• solsangraal@lemmy.zip
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    31
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    1 day ago

    the article says the EULA is “typical”

    That clause reads as follows: “You will not use exploits or illegal or unauthorised means to interfere with or adversely impact any other user’s ability to use the services as intended; to gain unfair gameplay advantage; or to gain access to virtual items or other content to which you do not have valid entitlement. This includes the use of cheats or so-called ‘mod menus’, unauthorised mods, hacks, glitches, or any other technical exploits, and phishing, scamming, or social engineering.”

    So, something that could maybe affect modders generally - not that prominent Borderlands modders seem concerned - but sounds to me more like fairly typical EULA stuff designed specifically to discourage the use of mods or cheats online, where they could affect the experience had by other players. You know, like the checks fellow Take-Two-owned GTA Online developers Rockstar have tried to institute to stop your session being ambushed by invincible gods who fly around magically giving everyone vast sums of free money.

    i still haven’t seen anyone credibly demonstrate that BL2 is now more “spyware” than any other game, let alone that it hijacks root access-- anyone?

    • EnsignPacts@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      34
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      edit-2
      1 day ago

      It’s because it isn’t spyware. There is no kernel level anticheat or admin requirements as people keep suggesting . And the only things it sends back to gearbox is related to game functions:

      • your steam friends list so it can check if they have a gearbox account
      • in game chat
      • which level in the game you’re currently on

      I literally went to the point of packet inspection and found nothing to be concerned about.

      EDIT: clarified reply was about it being called spyware.

    • Dubiousx99@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      23
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 day ago

      They don’t need to collect all this data, see the list below. Some, yes, but the majority has nothing to do with the service offered.

      Collected Data Types:
      • Identifiers / Contact Information: Name, user name, gamertag, postal and email address, phone number, unique IDs, mobile device ID, platform ID, gaming service ID, advertising ID (IDFA, Android ID) and IP address
      • Protected Characteristics: Age and gender
      • Commercial Information: Purchase and usage history and preferences, including gameplay information
      • Billing Information: Payment information (credit / debit card information) and shipping address
      • Internet / Electronic Activity: Web / app browsing and gameplay information related to the Services; information about your online interaction(s) with the Services or our advertising; and details about the games and platforms you use and other information related to installed applications
      • Device and Usage Data: Device type, software and hardware details, language settings, browser type and version, operating system, and information about how users use and interact with the Services (e.g., content viewed, pages visited, clicks, scrolls)
      • Profile Inferences: Inferences made from your information and web activity to help create a personalized profile so we can identify goods and services that may be of interest
      • Audio / Visual Information: Account photos, images, and avatars, audio information via chat features and functionality, and gameplay recordings and video footage (such as when you participate in playtesting)
      • Sensitive Information: Precise location information (if you allow the Services to collect your location), account credentials (user name and password), and contents of communications via chat features and functionality.