In-game Advertising

[FX2K]

There has been a lot of changes so it seems...

New EULA for Elite: Dangerous
https://store.elitedangerous.com/ed-eula/

It's refreshing to see a new clause or two added against cheating:

You are not permitted:

(c) use cheats, automation software, hacks, mods, or any other unauthorized software designed to modify or defeat the purpose or experience of the Game;
(d) use any unauthorized software that harvests or otherwise collections information about others or the Game, including about a character or the game environment;
(e) use any robot, spider, scraper, or other automated or manual means to access the Game or any Online Features or copy any content or information from the Game or any Online Features;
(f) probe, scan, test the vulnerability of or breach the authentication measures of the Game or any Online Features;
(g) violate any technology control or export laws and regulations that apply to the technology used or supported by the Game or any Online Features.

EDIT: This was in the EULA before, its not new...

7.1.1 The Game may allow certain online services operated by Frontier and/or its affiliates or third parties authorised on their behalf to be accessed, which allow users of the Game to enjoy certain on-line or multiplayer features and functionality associated with the Game (“Online Features”). These services and Online Features may, however, require payment of additional fees. In addition, access to and use of such Online Features and other goods or information made available as part of such services may be subject to completion of a registration process and acceptance of additional terms

 

[Darkflame]

I am amused when they feel the necessity of including a clause like g. Its basically saying "don't break the law".

Its like Lawyers get paid by the word or something.

 

[vjek]

Kind of funny that it could read (section e)

"You are not permitted (e) use any manual means to access the Game."

It's also unfortunate that they put copying, scraping, etc in there, because people will just ignore it who don't care, and all the legit players suffer with terrible game design in the meantime.
It's also in direct opposition to the previous developer comments that OCR would be ok. (not that it matters what they say, players will still OCR).

Unenforceable laws have no place anywhere. Silly EULA.

 

[Pille]

Online Features may require payment of additional fees - NEW EULA

I think the new EULA deserves a dedicated thread, especially since Frontier chose to just put this in the new launcher and on the website without any kind of announcement about this:




7.1 Online Features
7.1.1 The Game may allow certain online services operated by Frontier and/or its affiliates or third parties authorised on their behalf to be accessed, which allow users of the Game to enjoy certain on-line or multiplayer features and functionality associated with the Game (“Online Features”). These services and Online Features may, however, require payment of additional fees. In addition, access to and use of such Online Features and other goods or information made available as part of such services may be subject to completion of a registration process and acceptance of additional terms and conditions including, but not limited to, privacy policies governing the use and processing of personally identifiable information. Not all purchasers of this Game will be able to register or benefit from such services (including Online Features associated with the Game). These services and Online Features may not be available in your country, are not guaranteed to be available for any period of time, may be subject to suspension or withdrawal at any time and may be subject to age restrictions. An internet connection will be required to access Online Features. You are responsible for all internet and other connection charges associated with your access to and use of any Online Features.


Yes, so, please. What does this mean?
Will we have to pay for proper MMO features?
Will we have to pay to not fly through an ad-filled universe that lacks immersion because there are Coca Cola and Amazon ads everywhere?
Will this be monthly fees?
What is going on here.

 

[Out2lunch]

I would imagine it means future patches like planetary landings which will be a paid for expansion.

Frontier have been quite open and upfront about future expansions so far I think it's 2 or 3 in the road map.

 

[Britannkic]

Seems a bog standard open ended " maybe pay for this maybe that" to cover future potential

 

[DocMoriarty]

I wonder what "services" FD has in mind by that § 7.1.1.

The cheat stuff is very appreciated but it will not prevent people from cheating. I actually expect probably massive cheats to pop up over time after release, especially when trading between players is implemented (gold farming/trading) and I hope that FD will these then address not only in an EULA but also in game by technical means.

A good example how a good game gets nearly unplayable due to massive cheats used by users is Need For Speed World. Aside of other massive management mistakes they never did anything technically against the cheats and that rendered racing except with friends practically pointless.

 

[Polared]

welcome to the jungle!

 

[Chris M Fortune]

This may well be true and I personally believe that it is, however the EULA is ambiguous and clarification of the intent would be welcome especially with the launch so close and David Brabens often quoted dislike for pay to play I think the assumption of many of the purchasers was that this would not be the case. I for one could not realistically afford a pay to play unless it was a very low level one and if this was a real possibility would not have purchased a preorder but waited to see what the information was at release

 

[FX2K]

Kind of funny that it could read (section e)

"You are not permitted (e) use any manual means to access the Game."

I read it like that too

Somebody needs to proof read it lol

software that harvests or otherwise collections information about others

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I wonder what "services" FD has in mind by that § 7.1.1.

As another person said in another thread, it may just be due to 'ISP charges" and a requirement to state such...

 

[BigBossLucas]

Yes it is very ambiguous indeed, I will never pay again but for future expansions, as agreed when I bought the product, I will never, never will pay for a monthly fee or something similar.

Please Frontier Clarify this, what I'm sure is a misunderstanding.

 

[LVX156]

Yes it is very ambiguous indeed, I will never pay again but for future expansions, as agreed when I bought the product, I will never, never will pay for a monthly fee or something similar.

Please Frontier Clarify this, what I'm sure is a misunderstanding.

I can't imagine they would introduce a monthly fee, since that would be illegal under British (and EU, and probably US) law.

 

[Polared]

come on guys! this was always going to happen with an mmo, it's the standard business model. why do you think some people were so "vocal" for an offline version? I wouldn't even be surprised if there wasn't a deal with saitek, and all other controllers get nerfed!

 

[Pille]

Well I hope Frontier sticks to cosmetic micropayments only. And paid expansions that don't split the player base. And a lot of free updates before that to get the game to what the DDA describes. And only use in-game ads in a very limited way that doesn't break immersion. Or rather: not use them at all.

 

[tsh]

so spreadsheets are banned now, and it has to be by power of thought only?

 

[Pille]

I can't imagine they would introduce a monthly fee, since that would be illegal under British (and EU, and probably US) law.

What if they don't make it a monthly fee. Instead they call it a MMO DLC - pay for proper Wings, for proper Clan or Guild mechanics, etc? They could argue that if you don't want to play in a guild and fly with friends, transfer money and trade with each other then you don't have to pay for any of that! Only pay for it if you really want that BONUS. Isn't that great?

Maybe even a Exploration DLC? If you want exploration like in the DDA, pay for it! Want to be a great Bounty Hunter? Smuggler? Just get the corresponding career DLC! It opens up advanced ship modules only available to your DLC career class! And these ship modules allow further gameplay mechanics, like advanced exploration, discovering hyperjump routes, etc.

 

[Pyelot]

I am linking to this thread that I posted,
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=69562&page=4
because I was concerned about something happening.

At the moment, and with my dire financial position, I don't want to get priced out of any updated/involvement.

An example of a workable compromise: Because I know funds are important for FDEV plc
I have ARMA3 and they opted to have free upgrades for Everyone,."no-one is excluded from playing" BUT those paying would have higher resolution textures. I think this was an excellent online 'innovation' to get money. Because if I played enough and valued the work done in game, I would HAVE TO upgrade graphics eventually. In this example, I bought, an upgrade bundles (3 updates) in advance at a cheaper price. Another good idea,becuase it offers value for money for something I like and cash upfront for the developers.

 

[Arkronis]

so spreadsheets are banned now, and it has to be by power of thought only?

Nah. Of course that's not what it refers to.

e) use any robot, spider, scraper, or other automated or manual means to access the Game or any Online Features or copy any content or information from the Game or any Online Features;

What I see in it is very much a cover-all toward using third party tools that would be used access the games data manually (direct hacking for example) as well as automated scrapers and the aforementioned items in the first part of that sub-clause.

Obviously it wouldn't pertain to excel spreadsheets or pen and paper (as what your initial thought for 'manual' might lead to - it just would go waaay against common sense, and would not be hoped to be enforceable at all!!! Whereas robots or hacking automated/manually would be track-able/detectable by them and would indeed be evidenced for them to enforce what ever consequence is appropriate).

 

[FX2K]

How about crowdsourced systems (which I don't use) since they essentially have users manually copying the information and then its published?
It does seem to refer to those.

 

[Aeon-X]

(d) use any unauthorized software that harvests or otherwise collections information about others or the Game, including about a character or the game environment;

Ok then we are fine with authorized software. like the operating system.

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Somebody needs to proof read it lol

The problem is that the game is P2P so i know already the IP address of the guy im having a pvp battle with.
Probably thats why that section in the eula.