Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Halo 4 gets tough on sexist players]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/halo-4-gets-tough-on-sexist-players/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/halo-4-gets-tough-on-sexist-players/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/halo-4-gets-tough-on-sexist-players/#comments Halo 4 overseers planning on handing out lifetime bans for sexist players343 Industries wants to make it clear: It will brook no further discrimination of any kind in Halo 4. Executive producer Kiki Wolfkill and studio head Bonnie Ross say that sexist discrimination of any kind will be met with a lifetime ban from both the game and the Xbox Live network.

Ross says that "most people look at a franchise like Halo, and automatically assume it's run by a guy," but this particular franchise is run by a few ladies, and they're not having any discriminatory nonsense in their latest sequel.

We agree with the sentiment, and hope that the harsh penalties make sure that the losers who make sexist and other offensive comments get shown the door for good. The ideal should be to make sure all forms of this offensive discrimination are squashed as far and wide as possible, no matter who's running the show.

JoystiqHalo 4 gets tough on sexist players originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banscommentarycommentsgenderhalo-4lifetimelifetime-banmenmicrosoftracistsexismsexistwomenxboxxbox-liveThu, 01 Nov 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Australia's R18+ guidelines published, industry 'concerned']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/13/australias-r18-guidelines-published-industry-concerned/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/13/australias-r18-guidelines-published-industry-concerned/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/13/australias-r18-guidelines-published-industry-concerned/#comments Australia's R18 guidelines published, industry 'concerned'The Australian government today published its new guidelines for the classification of computer games, but those guidelines were met with concern by the country's games industry. The R18+ classification for video games comes into effect on January 1 2013, but Australia's Interactive Games & Entertainment Association responded to today's guidelines with only a "reserved and qualified welcome."

The IGEA's concern centers on a couple of the guidelines' assertions. Firstly, the guidelines state that similarly themed content is more impactful in video games than in film, and potentially more harmful. Secondly, the guidelines attribute this greater impact to the medium's interactive nature. In short, the new classification will hold games to a higher standard than film, and may see some games that were banned without the R18 classification stay banned despite its effectuation.

Shortly after the guidelines were announced, the IGEA released a statement. While that statement does express a welcome to the guidelines, the language is laced with skepticism and disappointment:
"Given the opposition to the introduction of an R18+ category from a vocal yet unrepresentative section of the community, along with a largely conservative group of Attorneys-General, it is no surprise the new guidelines hold video games to a higher standard across a number of categories compared to film and what originally existed for video games.

"As we have previously stated, we are concerned with the acknowledgment in the guidelines that interactivity has greater impact on players, despite the Federal Attorney-General's office publishing a literature review in September 2010 that found no evidence to support these claims. There will be continued debate about whether the interactivity of video games has a greater impact than other forms of media, and we will continue to refer to the lack of the evidence to support these claims."
There are four months to go until the R18+ classification comes to Australian video games, and this isn't the last we'll hear about it before then. You can find the government's guidelines here, and read the IGEA's response to them here.

JoystiqAustralia's R18+ guidelines published, industry 'concerned' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiabansgovernmentr18r18+Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam deletes games with 'Half-Life 3,' offensive content from Greenlight]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/03/steam-deletes-games-with-half-life-3-offensive-content-from-g/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/03/steam-deletes-games-with-half-life-3-offensive-content-from-g/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/03/steam-deletes-games-with-half-life-3-offensive-content-from-g/#comments Steam deletes games with 'HalfLife 3,' offensive content from GreenlightSteam's Greenlight service allows anyone to upload a game idea for community vetting, no matter what stage of production it's in - including "not real." This is an issue Valve predicted, and it has started taking measures to ban games that are obviously fake, such as anything called "Half-Life 3," and those that are patently offensive, such as "Best WTC Plane Simulator."

The only way Greenlight will succeed in its intended purpose is if its users take it seriously, and unfortunately for Steam, "the users" are "the internet." We'll keep an eye on Greenlight's progress once the initial hubbub dies down.

This is why absolute freedom is a terrible idea, people. The rabble can't be trusted with such a liberated, unchecked service, and let's be honest, most of them need to be kept on a short government-dispersed leash. That in mind, check out our new game on Steam Greenlight, Freedom Sucks: Revenge of the Plutocrats.

JoystiqSteam deletes games with 'Half-Life 3,' offensive content from Greenlight originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bannedbansgreenlighthalf-life-3macoffensivepcSTEAMsteam-greenlightvalveMon, 03 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 bans not based on Linux software, says Blizzard]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/diablo-3-bans-not-based-on-linux-software-says-blizzard/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/diablo-3-bans-not-based-on-linux-software-says-blizzard/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/diablo-3-bans-not-based-on-linux-software-says-blizzard/#comments Diablo 3 bans issued not based on Linux, says BlizzardA handful of players using Wine, a program that allows Linux users to run Windows, recently reported being suddenly and unreasonably banned from Diablo 3. These players have sent in support tickets and one in particular notes his account remains banned, posting the following response from Blizzard:

"An additional review of the action taken against the Diablo 3 account has been completed. We have confirmed our initial findings, and the account action will not be reversed or changed."

These players assert that they have not cheated. Blizzard community manager Bashiok has responded to these claims, saying that players are banned for cheating, not for running benevolent software. "We've extensively tested for false positive situations, including replicating system setups for those who have posted claiming they were banned unfairly," he writes. "We've not found any situations that could produce a false positive, have found that the circumstances for which they were banned were clear and accurate, and we are extremely confident in our findings.

"Playing the game on Linux, although not officially supported, will not get you banned - cheating will."

A Reddit post (now complete with a "[Misleading Title]" preface) saw more Wine players speak up, saying that they can play with no problems. It appears the bans themselves may be more isolated than the initial thread made them appear, and they may be less scandalous, at least on Blizzard's end. The moral of the story is, as always: Don't cheat, whiners Winers.

JoystiqDiablo 3 bans not based on Linux software, says Blizzard originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banningbansBlizzardcheatingDiablo-3LinuxpcwineTue, 03 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's banhammer visiting Diablo 3 cheaters in 'near future']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/blizzards-banhammer-visiting-diablo-3-cheaters-in-near-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/blizzards-banhammer-visiting-diablo-3-cheaters-in-near-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/blizzards-banhammer-visiting-diablo-3-cheaters-in-near-future/#comments Blizzard to drop Diablo 3 banhammer soonHave you used any "hacks, bots, or modifications in any form" that would violate Diablo 3's instinctual scroll wheel-friendly end user license agreement? Well, don't come crying to us when the company drops the banhammer.

"Playing Diablo 3 legitimately means playing with an unaltered game client," Blizzard warned today. "Suspensions and bans of players that have used or start using cheats and hacks will begin in the near future."

The permaban from Battle.net means players will not be able to access their account for Blizzard's single-player, online-required game. Perhaps Blizzard would be so kind as to allow purchase of an unbanning from the real-money auction house?

JoystiqBlizzard's banhammer visiting Diablo 3 cheaters in 'near future' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardbanhammerbansBlizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentDiablo-3pcMon, 11 Jun 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 bans affect 1,600+ users]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-bans-affect-1-600-users/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-bans-affect-1-600-users/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-bans-affect-1-600-users/#comments
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 isn't a safe place for anyone on the business end of a sniper shot or cheats. MW3 community czar Robert Bowling recently announced on Twitter that Activision issued over 1,600 bans and reiterated "any attempt to cheat, hack, or glitch in [Modern Warfare 3] will not be tolerated."

"Reporting [cheaters] in-game through [Modern Warfare 3] goes directly to our security team, who issues the bans directly after verifying," Bowling noted. "Every ban unique to the level of douchiness of the offense. The greater the douche, the greater the length. PermaDouche possible."

We appreciate the effort Activision apparently goes through to keep each ban fresh and clean. Last week, Battlefield 3 went through a similar cleansing.

JoystiqCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 bans affect 1,600+ users originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-Blizzardbanscall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3Infinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3Robert-BowlingxboxMon, 21 Nov 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Battlefield 3 bans issued across all platforms]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/battlefield-3-bans-issued-across-all-platforms/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/battlefield-3-bans-issued-across-all-platforms/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/battlefield-3-bans-issued-across-all-platforms/#comments EA has dishonorably discharged "hundreds" of Battlefield 3 cheaters and boosters. The publisher has banned and stats-wiped offending accounts that used known exploits. The company is still on the hunt, saying it has a "zero tolerance policy for cheating," so consider that fair warning.

The known glitches involve players earning tens of thousands of points in a round. If you happen to have experienced the "invincibility glitch" in a round, you likely didn't earn yourself enough points to garner attention on radar and a smack from the banhammer.

DICE is currently working on a patch for Battlefield 3, which should likely resolve known glitches, and will reduce the distance of those horribly annoying, blinding flashlights. Guys, seriously, keep those things pointed at the enemy!

JoystiqBattlefield 3 bans issued across all platforms originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bansbattlefield-3DICEEAElectronic-Artsmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxMon, 14 Nov 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: You [probably] won't be banned for playing MW3 early - we think]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/psa-you-probably-wont-be-banned-for-playing-mw3-early-we-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/psa-you-probably-wont-be-banned-for-playing-mw3-early-we-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/psa-you-probably-wont-be-banned-for-playing-mw3-early-we-t/#comments At this point, you'd be forgiven for not knowing up from down with regards to early copies of next week's Modern Warfare 3. Is it safe to play online? Will you be banned? Where could you even find a copy of Modern Warfare 3 early?

We can't blame you. Even we haven't even been sure - after some vaguely foreboding comments from Xbox Live's Stephen Toulouse earlier today, we felt compelled to warn you all that maybe, just maybe you should put that $1700, three-day early copy of Modern Warfare 3 on the shelf until Tuesday. But, in the event your neck isn't sore from all the back and forth over the last 36 hours, we've got the final definitive word from Activision itself... we hope:
"We value and appreciate the community's support. We have no interest in banning legitimate copies in these last few days. We just ask for everyone to wait for Tuesday when everybody can play the game together."
So, we guess you can play Modern Warfare 3 - assuming you've committed the dark retail magic necessary to acquire it early that it. Us? We'll be over here in the corner, where we don't have to look right or left for a while.

JoystiqPSA: You [probably] won't be banned for playing MW3 early - we think originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbanningbanscall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3psapublic-service-announcementsledgehammer-gamesxboxxbox-liveFri, 04 Nov 2011 21:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard: Use StarCraft 2 trainers 'at your own risk']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/blizzard-use-starcraft-2-trainers-at-your-own-risk/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/blizzard-use-starcraft-2-trainers-at-your-own-risk/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/blizzard-use-starcraft-2-trainers-at-your-own-risk/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Big Blizzard is always watching! Earlier this week, Cheat Happens reported one of its users was banned in StarCraft 2 after utilizing trainers in single player. Blizzard apparently had suspended his account for 14 days over "exploitative activity." The idea is that even though these trainers are being used in single player and against AI opponents, the effects of earning achievements alters the "prestige" of a player's online persona, a supposed Blizzard rep responded via an alleged email.

We contacted Blizzard ourselves for a bit of clarification on the matter and were given a statement, which you can read past the break.

Continue reading Blizzard: Use StarCraft 2 trainers 'at your own risk'

JoystiqBlizzard: Use StarCraft 2 trainers 'at your own risk' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bansbattle-netbattle.netblizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentexploitspcReal-Time-StrategyStarcraft-2trainersWed, 13 Oct 2010 21:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Bungie resets credits on 15K Halo: Reach cheaters]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/bungie-resets-credits-on-15k-halo-reach-cheaters/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/bungie-resets-credits-on-15k-halo-reach-cheaters/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/bungie-resets-credits-on-15k-halo-reach-cheaters/#commentsFiled under: , ,

On top of announcing an earlier than expected playlist update (coming this Tuesday), Bungie revealed last night that it has reset the credits and ranks of "approximately" 15,000 Halo: Reach accounts. The studio also applied a one day credit earning ban on affected players, less for punishment than to "ensure that recipients receive an in-game notification of the action taken."

The resets were handled last evening and specifically targeted folks who employed "an exploit that allowed players to complete a Challenge 20+ times via itentional network manipulation (i.e., disconnects.)." Bungie will also be completing a "more comprehensive pass" later this week, after the studio is confident enough in its automated banning system. We're taking this move as further proof of the age old adage -- cheaters never win.

JoystiqBungie resets credits on 15K Halo: Reach cheaters originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bansbungiebungie-studioscreditsHalo-Reachmicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosxboxSat, 02 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft: 'The Pro' Xbox Live moderator 'followed protocol']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/microsoft-the-pro-xbox-live-moderator-followed-protocol/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/microsoft-the-pro-xbox-live-moderator-followed-protocol/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/microsoft-the-pro-xbox-live-moderator-followed-protocol/#comments A video, depicting an Xbox Live moderator (Gamertag: The Pro) banning an Xbox Live gamer during an online match of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, has caught the attention of Microsoft since its posting on YouTube yesterday. Entitled "The Pro : XBOX Live Moderator Abuses His Power," the carefully edited video, which can be viewed after the break, attempts to portray a "corrupt" moderator mercilessly wielding his banhammer and perhaps abusing his authority.

Microsoft's Major Nelson quickly made note of the production on his Twitter account, and passed the video off to Stephen Toulouse, director of Xbox Live policy and enforcement, who tweeted several comments of his own. Toulouse noted that The Pro was "policing" Modern Warfare 2 modding, which can result in an Xbox Live Gold account suspension (banning a user from online play) or a complete console ban (rendering Xbox Live inaccessible).

In a statement to Joystiq, Toulouse said, "The player behavior in question and subsequent interaction with the moderator violated the Xbox Live Terms of Use and Code of Conduct. The Xbox Live moderator followed protocol and, while he regrets his tone, the video was heavily edited to omit the inappropriate behavior and we fully support the moderator's decision to take action against the offending players."

It should be noted that iTzLuPo, the YouTube user who originally uploaded the video, admits that he is a modder in his user bio, stating, "I am now part of one of the best Glitching/modding clans there is on Xbox LIVE." He also lists "Glitching/Modding/tutorials" as so-called hobbies.

Continue reading Microsoft: 'The Pro' Xbox Live moderator 'followed protocol'

JoystiqMicrosoft: 'The Pro' Xbox Live moderator 'followed protocol' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banhammerbansmicrosoftmoderatorthe-proXbox-360xbox-liveMon, 22 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[So long, 2500 Modern Warfare 2 Steam cheaters]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/so-long-2500-modern-warfare-2-steam-cheaters/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/so-long-2500-modern-warfare-2-steam-cheaters/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/so-long-2500-modern-warfare-2-steam-cheaters/#comments Employing Steam's built-in VAC anti-cheating system, Infinity Ward has dropped the ban hammer on its first round of Modern Warfare 2 cheaters - 2,500 PC gamers, more specifically. In responding to a question on Twitter last Friday, community man Robert Bowling said, "The Steam ban hammer is coming down on about 2,500 confirmed #MW2 cheaters on PC today."

We contacted Bowling to find out how frequently the bans will be taking place and have yet to hear back. We'll keep you updated when we have more info, but for now we're going to get back into these hacked private servers to do some superhuman jumping and grenade spamming. You know how much we love our grenade spamming.

[Via Big Download]

JoystiqSo long, 2500 Modern Warfare 2 Steam cheaters originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banscall-of-dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-2fpshackerinfinity-wardmodern-warfare-2pcrobert-bowlingtwitterMon, 30 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA update: Forum bans do not equal in-game bans]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/ea-update-forum-bans-do-not-equal-in-game-bans/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/ea-update-forum-bans-do-not-equal-in-game-bans/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/ea-update-forum-bans-do-not-equal-in-game-bans/#commentsFiled under:


Hey, remember last week when an Electronic Arts community manager announced that being banned from an EA forum would simultaneously ban users from playing their EA games online? Well, it's okay. All of you naughty forum dwellers can turn on the lights and open the shades, because it turns out that the community manager in question, known as eaapoc on the forums, was mistaken. Said eeapoc on the forums, "I had a misunderstanding with regards to our new upcoming forums and website and never meant to infer that if we ban or suspend you on the forums, you would be banned in-game as well. This is not correct, my mistake, my bad." He elaborates that being banned from the forums or from a game are separate process, so those banned from one need not fear being banned from the other.

So there you have it. You'll have to be some sort of super-jerk in order to be banned from both the forums and a game. Don't worry, internets, we know you're up to the task.

JoystiqEA update: Forum bans do not equal in-game bans originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banbanhammerbanseaelectronic-artslivexbox-liveMon, 03 Nov 2008 13:45:00 EST