EA takes in-game advertising too far with Battlefield 2142

zekrahminator · Oct 18, 2006

A while ago, EA told everyone how they could keep prices down by putting in-game advertising in their games. When the advertisements are subtle, with things such as billboards, then there is really no issue. However, BattleField 2142 takes in-game advertising to the next level. EA notifies anyone who bought the full retail version of their latest game on the package that "When you use the software while connected to the Internet, the advertising technology may record your IP address and other anonymous information." This means that the advertising delivers in game advertising according to your tastes, not unlike spyware.

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Alec§taar · Oct 18, 2006

zekrahminator said:
A while ago, EA told everyone how they could keep prices down by putting in-game advertising in their games. When the advertisements are subtle, with things such as billboards, then there is really no issue. However, BattleField 2142 takes in-game advertising to the next level. EA notifies anyone who bought the full retail version of their latest game on the package that "When you use the software while connected to the Internet, the advertising technology may record your IP address and other anonymous information." This means that the advertising delivers in game advertising according to your tastes, not unlike spyware.

Source: TheINQ

Well, you can always find the IP's your system's connecting to, & circumnavigate those banner ads in game, using:

netstat -ano

This is provided the OEM of the game did NOT 'hardcode' IP addy's into their game (odds are they won't).

They're like anyone else - looking for the BEST amount of bandwidth for the buck, & hardcoding an IP into a game?

Doing that WOULD "lock them into" that particular ISP/BSP most likely & demand a game patch imo!

Nope... stuff like this, you SHOULD be able to 'beat it' w/ a custom HOSTS file... once you get the IP of the bannerad server, add it to your HOSTS file w/ its URL equated to 127.0.0.1, or 0.0.0.0... it works for browsers, & should for games too!

APK

P.S.=> There ARE cases of that trick/tip/technique NOT working though, & MS themselves has certain IP's that are hardcoded into the OS in fact... & HOSTS files URL-to-IP address equations are not used & overridden for them! apk

Dippyskoodlez · Oct 18, 2006

Alec§taar said:
Well, you can always find the IP's your system's connecting to, & circumnavigate those banner ads in game, using:

netstat -ano

This is provided the OEM of the game did NOT 'hardcode' IP addy's into their game (odds are they won't).

They're like anyone else - looking for the BEST amount of bandwidth for the buck, & hardcoding an IP into a game?

Doing that WOULD "lock them into" that particular ISP/BSP most likely & demand a game patch imo!

Nope... stuff like this, you SHOULD be able to 'beat it' w/ a custom HOSTS file... once you get the IP of the bannerad server, add it to your HOSTS file w/ its URL equated to 127.0.0.1, or 0.0.0.0... it works for browsers, & should for games too!

APK

P.S.=> There ARE cases of that trick/tip/technique NOT working though, & MS themselves has certain IP's that are hardcoded into the OS in fact... & HOSTS files URL-to-IP address equations are not used & overridden for them! apk

I have a better solution.

Don't buy EA's crappy games. $50 cheaper. :toast:

bruins004 · Oct 18, 2006

I am still interested in how the costs are kept down...
$50 a game is the same as they were charging before...
Them and their games are full of BS.

Never owned a EA game and never will

shoman24v · Oct 18, 2006

I read that punkbuster kicks you if your running the command line hack for custom resolutions.

http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7134

ktr · Oct 18, 2006

according to ea, chances are the booster packs and such are going to be free.

overcast · Oct 18, 2006

My biggest beef is lack of 1280x1024 support. I mean wtf is 1280x960? Who uses that?

I wasn't going to purchase the game at $50. But buy.com has it for $48 - $10 for google checkout + free shipping. Couldn't resist.

bruins004 · Oct 18, 2006

I disagree it still seems easy to resist, esp. when they want to put other shit on ur computer.

This is just a classic example of how EA wanted to make more money from ads. Damn greedy bastards.

shoman24v · Oct 18, 2006

overcast said:
My biggest beef is lack of 1280x1024 support. I mean wtf is 1280x960? Who uses that?

I wasn't going to purchase the game at $50. But buy.com has it for $48 - $10 for google checkout + free shipping. Couldn't resist.

You still got owned.

Jimmy 2004 · Oct 18, 2006

Well IMHO I don't think EA are really a company that are going to do any harm... so what, they know my IP address and one or two other things, no big deal. They know if they do anything more than in game adds with that information they will be in one deep pile of sh*t. And lets be honest, how long will it be before the hacks to block it come out or EA have to take the IP logging system out.

But I agree, the principle of it is wrong and I hope they do get rid of it because it is similar to spyware. Who knows, maybe Ad-Aware will take care of it?

Corrosion · Oct 18, 2006

BF2142 sux anyway. If you want a fun BF2 engined game get Point Of Existence 2.

Dippyskoodlez · Oct 18, 2006

Jimmy 2004 said:
Well IMHO I don't think EA are really a company that are going to do any harm... so what, they know my IP address and one or two other things, no big deal. They know if they do anything more than in game adds with that information they will be in one deep pile of sh*t. And lets be honest, how long will it be before the hacks to block it come out or EA have to take the IP logging system out.

But I agree, the principle of it is wrong and I hope they do get rid of it because it is similar to spyware. Who knows, maybe Ad-Aware will take care of it?

Its not EA doing it. Its a third party marketing company. (I'm also willing to bet if you remove the ad part, its going to BREAK THE GAME)

Go ahead, let them. Enjoy you're ads in a game you paid for.

I'll stick to WoW, thank you. atleast they arent trying to sell me stuff..

mout12 · Oct 18, 2006

Why couldn't I have read this before I bought the damn game?!?!??!?!??!?!??!?!

I HATE EA. I didn't buy a 7950 X2 For nothing>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NO WIDESCREEEN !!!! FFFFFF THIS GAME

overcast · Oct 18, 2006

shoman24v said:
You still got owned.

EA has published a CONSIDERABLE amount of quality games, so get over yourself and stop jumping on the complaint bandwagon. Command and Conquer series, Battlefield Series, Need For Speeds series....SIMS??? The undeniable #1 selling series.

stealthfighter · Oct 18, 2006

If they're going to do all that shit the dame damn well better be free. Secreratly installing gay shit in my pc + ads? phuck j()() EA

PVTCaboose1337 · Oct 18, 2006

Those fuckers... I hate ea even more!

shoman24v · Oct 18, 2006

overcast said:
EA has published a CONSIDERABLE amount of quality games, so get over yourself and stop jumping on the complaint bandwagon. Command and Conquer series, Battlefield Series, Need For Speeds series....SIMS??? The undeniable #1 selling series.

I don't care about other games, I'm talking about this one. They are specifically screwing BF2 users.

As for the Sims. Go ahead and calculate how much the entire Sims 2 game would cost you if you bought the original Sims 2 to the latest expansion pack.

Over $200.

Bob The Fish · Oct 18, 2006

Corrosion said:
BF2142 sux anyway. If you want a fun BF2 engined game get Point Of Existence 2.

Agreed, my bro playes BF2 to much and i did not enjoy it as much as BF1 or the DC mod. I was at mt fav gameing place and they had the Point Of Existence mod installed and i love it.

ktr · Oct 18, 2006

this game is much more fun than bf2, cant stop playing. also, hijackthis did not show any 3rd party software installed. according to ea, it only monitors in game...so no need to worry. also i havent seen any in game ads yet, but this probably due to that there is no ads server running. frys is selling the game for 40 bucks. also there is more spying happening with products that you have probably installed. AIM, windows

, etc...realtec drivers..

Alec§taar · Oct 18, 2006

Dippyskoodlez said:
(I'm also willing to bet if you remove the ad part, its going to BREAK THE GAME)

Heh, you MAY be right... we'll have to wait & see!

Speaking of "World of Warcraft"? You MIGHT find this little tidbit interesting my man, check it:

How Warcraft Really Does Wreck Lives:

http://soulkerfuffle.blogspot.com/2006/10/view-from-top.html

* Anything to excess...

APK

Polaris573 · Oct 19, 2006

overcast said:
EA has published a CONSIDERABLE amount of quality games, so get over yourself and stop jumping on the complaint bandwagon. Command and Conquer series, Battlefield Series, Need For Speeds series....SIMS??? The undeniable #1 selling series.

EA games ruined C&C when the shut down Westwood.

overcast · Oct 19, 2006

shoman24v said:
I don't care about other games, I'm talking about this one. They are specifically screwing BF2 users.

As for the Sims. Go ahead and calculate how much the entire Sims 2 game would cost you if you bought the original Sims 2 to the latest expansion pack.

Over $200.

What's your point? No one is forcing people to buy Sims. This is as bad as the Vista debate, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO USE IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

overcast · Oct 19, 2006

Polaris573 said:
EA games ruined C&C when the shut down Westwood.

I don't know about that, C&C2 was pretty bad. I actually enjoyed Generals. And what about Medal of Honor and the endless benchmark sports games?

Polaris573 · Oct 19, 2006

C&C2 was pretty bad. I'll agree with you there.

Dippyskoodlez · Oct 19, 2006

overcast said:
I don't know about that, C&C2 was pretty bad. I actually enjoyed Generals. And what about Medal of Honor and the endless benchmark sports games?

Red alert 2 rocks!

Generals sucks.. the most unbalanced filler i've ever seen! :banghead:

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EA takes in-game advertising too far with Battlefield 2142

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