BF 2142 bundled with ADWARE

[Wizz]

Saw this over at [H]ardOCP this morning and thought it needs to be known by all who is thinking or is in the process of buying BF2142.

Very important WARNING

There is a specific MS Security update that you MUST "remove" in order to install and run BF2142. This MS Security update is a anti ad/spy ware routine.

http://www.hardocp.com/news.html?news=MjE5MjQsLCxobmV3cywsLDE=

Forum discussion of this NEW issue:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1110428

WARNING 2:

This so called "agreement" that you must do is NOT KNOWN OR SHOWN on the box. You MUST open the box to find out the DIRTY deed. We all know exactly what happens that once you OPEN THE BOX you are ****ed and stuck. You can not return OPENED boxed software.


http://www.hardocp.com/image.html?image=MTE2MTIwNzUzNXY4T1BCSmh4UmpfMV8xX 2wuanBn


That image is from said ADWARE agreement terms which is NOT DISPLAYED or even MENTIONED on the outside of the box. You the user are ****ed once you open the box just to find that piece of **** crap that EA has done.

MOH: Airborne better not do this, EA is now looking at a possible FTC investigation and all likely hood a class action lawsuit over this.

[Norminator]

Saw this over at [H]ardOCP this morning and thought it needs to be known by all who is thinking or is in the process of buying BF2142.

Very important WARNING

There is a specific MS Security update that you MUST "remove" in order to install and run BF2142. This MS Security update is a anti ad/spy ware routine.

http://www.hardocp.com/news.html?news=MjE5MjQsLCxobmV3cywsLDE=

Forum discussion of this NEW issue:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1110428

WARNING 2:

This so called "agreement" that you must do is NOT KNOWN OR SHOWN on the box. You MUST open the box to find out the DIRTY deed. We all know exactly what happens that once you OPEN THE BOX you are ****ed and stuck. You can not return OPENED boxed software.

http://www.hardocp.com/image.html?image=MTE2MTIwNzUzNXY4T1BCSmh4UmpfMV8xX 2wuanBn

That image is from said ADWARE agreement terms which is NOT DISPLAYED or even MENTIONED on the outside of the box. You the user are ****ed once you open the box just to find that piece of **** crap that EA has done.

MOH: Airborne better not do this, EA is now looking at a possible FTC investagation and all likely hood a class action lawsuit over this.

the part in bold:
good point, didn't think of that before I read it.

in general:
I'm glad I'm not a fan of the BF series. no way will I buy this when it has those kinds of "catches".
Just hope that this is Dices work and not EA.

[richman]

Wholly ****... wth.

Thanks Wizz.

[Wizz]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6160062.html?tag=latestnews;title;2

"The disclaimer notes that the game may include software that records users' IP addresses and "other anonymous information" collectively referred to as "advertising data." It also says that information is sent off to advertising firm IGA Worldwide for the purpose of delivering in-game ads, and if users don't want IGA to have access to that data, their only recourse is to not play or even install the game on a computer with Internet access."

GS: Do you have any update on IGA's efforts to move into consoles--PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, or Wii--in the future?
JT: Certainly. We're in heavy dialogue with both Sony and Microsoft, and we anticipate that we'll be making some announcements around that at some point next year

Well folks looks like this ADWARE bull**** is going to hit the consoles also. hahahhahahahahhahahah

**** buying these new games that is infested with this crap.

The point is folks you DONT HAVE A CHOICE. You HAVE to install this IGA Adware crap inorder to play BF2142.

[Mike Nomad]

Then..... Simply put, I do not install or play the infested garbage. The entire concept is insidiously intrusive and ethically outrageous!

[Wizz]

http://forums.raidersmerciless.com/images/sayno.jpg

[Mike Nomad]

http://forums.raidersmerciless.com/images/sayno.jpg


And..... so it begins.:wink1:

[pablouk]

I though it was illegal under American Law to add something like this?
Didn't Sony get their ass kicked for the same sort of thing?

[Norminator]

there are loads and loads of angry customers at the EA/BF2142 forums. and of course no response from EA or Dice.

kinda reminds me of the early days of CoD2 ;)

[Mike Nomad]

there are loads and loads of angry customers at the EA/BF2142 forums. and of course no response from EA or Dice.

kinda reminds me of the early days of CoD2 ;)

Norm, if they do not respond in favor of the users... They then run the risk of proving they are no better than con artist hucksters. In other words, phonies who make their money from hustles masked in a game.

[richman]

http://forums.raidersmerciless.com/images/sayno.jpg

Wizz
I'm using this at our site.

OK?

[dickybird]

Mike id just go on the official forums make a new thread and refer them to the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) for their breach of the Data Protection act and the Uk's Privacy & electronic communications laws.

Electronic mail marketing - Regulations 22 and 23

These regulations cover email, text (SMS) and any other form of unsolicited electronic message, which may only be sent if the individual has asked for it. There is an exception to this rule, known as soft opt in. This applies in the following circumstances:

* The organisation obtained the contact details as the result of a sale or the negotiations for the sale of a product or service
* The messages are only marketing their similar products or services and
* The individual is given a simple opportunity to refuse the marketing when their details are collected and is given another simple way to do so in every future message.

Individuals can opt out of receiving direct marketing messages at any time by contacting the organisation directly. The organisation must comply with any opt out requests promptly and without question..

Dice/EA have to remove it or their ****ed.

[Mike Nomad]

Mike id just go on the official forums make a new thread and refer them to the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) for their breach of the Data Protection act and the Uk's Privacy & electronic communications laws.

.

Dice/EA have to remove it or their ****ed.

Sounds like a plan.... :wink1: Go right ahead and be sure to point them to here also.

[dickybird]

done and done.

[Mike Nomad]

done and done.


TY kind Sir.

[Norminator]

hope you don't mind me using that image for my sig, Wiz.

[Mike Nomad]

hope you don't mind me using that image for my sig, Wiz.

Go right ahead Norm.... Njoy!!

[Wizz]

The person who made that sig has said that its fine for anyone who is against this crap can use it.

So if anyone wants to use it go right ahead. Its perfectly fine.

[Wizz]

there are loads and loads of angry customers at the EA/BF2142 forums. and of course no response from EA or Dice.

kinda reminds me of the early days of CoD2 ;)

And I have to agree with ya there. I went holy crap yesterday when I went thru the forums there. Did you all know that ever since this BF2142 crap (adware) that they EA had shut down the UK and some other country forum. All the forums were MOVED to the USA. Why is that, ...because of those Country's laws concerning this adware stuff.

As it was posted in this thread, the UK has laws that protect users from this and there is one other country I do believe that protects minors from this ad crap.

I find it odd that EA would shut those 2 forums and move it all to the USA. Maybe here in the USA all this adware and spyware crap is legal or the way EA went about it. Don't know im not a lawyer or anything. But all this crap sure seems sneaky to me.

After all this, my money will remain in my wallet for MOH Airborne. My money will only part my hands when I know for a FACT on what software I have to run in order to play Airborne. Sorry, but if EA can do this on a new title then it wouldn't surprise me if they Sneaked it into MOH Airborne.

I know what BlackHat posted and I, at this time, have to take his word. But still ...I have to be sure because I sure as hell ain't going to "cripple" my system security just to have some IGA crap phone home with info I have no clue about or what it contains.

[Mike Nomad]

The worst has yet to come.... seems EA is "On the RUN"..... The UK forums for BF2142 have a separate login now... EA is feeling the "HEAT".

[dickybird]

Wizz the hole of the EU (intentionally spelt whole that way because most of it is a hole) has similar laws. The UKs 1984 DPA was changed in 1998 to comply with Directive 95/46/EC of the European Commission.

[Hoots_Mom]

https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

someone savvy could report this to the FTC. it is a game rated for teens, and there is the COPPA governing use of teens personal info. Not only that, but given the info is inside the box, it is deceptive and fraudulent

[Norminator]

http://forums.raidersmerciless.com/images/bf2142.png

the monster shows it's ugly face :p

[[3rdArmy]CW-4]

http://forums.raidersmerciless.com/images/bf2142.png

the monster shows it's ugly face :pEA says that the ads no way effect the game play... With that big billboard, I say BS!http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/Fltline/Icons/rant.gif

[Wizz]

Repost from my [H]ardOCP BF2142 thread

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1110428&page=1&pp=20

I have been watching this thread and other threads on this matter. This matter has a few things that needs to be mentioned:

Note for all.

I could care less about some damn ad on a billboard or side of a building while im blasting away but lets look at how EA "sneeked" this in.

1) You the buyer goes out to the major retailer and see's the box on the shelf. You pick up the box and find not one mention of this IGA Adware (http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1110428&page=8&pp=20#) crap. The box is viod of any of this.

You grab it and goto the checkout and fork over the 50 to 60 bucks for it. You get home and "open" the box and what do you find inside. This is what you will find:

"The disclaimer notes that the game may include software that records users' IP addresses and "other anonymous information" collectively referred to as "advertising data (http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1110428&page=8&pp=20#)." It also says that information is sent off to advertising firm IGA Worldwide for the purpose of delivering in-game ads, and if users don't want IGA to have access to that data, their only recourse is to not play or even install the game on a computer with Internet access."

Now that you have "opened" the box it will be very hard to nearly impossible to ever get a l refund. I have checked the following retailers here in my town that I live in for return policy.

Walmart
Bestbuy
Circuit City
CompUSA

All 4 has a "zero" return policy on "opened" box(s) for software. The best you can do is to get a LIKE replacement or exachange for "defective" cd/disk/rom software disks.

So now what do you do. You have to litterly take this issue to court for any action or litterly scream till your blue to the upper management in this.

2) You goto the EA downloader site, reg and find this BF2142 game. You fork over your credit card number and read over all the doc's that EA has posted/linked to.

As in item "1" there is not one mention of this IGA Adware crap. None what so ever. You make the final approval and pay using your credit card. You down load th software and do the install. Guess what pops up rearing its ugly head. The IGA software EULA.

"The disclaimer notes that the game may include software that records users' IP addresses and "other anonymous information" collectively referred to as "advertising data." It also says that information is sent off to advertising firm IGA Worldwide for the purpose of delivering in-game ads, and if users don't want IGA to have access to that data, their only recourse is to not play or even install the game on a computer with Internet access."

Again not ONE mention of this BEFORE you paid via your credit card and downloaded said software. Sorry again it was "sneeked" in and you the user/consumer was UNAWARE of this till the SALE was made.

These are the 2 most important issues that is at stake. Why wasnt this told to us BEFORE we made the sale, DL the game or opened the box. Also the fact that you MAY have to uninstall a High Priority Security update that prevents remote code execution is also wrong.

Sorry folks but the whole point is that EA wasnt honest with its customers. They wanted the MONEY knowing full well that retailers will and can not accept opened boxes. I have called EA support in this issue and let me tell you, the run a round I got trying to see if there is a refund policy and if you can indeed get a full refund is damn near impossible. I was sent from one dude to the next. After 25 minutes I gave up and said the hell with buying BF2142.

I just hope that they have NO plans on putting this crap into MOH Airborne. BlackHat has posted about this issue and has reasurred us all that there is NO plans on doing so. Good news for MOH Airborne fans. Time will tell tho.

Here is a link to the site that I am a admin on that we have been watching this. We have also posted what we all have done and even legal docs that anyone can use to submitt a complaint.

http://www.raidersmerciless.com/showthread.php?t=347 (http://www.raidersmerciless.com/showthread.php?t=347)

If you all purchased it and dont agree with how it was SNEEKED in and what not. Good luck in getting your money back. Its damn near impossible.

Also may I add this tidbit.

You pay FULL RETAIL price for it and then the ads plays thru while you play. Did you know that EA is making money off you while this IGA crap is doing its thing. Yes folks, you are being used to help EA make even MORE money while you play. Funny huh. I bet that some of you didnt know that. I find this very funny, they make full retail dollars off you and then make even more money while you play.

hahahhahahahahhahahahhahhahaha LMAO ROFL

Not from me they dont. I refuse to do this crap.

[Mike Nomad]

Dice/EA announced plans to release the next patch for 2142, but NO word on whether they're going to put an end to the intrusive advertising practices:

http://battlefield2142.ea.com/battlefield/bf/images/bf2142news.jpg



The DICE Live Team and updates to Battlefield 2142


Attention soldiers,

We would like to explain here how committed we are to increasing everyone's experience with Battlefield, especially regarding the updates for Battlefield 2142. We acknowledge that the patching process could have been smoother for Battlefield 2; we have listened to the feedback and learned from it.

To accomplish this goal Dice has recently formed a Live Team with the purpose of making sure your playing experience on the Battlefield is as solid as possible after the game is launched. Among other things, the team works closely with the community and handles the patching process, together with the Ranked Server Providers.

Your Dice Live Team is located at the Dice Studio in Stockholm and is made up of key people from the game project teams. This means that the same people who actually built Battlefield 2142 will be responsible for updating it. It has the clear advantage of involving people who are fully knowledgeable about the code and design of the game. The patches will also be thoroughly tested in closed beta tests before being released.

The patches will also be entirely dedicated to correcting bugs and making fixes instead of introducing new gameplay mechanics, thus significantly reducing the risk of introducing new bugs with the patches.

With all this said, we would like to announce patch 1.05 for Battlefield 2142. The patch includes more than 25 fixes which will improve every player's experience on the Battlefield.

The following fixes will be included, along with many others:
Titan will no longer be able to move once its shields are down, so that lag within the titan should be significantly reduced and being revived inside the titan shouldn't be a problem any more
Changes in EA master server communication to greatly reduce disconnects
Players are now able to receive the Titan Survival Pin
All players will see the same missile silo location numbers in Titan ModePatch 1.05 is scheduled for release later in November so keep watching this space for detailed release information. Also, stay tuned for more information on an upcoming competition allowing you to make your mark in 2142.

See you on the Battlefield!

/Your Dice Live Team

Source: battlefield2142.ea.com (http://battlefield2142.ea.com/battlefield/bf/BF2142_News_110306.aspx)


Since there is no positive progress about the spying, malware and advertising in the game that's customized by spying on you, the 2142 BOYCOTT is still the only solution. Don't buy this thing and allow ADWARE/SPYWARE/MALWARE to abuse YOUR computer to earn money for Electronic Arts.

If this INTRUSIVE, GREEDY PRACTICE continues, the game should be free to users and paid for by the advertisers!!

[wakka]

so you know I had a look on another pc

the ads in the game are now working, had to go have a look at em.

There all bogus dice adds at the mmt

But that shows there nearly ready to put proper adds out.

tbh

As I'm usually flying or in the titans i wont see em.

but its not the point is it

[wakka]

Well europe still on bogus adds.

Where i dont like the fact they slipped it in with warnings in the packaging not the outside.

I will put this across

If it means i get more patches and better support, i can accept them , so long as they are un-intrusive, ie they dont record my data.

If the adds r set to send based on ip ranges thats ok.
(hell u can spoof your ip)

Since its come out its had good support, and they have listened to feed back.

The only time these adds could possible distract me, is
a) there of sexy women
b) there annimated

If that happened then i would be peeved cos that would put me off my gaming

On another note

patch 1.10 is in testing due out after xmas - does that mean proper adds or no adds