Flagship Defends HG:L Containing “Adware”
By Steve on Wednesday, October 24th, 2007 at 4:26 AM PST In Computer, Electronic Arts, Game Companies, Game Platforms
Even though it was no secret to many that the recent Hellgate: London Demo would contain in-game advertisements, a small voice in the community responded with much negativity upon this discovery. Propagate the fact that the retail game will integrate said advertisement, and things would seem to spiral out of control from there. We saw message boards in the gaming community flooded with feelings of hate, discontent, and downright paranoia from potential would-be HG:L players. As I said previously, the fact that HG:L would contain in-game advertisement (or such) had been made fact by HG:L developers many moons ago. With weeks to go before the game starts hitting shelves, the timing of such negativity would seem a concern of any developer.
Over at the official Hellgate: London website, a Flagship Studios rep. has posted explanation to the cryptic EULA found in the demo. The explanation hopes to clear the air, so to speak. The read is long, so I’ve listed the major highlights below:
- Flagship & Ping0 will not scan your computer for personal identity or take personal information without your knowledge.
- The “catch-all” part of the EULA was included as a means to combat hackers, cheats, or malware that would otherwise affect the gameplay.
- EA has no control over the game’s online or offline security measures.
- Flagship did not put ads in the game for money.
- The ads in the game are there to “simulate how London looks in the real-world”.
- Flagship strategically chose Massive to handle the ads due to the complexity and effort involved.
- Flagship approves all ads before they make it into the game.
- All online components in HG:L are controlled by Flagship and Ping0.
While I doubt this clarification will appease everyone in the community, it does offer small comfort to those confused recently by the demo’s EULA. As with most EULAs these days, by clicking the “Agree” button (especially without reading it), you are pretty much saying “Yes, you can do whatever you want to my gameplay experience”. This has sort of become the norm in online multiplayer games these days; and I expect the trend to continue. As for in-game ads, I can already see the technology creeping into more and more games (GTA4 would be perfect). The controversy over in-game ads will always be a hot topic of debate. The questions we have to ask along the way are: How do ads consciously affect my gameplay experience? Are those behind placing the ads with good-intent? What kind of ads appeal to me?
Also, Flagship have updated their recent announcement of HG:L Content Update to make achievements available to even non-subscribers.
Via Official Hellgate: London Website
“The “catch-all” part of the EULA was included as a means to combat hackers, cheats, or malware that would otherwise affect the gameplay.”
In that case it’s perfectly acceptable because customers shouldn’t expect Flagship to have to go to the tremendous trouble of removing a few lines of text from the EULA to preserve and protect their privacy especially when the ends of trying to prevent cheating in a game so justify the invasive means of doing it.
Of course the real “malware that will affect gameplay” is Flagship’s own invasive security measures.
“EA has no control over the game’s online or offline security measures.”
Fantastic! It’s so much more comforting for customers to know that it’s Flagship who will be spying on them and screwing them over instead of EA.
“Flagship did not put ads in the game for money.”
Great! The ads and tracking are much more acceptable now that customers know that Flagship put them in the game because it is run by stupid pricks instead of greedy ones.
“The ads in the game are there to “simulate how London looks in the real-world”.”
That’s terrific because it’s so important that London looks realistic while players are running around the city wearing fantasy-based costumes, wielding fictional and futuristic weapons, and killing supernatural creatures and monsters. With the adddition of the ads this game will be so chalked full of realism you can almost taste it.
“Flagship strategically chose Massive to handle the ads due to the complexity and effort involved.”
Hurray! Flagship didn’t just choose any old company to plaster ads in its game and spy on its users. It picked the best one at it.
“Flagship approves all ads before they make it into the game.”
That’s super because all of the other decisions Flagship has made about the game such as the addition of the “optional” monthly fee and the non-free expansion packs have been so great that Flagship’s ad choices will no doubt be reasonable as well.
I played alot of Battlefield 2142 which has a similar ad system in it. Never once did it affect my enjoyment of the game. Honestly, crappy patches, and punkbuster being freaking lame game me a million times more grief then the in game ads. As long as the ads fist with the context of the game, i couldnt care less really.
Please disregard spelling the previous post, just woke up.
I think it would be ridiculous to have real-life ads to simulate a ‘real’ place in this fictional realm. I think it’d be far more effective to just come up with your own custom textures.
they are missing why the community got pissed off at them.. and i do recall punkbuster showing up in my processes tab after i installed the demo unknowingly, EA owns punkbuster right? so that would make “EA has no control over the game’s online or offline security measures.” a complete and total bullshit lie right?
More Flagship representatives at the front line defense. This time it’s Flagship’s C.O.O.
http://www.hellgateguru.com/2007/10/max-schaefer-addresses-eula-concerns/
There are too many good things about this game for such a small voice of negativity to topple it.
I for one agree with the “fair” part Max states about his game. Everything is laid out in front of you in the demo. There’s nothing sinister going on. I don’t even think you have the right to bitch if you haven’t even installed the demo, much less the beta.
Why do people get their panties in a wad over trivial things anyway? Oh yeah, this is the internet. Have to wear a hazmat suit to wade through the bullshit.