The banned account conspiracy theory

There have been many "I got banned" threads posted in these forums.

It has always been inevitable that there will be a post stating that “the reason" for the bans were ultimately so Anet/NCSoft can sell more copies of their game.

Well that surely is not the case. For all of you conspiracy theorists out there please read a direct quote from the EULA.

Section 4 Paragraphs h & i

As you can see, not only does Anet give you the boot, you also are not welcomed back.

If a banned player buys a new account and is using any information linking to the original banned account, including their IP address, their new account is also banned.

Basically "locking you up and throwing away the key."

For all of you out there that have been banned and those countless more that think bans are a ploy by Anet to drive revenues, you are incorrect in such a theory.

Good work! Some logic for once.

Hah, you think logic will convince people who believe such theories?

Uh, whatever, does anyone even take such theories serious?

Like it's not more profitous to make someone telling their friends to buy the game, instead of telling them to NOT buy it because he is pissed off by his ban.

If poeple cant see the message after reading that they should consider foster care for any future children they might have. Still, I love how reading between the lines gets you "You are BAD! BAD BAD BAD! GTFO kthxbi"

IP should never be the sole reason to ban someone, too much dynamic structure in there, and PCs can be used by multiple persons (family internetcafe etc.)

I can think up a few cases where this may have led to problems with the AoT dupes as I recall some posts.

Perhaps, but it should be possible for them to recognize dynamic or shared IP addresses. If the IP address is static and belongs to a single person (as in my case) they can probably detect that and rightfully ban it.

Well, not in this case at the moment (I'm sure they aren't thinking about letting anyone back in over the duping exploit just yet), but in the past, if a good argument could be made on the behalf of the banned player, they have reactivated accounts. A former guildmate got banned because their machine thought he was a bot. He simply kept repeating the same path and actions farming and didn't respond to anyone talking to him. He had no idea why he'd been banned, got in touch with them and they explained that their machine picked up odd keystrokes and flagged him. He was reinstated.

Not likely for these people, but it can happen.

yeah, i like this find^^

"AoT dupes"
what dupe was this?

This is an act to clearify. Many poeple think your IP address equates to something similar to your SSN. This is not true in a technical stand point. Although it's difficult for a "normal" user, it is not for those who know how.

Your IP address is, rightfully so, like your street address. It's like the address to your house/apartment. You can move your residence, yes? So, you can change your IP address in the same sense. Most ISPs can change your IP address for a price.

So, then, the logical step is to conclude that your computers' MAC address equates to your SSN. I'm sorry to say, no again. While your MAC address is slightly harder to change, it can be done. I would equate your MAC address to your computers' licsense to drive on the internet. It can be changed, but it's costly and annoying. Keep in mind that all network cards have a unique mac address, so change your network card.

So, then, what is soomething on your system that we can equate to a SSN? Nothing. That's part of the genius of computers: they can be changed in every way.

Though, I have to say this now: I do not condone, or reccomend the actions or steps to circumvent, or the attempt to circumvent end user agreenments, laws, or anything else that is "fishy." This is merely to clearify.

A vast majority of players don't have a static IP adress.

People buy a new game anyway, because they don't KNOW they'll be banned again. No, I don't subscribe to the conspiracy, just making a comment.

KANE

even if I was banned permanently, i wouldnt buy $150 worth of product again, what a waste.

If anyone is as assanine to make a conspiracy theory about ingame bannings pertaining to other sales, especially with this fact on top, I'd let them fester in thier own pit of waste. Not even throw out a life preserver.

If this thread is referring to Galie's comment about "business analysis," then allow me to shed some light. It was a response to my pm to her saying that they're doing a nice job covering up the bans by not posting it on the main site. That wouldn't be a smart thing to do with the release of GW:EN just two weeks away. Bad PR :-p

Ohhh let the flames begin!

@ OP, Thanks for pointing this out.

There are countless hundreds that NEVER actually read the EULA, and in the present epidemic, this is a great point to bring up and settle. My hat goes off to you sir.

And to play the devil's advocate...
This also begs the question, how is it that farmers seem to only multiply, rather then diminish (in some people's eyes). Of course, we do not know exact statistics of this, or if stats exist, but im sure Anet could argue they are diminishing. In regards to the current duping issue, why don't people get a clue and simply STOP trading for ecto OR armbraces until this is over. Problem solved. But people are greedy. lol

anyway, great thread. Something that is rare and far between
cheers.

Well I know what I need to do incase I get perma-banned.

People actually believe that Anet bans people in order to sell more copies? There's medication for that.

Because as long as an account can generate more money than it cost to set up that account, especially with a bot controlling it, they'll make more accounts and more bots. Prices of the first two chapters have dropped. The economy is just as oriented around farmable items as it's always been. Do the math.

The "business" aspect of this has nothing to do with short-term sales and everything to do with integrity and player expectations. Go play Ragnarok Online a bit, it is virtually impossible to get ahead in that ridiculous game unless you're running a bot because the economy has inflated so badly and you're inevitably competing with other people that are running a bot. When cheaters thrive, it creates a situation where regular people get sick of the BS and leave. No one would play poker if everyone else at the table had cards up their sleeve.

So by not reading something before you agree to it (and everyone did agree to it), they're exempt from it? Doesn't work that way.

For anyone to possibly think Anet would ban a player to try and incourage them to re-buy a copy of the game is absolutely stupid.

How would that be good customer relations?
Why would you start replaying a game that obviously bans you unjustly?
If you are banned for good reason, why would you waste the money coming back?

Only a complete moron would re-buy a copy of a game that they were banned from! But if you're behaving badly and breaking the rules then good riddens to you!

If you have been banned incorrectly then contact the support team and ask for it to be restored! Its not rocket science.

*Disclaimer: The following may not be correct.*
I've heard from guildie that Anet has informed Battlenet about the ip addresses of the terminated accounts and Battlenet will put an IP ban on those addresses. Not sure if this has merit but interesting to see anet and blizzard are acting like Las Vegas casinos.
*disclaimer ends.*

Always the same theories - whenever there is a large ban sweep. In this case it's for duping / illegal trading.

Last year - higher level of bot banning - same conspiricy theories come trotting out.

As someone who's account took just over a week to reinstated last year by getting caught in a sweep one week I know it's a pain - but if you REALLY are a straight player/trader - your account is safe - or if banned will be reinstated. No need to change IP's/address details or any of that. Log a ticket with anet - they will look into a player account in detail. Your account history will prove you innocent/guilty.

The 'this is a permanant ban' rule is pointing out that, unless you lodge a ticket asking them to look closely at your account , you 'aint playing this account again.

If you are a scam player then i hope you buy another account and get banned again and buy another account and get banned again and ............