Battlefield 2142

[Caridwen]

I don’t play this game but someone at another forum posted this and thought someone might be interested

"Tipper Nic directs our attention to this forum post, where we read of a disheartening little slip of paper that suggests some seriously gross spyware will be installed along with Battlefield 2142, all in the name of in-game advertising:

So. In the latest CGW podcast, they received retail boxed copies of BF 2142.
When you open the box, a big slip of paper falls out first, preceeding any discs or manuals. The slip of paper says, essentially, that 2142 includes monitoring software which runs while your computer is online, and records “anonymous” information like your IP address, surfing habits (probably via cookie scans), and other “computing habits” in order to report this information back to ad companies and ad servers, which generates in-game ads…"

More info and comments in the link
http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/centipe...are-207955.php

How do you feel about this? Are they allowed to do this?

[Revenant_Threshold]

There’s a bit on Wikipedia about this;

It has recently been announced that the game will ship with Dynamic Advertising, this system is featured in games such as Splinter Cell Chaos Theory, and SWAT 4.[4], which means changing adverts on objects such as billboards in-game. There are also widespread rumors that the game includes spyware that monitors the user’s web-browsing habits. However, DICE employees have confirmed on the game’s forums that the game only reports what in-game adverts you look at, and for how long.[5]The rumors of spyware might be fueled by a misinterpretation of a disclaimer that ships with the game, but more likely disapproval that one cannot opt out of its installation accompanying the game itself.

I’ve got the game, but not with me atm. If no-one has posted it before then, i’ll write up exactly what it says on the little piece of paper so people can take a look.

[Revenant_Threshold]

Alright, here you go;

[QUOTE]
The Software may incorporate technology developed by IGA Worldwide Inc.(“IGA”) (the “Advertising Technology”). The purpose of the Advertising Technology is to deliver in-game advertisements to you when you use the Software while connected to the Internet. When you use the Software while connected to the Internet, the Advertising Technology may record you Internet Protocol address and other anonymous information (“Advertising Data”). The Advertising Data is temporarily used by IGA to enable the presentation and measurement of in-game advertisements and other in-game objects which are uploaded temporarily to your personal computer or game console and changed during online game play. The Advertising Technology does not collect any personally identifiable information. The servers used by the Advertising Technology may, from time to time, be located outside your country of residence. If you are located within the European Union, the servers may be located outside the European Union.

By installing and using the Software, you agree to:
(i) the transfer of the Advertising Data to servers located outside your country of residence and, if applicable, outside the European Union; (ii) the collection and use of the Advertising Data as described in this Section; and (iii) the delivery of advertising and marketing content by the Advertising Technology.
IF YOU DO NOT WANT IGA TO COLLECT, USE, STORE OR TRANSMIT THE DATA DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION, DO NOT INSTALL OR PLAY THE SOFTWARE ON ANY PLATFORM THAT IS USED TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET.[/QUOTE (Any typos are likely mine rather than from the paper itself).

It does look like it’s only looking at the in-game advertising and not the sites you visit, though it does collect your IP.

[Revenant_Threshold]

Balls. Could someone report that so a mod can fix it?

[mittu]

Installing “spyware” is one thing but it seems they have gone a step further.

This quote is from another forum I visit (I must be more loyal!!)

Hey, even more reason to just love Battlefield 2142, EA and DICE. Sure, they are infecting you with spyware… I’m sorry, a piece of software that allows them to more accurately monitor in-game ad usage. Sorry, even worse! But hey, it’s just spyware… not exactly like they’re leaving the backdoor open to hackers.

Well, except they are. According to Hearless Gamer, EA has already released a patch for BF:2142 today that requires you to uninstall a critical Windows Update patch.

What does that patch do?

A security issue has been identified in the Windows Kernel that could allow an attacker to compromise your Windows-based system and gain control over it.
Gosh, what will EA do to their loyal Battlefield: 2142 fans next? Decapitate them by propelling the DVD out of a cannon at their necks?

[msmith537]

Screw BF2142. I found BF2 so frustrating (and eventually repetitive and boring) that I just don’t care.

[Caridwen]

Anything that monitors in-game useage for whatever reason is spyware to me.

Is this going to be the newest thing with EA Games? If it is, I’m not happy about it.

[Sens_Nehtion]

I have both BF1942 and BF2 (no expansions… they simply never interested me enough although I have tried some MODs) and I’m still unsure if I’m going to get BF2142. This spyware issue does bother me somewhat but the unstable nature of BF2 and the horrendous job they did patching it several times has caused me to lose faith in them. And that sucks because I REALLY wanted them to go into furutistic combat because I’ve had enough of this WW1/WW2/Vietnam/ModernWar setting.

Not to mention I also hate this unlocking system that games are employing now. It’s such a waste of time to have to go through such nonsense over and over just to have the privilege to use something that gives a slight advantage to those who use it. What about us somewhat casual but competitive gamers who don’t want to spend hours just to be on a level playing field? That’s why I hate MMORPGs, don’t bring it into FPS please

[Raguleader]

A random question about BF2142, in the demo, it seems, at least to me, that the game seems somewhat balanced towards the Engineer. he can fix things, he has a fairly capable anti-personel weapon in the submachine gun, and he can fire rockets against vehicles (mind you, these rockets, rather than being one big rocket, consist of four little ones that fly like drunken one-eyed monkeys instead of in anything resembling straight lines.)

[SenorBeef]

I played bf1942/Desert combat for about 50102501259259 hours. So I really, really want battlefield games to be good. But you know how sometimes you appreciate something by saying “they get all the little things right?” - well, DICE/EA gets all the little things wrong.

The frustrating this is that they’re usually easy to fix, yet they just don’t bother. In this case, it’s a deliberate decision to screw people for an extra buck.