Can you guess the game?

cavemanoc

cavemanoc

cavemanoc

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Wasn't sure whether to post this in the Games thread or here, but given the slant I'm going with GD. Can you guess which game has bombed spectacularly on a German eTailor's user ratings?

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I apologize if this has been discussed before - my search revealed nothing and there is sooooo much on BF3 that it's hard to sift through. I actually returned my copy of BF 2142 unused when I read the T&Cs covering the in game advertising, and it seems EA have now gone even further. I know it's a bit 'tin-foil-hat', but I don't think we should have to put up with this nonsense. If the game were free, then I could understand being treated like a commodity instead of a customer, but it's not - so I shouldn't!

You agree that EA may collect, use, store and transmit technical and related information that identifies your computer (including the Internet Protocol Address), operating system, Application usage (including but not limited to successful installation and/or removal), software, software usage and peripheral hardware, that may be gathered periodically to facilitate the provision of software updates, dynamically served content, product support and other services to you, including online services. EA may also use this information combined with personal information for marketing purposes and to improve our products and services. We may also share that data with our third party service providers in a form that does not personally identify you. IF YOU DO NOT WANT EA TO COLLECT, USE, STORE, TRANSMIT OR DISPLAY THE DATA DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION, PLEASE DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THE APPLICATION.
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This seems pretty extreme to me - and even if it were well intentioned: "we want to ensure you get the best service" - I'm not sure I trust them with that much personal data - large companies haven't exactly starred in Data Protection recently (yes you Sony!)
 
Doesn't seem all that different to the hundreds of services/products T&Cs you find out there now a days.

Not a big deal really :)

Sky broadband T&Cs

By becoming a customer you agree that any member of the British Sky Broadcasting group may use and share, within that group, the information you provide and other information we hold about you for account management and, unless you have told us otherwise, for market research, sending you periodic newsletters about your services and the marketing of group and third parties’ products and services including for a reasonable period after you cease to be a Sky customer. This may include contacting you for marketing or market research purposes by post, telephone, email or SMS unless you tell us you don’t want to be contacted for such purposes in any of these ways by calling us on 08442 41 41 41 or sending an email to [email protected].

We may also share such information with credit reference and fraud prevention agencies for use in credit decisions, and for fraud detection and prevention purposes. If false or inaccurate information is provided and fraud is identified, the details will be passed on to fraud prevention agencies. Law enforcement agencies may access and use this information. We and other organisations may also access and use this information to prevent fraud and money laundering, for example when: checking details on applications for credit and credit related or other facilities; managing credit and credit related accounts or facilities; recovering debt; checking details on proposals and claims for all types of insurance; or checking details of job applications and employees. We and other organisations may access and use from other countries the information recorded by fraud prevention agencies. Please contact us by emailing us at [email protected] if you want to receive details of the relevant fraud prevention agencies. We may also share your information with other companies for debt recovery purposes.

In addition we may provide information to third parties for the purposes of preventing or detecting crime or for the purpose of safeguarding national security. We also provide information when required to do so by law (for example under a court order) or in response to properly made demands in accordance with legislative powers. Disclosures will be made in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.

Information held by the British Sky Broadcasting group about you may also be shared with our business partners, for customer profiling, analysis and, unless you have told us otherwise, so that they can contact you for marketing and market research purposes by post, telephone, email or SMS. You can tell us that you wish to be excluded from such uses by contacting us on 08442 41 41 41 or by sending an email to [email protected].

We may disclose your personal data to our successors in business for the purposes outlined in these terms and conditions.
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Much more scope for dishing out personal info, and it'll be similar to many of the big providers.
 
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...in addition to information that you give EA directly, EA collects non-personally identifiable (or anonymous) information for purposes of improving our products and services, providing services to you, facilitating the provision of software updates, dynamically served content and product support as well as communicating with you. The non-personally identifiable information that EA collects includes technical and related information that identifies your computer (including the Internet Protocol Address) and operating system, as well as information about your Application usage (including but not limited to successful installation and/or removal), software, software usage and peripheral hardware. As noted above, this information is gathered periodically for purposes such as improving our products and services, troubleshooting bugs, and otherwise enhancing your user experience.
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Interestingly, they seem to have changed the wording subtly - the quote above is from a fresh Origin install. Seems like they are hiding their intention a little better now.

At least with 2142 they were honest about the sale of your info :eek:
 
Interesting that the Germans had such a different response to this. I guess we have been desensitised to the point where we just don't care any more how our private data is used/traded. I have no snags with them monitoring their own software to make it work better, but I fail to see why I should allow them carte blanche to snoop through all my other hardware/software usage. I wouldn't mind so much if there was on opt out - but I find the fact that there isn't quite disturbing - I am being blackmailed into accepting terms I don't agree with. I don't believe this particular term should be make or break - surely it should be along the lines of the 'please fill my inbox with spam' tickbox at the start of every other install?
 
Well you have 50Mb cable from Virgin don't you.

Maybe you should read through

http://shop.virginmedia.com/the-legal-stuff/terms-and-conditions-for-cable-services.html#details

before you overreact about origin.

Because virgin media will collect/track more data about you than origin ever will.

Just learn to accept that collection of personal information is pretty much par for any service you take now a days. From broadband, to phone lines, to mobile contracts to entertainment.

I personally am with Sky broadband, their T&Cs are filled with references to collecting my data, do I care? Not a jot.

Just for example from Virgin T&Cs

By having the services installed in your home and/or by using them you consent to our transferring your information to countries which do not provide the same level of data protection as the UK if necessary for providing the services. If such a transfer is made, a contract will be put in place to ensure your information is protected.
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cavemanoc said:
Interesting that the Germans had such a different response to this. I guess we have been desensitised to the point where we just don't care any more how our private data is used/traded. I have no snags with them monitoring their own software to make it work better, but I fail to see why I should allow them carte blanche to snoop through all my other hardware/software usage. I wouldn't mind so much if there was on opt out - but I find the fact that there isn't quite disturbing - I am being blackmailed into accepting terms I don't agree with. I don't believe this particular term should be make or break - surely it should be along the lines of the 'please fill my inbox with spam' tickbox at the start of every other install?
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Blackmailed?!

Nobody is forcing you to buy it. If it's such a big problem, don't buy it.

Simple as that.
 
The fact that it is widespread doesn't make it acceptable though. I have always liked the fact that the Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement program is Opt In rather than mandatory. I think people are slowly starting to wake up to the insidious spread of these terms, look at the furore over Apple's less than savoury tracking practices.

Nobody is forcing you to buy it. If it's such a big problem, don't buy it.
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But I want to play - so it is blackmail - it's a fantastic game, and they are relying on the fact that I am desperate to play it to force conditions I would never normally accept on me. If there were a choice, would you opt in to this?
 
cavemanoc said:
The fact that it is widespread doesn't make it acceptable though. I have always liked the fact that the Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement program is Opt In rather than mandatory. I think people are slowly starting to wake up to the insidious spread of these terms, look at the furore over Apple's less than savoury tracking practices.



But I want to play - so it is blackmail - it's a fantastic game, and they are relying on the fact that I am desperate to play it to force conditions I would never normally accept on me. If there were a choice, would you opt in to this?
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Just like Virgin media then, they are the only option for 50Mb internet. Yet you wanted the service, so by getting said service you agree to all their terms and therefore their collection of personal information from you.
 
VaderDSL said:
It's no good Robbo, he obviously thinks that EA are the only company in the world doing this.
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Ouch ;)

I'm really not that naive or blinkered. I just think this particular case goes too far.

The Virgin terms are a good example to use. You can opt out of the marketing return - ie. they can be asked to stop sending you stuff (different, but relevant). They also only collect information about your usage of their product.

That's the cruncher - EA have gone much further by tracking not just your usage of their product, but all of your software/hardware usage - something they would struggle to justify as anything other that blatant data mining. (Even if it is only usage, and not actual data)
 
cavemanoc said:
Ouch ;)

I'm really not that naive or blinkered. I just think this particular case goes too far.

The Virgin terms are a good example to use. You can opt out of the marketing return - ie. they can be asked to stop sending you stuff (different, but relevant). They also only collect information about your usage of their product.

That's the cruncher - EA have gone much further by tracking not just your usage of their product, but all of your software/hardware usage - something they would struggle to justify as anything other that blatant data mining. (Even if it is only usage, and not actual data)
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Send them a FOI request if you are that bothered, services like facebook or gmail probably have much more data on hand about you.
 
So Virgin collecting info about what you watch, when, if you skip adverts etc. which is stuff you can't opt out of doesn't bother you, yet origin tracking what hardware people are using makes you worried?

The software/hardware usage is not a list of stuff you use, it isn't remotely tracked back to your individual computer, it;s just an overview of what OS/Hardware etc. people are running their software on, it isn't an issue.
 
chaosdestro0 said:
Send them a FOI request if you are that bothered, services like facebook or gmail probably have much more data on hand about you.
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Not really the point - we know what they're collecting from us - I would just rather they didn't, or at least allowed an opt out for those of us that still care about privacy.

I am surprised that no-one has any concerns about a company blatantly collecting data on ALL of your software usage. Can no-one else see any issues with this? Would you be happy for this to become a standard term for all software you used?
 
VaderDSL said:
The software/hardware usage is not a list of stuff you use, it isn't remotely tracked back to your individual computer, it;s just an overview of what OS/Hardware etc. people are running their software on, it isn't an issue.
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You agree that EA may collect, use, store and transmit technical and related information that identifies your computer (including the Internet Protocol Address), operating system, Application usage (including but not limited to successful installation and/or removal), software, software usage and peripheral hardware
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That's identifying you, what software you use, and what hardware you have connected. Seems pretty specific to me.
 
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