Battlefield 2142 to Bundle Spyware? 439
An anonymous reader writes "Kotaku reports on a Shacknews Post. Battlefield 2142, the new Electronic Arts game, is expected to include mandatory spyware in the retail package. The software will apparently monitor web browser and other computer usage; this information will be used to deliver targeted in-game advertisements. Other popular game titles have included spyware in the past to aid anti-cheating measures. Is spyware acceptable to the public when it comes with a game, or has EA made a PR misstep?"
I pre-ordered (Score:5, Interesting)
Now either the kotaku is imagining bits of paper, the online purchased version is magically pure or EA are about to get themselves a huge class-action kicking.
I loved BF2, shelled out for the hit-or-miss expansion packs and already felt slightly narked off. I think this is the final straw - wish me luck on getting a refund.
Hmm (Score:4, Interesting)
3 thoughts on this:
#1 - It probably won't be long before someone develops a web browser wrapper that 'fakes' site visits.
#2 - How explicitly does EA describe what they're collecting and how? If they're scanning my cookies, that's one thing. Directly monitoring packets is another level of bad.
#3 - How long do you think it will be before some adult site that daddy was visiting gets into Jr's game because everyone logs in on one account? I can see the laywers salivating......
Pathetic! (Score:3, Interesting)
Now really, who will get all this money for advertising? The consummer still needs to buy the game, right? So what, all this spyware and ads revenue is a "bonus" to the game developer? If the game would be offered for free upon installation of this spyware, I would then accept it. I would get myself another HDD with another Windows installation just for that game.
My fellow
Re:Great! (Score:5, Interesting)
Spyware to monitor your non-gaming behavior to better target advertising? Can you imagine the other uses for this information? The secondary market for this information may yield a revenue stream that eclipses their software license revenue...especially since this spyware will be, in some perverted sense, legitimate.
Count me out EA. This is one frog that is jumping out of the pot of water.
Only if people know it is a problem (Score:2, Interesting)
Is spyware acceptable to the public when it comes with a game, or has EA made a PR misstep?
It's only a big PR misstep if the general public is informed that this is a horrible idea. If it's just a couple of geeks muttering, it's not a problem at all (since most of /. hates EA already).
Therefore, I suggest telling all your friends that EA will be watching their every step online and they'll be open to identity theft. Come to think of it, would EA have pr0n ads in game if that's what your browsing history indicated? Now that would be hilarious.
"Billy! Why is there a naked lady in your game?!? Someone get me Jack Thompson on the phone, because it's time to sue!"
Re:Unacceptable (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:I pre-ordered (Score:5, Interesting)
The real problem here is that EA isn't doing this to ease the burden for the consumer, it's doing it to make more profit -- you notice that whether or not you want ads, you've got them, and you still have to pay the full price for the game. It might not have been that bad if EA had reduced the price of the ad-supported game by 20 bucks or so.
GG EA, just another reason why I'm not buying BF2142.
Re:Great! (Score:5, Interesting)
Why only pay once? (Score:3, Interesting)
It seems to me that this is a bit of a double dip on their end. I could see putting up with this if it was actully financing "free" content that I could receive down the road. Professional caliber add-ons for example.
Some Questions remain
1. Can you turn off the spyware?
2. If so will it still be feature complete with the spyware turned off?
3. Will it uninstall when the game uninstalls?
4. What new security holes does this open?
5. Will the upfront purchase price be subsidized by this spyware?
-Lemur
Boycott (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Illegal? (Score:5, Interesting)
That wouldn't be spyware, that would be "fun".
Re:Just great (Score:5, Interesting)
So what you are hinting at is that to knowingly put spyware on a game, the end user has to be above 18 years old, and therefore 'legally' able to make such a desicion?
That is a very intersting point...i wonder if it is true though...
if it IS true then EA are cutting out a huge portion of their market sector.
Re:Just great (Score:4, Interesting)
Minors can't enter into contracts, right? So software EULAs should be unenforceable against them, much less this.
Dont lump us all in together (Score:4, Interesting)
Most indie games have none of that crap. I am very loud and blatant about not pulling any stunts like those for my games. Plus theres no console approval board between me and my customers, and no console licence fee either.
Dont lump in the good old indie dev with the scum who pull stunts like this.
Not a bad idea (Score:4, Interesting)
BUT if states use the "minors don't have full rights to engage in contracts" logic, they CAN restrict purchase of such software to people over the age of 18 and withstand court challenge.
THAT is one way to curb such evil.
Re:Not exactly (Score:5, Interesting)
As for the rising costs to develop and publish games, that's not my problem. That's EA's problem. Multi-million dollar budgets and FMVs do not a good game make. Look at Geometry Wars on the Xbox 360, or look at any of the plethora of AAA-quality Nintendo DS games. You do not need huge budgets and FMVs to make a good game which sells well in the market. Thus I have no compassion for EA when they tell me that their prices are skyrocketing.
Make a good game and I'll buy it. That's the only revenue you should need if you're running your business well. And if you're running it poorly, the Free Market will make short work of you.
Re:The text (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Great! (Score:2, Interesting)
Letsee I can:
A) Spend $50, and get loaded with spyware reporting my porn habits to the highest bidder.
B) Spend nothing and I don't get infested with spyware.
It's not just about the money anymore... XD
The power of rumours (Score:1, Interesting)
Now, the ad scheme is really despicable IMO, and if I buy the game I will certainly not install that feature if it is optional, and if it is not, I will just block the adserver. But is it spyware? I doubt it. What the hell happened to doing some basic research before posting sensationalist "scoops"?
Re:Just great (Score:5, Interesting)
What happens when one person surfs porn all day, and then the younger teen goes to play the game? Suddenly, EA is distributing porn to minors.
Ol' Jack Thompson better get his guns out again.
Re:Illegal? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Great! (Score:3, Interesting)
The thing that leaps to my mind is, with this new revenue stream is the price of the game going to be less? Or is it just there to cover the "free online play"?
I think inevitably people are going to allow an increase in advertising if they get a tangible benefit in return. If not however, they are generally willing to pay more to skip the advertising...Cable TV and Satellite radio prove that people are willing to pay considerably just for a decrease in ads.
Re:Just great (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Pathetic! (Score:3, Interesting)
No this is not the end of privacy, this is the beginning of a revolution where the consumer says F-U to game companies that put ads in games.. you have a voice, use it, don't buy games with in game advertising and they WILL* stop...
(*or start suing gamers saying piracy is reducing their revenue)
That's CRAP (Score:2, Interesting)