EA Games’ Spyware
California Assemblywoman Lori Saldana could soon introduce a bill into state legislature that would halt companies like EA from including spyware technologies in their games. Battlefield 2142 has come under scrutiny for requiring players to install software that collects personal data from users’ PCs and transfers it to foreign servers for advertising purposes. Consumers aren’t warned of the adware application until opening the game box.
Beth Givens of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse calls EA’s methods “particularly vile,” prompting Saldana to consider legislation. “A parental notice telling them private information might be at risk is important to have,” Saldana told a local news station.
It seems that using the courts and existing laws, along with a boycott, is the only way to stop Electronic Arts from grinding the gaming industry to a halt. Why can’t they just go back to making good games and make money that way? I cannot understand the anti-gamer attitude that these companies, who are where they are because of gamers, have adopted.
December 18th, 2006 at 1:59 pm
That is ridiculous, I never knew that nor would I think a big name company would do something like that, but I guess that’s EA for you.
December 18th, 2006 at 4:45 pm
I don’t like, it’s not gonna be good for them when everyone finally gets fed up with all the junk their pulling.
December 19th, 2006 at 12:05 am
The unfortunate thing is, people may get fed up, but your average gamer is going to be irritated for awhile and then go right out and buy the next iteration of Madden/NCAA Football/NFS whatever EA game when it comes out. They realize that they’re getting screwed, they don’t like it, but most people don’t care enough to actually do something about it. At this point, I personally try to boycott anything with a Sony or EA logo on the box because of their anti-consumer track records in recent years, but until a lot of other people start doing the same, nothing is going to change for the better. That’s the problem with huge companies, regardless of who they are (even Microsoft –see Vista); it starts to become more about the money, what the stockholders, media moguls, CEO’s want and less about providing the best possible product. Yeah, it sucks, but that’s the way the world works.
December 21st, 2006 at 1:36 am
The sad part is, it becomes impossible to avoid Sony/EA becuase of the buyouts.
Take myself for example. I can’t stand Sony… but I’ve played Everquest for years, which is an SOE (Sony Online Entertainment) product… I can’t avoid helping Sony becuase I won’t abandon my friends in game.
Then there’s EA… I was highly intriuged by Warhammer online, and Hellgate:London has me drooling… but if I refuse to give EA any money, I can’t even try those now… and I’ll tell you right now, EA or not, I’m buying Hellgate when it comes out if it’s even 1/10th of what it promises. And it sucks. It sucks a lot.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:07 pm
The answer to your problem, Vor, is that if you have to buy EA, buy EA used so they get no money.
December 22nd, 2006 at 6:41 am
Geeze, so you people are getting pissed off over a few banners advertising things? Every time you walk outside you’re subject to advertising, everytime you listen to the radio, everytime you go on the internet, you see advertising, you sure don’t bitch and whine about that, but when it appears in a few games, it’s the devil incarnate.
Geeze, if it’s just SO bad, just learn to ignore the adveritising like you have with other mediums, not that hard.
I hate EA as much as the next guy, but the whole Spyware paranoia is pathetic, it collects your location, not your friggin’ credit card numbers. Get your facts straight.