Battlefield 2142 to Bundle Spyware?

An anonymous reader writes "Kotaku reports on a Shacknews Post. Battlefield 2142, the new Electronic Arts game, is expected to include mandatory spyware in the retail package. The software will apparently monitor web browser and other computer usage; this information will be used to deliver targeted in-game advertisements. Other popular game titles have included spyware in the past to aid anti-cheating measures. Is spyware acceptable to the public when it comes with a game, or has EA made a PR misstep?"

Comments

Not exactly

[Wind_Walker]

The representatives of DICE (the developers, EA is the publisher) have now clarified on the forums that it only records what ads you look at and for how long you look at them - it does not monitor your browsing habits, your cookies, or your hard drive.

Or so they say...

But even if it's not spying on my pr0n, I still have problems with paying full price for a game and having it be supported by ads. If they want to knock off $10 and give me in-game ads, that's fine by me. I consider it a fair trade. But the recent ad craze in the video game industry is not lowering prices, it's just creating more revenue for the game publisher.

And since EA is not only charging for cheat codes and adopting **AA tactics on torrents I've decided to stop buying EA products - even Spore.

The text

[Spiked_Three]

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 ot the Internet, the Advertising Technlogy may record your IP address and other anonymouse 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 changed during online game play. The Advertising Technology does not collect any personally identifiable information about you, and EA will ont 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 EU.

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 by 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."

Re:journalistic integrity

[Edgewize]

Oh, you mean in this post, where he refutes this entire story, directly and succinctly ?

http://www.totalbf2142.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6 6802&postcount=27

I hereby call on the /. editors to add an Update to this story with a link to this post.

Here is a scan of the actual paper

[Divine_Madcat]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v402/ojibewa/214 2ads.jpg
Scanned straight from the paper in the box.
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7315/igavy2.jpg
Another good shot with the box.. Way to go EA....

Official denial from DICE

[Kattspya]

Dice says there's no spyware in 2142 according to a post by an admin of a Swedish BF2142 forum. The text in Swedish can be read here: http://www.bf2142.se/forums.php?m=posts&q=946

Here is my quick and dirty translation of the salient parts:

John [John Hargelid of DICE] told me that it's an integrated module in the game that's only active when you play. This is used to gather statistics on the ads that will be in Battlefield 2142.

John says that there are no connections what so ever to spyware and that the code doesn't send information about your surfing habits. The information that is transmitted to DICE/EA has nothing to do with your personal surfing habits.

In conclusion: No information regarding your surfing habits will be transmitted and the program is only active when you play Battlefield 2142. The only statistics that are sent are from the in game ads in Battlefield 2142.

Re:Hmm

[PitaBred]

I hate to be a pedant, but it bugs me all to hell when people type "adds" when they really mean "ads".

Adds are what you do to two numbers. Ads is the correct abbreviation for "advertisements".
And to keep my post from flying completely OT:

#1 - Why a browser wrapper? Why not replace their database with one of your choosing?

#2 - Doesn't sound like the describe it well, but if it's running as a service, I'd bet they're not after just cookies. They could do that easily enough from within the game.

#3 - I'd love to see EA lose tons of money on that. They make their money off of frat boys who have to have the latest version of Madden and Tiger Woods, and buy other franchises and run them into the ground.

Fuck EA.