Battlefield 2142 Spyware Hissyfit
I’d like to go on record as saying, what with my dozens of boyfriends, countless stalkers, several parents, the IRS, the CIA and the NSA watching my every freaking move, that EA can just simply go fornicate itself. When Joystiq outed the spyware that EA is including with copies of Battlefield 2142 yesterday, I didn’t think much of it. What’s another shapeless entity keeping tabs on me or showing up naked at my book club meeting (government agencies and stalkers, respectively)? I’ve pretty much resigned myself to surveillance of one brand or another. But then it started to eat at me, like a proverbial worm in my proverbial gut. Why the hell should EA know anything about me without my explicit consent? In the packaged agreement that comes with the game, EA says they’re only collecting my IP address and other “anonymous information.” I don’t care! “Anonymous information” is an insultingly vague term, and anyway – get your nose out of my computer you opportunistic a**bags.
Now, EA responded by claiming that their spyware only collects a player’s geographical location to better target advertisements. This is supposed to make me feel better, that ethically bankrupt marketing goons are behind the spyware that gets installed on my PC whether I want it or not? Really? And the caveat, of course, is EA’s recommendation that any player wishing to opt out of the glorified phishing scam may simply play Battlefield 2142 on a PC “that is not used to connect to the internet.”
Because those are everywhere.
tiny dancer
Posted to Video Games on 18 October 2006
· Comments (7)
Other stuff like this: battlefield 2142, ea games, pc, spyware
Hmm… PCs powerful enough to run Battlefield 2142 that aren’t hooked up to the internet. Yup, those are all over the place. Especially on college campuses.
People still buy EA games?
OH THE HUGE MANATEE
You have the insanity of a manatee!
...also of a popinjay.
Ah yes, you can play our shiney game, but if you don’t want spyware, play it on a computer not connected to the net. You know what, if they’re going to put spyware for ads on your compy, shouldn’t they take some money off the game price? OH WAIT, that would COST them FREE MONEY! So not only do they get your 50 bucks, they also get money from the adds.
CROCK OF CRAP!
Yah…only gathering info. on where we’re located…trust me..this is how it all begins. This convinces me not to buy it. I’m sure many will and thus this stuff will continue. All it takes is a good ole court order and the gov’t can get even that info…do I hear someone saying “Terror Bill”....keep this mess clear of my pc.
Well fuck it, I wasn’t thinking of buying the game before all this anyway…