Accounts Banned (06/24/2008)

[Taskmage]

Around 5,590 accounts in violation of the FINAL FANTASY XI user agreement were suspended or banned today.

Click here for details.

We would like to report the termination today of multiple accounts held by players involved in the usage of third-party tools or cheats, or engaged in RMT (Real Money Trading) activities.

Based on the results of our investigation, around 4,220 PlayOnline accounts were terminated while around 1,370 accounts were temporarily suspended.
Additionally, we have increased the number of mass bannings against certain PlayOnline violations in order to prevent illegal acts.

Details of the violations are as follows:

- Usage of tools that allow enhanced character movement.
Week of May 25, Approx. 180 cases
Week of June 1, Approx. 410 cases
Week of June 8, Approx. 350 cases
Week of June 15, Approx. 250 cases
Week of June 22, Approx. 150 cases

- Usage of tools that circumvent game mechanics with respect to the timing of ability use, etc. in certain areas or at points where Notorious Monsters appear.
June 24, Approx. 40 cases

- Using cheats to automatically repeat a particular action.
Week of May 25, Approx. 70 cases
Week of June 1, Approx. 200 cases
Week of June 8, Approx. 320 cases
Week of June 15, Approx. 230 cases

- Gil and item exchange for real world money.
Week of May 25, Approx. 160 cases
Week of June 15, Approx. 230 cases
Week of June 22, Approx. 700 cases

- Instances of areas or monster monopolization.
May 29, Approx. 290 cases
June 12, Approx. 500 cases
June 19, Approx. 280 cases

- Usage of synthesis and auction houses for RMT activities.
June 3, Approx. 280 cases
June 16, Approx. 280 cases
June 23, Approx. 650 cases

- Accounts from people that were previously confirmed to have RMT connections, or that had violated the user agreements but re-subscribed to PlayOnline.
June 24, Approx. 40 cases

The termination of these accounts has led to the removal of approximately 1.8 billion gil from circulation.

We would like to remind players that as well as adversely affecting game balance, the use of third-party tools or cheats can also have consequences that are not immediately obvious, such as introducing damaging viruses, and comprising the security of private account details. Usage of third-party tools will not be tolerated within FINAL FANTASY XI, and we will continue to severely penalize any players found to be in violation of the PlayOnline Member Agreement.

As we continue to ensure a fun and balanced environment for FINAL FANTASY XI, we hope that our players enjoy the game as it was intended and take care to avoid involvement in activities that violate the PlayOnline Member Agreement.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and understanding.

[Phanex]

I wonder how many of these accounts that were banned were accounts that were compromised?

[Aeni]

I wonder how many of these accounts that were banned were accounts that were compromised?

Incidentally, I put it up for discussion:

Sobering Article on Account Theft

I'm just not convinced Square Enix knows what to do about this problem anymore. Hackers have gotten so sophisticated over the recent years and that FFXI is a really old game (In current MMO terms) that it's really a matter of when, not if, the service falls apart.

Other MMO games have also been under seige by recent waves of account thefts, but so far, many of those companies have responded a lot better (in my opinion) than Square Enix has done.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

You felt the need to post that link in a completely different thread when you had already posted a topic about it moments ago.

Starved for attention much?

[Kailea]

Incidentally, I put it up for discussion:

Sobering Article on Account Theft

I'm just not convinced Square Enix knows what to do about this problem anymore. Hackers have gotten so sophisticated over the recent years and that FFXI is a really old game (In current MMO terms) that it's really a matter of when, not if, the service falls apart.

Other MMO games have also been under seige by recent waves of account thefts, but so far, many of those companies have responded a lot better (in my opinion) than Square Enix has done.

untrue on so many levels.....


hell Ultima online still have cheaters and botters, and look at it, still going great.

Just because a game has cheaters and botters (every MMO does anyway) does not mean it will fall apart.

[Aeni]

You felt the need to post that link in a completely different thread when you had already posted a topic about it moments ago.

Starved for attention much?

Not sure where your emo response came from, but I merely cross post since I didn't see this at all (I don't hit main page first as my bookmark is directly to the forum) Otherwise I would've posted in here first as I read the article earlier in the morning.

Satisfied?

[Raydeus]

I need to skill up my internetz, I totally missed how that was an emo response.



Edit >

On topic : Ban buyers, all of them, now.

[The Mauva Syndicate]

What EXACTLY constitutes Area or Monster Monopolization?

When some asshat is on the beach killing leeches for blood, and 'vokes mobs away from you WHILE YOU ARE TRYING TO FIGHT THEM is that grounds to report them to the GM's?

We've been trying to get the husband his Carby Ruby for a few days and the Leech hunters in Buburimu are obnoxious about it - they will literally run up and steal your mob. Can I report the that kind of asshatery to the GM's??? Will they do anything about it???

If so, Tetuo, your days as an asshat are numbered!@&$(@*#_)(*@-09!!!

[Nandito]

What EXACTLY constitutes Area or Monster Monopolization?

When some asshat is on the beach killing leeches for blood, and 'vokes mobs away from you WHILE YOU ARE TRYING TO FIGHT THEM is that grounds to report them to the GM's?

We've been trying to get the husband his Carby Ruby for a few days and the Leech hunters in Buburimu are obnoxious about it - they will literally run up and steal your mob. Can I report the that kind of asshatery to the GM's??? Will they do anything about it???

If so, Tetuo, your days as an asshat are numbered!@&$(@*#_)(*@-09!!!

Negative, Ghostrider. While it is an asshole thing to do, that's not what Area or Monster Monopolization refers to. Not to mention, I don't think the GMs would bother getting involved with something like that.

Mind you, competition for bird blood is a normal farming routine-- there's not enough to go around and people are stubborn to move. That's where the stealing comes in. Even then, innocent farmers trying to make their daily income end up doing it themselves; because it continues to happen to them. A bloody chain reaction.

Also... there are better places to hunt for a Ruby, y'know.

Anywho, back on topic. Nice to see they're capturing the RMT who mess with the AH prices. I'm also amazed people are ignorant enough to believe they won't get caught using something as obvious as a speed hack.

[Phanex]

[quote=The Mauva Syndicate;789460]
We've been trying to get the husband his Carby Ruby for a few days and the Leech hunters in Buburimu are obnoxious about it - they will literally run up and steal your mob. Can I report the that kind of asshatery to the GM's??? Will they do anything about it???

quote]

See if that arsehat will let you join him, and just let you guys lot on the ruby, unless you want the blood too, then yeah that willkinda suck in the long run.

[Taskmage]

You'd be surprised how reasonable people can be sometimes if you treat them like they are. Maybe they'd help you get the ruby and maybe not but you won't know until you ask.

[Ellipses]

If someone else can provoke it, it's not your mob.

You might try the eastern beach out if you haven't. There aren't as many leeches over there, so the farmers don't always go to that side. Or there's the Maze or Qufim, if you can't get a farmer to let you join to lot on the ruby.

[Taskmage]

Maze is horrible. I spent days in there killing leeches with /thf and never got a ruby. Literally ofer several hundred.

[Feba]

I did my leech hunting in a group. We actually got up to nearly a full alliance, split between Maze and beach. This is for just two rubies, mind you. We started on the beach, and then a group of us decided to split off and do maze instead, since having that many people was becoming redundant. The first ruby fell in Shakrami, and the second one in Bubu. So, better drops off maze in my case. It's a very fickle thing, though.

[The Mauva Syndicate]

I got mine in the Maze, but I've not seen another one in, as TM said, hundreds of leeches