Game of Bots - The Bot Issue
IP blocks will never work since VPN can easily defeat that.
In order to use a VPN, the chinese would have to have a central network here in America. Obviously they could get around to doing that, but currently they don’t seem to have that. Why not block Chinese IPs now, and then have everything centralized here in america, where we can then have an option of either pursuing this through the legal system or at the very least identifying the networks one by one. Blocking the network based here in the usa would then block all bots using that location/IP.
There are plenty of VPN service out there and it doesn’t cost much on a yearly basis. They do not need to have any central network in the US or anywhere to use VPN service. Not to mention there isn’t really a legal issue here. They will be breaking the user agreement and that will result account banning, it is not illegal.
No law enforcement would arrest people for botting in game.
The most disturbing thing is the amount of people getting banned for “botting”, people that never used such stuff, like ME!!!
It seems that these guys at ANet dunno what to do to fight off this “bot rampage”, so they start banning everyone blindly?!
In order to use a VPN, the chinese would have to have a central network here in America. Obviously they could get around to doing that, but currently they don’t seem to have that. Why not block Chinese IPs now, and then have everything centralized here in america, where we can then have an option of either pursuing this through the legal system or at the very least identifying the networks one by one. Blocking the network based here in the usa would then block all bots using that location/IP.
just type in google “free proxy list” and you’ll get numerous addresses through which you can connect to GW2 server and mask your IP. Have fun banning thousands of IPs around whole World. Also there are paid proxies and VPN services that players use to lower their latency in game. Banning those would harm legitimate players as well.
They r using bot!. <=> I using my body for spot of gold.
They r still playing <=> My account is blocked
and my character not RANGER…
.. i farmed only 30g in my gw2 life.
No law enforcement would arrest people for botting in game.
It isn’t an issue of arresting anyone – its an issue of suing. Companies that farm gold for US dollars or euro are money companies. You address the issue by suing them for the money they made off the NCSoft product. Forcing them to localize a network here in the US would make suing them much easier.
just type in google “free proxy list” and you’ll get numerous addresses through which you can connect to GW2 server and mask your IP.
If they are doing that now, the service is very poor. If someone compromises your account, you can see exactly where its coming from on your account security tab. If that’s possible now, then its also possible to block that.
There is no ground for suing gold farming company. If there were one, Blizzard would have sued the hell out of those gold farmers. Do you see Blizzard suing any gold farming companies ?
The paid VPN server is far from being poor. Do you know how many IPs those VPN companies have ? There is no way ANet is going to block every VPN IPs.
ArenaNet Communications Manager
IP blocking isn’t the answer. Most botters use, or know how to use, proxies. The guy who is botting from Beijing may appear to be playing from Boston or Berlin.
So no, that is not a viable suggestion.
And FYI — we don’t make money on the bots. They use stolen credit cards that end up costing us money, not increasing our revenues.
Lawsuits are not the answer, either.
Communications Manager
Guild & Fansite Relations; In-Game Events
ArenaNet
(edited by Gaile Gray.6029)