I am about to receive my pre-order of bf2142, and there are stories coming up on the internet about spyware being implemented and I don’t think it is a spyware but more of bullshit from the critiques mouth!
Just to clear things up Spyware means: “Any software that covertly gathers user information through the user’s Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else. …” EA gives a notice of it being used and therefore it should not be classified as spyware.

First of all BF2142 warns the user about having adverts & collecting data within the game before hand, that doesn’t bother me at all, as it will only collect information within the game itself, like IP and also if you are viewing the adverts. Anyway I bet that they have been collecting your IP even without your consent so that they can log the stats that you have earned within the game. Also they must have been collecting information of your actions within the games because how the hell do they record your kills and kits that you have earned? Also the game is also archived onto the server you were playing if the game has battlecam enabled, which allows users to download the in game video. And wouldn’t the server you are playing on have to record your IP somewhere to transmit you game data so that you can play?
Now the question is why are they doing it? In my opinion it is because to support the game and to introduce a lot more content for the future, which I would really love to receive once a while without paying for expansions. Here too i don’t care if they collect my ip and to see if i watch the ads, because I believe that I will benefit from it later on.

Now if the game was to be released wouldn’t they have to pass some certificate or obey the rules of a country? In my opinion Yes they would have need to obtain a certificate of distributing the game within XX country following XX laws.

If this was unlawful they would be fucked with lawsuits going on and on, so why the hell would they still do it? to destroy their brand? NO, I think that if they have well thought out of implementing this idea I believe that they wouldn’t go onto a path that is unlawful and that would corrupt the EA brand and the battlefield brands.

Now with the IP, recently on digg I have read that RIAA couldn’t trace you directly to your house with an IP address. So how the hell would it affect us when EA gathers our IP. The IP is just an address and for some it renews every once in a while so you can’t be traced again from the same ip. And they would probably be looking at the ISP’s IP that is serving you to get a geographical information as their ip are registered. You can do a simple tracert command to see your isp’s IP.
Let’s imagine for a moment that you were the guy with that idea of implementing a feature to grab information so that you can sell adverts within games so that you can get some more money to feed your family and to develop even better games. Now wouldn’t you go through all the legal documents to see if this is legal, so that you wouldn’t get sued and lose your job and probably ruin your life and the other peoples’ who worked with you. Then why the hell would you have gone forward with that implementation?

In a few hours when my bf2142 comes through the post I will gladly install one of the best games that just came out proudly, because battlefield series are just one of the great games that I still enjoy. This whole thing saddens me as there could be a large population of gamers who are going to miss out on a great game because the media is making us scared of buying a game. I also believe this is just the early stages of in-game adverts as it is starting to get popular and it is not the first.

The IGA itself is fine with me. I enjoy the game, and so what if there are some billboards in it. There are billboards outside. Am I supposed to say “Fuck you, outside world, and your constant stream of advertising! I’m staying indoors… FOREVER!!!”
(Tim Absath from ctrl+alt+del)