spyware bundled into battlefield 2142[resolved]

From the english Wikipedia: Battlefield 2142 shipped with dynamic in-game advertising provided by IGA Worldwide, a similar system is featured in games such as Splinter Cell Chaos Theory, and SWAT 4, which means changing adverts on objects such as billboards in-game. These in-game adverts have been dubbed as adware by some and there has been a vocal backlash against the game. There were also accusations that the game contained spyware which monitors the user's web-browsing habits. However, DICE employees have claimed on the game's forums that the game only reports what in-game adverts you look at, and for how long. The Australian version of 2142 however lacks the Dynamic Advertising feature as it is believed to be illegal under the Australian Spyware Act.

From the Amazon dot com comments on the US DVD version of the game: I will never purchase another EA brand game ever, not for PC, X360, or PS3. Like adding in-game ads wasn't enough, they sell you a game with spyware. So just to recap, you are paying $50 for a mod of BF2 which contains in-game advertising and spyware. We need to set our foot down now and not allow this to be acceptable. Don't buy EA products, don't buy BF2142. Is this comment true, ie. are there further spyware installed apart from the "Dynamic Advertising feature?"

For the helpful gentlemen of this board: did someone play the game? How can you remove the spyware bundled with the EU (or every other non-australian) version of the game? Is there a way to keep playing in the ranked - official - servers after you've bypassed their spyware? I haven't bought the game and don't intend to, unless I am sure I can remove such insulting "features."

Comments

  • TroganTrogan London, UK
    edited November 2006
    I have no idea about this and I don't think anyone of the SVR team does, hence why no one has replied.

    I'll let you know if I hear anything.
  • SPIKE09SPIKE09 Scatland
    edited November 2006
    A good rebutall of the spyware bit here by my mate Tom, they do use targetted advertising to some degree and that is all. http://forum.micromart.co.uk/Topic150545-61-1.aspx
  • edited November 2006
    Gents, thank you for your replies. If someone has anything to add, I and lots of other people who don't want to be "served" adds while playing games would be most grateful.
  • edited November 2006
    Dude most of the new games have this in their online play (not only EA).
    When you play for example Toca Race Driver 3 when you connect to Gamespy server it copies your IP and the advertisings on the different racetracks are designed to show adds based on your country/IP address.
    I think if you want to play Battenfield you will have to enjoy them unless someone fix this by hacking the game itself :)
    Enjoy!
  • jmoney3457jmoney3457 Maine
    edited November 2006
    from http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/18/ea-clarifies-iga-spyware
    EA clarifies Battlefield 2142's IGA spyware
    Posted Oct 18th 2006 1:00AM by Alexander Sliwinski
    Filed under: Hacks, PC, First Person Shooters, Online, Business

    Electronic Arts launched Battlefield 2142 yesterday and not too many people were happy to find spyware incorporated into the game. EA is confused why players have an issue with the sheet describing advertising spyware in their copy of Battlefield 2142 ... afterall, it's not like they didn't announce they were doing this months ago.

    Joystiq asked EA to clarify this technology as there still seems to be some confusion (announcement be damned). An EA spokesperson stated, "It does not capture personal data such as cookies, account login detail, or surfing history." EA's statement to Joystiq can be found after the break.

    In case you didn't read EA's letter in our post yesterday morning, please allow us to quote it to emphasize their clarification:

    "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."

    If you want to play Battlefield 2142 or Need for Speed: Carbon, you'll just have to accept the consequences. IGA Worldwide -- the company taking your IP address and placing the ads in the game -- states on their website that "70% of gamers [are] saying that advertisements inside computer and video games help improve the realism of the gaming experience."

    We're still waiting for EA to respond to several followup questions and will update this post when they do. Continue reading for their statement to Joystiq:

    Electronic Arts statement (unedited):

    The advertising program in Battlefield 2142 does not access any files which are not directly related to the game. It does not capture personal data such as cookies, account login detail, or surfing history.

    BF 2142 delivers ads by region. The advertising system uses a player's IP address to determine the region of the player, assisting to serve the appropriate ads by region and language. For instance, a player in Paris might be presented with ads in French. The information collected will not be repurposed for other uses.

    Battlefield 2142 also tracks "impression data" related to in-game advertisements: location of a billboard in the game, brand advertised, duration of advertisement impression, etc. This information is used to help advertisers qualify the reach of a given advertisement.
  • jmoney3457jmoney3457 Maine
    edited December 2006
    i'm going to lock this topic since it seems discussion is resolved, if you (original topic starter) would like this reopened please send me a PM
This discussion has been closed.