I really hate it when people read something like this and cannot be bothered to think beyond the scope of what they were told by one individual.  "He said what?  And that got him suspended!?  This is an OUTRAGE!"  Nevermind that he may have said something worse than that, nevermind that he may have said something absolutely vicious, may have threatened people, may have alluded to pirating the game, or pirating future games, or may have been making racist/sexist/whatever remarks, that he may have been saying who knows what, or implying who knows what, and so on, and so forth.  No, clearly he's telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, because he's a forum troll, and they NEVER LIE.  
 
That point aside - they legally have the right to do this.  The TOS and EULA of the games and of the forums give them the right to do this.  This probably wasn't as simple as "He said something bad about the game so he got suspended" anyway, so that should also probably stop.  On one hand, I honestly have absolutely no sympathy for forum trolls.  On the other hand, should he really be suspended, or even banned from a single player game for something like this?  Eh, probably not, no.  Even if I find it funny, and think it's sweet, sweet justice brought down upon someone that deserves to actually be punished for their actions, I'd say just take away all privileges from all online related functions.  Forums, multiplayer, etc.  Though even then that probably wouldn't actually ever make someone like this think about the stuff that they're about to say before they say it, but, at least it would be some kind of punishment for someone that deserves it.  I believe people's actions actually should be punishable in some meaningful way and not just "Get off our official forums."

" I really hate it when people read something like this and cannot be bothered to think beyond the scope of what they were told by one individual.  "He said what?  And that got him suspended!?  This is an OUTRAGE!"  Nevermind that he may have said something worse than that, nevermind that he may have said something absolutely vicious, may have threatened people, may have alluded to pirating the game, or pirating future games, or may have been making racist/sexist/whatever remarks, that he may have been saying who knows what, or implying who knows what, and so on, and so forth.  No, clearly he's telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, because he's a forum troll, and they NEVER LIE.    That point aside - they legally have the right to do this.  The TOS and EULA of the games and of the forums give them the right to do this.  This probably wasn't as simple as "He said something bad about the game so he got suspended" anyway, so that should also probably stop.  On one hand, I honestly have absolutely no sympathy for forum trolls.  On the other hand, should he really be suspended, or even banned from a single player game for something like this?  Eh, probably not, no.  Even if I find it funny, and think it's sweet, sweet justice brought down upon someone that deserves to actually be punished for their actions, I'd say just take away all privileges from all online related functions.  Forums, multiplayer, etc.  Though even then that probably wouldn't actually ever make someone like this think about the stuff that they're about to say before they say it, but, at least it would be some kind of punishment for someone that deserves it.  I believe people's actions actually should be punishable in some meaningful way and not just "Get off our official forums." "

Wow, just got finished with a Dragon Age: Origins session and its sad to see that Bioware has taken such a downwards turn.  BTW, their response obviously infers the answer was "Yes, we did sell our soul to EA"

Whether or not the story is incomplete or different, that they can do that, for any amount of time, for something separate from the game itself, is really fucked up.

"Doubt anyone who hates Bioware/EA for doing this will stop themselves from buying the next big game from this develop/publisher.  Speak with your wallets." 

  Well I would, but its either EA or Activision. Sorry Bobby.

Fucking filthy that they can take away stuff you pruchased. But I guess they can put anything in a Terms of Agreement contract as long as you agree.

HAHHAHAHA

I honestly don't find myself caring in the slightest. :/

" @FateOfNever said:

" I really hate it when people read something like this and cannot be bothered to think beyond the scope of what they were told by one individual.  "He said what?  And that got him suspended!?  This is an OUTRAGE!"  Nevermind that he may have said something worse than that, nevermind that he may have said something absolutely vicious, may have threatened people, may have alluded to pirating the game, or pirating future games, or may have been making racist/sexist/whatever remarks, that he may have been saying who knows what, or implying who knows what, and so on, and so forth.  No, clearly he's telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, because he's a forum troll, and they NEVER LIE.    That point aside - they legally have the right to do this.  The TOS and EULA of the games and of the forums give them the right to do this.  This probably wasn't as simple as "He said something bad about the game so he got suspended" anyway, so that should also probably stop.  On one hand, I honestly have absolutely no sympathy for forum trolls.  On the other hand, should he really be suspended, or even banned from a single player game for something like this?  Eh, probably not, no.  Even if I find it funny, and think it's sweet, sweet justice brought down upon someone that deserves to actually be punished for their actions, I'd say just take away all privileges from all online related functions.  Forums, multiplayer, etc.  Though even then that probably wouldn't actually ever make someone like this think about the stuff that they're about to say before they say it, but, at least it would be some kind of punishment for someone that deserves it.  I believe people's actions actually should be punishable in some meaningful way and not just "Get off our official forums." "

The appeal to ignorance goes both ways. I don't know if he's lying and you don't know if he's telling the truth, therefore both arguments are of equal validity and value. Even if he's presenting a one sided story to make himself look like a victim. Banning someone from a single player game based off of behavior on an internet forum is ludicrous. I'm sure everyone would like to reach through their monitors and punch internet trolls in the face, but that doesn't make it right. Forums should be moderated in forums, not outside forums. If a child misbehaves in school you suspend them, you don't go into their house and take their toys away. Do you think forum sites should be allowed to lock up your computer to really stick it to you cause you misbehaved on a forum? "Get off our official forums"  is all the power the should have. It's not going to discipline people, but that's not their job. Bans are to keep the unwanted off the forums and multiplayer games. What good does banning from a single player only game do? It's a failed attempt at disciplining. "

" Wow, just got finished with a Dragon Age: Origins session and its sad to see that Bioware has taken such a downwards turn.  BTW, their response obviously infers the answer was "Yes, we did sell our soul to EA" "

" This is all part of the business premise that you don't own a game (or any other media that can be controlled digitally), you only have permission to utilize it.  That permission can be revoked at anytime by the IP owner.  I call it the "It's My Ball and If You Don't Play By My Rules, You Don't Play at All" law of business.  Expect to see it expand into other forms of communication and entertainment.   Look at the new Nintendo 3DS.  It has the ability to "brick" your system remotely if it senses that you might have used illegal software or homebrew capable hardware. "
 

Man, this is messed up. I can't believe they can do this if you bought and paid for the content already. They're basically robbing you.

There is an accept button for the ToS so technically they aren't doing anything wrong. Was this a little bit too far? Yes. Was the guy being a dick for what I would assume is no good reason? Yes. I see no problems here.

" There is an accept button for the ToS so technically they aren't doing anything wrong. Was this a little bit too far? Yes. Was the guy being a dick for what I would assume is no good reason? Yes. I see no problems here. "

why are some people celebrating this? are you people that stupid?

I absolutely agree that there's a very serious problem with the way companies are able to literally destroy the product you pay quite a bit of money for if you don't do exactly what they want you to do (spelled out in the user agreement).  I think that is completely unreasonable, but there's not a whole lot I can do about it from my position except not support the companies with policies like that (i.e. not participate in the economy).

Seems like people are being a bit sensationalist about this - sure, it's a badly worded and not particularly well thought-out ToS, but until they actually act on this it's hardly newsworthy is it?  
It's also pretty unlikely that this is legally enforceable if indeed it was intended as it is worded.

I'm...pretty sure that's skirting the boundaries of legality. Taking away someone's licence, which they paid in full for, in relation to a couple of angry words on a website is...interesting. I don't know how American courts would handle this (if anyone would actually care) but I would think most EU courts would at least consider ye olde 'Proportionality' argument. 
Interesting

Fascists!

I don't understand the problem here, if you walked into any business and said 'You guys are fucking shit.' You're gonna get thrown out. I'm glad Bioware/EA are showing people you can't behind forums while bad mouthing people and get away with it.

Hard to believe someone would defend this.

Once again, everybody ignores my posts. 
 
/facepalm. 
 
They banned his account! Obviously he wont be able to activate the game on a banned account  >.< It's the same with any damn online activation for any game, even Origins. He trolled, and got banned for 72 hours, so in that time he can't access his account to activate the game. WHY IS THIS SO BAD? 
 
It seems pretty normal to me.

he was a dick but he's still entitled to his dick opinion. Don't like this at all.

" There is an accept button for the ToS so technically they aren't doing anything wrong. Was this a little bit too far? Yes. Was the guy being a dick for what I would assume is no good reason? Yes. I see no problems here. "

Wow, that's something new.

" @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. "

So basically they answered his question with a Yes.

This seems like a really good incentive to make a separate account for smack-talk on the forums, if smack talking is what you're about anyways 

theres one guy that made a bad dialogue choices, always be selecting the diamond 

Now internet try-hards might learn to filter what they write. It's one thing to create a thread with legitimate criticism, but it's another thing entirely to just troll and flame. Did he honestly not expect some sort of reprimand? 
 
And anyone who knows anything understands that even if he did get "banned" from his single player RPG he can just crack it and move on with life. But hey, apparently he hated it in the first place so no big loss right? And if it was truly account wide and he lost access to some multiplayer games, maybe he would learn that he shouldn't bite the hand that feeds. At the end of the day, civil people have nothing to worry about. 
 
TIL that being a dick on the internet occasionally has consequences. Go figure.

I'm a BioWare fan but this is unacceptable. Is this really where we want the games industry to go?

" @DrPockets000 said:

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

Indeed.  "

That's not right. That's not right at all.  
 
I agree that the forums run by BioWare are the property of BioWare and EA and that they can ban who they wish - it might be unfair, but it's their forums. However, if this is true, then they have locked him out of content he paid for. 
 
Okay, ban his account, but then allow him to download the content he paid for. It's his. He paid for it.   
 
EDIT: Okay - lock him out of customer support. Lock him out of any FUTURE DLC. Have nothing to do with the guy. BUT... he paid for the game already. Yes, it was rather stupid of him to go onto their forums and slam them, and he should have expected them to ban him from their forums (since the BioWare forums are owned by... ya know, BioWare, there's not "freedom of speech" angle here). Yes, he was probably being rude and stupid. But if he bought the product... then he bought the product. It's his.  
 
Imagine if you bought a car from Car Manufacturer A. You then proceed to say how you don't like Car Manufacturer A and you think they have sold out and have declined in quality. Does that give Car Manufacturer A the right to... I don't know, void your warranty and take away your spare tire? No, of course not! 
 
BioWare, I like you as a company. I really am enjoying Dragon Age II a whole heck of a lot. But this is a bad move. Give this guy his content, THEN have nothing to do with him. 
 
EDIT 2: Okay, so he was only banned for 72 Hours? Then that's fine, if that's true. I suppose I overreacted - there is no "truth" on the internet now is there anymore? People can say anything. If it was only a temporary ban, then fine, good, ban him for a while. But.... if he did get locked out of the DLC content then that's bad.

I shared this on my facebook. Even if they are right and this guys behavior is not unproblematic, this is just a dick move and could have been handled differently. I don't approve of this. I suggest you share the original forum rank on your twitter/facebook/blog, too.

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

I cannot believe you people.  You honestly think a publisher should be able to keep you from playing a game you played 60 dollars for, because you say something bad about them on their forums?   
 
So much for ownership and consumer rights, I guess.   
 
This is insane.  

" Forgive my inner cynic, but I think there's more to this that the person in question is not telling us.  "

Trolls being punished is nice, but this sets a VERYscary precedent. 

Now my dream of joining Bioware has been broken.
 Bethesda, here I come!

" @TheBlackPigeon said:

" Forgive my inner cynic, but I think there's more to this that the person in question is not telling us.  "

indeed "

" Cool. "

I was waiting to buy Dragon Age 2 because I haven't quite beat the first one yet, but now I'm certainly not going to. I'm so sick of EA shutting down multiplayer servers to not let me play older online games that I want to (even though the stupid EA servers do nothing but marketing, the gaming is still peer to peer/the player hosts a server). Now they can just randomly (this case wasn't completely random, but there is nothing stopping them from having no reason) decide I'm not allowed to play a single player game too!? 
 
I probably won't buy an EA game until they change this. People say vote with your wallet, so it is about time.

Bioware = new Origin Systems.

Applying my unfinished law degree to this debate, what Bioware did may not necessarily be illegal per se, but it is a breach of contract (at least in Australia it would be). Bioware cannot revoke the initial contract between retailer (and by extension manufacturer) and consumer by superseding it with an EULA, which is what they've effectively done here. This of course doesn't apply to all EULAs, but in this case they have denied him the rights protected in the initial contract (the right to play and at least nominally own the game), without providing adequate revocation of the initial contract or consideration (sweet, sweet money).

" Once again, everybody ignores my posts. 
 
/facepalm. 
 
They banned his account! Obviously he wont be able to activate the game on a banned account  >.< It's the same with any damn online activation for any game, even Origins. He trolled, and got banned for 72 hours, so in that time he can't access his account to activate the game. WHY IS THIS SO BAD?  It seems pretty normal to me. "

Fuck Bioware, their games are going downhill anyway.

" @CL60 said:

" Once again, everybody ignores my posts. 
 
/facepalm. 
 
They banned his account! Obviously he wont be able to activate the game on a banned account  >.< It's the same with any damn online activation for any game, even Origins. He trolled, and got banned for 72 hours, so in that time he can't access his account to activate the game. WHY IS THIS SO BAD?  It seems pretty normal to me. "

Because the time frame of the suspension is not what's important here.  Its the fact that forum moderation is carrying over to access to what you paid for that is stepping on nerves.  It does make perfect sense for someone not to be able to activate a game on a banned account, but why the hell is his forum posting ability not separate from the ability to activate and play games?  Yes, EULA and all that jazz, but this sets a really bad precedent for how games are managed. "