Adware/Possible Spyware in BF2142
The CGW podcast covered the retail version of BF2142 today, and Darren Gladstone paraphrased a card included in the box on the air.
The software may incorporate technology developed by IGA Worldwide, the advertising technology. The purpose of the advertising technology is to deliver in-game advertisements to when you use the software while connected to the internet, while connected to the internet, the advertising technology may record your internet protocol address and other anonymous information.That advertising data is temporarily used by IGA to enable the presentation and measurement of in-game advertisements and other in-game objects whch are uploaded temporarily to your computer or game console. The software does not collect personally identifable information about you and EA will not provide...
That's all they read. I went to IGA's site and found this:
EA signs agreement to bring Dynamic In-Game Advertising (DIGA) to select titles 31 AUG 2006
Agreement with IGA Worldwide Provides Cross Platform In-Game Ad Solutions for Global AdvertisersRedwood City, CA/Chertsey, UK, August 31, 2006 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced an agreement with IGA Worldwide Inc., a leading independent in-game advertising network, in a move to offer marketers new dynamic advertising possibilities in select EA franchises on a global basis. Through the agreement, a portfolio of EA games will be incorporated into the IGA Worldwide network. Financial terms of today's agreement were not disclosed.The initial EA title to incorporate dynamic in-game advertising via IGA Worldwide is Battlefield 2142™, developed by DICE in Stockholm, Sweden. Fans of the franchise will see new, realistic brand presence integrated into contextually relevant game environments across the platforms and across the geographies where they play. At least two additional EA titles will offer dynamic ad serving capabilities through the course of the agreement with IGA Worldwide.
Sounds like EA is testing out a new revenue stream. I am however, not a fan of my IP being passed on to this ad agency. Furthermore, the fact that EA was worried enough to print a warning and put it in the box makes me think there's something untoward going on here.
IGA's Site: IGA Worldwide
Sometimes, if you wanna save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
-Bernard
yet another reason to dodge this particular title. As I said before, I'm out.
Steam Community ID
They are explaining why you will see billboards and such in-game advertising products, and that they can change them dynamically, necessitating uploads. Likewise, they want to record how many people are playing when an ad is up, so they can charge the advertiser and gather view statistics.
I don't think they are going to pop-up things on the system when you are not playing. Even EA is not that stupid.
If wishes were trees the trees would be falling, Listen to reason, Reason is calling
Your feet are going to be on the ground, Your head is there to move you around -- REM
Actually, per the Podcast, the disclaimer and the information they reviewed on this IGA deal makes it appear that they will be installing some mal/adware on your system in order to deliver the ads to a targeted group. I'm pretty much out on anyone installing something other than their game on my machine. The fact that EA felt uncomfortable enough about this to throw a disclaimer into the box says a little something as well.
Steam Community ID
Probably true, but that's not really my point. First, the advertising is going to be way out of place in a "You got some Big Mac in my dystopian war" type of way.
Second, there's the question of player-operated servers. EA can't realistically claim that this costs them anything, so are ads going to appear on private servers?
Third, they funnel IPs to an ad agency. I'm not sure I need to explain why this is bad.
Sometimes, if you wanna save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
-Bernard
Oh, believe me, I'm not happy with this. I'm really not interested in the game now. But I was just reporting what I read in what was posted...
If wishes were trees the trees would be falling, Listen to reason, Reason is calling
Your feet are going to be on the ground, Your head is there to move you around -- REM
Understood. Buds?
Sometimes, if you wanna save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
-Bernard
This is the kind of stuff that gets me. I'm not pissed because they are putting ip recording software on my computer. I'm mad because they got people to pony up the money in to a preorder weeks before they told everybody they were going to do this.
"Now witness the awesome lethality of the Alan Parsons Project!"
-Dr. Evil
I dunno, in this situation it kind of makes me happy that they are installning a third party software to handle the ad streaming. Good chance that it can be disabled without Punkbuster detecting tampering this way.
as for EA sharing IP addresses...thats kind of publically available information dont ya think?
Warrior Asherr
Hunter Ghorin
Wasn't this already beaten to death here?
http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/26764
Pretty much. The update via the CGW Podcast is what caught my attention along with the disclaimer card that was included.
NOTE: This probably warrented a *cough* and subsequent thread lock. Trowan, you'll want to edit your post to include the proper terminology.
Steam Community ID
depends, I thought this thread was more centered around EA installing 3rd party software on your machine, not the ads themselves.
you might call that splitting hairs, but I can see where some would feel like this crosses a different, and more critical line.
Warrior Asherr
Hunter Ghorin
Agreed. This is not a wise move for EA. This information should have been made available before the pre-orders were put in.
You can't do this!
Of course I can, I'm Will Wright, bitch! - The Simpsons Game
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Xfire/Xbox Live: StylezXP
Think of it as you paying to be part of a long-term marketing survey. They already have your demographics linked to your account, so it would not be hard to compile the viewing ad data with this to see what works.
Playing WoW as: Vilius (70 NE Druid)
“The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.” John K Galbraith
You guys have been doing this for months every time you boot up SWAT 4 (which transmitted the exact same data), so whining about it now is a bit late.
My days of not taking you seriously have certainly come to a middle.
Whoa!
My Gamercard
Of course.
If wishes were trees the trees would be falling, Listen to reason, Reason is calling
Your feet are going to be on the ground, Your head is there to move you around -- REM
except in swat 4 it was easily removable via a simple ini switch.
My fear is this: Will they draw the line at in game advertising? Or will I be getting popups telling me how awsome BF2 would be with the latest Nvidia card.
You can't do this!
Of course I can, I'm Will Wright, bitch! - The Simpsons Game
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Xfire/Xbox Live: StylezXP
There are reports that in BF2142 it will be the same as well. But who knows if you will be able to play on a ranked server after playing around with the files. I am sure EA will have a punitive measure if you do figure out how to disable it.
Playing WoW as: Vilius (70 NE Druid)
“The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.” John K Galbraith
Blocking the IP or adress via a firewall or the hosts file should be enough to keep your game add free. And I can't imagine EA blocking you from ranked play when you are not getting any ads streamed. That would mean that if IGA would be ddossed that nobody could play ranked play, wich would create an outcry.
I don't watch, I interact!
SWAT4 added this with a patch required for online play. That made it many times worse, in my opinion. At least here you have a heads up, and I can choose whether or not to purchase the game based on the information you have prior to dropping $50.
Kat on Cally wrote:
Boötes's Photo Blog
And if the IP is the same that EA uses for account log in?
Playing WoW as: Vilius (70 NE Druid)
“The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.” John K Galbraith
Not even. People who are buying BF2142 blind don't find out they'll be paying to be marketed to until they've already opened the box.
Sometimes, if you wanna save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
-Bernard
Not that I support EA doing this, but this has been announced for a while. EA actually had a press release some months ago which detailed how 2142 would have in-game advertising. But you know they expect a huge backlash (potentially even a legal one) when they put a huge disclaimer card in the box. But not indicating this on the packaging or to people who pre-order the game isn't appropriate I don't think. As I've said before, anyone who buys this game knowing this and the track-record of these games is kind of getting what they deserve. I know that's a cynical view to hold, but the demo has demonstrated that this game is shaping up to having many of the same problems as the previous ones. And when they want you to pay AND see ads for that, well...
"We're taught from a young age how to dodge rock hard objects moving at incredible rates of speed while simultaneously beating folks half to death with sticks. We do this for fun." -kung fu grip
http://blog.digital-lifeline.ca
Ad supported? It should be free then.
Variable -> Veeble -> vbl
"Nice boys, guys." - Swampy
Wow, yeah, that would be a very smart thing for them to do indeed. Then you hope they will use a different port for the add-streaming then they use for gaming, then you can block that port. If they use the same? Get ready to lube.
I don't watch, I interact!
Or we can just not buy it?
Playing WoW as: Vilius (70 NE Druid)
“The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.” John K Galbraith
Ding! Someone give the longarms harlot a prize!
Sometimes, if you wanna save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
-Bernard
Except that some of us already preordered and have opened/used/lost various items from inside the preorder box.
XBLive: Thin J
PSN: Thin_J
I don't imagine master craftsmen leaping away from completed projects and shouting "Done, motherf*ckers! - 1Dgaf
If QW were out then this whole thing would be a non-discussion. Hell, if the QW demo were out then that'd be enough.
Variable -> Veeble -> vbl
"Nice boys, guys." - Swampy
In-game advertising is bad, targeted advertising and data tracking is much much worse.
It may be hyperbole, but I have 15 month old son, do I really need a Pampers Cruiser (Size 6) on a billboard or a friggin' Wisk ad in 2142? I am playing games for enjoyment and escape, not be marketed to.
Good God, it's not enough that they wring another $50.00 outta me, but I am paying to send ads to myself? WTF? What in God's name is wrong with EA? In essence, buying the game we are penalized (a $50.00) vs. someone else who'll download it from BitTorrent and find a keygen?
This stuff just drives me run-around-the-block-screaming-and-pulling-my-hair crazy, at least that's what I imagine.
I've got your numbers, I got all your numbers!
I didn't realize until today that the ads were driven by data mining. I'm thinking now I will hold off buying this until someone figures out how to disable it. It would be cool if you could spoof the app by having it look at a bogus cache filled with links going to EA's competitors.