge dick, except it's way funnier.  If he would've said "yo Bioware are gay I hate them" on ANY other forum, then that's nothin anyone should care about. But it's the fact that he signed up to BIOWARE's forum and got right up in the faces of the guys who spent years sleepin under desks goin crazy on the game n tried to be all EPIC WIN up in there- he totally deserves it. "

" First of all, I'm willing to be there's more to the story and he's just trying to get a sympathy vote.   Second of all, I say good. I'm sick and tired of gamers being complete, unrepentant assholes to the companies that make the games. If you don't like shit, get out. The people that work for Bioware and EA are just that, they're people too, and having some complete stranger walk up to you and insult you like that is fucking disgusting. This would be the equivalent of being walked up to on the street and asked how it felt fucking your own mother. It's called common decency, and if you have a problem with the game, drum up some constructive criticism, don't just be an asshole about it.  I say people who are assholes deserve whatever happens to 'em. No two ways around it. "

This whole DA2 debacle with Bioware has made me really lose faith. There have been polite criticisms on the boards that have been closed, users getting banned, and all that meanwhile topics that praise DA2 and never mention a flaw stay open. I hate it when people can't take criticism and think that constructive criticism is only a positive thing.

That sucks.

That sucks

This week in Satanism in business~

This is quite depressing really. It's a worrying trend for gamers, as first we had On-Disc DLC, whereupon you pay your £40 / $60 for some of the content on the disc, and then pay some more for the rest of the game. Now we're at the point where you play the game how you're told, and you enjoy it, or you don't play it at all. I'll remember not to voice any opinion that may go against what BioWare want to hear upon their forums. They shouldn't be able to stop you playing a game you paid for, unless you're ruining the online experience for others. Nice move, BioWare. I'll have to be careful to enjoy Dragon Age II in the manner I am told to, should I ever play it.

Makes me lose hope for the Old Republic.

" This whole DA2 debacle with Bioware has made me really lose faith. There have been polite criticisms on the boards that have been closed, users getting banned, and all that meanwhile topics that praise DA2 and never mention a flaw stay open. I hate it when people can't take criticism and think that constructive criticism is only a positive thing. "

I LOVE this. Smart-ass had it coming to him! 

That user is an idiot. If you're going to make dumb statements like that, then do it on a forum unaffiliated with the company you're insulting. 
 
That's like going into a bar, insulting all the managerial staff, and then expecting to get served a drink.

" That user is an idiot. If you're going to make dumb statements like that, then do it on a forum unaffiliated with the company you're insulting.  That's like going into a bar, insulting all the managerial staff, and then expecting to get served a drink. "

Doesn't matter if somebody's an idiot or a troll. It's bad business to prevent your product -- which has already been purchased by the consumer -- from being used because you get butt-hurt at a fringe activity they've taken like a message forum post. BioWare/EA deserves this to blow up in their faces. Hopefully one of the 2 or 3 actual journalists who exist in the gaming industry will write something up about this for mass consumption.

The entire story smells like bullshit to me. Stories pop up like this every once in a while, and they almost always turn out to be wrong, and the "wronged" party usually ends up admitting to exaggeration or, worse, outright fabrication. But hey, let's not let facts get in the way of hating on one of the best game developers out there. Sheesh.

Sure am glad there is this sweet Ser Isaac Clarke armor exclusive for buying EA's Dead Space 2 to keep my mind off of this whole is Ea/Bioware selling out debacle.

" @creamypies said:

" That user is an idiot. If you're going to make dumb statements like that, then do it on a forum unaffiliated with the company you're insulting.  That's like going into a bar, insulting all the managerial staff, and then expecting to get served a drink. "

Sounds about right to me. And it wasn't just an insult, it was an extremely vulgar one at that.  "

" That is fucking awful no matter how dickish the user was acting. "

It wasn't even that trolly.  "Have you sold your souls to the EA devil?" is a rather succinct way of asking whether Bioware is suffering under EA's ownership.  This seems like a perfectly legitimate question to ask (and he shouldn't be alone in asking it), especially of a studio that's just taken their most successful game ever and turned around a sequel in about 15 months.
 
He isn't 'in their house' asking it either, he's a paying customer asking it on a customer forum - he shouldn't have to go to some third party site to ask a tough and pointed question just in case they get upset about it and take away his ability to play his games.  Just because we're used to the gaming press being a pushover and piss scared to ever ask the industry a tough question about anything, that doesn't mean customers should feel obliged to behave as subserviently.  Customers become frustrated because the press is unprepared to ask these questions for them - customers keep this whole show on the road and yet they have no voice.  It seems more and more that the only way to be heard is to speak as bluntly as possible (there's plenty of evidence of this even on Giant Bomb), which is why, even though this same question could easily have been worded more politely, doing so would have been completely counterproductive.  If you want an answer anymore, you basically have to call somebody a cunt and then ask the question.
 
The industry still works for the gamer, not the other way around, and the industry would do well to remember it.  The people they're pissing off unnecessarily with dick moves like this are the same people that got them here in the first place, and they're the same people that will see them through the tough times if/when the fair-weather gamers get distracted by the next shiny thing that catches their eye.

" This is going to be a class five shit-storm in the gaming press, and a well-deserved one if true.  Picture a future where you play The Old Republic for a year, get grouchy about something, then talk trash about EA on the forums.  Under their terms of service, Bioware will delete your endgame character and render your PC DVD into a beer coaster. "

I understand being banned from forums and stuff, or if an online game from the online portion. Other than that, I don't think this is right.

" I wonder how Commander Shepard would feel about all this. "  

Heh...I honestly love this. I'm sure there is more to the story but even if there isn't; I support EA/Bioware whatever against their battle with trolls. Trolls make the internet worse for everyone and anything that trolls them back is cool in my books.  

" Heh...I honestly love this. I'm sure there is more to the story but even if there isn't; I support EA/Bioware whatever against their battle with trolls. Trolls make the internet worse for everyone and anything that trolls them back is cool in my books.   "

Somebody woke up with their God shoes on!

" @EvilTwin said:

" @CL60:  Because nothing you say on an internet forum should have any bearing on being able to play a single-player game that you purchased legally. "

Pretty much sums it up. "

" @Lautaro said:

" @EvilTwin said:

" @CL60:  Because nothing you say on an internet forum should have any bearing on being able to play a single-player game that you purchased legally. "

Pretty much sums it up. "

But he can still play, he just has to make a new account..because you can't activate a game on a banned account.. that or wait the 72 hours. "

" Owned. 
 
Logically, if he hates Bioware he wouldn't care if he lost access to his game, amirite? "

" @CL60 said:

" @Lautaro said:

" @EvilTwin said:

" @CL60:  Because nothing you say on an internet forum should have any bearing on being able to play a single-player game that you purchased legally. "

Pretty much sums it up. "

But he can still play, he just has to make a new account..because you can't activate a game on a banned account.. that or wait the 72 hours. "

no he can't, he bought it from the EA download store, so it's linked with his account already. "

" @I_smell said:

"lol fuck that guy, what was he even thinking?  They're Bioware; they make the games, EA does the marketting, if you come right up on their doorstep n say "Hey guess what you all suck" then they're totally ALLOWED to slap you in the face. It's like if someone blocked you from Twitter for bein a huge dick, except it's way funnier.  If he would've said "yo Bioware are gay I hate them" on ANY other forum, then that's nothin anyone should care about. But it's the fact that he signed up to BIOWARE's forum and got right up in the faces of the guys who spent years sleepin under desks goin crazy on the game n tried to be all EPIC WIN up in there- he totally deserves it. "

i gotta agree with this guy. assholes need to be dealt with. he was being a prick and he got dealt with. yeah, it was harsh, but he shouldn't be that upset, 'cause "the game sucked" anyway. why would he even want to play it if he hates it so much. fucking loser. i'd slap him in the face too. "

" @TheKramer89 said:

" @I_smell said:

"lol fuck that guy, what was he even thinking?  They're Bioware; they make the games, EA does the marketting, if you come right up on their doorstep n say "Hey guess what you all suck" then they're totally ALLOWED to slap you in the face. It's like if someone blocked you from Twitter for bein a huge dick, except it's way funnier.  If he would've said "yo Bioware are gay I hate them" on ANY other forum, then that's nothin anyone should care about. But it's the fact that he signed up to BIOWARE's forum and got right up in the faces of the guys who spent years sleepin under desks goin crazy on the game n tried to be all EPIC WIN up in there- he totally deserves it. "

i gotta agree with this guy. assholes need to be dealt with. he was being a prick and he got dealt with. yeah, it was harsh, but he shouldn't be that upset, 'cause "the game sucked" anyway. why would he even want to play it if he hates it so much. fucking loser. i'd slap him in the face too. "

Is it your dream to live in a Fascist society, where anyone who speaks out against those in power are exiled? We live in a democracy, and the more that people accept this kind of behavior from anyone, the closer we get to having the Gustavo kidnap your outspoken younger brother. "

I think Bioware should send someone over to his house and take care of matters in a more personal way. Kill his dog or something.
 
That'll learn 'em. I mean it's kinda like prison. They took his game away, and now he's going to be an even bigger troll and will start this grand internet petition to try and take it to the man. I say fuck him up for life, and give him a good beating just to drive the message home.
 
Then as he's laying bloodied and beaten on the ground, they can toss him a boxed version of the game telling him to fuck off. The kid (or grown man) barely able to move finally gets to play his game, crawls up to his computer chair and begins installation. 
 
The Bioware guys are out front waiting. 
 
Done! He clicks the launcher icon...
 

Getting banned from a public forum for complaining about something is one thing, already a pretty bad thing. People are allowed to voice their opinions no matter what, unless they are litigious, this is why democratic countrys have protest laws that ALLOW this kind of thing.
 
But preventing someone from actually using a product or service they paid their money for because of said protest? Ridiculous!
 
If people become too afraid to speak up against things they don't agree with, the system breaks down and we are no longer part of a democracy. This kind of thing silences the peoples voice.

While I think the /possible/ ramifications of this are worth considering, in this instance, I think people aren't fully understanding the situation. 
 
If the game was already activated, for the most part, he'd be able to play even after the ban. Apparently this ban doesn't ban you from running the game or already owned DLC, but it does stop you from activating any content, whether that content be buying new DLC, or activating a full retail release. 
 
Since he was already banned before he tried to activate, he couldn't activate the game.  
 
Honestly, I know everyone hates the idea of not owning the software they purchase, but the idea here is potentially good in the big picture. Imagine if someone is caught hacking on an EA online game that is linked with their EA account. EA realizes that this person is affecting the gaming experience of a lot of regular players(and therefore, the likely chance they are to play more/buy more/etc), so giving while him a permenant or temporary ban from playing /any/ EA game may stop that person from buying any more EA products, it'll be better for the majority.  
 
I'm not saying it's a perfect solution, but it is an interesting one.

" Getting banned from a public forum for complaining about something is one thing, already a pretty bad thing. People are allowed to voice their opinions no matter what, unless they are litigious, this is why democratic countrys have protest laws that ALLOW this kind of thing. But preventing someone from actually using a product or service they paid their money for because of said protest? Ridiculous!  If people become too afraid to speak up against things they don't agree with, the system breaks down and we are no longer part of a democracy. This kind of thing silences the peoples voice. "

People are defending this? Whatever. Also, while it is one side of the story, it doesn't mean it's a lie.

" While I think the /possible/ ramifications of this are worth considering, in this instance, I think people aren't fully understanding the situation.  If the game was already activated, for the most part, he'd be able to play even after the ban. Apparently this ban doesn't ban you from running the game or already owned DLC, but it does stop you from activating any content, whether that content be buying new DLC, or activating a full retail release.  Since he was already banned before he tried to activate, he couldn't activate the game.   Honestly, I know everyone hates the idea of not owning the software they purchase, but the idea here is potentially good in the big picture. Imagine if someone is caught hacking on an EA online game that is linked with their EA account. EA realizes that this person is affecting the gaming experience of a lot of regular players(and therefore, the likely chance they are to play more/buy more/etc), so giving while him a permenant or temporary ban from playing /any/ EA game may stop that person from buying any more EA products, it'll be better for the majority.   I'm not saying it's a perfect solution, but it is an interesting one. "

" @SpicyRichter:  I understand if you are against preventing him from accessing the game, but what's so bad about a forum banning? It's a privately run message board. They can do whatever they want.  The restrictive EULA is a consumer rights thing; What's the problem with moderation? "

" @SpicyRichter said:

" Getting banned from a public forum for complaining about something is one thing, already a pretty bad thing. People are allowed to voice their opinions no matter what, unless they are litigious, this is why democratic countrys have protest laws that ALLOW this kind of thing. But preventing someone from actually using a product or service they paid their money for because of said protest? Ridiculous!  If people become too afraid to speak up against things they don't agree with, the system breaks down and we are no longer part of a democracy. This kind of thing silences the peoples voice. "

Oh my God, consumer products do not involve a democratic system. "

" @SpicyRichter said:

" Getting banned from a public forum for complaining about something is one thing, already a pretty bad thing. People are allowed to voice their opinions no matter what, unless they are litigious, this is why democratic countrys have protest laws that ALLOW this kind of thing. But preventing someone from actually using a product or service they paid their money for because of said protest? Ridiculous!  If people become too afraid to speak up against things they don't agree with, the system breaks down and we are no longer part of a democracy. This kind of thing silences the peoples voice. "

Oh my God, consumer products do not involve a democratic system. "

" @GalacticPunt said:

" This is going to be a class five shit-storm in the gaming press, and a well-deserved one if true.  Picture a future where you play The Old Republic for a year, get grouchy about something, then talk trash about EA on the forums.  Under their terms of service, Bioware will delete your endgame character and render your PC DVD into a beer coaster. "

Maybe you haven't talked shit to a Warcraft GM before. "

" @Brodehouse said:

" @GalacticPunt said:

" This is going to be a class five shit-storm in the gaming press, and a well-deserved one if true.  Picture a future where you play The Old Republic for a year, get grouchy about something, then talk trash about EA on the forums.  Under their terms of service, Bioware will delete your endgame character and render your PC DVD into a beer coaster. "

Maybe you haven't talked shit to a Warcraft GM before. "

Can't say that I have.  I've BEEN a GM on another MMO in the past (what a twist!).  The folks who were suspended and banned for their IN-GAME communications earned it in spades, with either horrific racial epithets or super-vulgar misogyny.  People get yanked out for pissing in that public pool, not for criticising Company X that made the game.  We GM's shared whatever insults were hurled at us for a laugh, since the players we were suspending took the game so seriously.    What I'm getting at is:  it is bonkers to disable access to a game to anyone who complains about its perceived flaws on the community sites.  Not only is it unfair, it's terrible business.  Video game players are a hyper-critical bunch.  If you react to every snarky internet comment with Stalin-esque executions, you won't have an audience left to buy your stuff.  As someone who's worked on the other side of the player/staff divide, this is a new low. "