Battlefield 2142 employ spies in your PC [update 1]

by Ross Miller { Oct 17th 2006 at 2:59PM }

There are ghosts in your machine, and they are tracking you. Included with your copy of Battlefield 2142, at not additional cost to you, is software developed by IGA Worldwide for the purpose of in-game advertising. According to the packaged agreement (pictured), IGA can collect your IP address and "other anonymous information," which is a pretty vague and all-encompassing term. Could IGA check your browsing habits? We don't see why not, as long as it doesn't record your login information.

We already know EA is fond of collecting every factoid imaginable from your Xbox Live account, so this Orwellian tactic is not as a surprising as it should be. If you live in a country with strong laws against data collection, you'll be pleased to read that the data collection servers may be located "outside your country of residence," where such laws are less strict. The letter suggests that, if you wish to retain your privacy, you should play the game on a computer with no connection to the internet. Let's hope some virtuous hackers modders find a way to disable this software. You've been warned.

Click on the picture for the full size image or check out the transcription of the letter after the break.

[Thanks, theinvisiblemooseman]

[Update: EA clarifies in a statement.]

The Software may incorporate technology developed by IGA Worldwide Inc. ("IGA") (the "Advertising Technology"). The purpose of the Advertising Technology is to deliver in-game advertisements to you when you use the Software while connected to the Internet. When you use the Software while connected to the Internet, the Advertising Technology may record your Internet Protocol address and other anonymous information ("Advertising Data"). The Advertising Data is temporarily used by IGA to enable the presentation and measurement of in-game advertisements and other in-game objects which are uploaded temporarily to your personal computer or game console and charged during online game play. The Advertising Technology does not collect any personally identifiable information about you, and EA will not provide IGA with any of your personally identifiable information. The servers used by the Advertising Technology may, from time to time, be located outside your country of residence. If you are located within the European Union, the servers may be located outside the European Union.

By installing and using the Software, you agree to: (i) the transfer of the Advertising Data to servers located outside your country of residence and, if applicable, outside the European Union; (ii) the collection and use of the Advertising Data as described in this Section; and (iii) the delivery of advertising and marketing content of the Advertising Technology. IF YOU DO NOT WANT IGA TO COLLECT, USE, STORE OR TRANSMIT THE DATA DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION, DO NOT INSTALL OR PLAY THE SOFTWARE ON ANY PLATFORM THAT IS USED TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

icenineiv @ Oct 17th 2006 5:21PM

Wow since they are infecting you with spyware to keep up to date adverts in the game you should at least get the game at a discount.

Well, this is the final nail in the coffin of Battlefield in my eyes.

Devwar @ Oct 17th 2006 3:13PM

Its actually something like this that keeps me from buying the game. I was on the fence, liked what I'd seen, but I don't like this. I understand game companies need to find new ways to finance their ever increasing budgets, but I'm already paying them $50-$60 for the game, I'm not also going to sell them my personal information.

nyc @ Oct 17th 2006 3:12PM

Seriously DONT BUY THIS GAME. SEND THEM A MESSAGE. This is ridiculous. EA you can burn in hell.

rockintom99 @ Oct 17th 2006 3:12PM

...Why do they need to sell advertising in game? We bought the damn game, right?

Besides, Battlefield 2142 would be *awesome* played offline!

pete @ Oct 17th 2006 3:12PM

all i can say is, if your throwing advertising at me after i paid reg price for a game. wtf. if it where free and ad supported what can you do, but its not. crazy.

That Ninja @ Oct 17th 2006 3:13PM

I was going to get 2142, but not now.

Morder @ Oct 17th 2006 3:13PM

...or just block the outgoing connections of the software If they monitor your browsing habits then it's obviously a separate program that you can easily put in a sandbox.

dvnt @ Oct 17th 2006 3:18PM

If EA must have this in their software they should blatantly notify the user during the install and give them the option wether or not to install the spyware as well.

It's a good thing I only own 1 EA game. Burnout Revenge for my 360 and I rarely play it online anyway.

Wulkar @ Oct 17th 2006 3:15PM

it is official i hate EA.

Dr.Funbags @ Oct 18th 2006 11:26AM

BOYCOTT!!!!!!

Draco @ Oct 17th 2006 3:17PM

how else could they send you ads without your IP?

its not like wow doesnt log your IP when you connect. or even this blog for that matter. I'm not a fan of it watching my web use, but i'm not a fan of in game ads either.

SickNic @ Oct 17th 2006 3:19PM

I guess this wasn't newsworthy when I sent this tip in yesterday....

Anyways, The only way I will support ads in games is if the games become cheaper because of those ads. I am not going to pay full price for a game that is going to spy on me to give me ads so the developers can reap the profits....

ahhhhh @ Oct 17th 2006 3:56PM

oh that is a BIG pile of BROTHER poo!

pete @ Oct 17th 2006 3:19PM

#6 the idea that i have to go thru and disable this and click on that so that it will block outgoing connections, first why the hell do i need to go thru all that in the first place, what about not so computer literate people out there there f$%#ed. its a messed up world we live in people

Stoli @ Oct 17th 2006 3:20PM

What exactly is this advertising paying for? If it's server upkeep, hm, maybe I could see the logic behind it (of course, I don't count on EA to be honest about anything these days). More than likely it's just to line the pockets of the suits.

I wasn't going to get it anyway. This just makes me not want to buy ANY future EA games. If it was an optional "opt-in" kind of thing, hey, great, no problem. Having it forced on the consumer is unethical.

Kestrel @ Oct 17th 2006 3:20PM

2142 and Battlefied 2 can both be played offline, but EA only programmed bots to work on like four or five maps for each. The games are really only worth playing online.

Unlike BF1942, which had crappy bot support but more maps on which to play against them.

Nathanieljla @ Oct 17th 2006 7:47PM

Come on guys; I mean for the sake of getting ads in our game buy BF:2142. I mean we all want ads bombarding us while we play, right? "Anyone. Hello?"

mandarin @ Oct 17th 2006 3:37PM

Well like most PC games, initial installation would require a patch of some sort. Thats probably when your PC will betray you to EA.

Dr.Funbags @ Oct 17th 2006 3:21PM

BOYCOTT!!!BOYCOTT!!!BOYCOTT!!!

Only way they will listen is if 5% of Potential Buyers don't buy it.

Oh wait - this is EA. They're gonna sell craploads of it. Much like they sell loads of crap.

jabbertrack @ Oct 17th 2006 4:04PM

Well I guess my $50 is going to something else.

by the way they are going to do this to NFS Carbon as well

Feeple @ Oct 17th 2006 3:25PM

#7: Oh, thank God. I was waiting and hoping that one day, your previously off-the-record hate for them would someday blossom into its current form.

You DID make sure to fill out all the "I hate this dude SO much, man, I swear" forms correctly, yes? I'd hate to see your hate misdirected due to a red-tape mix-up.

Zerbe @ Oct 17th 2006 3:29PM

I wasnt going to buy this, now Im not even going to pirate it to test it out to see if I wanted to buy it.

Good job EA.

jarod @ Oct 17th 2006 11:11PM

good thing all EA games are pretty much total garbage, and i have no desire to buy any of em.

Azurite @ Oct 17th 2006 6:02PM

This is not true if you'd believe ninoprotic on bf2142.se forum. According to him he contacted John Hargelid from DICE whom denounced the rumour. The only thing this "module" will do is to keep track on the in-game commercials while you play to keep track on some statistics. John also say that no personal web habits will be collected.
So if what this guy is true there's nothing to fret about, just a nasty rumour that makes you think twice buying BF2142, I know I did.

If you can read/speak swedish the Source may be found at the [url=http://www.bf2142.se/forums.php?m=posts&q=946]bf2142.se forums[/url]

wanted creative @ Oct 17th 2006 4:02PM

It's a good thing I don't buy those bastards games anymore. Fuck you EA.

Bran @ Oct 17th 2006 3:36PM

Now I won't buy this.

adam @ Oct 17th 2006 3:37PM

@Draco

The license is not very specific, did you even read the article? Of course they need your IP address to send you an ad (along with the game packets). They might also scan your computer and send the info to some server, possibly in another country. This is wrong. You are at their mercy. They choose what to scan and how to verify that it is anonymous.

Why do companies need so much information about me to sell a product? These advertising and marketing people are creating huge privacy issues. Just make the game and leave the spyware out please. Email EA and let them know they lost a sale.

ihya @ Oct 17th 2006 3:39PM

Just say no.

I delete spyware and adware weekly off my pc. Why would I knowingly purchase it?

Erik Novak @ Oct 17th 2006 3:44PM

IM IN UR PC
BROWZIN UR PR0N

Al @ Oct 17th 2006 3:44PM

Ok. I was considering picking up this game but I object to this so much it's pushed me not to do it.

Yeah, I don't get it. If I PAY full price for a game I shouldn't have to have ads and a potential security risk. They don't even have to maintain the game servers, most of them are run of consumers PCs.

The terrible thing is that I KNOW someone will create a patch or figure out a way to get rid of them, but EA will just keep patching over it or prevent somehow.

Sadly, I think people are going to buy this anyways and me boycotting it won't have much of an effect.

Your mother @ Oct 18th 2006 5:08PM

I'm pretty sure that you can just put the spyware part in a quarantined file that prevents it from accessing the stuff. Haven't ever tried. Mostly because no company has ever been retarded enough to try this stuff.

Agent MOO @ Oct 17th 2006 3:49PM

Between this, graphics card prices, and invasive copy protection software, I think I'll stick with console games. It's a little much trouble just for mouselook.

Mastertoad @ Oct 17th 2006 3:50PM

Cancelled my pre order because of this shit.

kodec @ Oct 18th 2006 7:02AM

A notice like that should be put on the OUTSIDE of the box, in my opinion.

Uy Tran @ Oct 17th 2006 4:14PM

This is an outrage. I can't believe EA is infringing on our privacy. (Dear God, they might find my lolikon)

Why do we need in game advertisements anyway? Aren't we paying them enough? (I wonder if they can detect that my copy is pirated)

What if they sell my information to other companies? (What if they sell it to the FBI?)

I say we boycott this software. (I could just change my LSHOST file, but oh well)

codemule @ Oct 17th 2006 3:52PM

Oh just stop. You know you're all buying it anyway.

pete @ Oct 17th 2006 4:50PM

#22 your just one man boycotting, i am just one man thas also going to boycott, thats 2, we may be the few but if we stick to are boycott guns others will do the same, so even if you feel you arent making a difference know that you are.... speaking of PEOPLE VOTE ELECTIONS ARE COMING YOU DECIDE WHERE AMERICA IS HEADING... sorrry bout that dont know what came over me.

ihya @ Oct 17th 2006 4:09PM

"Oh just stop. You know you're all buying it anyway."

With BF2 I said no, and a friend bought it and coerced me into getting it. Not a chance this time.

FSK405K @ Oct 17th 2006 3:57PM

I was interested in this game but now I guess I'll get Medieval 2 instead. Or an extra Wii/PS3 game...not by EA.

theinvisiblemooseman @ Oct 17th 2006 4:30PM

They have gone too far, we need to boycott EA games, all of you that are saying you would boycott if it mattered are giving up to easily, you need to spread the word!

joe smith @ Oct 17th 2006 7:30PM

One more reason to stick to consoles.

NATO_Duke @ Oct 17th 2006 4:07PM

This is quite disturbing. I had this on order, and now I don't want it. Amazing that the major companies are more or less using spyware on us in games. Another reason console gaming works better these days.

Nowayman @ Oct 18th 2006 10:35AM

It is only a matter of time before they start this in console games as well(if it hasn't already started).

Izuna Drop @ Oct 17th 2006 5:48PM

And I will clearly not be getting this game from EA.

Vercin @ Oct 17th 2006 4:14PM

I was planning on getting it, but have now changed my mind. Anyone else having a hard time finding some email address at EA.com to send in a complaint or two? I can't find a single email address. Weird.

Armin @ Oct 17th 2006 4:13PM

"If you live in a country with strong laws against data collection, you'll be pleased to read that the data collection servers may be located "outside your country of residence," where such laws are less strict."

Like... the USA.

Scutpuppy @ Oct 17th 2006 4:17PM

"We already know EA is fond of collecting every factoid imaginable from your Xbox Live account, so this Orwellian tactic is not as a surprising as it should be."

Orwellian? Hardly. When you buy, install, and play this game, you are silently consenting to this. There's a simple solution if this bothers you -- don't buy the game.