Forum advertising against NCsoft's Policies?

Stev0

Stev0

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Halifax, NS, Canada

07 Jun 2005 at 23:37 - 1


It was my understanding that the outside selling of game property from within the game was against NCsoft's policy. This VERY forum is in the process of showing various advertisements overhead. I'm not against the forum paying it's bills but something seems not right here.

BTW. Various other items from other games are being advertised as well.

Inde

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2004

07 Jun 2005 at 23:59 - 2
As crazy as it may seem, google contacted us a while ago to run ads. We were very explicit about not running gold seller / exploit sites / power leveling service ads on our site, and they said we could filter them out.

I have not seen any myself, but I have emailed them explicitly stating we do not want such ads on the site.

Dyeeo

Dyeeo

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

San Diego

Lost Children

E/Mo

08 Jun 2005 at 00:28 - 3
You can add those links to the link filters inside of the adsense cp.

Inde

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2004

08 Jun 2005 at 00:36 - 4
Due to the volume of these sellers, it would be a constant game of smacking the gopher.

I have turned off the ads until they properly filter (and this should alleviate the load on the server).

Ramus

Ramus

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2005

Florida

Zero Tolerance

W/Mo

08 Jun 2005 at 03:42 - 5
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stev0
It was my understanding that the outside selling of game property from within the game was against NCsoft's policy. This VERY forum is in the process of showing various advertisements overhead. I'm not against the forum paying it's bills but something seems not right here.

BTW. Various other items from other games are being advertised as well. Im sure they are happy you are pointing it out, but jeeze, you make it seem like they are trying to pull a fast one on everyone. This board most likely generates huge hosting fee's, bandwith for sure. Google is the one at fault here it seems. Props to Inde for taking it down like that though. (I think google should be the one that takes down those types of ads!)

Inde

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2004

08 Jun 2005 at 03:43 - 6
And its back up! But only images for now until we get it sorted out

SOT

SOT

Banned

Join Date: May 2005

East Texas

08 Jun 2005 at 10:07 - 7
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inde
And its back up! But only images for now until we get it sorted out Adsense works by placing the ads based on google bot searches of your site for ads that fit the relevant text. Therefore, those ads are showing up because SOMEWHERE on here, that stuff is being discussed enough that the google bot caught it.

Try again

Inde

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2004

08 Jun 2005 at 13:44 - 8
Right, and in the semantic context of what the website is, the most profitable ads are of the gold sellers, power levelers, and exploit guide sites.

So google promised us they would do keyword based filtering (url would be to cumbrsome).

As evidently the filters are still not properly in, we have switched to image ads only (where incidentally, the gold sellers et all have absolutely no representation!)

SOT

SOT

Banned

Join Date: May 2005

East Texas

09 Jun 2005 at 16:13 - 9
Okie dokie

Phoenix Denfer

Phoenix Denfer

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

Homeless since the Charr

Order of Pointed Sticks (OOPS)

09 Jun 2005 at 16:40 - 10
I should have read this thread before posting mine below. I have been seeing image ads today for "Macros, Exploits and Cheats" from some MMO gaming site.

I greatly appreciate your efforts in trying to filter these out. I just think you are going to have a difficult time with it.

Personally, this site is worthy of paypal donations if it keeps these ads from being seen. The information alone is greater then anything prima came up wtih. Surely it is worth what one would pay for that guide.

SOT

SOT

Banned

Join Date: May 2005

East Texas

09 Jun 2005 at 17:03 - 11
Regardng donations, where can I do so?

EnDinG

Keyboard + Mouse > Pen

Join Date: Apr 2005

Mo/W

09 Jun 2005 at 17:05 - 12
There is currently no way to send donations in yet. From my asking a few months ago, they are still working on it? I'll poke and probe them a bit to find out.

Mimu

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

England, UK

Call of Destiny [call]

09 Jun 2005 at 17:06 - 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inde
As evidently the filters are still not properly in, we have switched to image ads only (where incidentally, the gold sellers et all have absolutely no representation!)
I would have to disagree with you there.

I hid the link to the website

Quote: Originally Posted by Phoenix Denfer
Personally, this site is worthy of paypal donations if it keeps these ads from being seen. That is a good idea..and I would definitely consider donating, as this site has been a huge help to me in the past.

Phoenix Denfer

Phoenix Denfer

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

Homeless since the Charr

Order of Pointed Sticks (OOPS)

09 Jun 2005 at 17:25 - 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mimu
I would have to disagree with you there.

I hid the link to the website
THAT'S the one I saw! Yes, the site admins are definately going to have a headache trying to filter out the determined.

Please consider the donation idea Guru Admins.

Inde

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2004

09 Jun 2005 at 18:18 - 15
I am assuming that is mmotricks.com so I added that the filter list.

Words we have submitted for filtering:
Quote:
power leveling
exploit
cheat
gold
plat
platinum
credit
account
key
item
adena
isk
gil
influence
information So you can see, we are on it Already have 50+ URLs filtered.

In regards for donations, we will likely make a system where you donate some monies, and the ads disappear. Maybe get an exclusive forum title. BUT, we will never restrict any features nor make any part of the site 'for-pay'.

Phoenix Denfer

Phoenix Denfer

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

Homeless since the Charr

Order of Pointed Sticks (OOPS)

09 Jun 2005 at 19:26 - 16
Thank you Inde for you quick response, and for closing the other thread.

I guess as long as there are games, there will be those who's game it is to cheat the game they play. LOL

In their minds, who needs pve or pvp...the real game is pvdevs ;-)

kzap

kzap

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2004

R/Mo

09 Jun 2005 at 19:57 - 17
if you see an offending ad, please post its url here or PM it to me or Inde, the hard part about this is we have to filter out so much, so its not a perfect system, some ads will slip through, but it'll get better as we tweak it.

MCS

MCS

Banned

Join Date: May 2005

09 Jun 2005 at 22:42 - 18
The ads told me to eat babies then unplugged my refrigerator.

I don't even see the add in question anymore. It's all musicians advocate and something about web site hosting for $3.99.

Swampgirl Inez

Swampgirl Inez

"I love reading trash!"

Join Date: May 2005

Home Again

09 Jun 2005 at 23:00 - 19
Question: I have an adblocker extension for Firefox so I don't see any ads. Does this mess up your ad stats? Does GWGuru lose money for that or is it a number strictly based on site hit projections?


/hope I stated that correctly.

Inde

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2004

10 Jun 2005 at 00:04 - 20
Adblocker removes ads from not just our site, but from other sites.

To slightly go on an offtopic OT rant, but ad blockers are the bane of a site. If a site has ads you don't like, don't visit it. If me (or person X) wants to put ads on their site, let them. Its their site, and their decision. Your decision should not be to specifically block part of their site - it should be to simply not visit the site (or put up with the ads).

Same applies to popups. I hate them, and would refuse to work with a site that has them. But I don't block them - if I go to a site that has them, I simply stop visiting them.

Nothing in life is free unfortunately :/

MCS

MCS

Banned

Join Date: May 2005

10 Jun 2005 at 02:38 - 21
A site for selling d2 items for money=bad?

Well either way, it's this one.

- edited out, thanks for posting the link

Just saw it.

SOT

SOT

Banned

Join Date: May 2005

East Texas

10 Jun 2005 at 02:59 - 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inde
Adblocker removes ads from not just our site, but from other sites.

To slightly go on an offtopic OT rant, but ad blockers are the bane of a site. If a site has ads you don't like, don't visit it. Since I like it here, I come back. Ads however need not fill my eyes. I like yours here.

Inde

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2004

10 Jun 2005 at 12:11 - 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by SOT
Since I like it here, I come back. Ads however need not fill my eyes. I like yours here. And that is what I am arguing. A webmaster has the right to put whatever he/she wants on their website. Ad blocking is not a right you have.

SOT

SOT

Banned

Join Date: May 2005

East Texas

10 Jun 2005 at 15:25 - 24
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inde
And that is what I am arguing. A webmaster has the right to put whatever he/she wants on their website. Ad blocking is not a right you have. I was agreeing in stating I like the ads here, as they do not fill...my...eyes.

MCS

MCS

Banned

Join Date: May 2005

10 Jun 2005 at 18:49 - 25
- filtered

Add cheap and $ to that list?

No one wants to buy expensive online items with euros .

Stev0

Stev0

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Halifax, NS, Canada

15 Jun 2005 at 01:17 - 26
New one.

http://img91.echo.cx/img91/2876/gw7xl.gif

I understand it's hard to get em all. As for the right to put up ads. Yes you can put anything you want for ads and if people don't like it they can leave. But you must remember that even though you may own the site and pay the bills you technically have a boss who, over you, decides what you CAN put on your site. I think the ISP rules over that if not the owner of the intellectual property that is the basis for this site.

Inde

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2004

15 Jun 2005 at 12:17 - 27
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stev0
Yes you can put anything you want for ads and if people don't like it they can leave. But you must remember that even though you may own the site and pay the bills you technically have a boss who, over you, decides what you CAN put on your site. I think the ISP rules over that if not the owner of the intellectual property that is the basis for this site. Really - what was the point of that spiel? I am not even going to rebuff the misconceptions you stated (ISP rules over the site?) Thanks for pointing that out, but keep your other claims to yourself.

Stev0

Stev0

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Halifax, NS, Canada

15 Jun 2005 at 17:11 - 28
Well from what I understand. Hosting dictates what you can and can't put on your site.

I'm sure that NCsoft would have issues if you want to display items against their policies.

Dreamsmith

Dreamsmith

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

Minnesota

Beguine Guild [BGN]

15 Jun 2005 at 21:08 - 29
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stev0
Well from what I understand. Hosting dictates what you can and can't put on your site.

I'm sure that NCsoft would have issues if you want to display items against their policies.
They might, but what could they do about it? You are aware we're not in any way owned by or even affiliated with NCsoft or ArenaNet, right? We are a fansite. We're no more connected to ArenaNet than you are as fellow fans of the game. We respect AN policies to the extent that they are reasonable and in everyone's best interest. We don't want to see that trash advertised any more than they do. But we filter it because we think it's for the best of the community, not because of anything ArenaNet or NCsoft may have to say about it. We filter it because we're not okay with. Whether NCsoft has issues with it or not is irrelevant.

Stev0

Stev0

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Halifax, NS, Canada

16 Jun 2005 at 00:26 - 30
Yes very well put.

I found it disturbing that someone would say they feel they can put whatever they want for advertising on their website regardless of the general user and what appeared to be common sense.

Dreamsmith

Dreamsmith

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

Minnesota

Beguine Guild [BGN]

16 Jun 2005 at 07:09 - 31
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stev0
I found it disturbing that someone would say they feel they can put whatever they want for advertising on their website regardless of the general user and what appeared to be common sense. "They feel"? It's a fact. Sorry if it's disturbing to you, but it's nothing but the simple truth of the matter.

kzap

kzap

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2004

R/Mo

16 Jun 2005 at 08:38 - 32
ok back to topic pls if you see an ad which is selling some kind of mmo currency or items or exploits/cheats etc, post it here. k