Stats on RMT Actions - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Gaile Gray

ArenaNet

Join Date: Feb 2005

03 Apr 2008 at 22:29 - 1

For those, like me, who enjoy a nice tidy bunch o' statistics, we have an interesting Dev Update today that provides data for the last couple of weeks. The update outlines the effectiveness of latest policy and practice enhancements for RMT-related activities.

Guild Wars players have expressed interest in learning how our actions in support of the recently expanded Real-Money Trading Policy have affected the game. We’d like to provide you with some facts and figures following the first two weeks of the new policy’s implementation.

During the first two weeks, we did the following:

Halted online distribution of demo accounts to combat spamming
Noted a significant reduction in RMT spamming
Blocked 391 abused IP addresses
Terminated 4,876 accounts associated with RMT networks
Removed 190,200,000 purchased gold from 771 players
Witnessed a substantial reduction in botting activity in the game
Witnessed a substantial drop in RMT account creation and RMT transactions

We will continue to monitor the outcomes of enforcing the new policies, and we greatly appreciate the solid support of the community in dealing with this important issue.

Head here for the Dev Update.

Sergeant of Marines

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2006

Japan

[트두므s], Guild Leader

Mo/

03 Apr 2008 at 22:31 - 2

Blocked 391 abused IP addresses
Terminated 4,876 accounts associated with RMT networks

GG Anet.

Thanks Gaile for the info.

Solas

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Oct 2006

Ireland

Currently LF Active HA Guild, Glad 2, Comm.3, R2

E/

03 Apr 2008 at 22:31 - 3

Well progress is progress

and thats a ton of progress.
good to see yer still on the forums

all correctly banned? as in did anyone feel there were banned by mistake?.
gg

Sir Pandra Pierva

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2007

Sardelec yelling at Tenshi

Angels Of Strife

E/

03 Apr 2008 at 22:32 - 4

wohoo gold wispers are gone now if you can start on the new account buying bots that would be nice to.

but Good job anet

StormDragonZ

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2008

New York

W/R

03 Apr 2008 at 22:33 - 5

Quote:

Removed 190,200,000 purchased gold from 771 players

For those of you who hate division, that's approximately 246.6k per player.

Gun Pierson

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

Belgium

PIMP

Mo/

03 Apr 2008 at 22:41 - 6

Tx for the info (I like such feedback as long as it's true), the first results seem very promising.

slowerpoke

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2007

Cuba

03 Apr 2008 at 22:45 - 7

actually i havent seen any spammers about recently, gg anet
is it the rtm or the taiwan block lol

Jenn

Resigned.

Join Date: Sep 2006

03 Apr 2008 at 22:45 - 8

I think this is the first time where I've felt compelled to say this: THANKS ANET!

Nittle Grasper

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2007

E/

03 Apr 2008 at 22:46 - 9

Yea GJ on RMT I haven't seen a bot since well... RMT become active Gj anet for making a less spammy GW

Kusandaa

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

N/Mo

03 Apr 2008 at 22:50 - 10

That's impressive. Very good job, thanks for taking this initiative

.

Buddhaofwar

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2008

Flying Gophers

W/

03 Apr 2008 at 22:51 - 11

that all sounds well and good, but what does it mean for the average player like myself? Other than reduced spam.

Fril Estelin

So Serious...

Join Date: Jan 2007

London

Nerfs Are [WHAK]

E/

03 Apr 2008 at 22:54 - 12

Thanks for the info Gaile and for keeping to your word (I remember you said you'd release those stats). This is definitively interesting as we can have a hint at the extent of the problem, which is hopefully now significantly in the decline. Do you think that you'll be able to publish these stats regularly?

MMSDome

Raged Out

Join Date: Sep 2005

03 Apr 2008 at 22:54 - 13

Ive also noticed the effects of the crack down on bots/gold selling. Recently when I have gone to the international districts of bergen there are no longer bots spouting off useless jibber jabber. As a result of the people disappearing from bergen I can no longer buy cheap orr emblems anymore

Jecht Scye

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Lucky Crickets[Luck]

N/Me

03 Apr 2008 at 22:55 - 14

Thank you Anet.

I pwnd U

God of Spammers

Join Date: Oct 2005

in the middle of a burning cornfield...

Scars Meadows [SMS] (Officer)

03 Apr 2008 at 22:56 - 15

Thanks for the stats Gaile. And GG ANet. Good to see you guys still care about the game.

Brianna

Insane & Inhumane

Join Date: Feb 2006

03 Apr 2008 at 22:57 - 16

Simply amazing.. I'm quite impressed!

Good job.

MithranArkanere

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Nov 2006

wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigo

Heraldos de la Llama Oscura [HLO]

E/

03 Apr 2008 at 23:01 - 17

The report should add an screenshouts some previosly overpopelated bot outposts... if they look clean or almost clean... then the success is visible.

I'm lazy right now. Could anyone do the honor and post captures of 'bot-free' outposts?

Karate Jesus

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2008

Texas

Reign of Judgment [RoJ]

Me/

03 Apr 2008 at 23:10 - 18

Sadly, I and many of my friends and guild mates were blocked alongside these gold sellers. Good news, bans were undone and apologies were given within 48hrs to all 36 of us who were accidentally banned

creelie

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2007

Alberta

Charter Vanguard [CV]

Mo/

03 Apr 2008 at 23:15 - 19

Thanks for the numbers! I'm wondering, how many staff members were in charge of terminating 4876 accounts?

Winterclaw

Wark!!!

Join Date: May 2005

Florida

W/

03 Apr 2008 at 23:16 - 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

Removed 190,200,000 purchased gold from 771 players

You should have given it back to all the players who don't break the rules.

Orfas

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2007

behind you!

Archangels Fury [AF]

W/

03 Apr 2008 at 23:17 - 21

wow really impressive for just 2 weeks :P
keep up the good work GJ ANET

Malice Black

Site Legend

Join Date: Oct 2005

03 Apr 2008 at 23:25 - 22

Heh I know one or 2 people who got a 72 hour ban for buying gold. Silly bastards.

Gaile Gray

ArenaNet

Join Date: Feb 2005

03 Apr 2008 at 23:44 - 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winterclaw

You should have given it back to all the players who don't break the rules.

Oh, now, see? I like your way of thinking. And I say minipets -- the super-rare and amazing text minipets! -- for all!!

Malice Black

Site Legend

Join Date: Oct 2005

03 Apr 2008 at 23:47 - 24

Keep the mini-pets. Dish out some of those armbraces. I'm tired of being poor now. I want my ecto stacks back QQ

afya

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2006

Mo/Me

03 Apr 2008 at 23:57 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winterclaw

You should have given it back to all the players who don't break the rules.

remember the 5 millions unit sold of guild wars?
that means each player get ~40 golds~lol

Gaile Gray

ArenaNet

Join Date: Feb 2005

04 Apr 2008 at 00:02 - 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by afya

remember the 5 millions unit sold of guild wars?
that means each player get ~40 golds~lol

Rats! It sounded so much better until you did the math!

manitoba1073

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

ManitobaShipyards Refit and Repair Station

(SFC)Star Fleet Command,(TDE)The Daggerfall elite,(SOoM)Secret order of Magi

04 Apr 2008 at 00:18 - 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by afya

remember the 5 millions unit sold of guild wars?
that means each player get ~40 golds~lol

to bad your math is off too. Those 5 million Units actually translates to roughly 1 million accounts give or take 250000 accounts.

So its more like 200 gold give or take.

Shayne Hawke

Departed from Tyria

Join Date: May 2007

Clan Dethryche [dth]

R/

04 Apr 2008 at 00:24 - 28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

During the first two weeks, we did the following:

Halted online distribution of demo accounts to combat spamming
Noted a significant reduction in RMT spamming
Blocked 391 abused IP addresses
Terminated 4,876 accounts associated with RMT networks
Removed 190,200,000 purchased gold from 771 players
Witnessed a substantial reduction in botting activity in the game
Witnessed a substantial drop in RMT account creation and RMT transactions

Holy hellbricks, captain. Assuming ectos were still at 5k (I don't pay attention to what they are now, I just knew that a little while ago, they were 5k), that'd be a little over 152 stacks.

Way to fight this BS, ANet. Keep it truckin'.

mpisani05

Academy Page

Join Date: Aug 2007

GHB - Wanna Date

E/

04 Apr 2008 at 00:29 - 29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

Rats! It sounded so much better until you did the math!

Shhh let me live the dream

Serioulsy nice start! Thanks for the last couple updates Gaile!

matsif

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2006

Warriors of Factions [WOF]

E/Me

04 Apr 2008 at 00:34 - 30

thx anet and gaile for this info...I like not getting spammed anymore

and lets all have fun at the party this weekend yay

spam free and all!

Gaile Gray

ArenaNet

Join Date: Feb 2005

04 Apr 2008 at 00:41 - 31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fril Estelin

Thanks for the info Gaile and for keeping to your word (I remember you said you'd release those stats). This is definitively interesting as we can have a hint at the extent of the problem, which is hopefully now significantly in the decline. Do you think that you'll be able to publish these stats regularly?

I hope to be able to do that from time to time. I'm proud of what our Support Teams are accomplishing, and I'd love the chance to brag a bit about their numbers!

enter_the_zone

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Nov 2007

R/

04 Apr 2008 at 01:02 - 32

Hi Gaile

Glad to hear the RMT actions have been so successful. Hopefully, the decision to stop online trial accounts (as well as IP bans) has allowed those poor support guys to grow some hair back.

I can imagine how frustrating it was to ban a bot reported by players, ideally with SS's, only to have the bot back an hour later on another trial account.
It must be nice for the support team to be doing something other than what must have seemed like endlessly chasing their tails banning stupid bots.

manitoba1073

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

ManitobaShipyards Refit and Repair Station

(SFC)Star Fleet Command,(TDE)The Daggerfall elite,(SOoM)Secret order of Magi

04 Apr 2008 at 01:03 - 33

Atleast now we know gold selling went up since LS was implemented. lol

Creeping Carl

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2007

04 Apr 2008 at 01:13 - 34

Quote:

Originally Posted by manitoba1073

Atleast now we know gold selling went up since LS was implemented. lol

Are you drawing the conclusion that LS = more gold selling? I guess you don't consider other factors such as titles, HoM, etc. etc. affected the demand for gold, right?

Please keep your over simplistic conclusions to yourself. Thanks.

manitoba1073

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

ManitobaShipyards Refit and Repair Station

(SFC)Star Fleet Command,(TDE)The Daggerfall elite,(SOoM)Secret order of Magi

04 Apr 2008 at 01:19 - 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creeping Carl

Are you drawing the conclusion that LS = more gold selling? I guess you don't consider other factors such as titles, HoM, etc. etc. affected the demand for gold, right?

Please keep your over simplistic conclusions to yourself. Thanks.

Yet it is the simple conclusion. More demand less ability for some people to afford those things because of LS. What else are they going to do. But I guess simple stuff is a little to complex for some to grasp.

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

04 Apr 2008 at 01:39 - 36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

During the first two weeks, we did the following:

Halted online distribution of demo accounts to combat spamming
Noted a significant reduction in RMT spamming
Blocked 391 abused IP addresses
Terminated 4,876 accounts associated with RMT networks
Removed 190,200,000 purchased gold from 771 players
Witnessed a substantial reduction in botting activity in the game
Witnessed a substantial drop in RMT account creation and RMT transactions

Where on Earth did you get THAT number from?! O_O;

hallomik

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

The Illini Tribe

N/Mo

04 Apr 2008 at 02:00 - 37

Congrats on that success! I don't know why, but I felt happy reading those stats. Keep up the good work.

Btw, can you tell us if the position you're leaving is going to be replaced or if some kind of other organizational change planned for Anet community relations. That wasn't totally clear in the announcements.

stretchs

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2007

Untimely Demise [Err了] - SOHK

04 Apr 2008 at 02:23 - 38

Totally enjoyed seeing those numbers, anytime you can clean the game up from people that are abusing things, it makes me smile.

Dark-NighT

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2006

Stygian Veil

Shoop Da Woop [Lolz]

N/Mo

04 Apr 2008 at 02:55 - 39

Now seriously, i am deeply impressed!!!!

Ever since you got the anti rmt policy i havent seen a single BOT running around in shing jea monastery EVER, i havent seen Bots in bergen hot springs, nor all the other femous places for those rats.

The ammount of people banned is truely impressive and the best thing that has happened is that i havent got a single whisper from some lame spambots, and the past few weeks ive been online loads and loads of hours.

I say, no wait i shout

THANK YOU ANET!!.

You have made this game alot more enjoyable without the bots, and the usual crap that comes with it.

Oh and thanks Gaile for sharing it

Aleron

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2007

Colorado Springs

Spirit of Elisha [SOE]

E/

04 Apr 2008 at 03:28 - 40

How do you pick a bot out? Some random giberish for a name?

Nice job, Anet! Thanks!