I've been in a sore mood all night (and a rough run through SM didn't help much), so I think it's about time for a controversial rant. Lately, as you may have noticed, Blizzard seems to be cracking down on "third-party app" usage-- sometimes, it seems, whether or not you're actually using a third party application in the game. They accidentally dropped bans on a few Linux-running players (because the client had issues with the software used to run the Windows version on Linux), and lately it seems as though the boards (and our inbox) are full of players complaining that they were unfairly banned-- either because they never used third-party programs, or because they were likely hacked by a keylogger. The Customer Service boards are filled with players complaining about being banned, most of them swearing they didn't deserve it.I know that, simply by the numbers, there must be a number of players out there who are having legitimate issues with what Blizzard is doing. It's very likely that someone could browse a website about WoW, unknowingly download a keylogger, and then get their account banned by Blizzard. And I know that, for whatever reason, it seems like Blizzard has made some mistakes lately, and probably banned some people who truly didn't deserve it.
But here's the controversial part: Have you noticed, like me, that a lot of the "banned" stories don't seem to hold water? Here's one who says he lost his druid-- after logging on during an account suspension. I have to think that if you got suspended before, you likely got banned for doing the same thing again. Then there's the "my friend got banned and he doesn't know why" argument, or the "I gave my account info to a guildie and then got banned" argument-- if someone else is playing on the account that got banned, guess what? They got you banned. I know, I know, they're swearing they didn't use any third party applications, but I hate to tell you: if your friend did cheat, wouldn't he also be willing to lie to you, too?
But my point is not to ridicule people who got banned, my point is to help people who were "legitimately" banned wrongly. Blizzard has put up an easy guide for anyone who's worried their account might get banned called "How to Stay in the Game." (For the record, UI mods won't get you banned) They've also posted a thread about where to go if you have been banned (contacting wowaccountadmin@blizzard.com with your info is a good place to start), and finally, tips to stay away from keyloggers and such.
I've never been banned (but then again, I've never bought gold, shared my account, or hacked or botted, either), so I don't have a firsthand look at Blizzard's process. But issues with Linux aside, from what I've seen Blizzard has done a pretty good job with their player bans. You won't hear that from the players who actually got banned (they'll probably be in the comments section of this one yelling at me), but I haven't heard a story I believe yet where someone got banned without doing anything suspicious at all.
Subscribe
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-16-2006 @ 3:54AM
Deafdumbandblind said...
There's always excuses:
"Gave my info to my guild"
"Keylogged"
etc etc.
Tough shit. If you're stupid enough to give someone your login details you deserve it. If you got keylogged then you went to a dodgy website and it's your responsibility, not Blizzards.
The ONLY legitimate cause for complaint is if you get banned for running software that is NOT a bot or hack program. e.g. like those linux ppl
But then again, why use linux? Why don't you use Windows like every other fool on this planet? You see, if you want to do things differently from everyone you must expect to be treated differently.
Reply
11-16-2006 @ 4:38AM
Mike said...
@Deafdumbandblind: There's a reason I use a Mac, and it's probably very similar to the reason why people use Linux: to get away from Windows and its problems. And lets face it, Windows has a LOT of problems. I'm not saying you should dump Windows right now and never look back - I'm not trying to sell you on a platform switch here - but you have to consider that some of us decided not to put up with the viruses, the spyware, and a lot closer to home, the keyloggers.
Long story short, yes, we're going to be treated differently. That's the consequence of our choice. But we shouldn't be treated as cheaters. Now I got lucky, 'cause Blizzard makes an official Mac WoW client, so as long as I'm not doing anything shady, I'm ok. But Linux users don't have that option, so they have to use a system called Cedega to play. Now it'd be one thing if the game just refused to work one day. From what I've seen, Linux users are a pretty enterprising bunch and would work out a fix relatively quick. But when WoW's overzealous check flags the Cedega system as a cheat - which it isn't - and you get banned as a result, it's insult and injury in one tidy package. It's guilty until proven innocent, basically, and if I were in their position, I'd be screaming about it too. The only thing I'm guilty of is not using Windows!
Thankfully, Transgaming (the company behind Cedega) and Blizzard are working on a solution, and with any luck, Linux players will have their accounts reinstated. Meanwhile, ouch.
Reply
11-16-2006 @ 5:36AM
Ceromus said...
They've also posted a thread about where to go if you have been banned (contacting wowaccountadmin@blizzard.com with your info is a good place to start)
Reply
11-16-2006 @ 5:38AM
Ceromus said...
hmm my comment got cut out some how, I was saying that the wowaccountadmin@blizzard.com has a terrible response time. For such an important e-mail address it should not take them days to respond to inquiries.
Reply
11-16-2006 @ 10:30AM
Kahja said...
@2
Every OS has problems. Not just Windows OS's. Windows ones are more prominent because it's more common. If OS X was the popular OS then we'd know about it's bugs over Windows.
Besides you won't be able to insult Vista when it comes out because then you'll be insulting OS X... lol
Reply
11-16-2006 @ 6:03PM
Shaggy said...
insulting vista is insulting OSX? why becuase Microsoft is blatantly copying Apple? I dont reallt get it.
My only issue with this fiasco is that the Blue Texts on the official forums seem quite condescending and heartless to those affected by these bans.
Reply
11-17-2006 @ 12:25AM
Ionon said...
"But then again, why use linux? Why don't you use Windows like every other fool on this planet? You see, if you want to do things differently from everyone you must expect to be treated differently."
Windows is a brand of an OS. People have the right to preference and if they prefer Linux over Windows then there you go. For Blizzard to ban people because they are using Linux would be similar to Shell to stop pumping gas to anyone who uses a Ford.
Regardless if you're a penguin lover or a Windows fan, everyone can acknowledge that in most cases Linux machines run stabler than Windows machines. You give up a lot for that stability however (as seen in the bans given due to the third-party software required to run WoW). Advantages and disadvantages to both sides and this thread isn't about which OS is better.
Reply
11-18-2006 @ 12:37AM
Krianna said...
#7-
WoW is also a brand; they have a right to say that folks aren't allowed to do things with their program, and they have a right to protect their brand when it looks like someone is cheating.
And, more precisely, it's like a CD company throwing a fit becasue I use a third-party hack to play a CD without loading their cruddy software onto my computer. :^)
Reply
11-26-2006 @ 7:00PM
moink said...
Deafdumbandblind,
Some of us use our computers for things other than WoW on occasion. :) Most of the mathematical codes I use in grad school run in Linux, not Windows. And that's the priority in choosing my operating system.
Reply