EA cracks down on Battlefield 2 stat-padding

Iria · Sep 2, 2005, 06:14 AM

In the world of online gaming, where many view levels and rankings as the final word on what a person's existence is worth, it's all too common to find gamers exploiting whatever bugs, loopholes, or design oversights they can find in order to get a leg up on the competition and some cold, hard evidence of superiority as a life-form.

One recent example is a rash of stats-padding instances in Electronic Arts' online first-person shooter Battlefield 2. An e-mail sent to ranked server providers earlier this week from EA employee Colin Clarke (a primary tester on Battlefield 2) addressed the issue. "We have noticed an increase in behavior where leased servers are being used by clans solely to pad players' stats," Clark wrote, "even to the extent where clans are institutionalizing rules that forbid normal play."

The exploit du jour is to set up a ranked server and advertise informal rules where players use only knives and pistols and revive each other while not taking flags. The end result is that this gameplay style accumulates statistics kept by the game at a greater rate than normal play. This makes players rise in rank more quickly, which in turn gives them quicker access to the game's unlockable weapons and a greater priority when multiple players vie for the commander position in a game.
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Read More / Source: GameSpot

pr0digal jenius · Sep 2, 2005, 06:18 AM

But are they using steroids?

CDsDontBurn · Sep 2, 2005, 06:34 AM

i've seen this uhh....."done" before

. It was rather amusing

. The "people" involved in this ended up with the higest stats by more than double for the several rounds that they were playing.

pr0digal jenius · Sep 2, 2005, 06:35 AM

i bet there's money to be made there.

"For $25 into my paypal account I'll let you thoroughly stomp my ass for an hour"

The_Neon_Cowboy · Sep 2, 2005, 07:26 AM

THEY FINNALLY!!! DID SOMETHING ABOUIT IT????

I'm shocked

Partizan · Sep 2, 2005, 10:20 AM

Chopper flaghunting should also be limited. A blackhawk with 5 soldiers onboard and just flying around from flag to flag. But it is fun shooting one down

Regards, Partizan

Mr cairo · Sep 2, 2005, 10:28 AM

all this stuff that goes on in BF2 makes me wonder if the EA guys have ever actually played on public servers ??

The_Neon_Cowboy · Sep 2, 2005, 10:46 AM

you only have to be like 16 to be an admin on the offical ranked servers LOL

EcPercy · Sep 2, 2005, 10:57 AM

Screw EA. Sorry Muther

. EA needs to rethink this server strategy. The ranked servers are being paid for from providers other than EA. Who gives a crap what the people do with their $5 a slot on a 64 player server ($320 a month). If EA wanted to regulate the servers to this extent then they should be hosting all of the ranked servers themselves.

EA has already made their money. Why do they continue to ruin the game??? The ranking system is utter trash since EA stated that it will take over 4000+ hours of gameplay to get all of the stuff unlocked. They need to just do away with the ranking system altogether. I mean, you can't even test out the weapon unlocks in single player mode because they "fixed" that.

It's too bad they focus all of their efforts into stopping cheating. They should focus this effort into the patches. They should also focus on finishing the game.

I am going to re-read the EULA and see about getting my $50 back. I don't agree to this abuse and I am sure that this is not clearly worded in the EULA. (I am sure the EULA doesn't say " you shall bow to EA and do anything we say"

This is the last EA game I will ever have.

Matt · Sep 2, 2005, 05:26 PM

LoL, great who cares, well done to them. Does it make any diff if the rank icon that floats over their head is better than my one. As for the unlock weapons well most of them are pants anyway.

Sep 2, 2005, 06:14 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	EA cracks down on Battlefield 2 stat-padding In the world of online gaming, where many view levels and rankings as the final word on what a person's existence is worth, it's all too common to find gamers exploiting whatever bugs, loopholes, or design oversights they can find in order to get a leg up on the competition and some cold, hard evidence of superiority as a life-form. One recent example is a rash of stats-padding instances in Electronic Arts' online first-person shooter Battlefield 2. An e-mail sent to ranked server providers earlier this week from EA employee Colin Clarke (a primary tester on Battlefield 2) addressed the issue. "We have noticed an increase in behavior where leased servers are being used by clans solely to pad players' stats," Clark wrote, "even to the extent where clans are institutionalizing rules that forbid normal play." The exploit du jour is to set up a ranked server and advertise informal rules where players use only knives and pistols and revive each other while not taking flags. The end result is that this gameplay style accumulates statistics kept by the game at a greater rate than normal play. This makes players rise in rank more quickly, which in turn gives them quicker access to the game's unlockable weapons and a greater priority when multiple players vie for the commander position in a game. __________ Read More / Source: GameSpot

Sep 2, 2005, 06:34 AM	#3
CDsDontBurn 127.0.0.1 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,458 Rep Power: 202 System Specs	i've seen this uhh....."done" before . It was rather amusing . The "people" involved in this ended up with the higest stats by more than double for the several rounds that they were playing. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Sep 2, 2005, 07:26 AM	#5
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	THEY FINNALLY!!! DID SOMETHING ABOUIT IT???? I'm shocked __________________

Sep 2, 2005, 10:20 AM	#6
Partizan Fun loving criminal Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Slovenia Posts: 1,182 Rep Power: 60 System Specs	Chopper flaghunting should also be limited. A blackhawk with 5 soldiers onboard and just flying around from flag to flag. But it is fun shooting one down Regards, Partizan __________________ Live and let live!

Sep 2, 2005, 10:28 AM	#7
Mr cairo F0rum For Humans Only Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Slightly to the left Posts: 1,764 Rep Power: 87 System Specs	all this stuff that goes on in BF2 makes me wonder if the EA guys have ever actually played on public servers ?? __________________

Sep 2, 2005, 06:18 AM	#2
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	But are they using steroids?

Sep 2, 2005, 06:35 AM	#4
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	i bet there's money to be made there. "For $25 into my paypal account I'll let you thoroughly stomp my ass for an hour"

Sep 2, 2005, 10:46 AM	#8
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	you only have to be like 16 to be an admin on the offical ranked servers LOL __________________

Sep 2, 2005, 10:57 AM	#9
EcPercy HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Iraq Posts: 1,535 Rep Power: 64	Screw EA. Sorry Muther. EA needs to rethink this server strategy. The ranked servers are being paid for from providers other than EA. Who gives a crap what the people do with their $5 a slot on a 64 player server ($320 a month). If EA wanted to regulate the servers to this extent then they should be hosting all of the ranked servers themselves. EA has already made their money. Why do they continue to ruin the game??? The ranking system is utter trash since EA stated that it will take over 4000+ hours of gameplay to get all of the stuff unlocked. They need to just do away with the ranking system altogether. I mean, you can't even test out the weapon unlocks in single player mode because they "fixed" that. It's too bad they focus all of their efforts into stopping cheating. They should focus this effort into the patches. They should also focus on finishing the game. I am going to re-read the EULA and see about getting my $50 back. I don't agree to this abuse and I am sure that this is not clearly worded in the EULA. (I am sure the EULA doesn't say " you shall bow to EA and do anything we say" This is the last EA game I will ever have.

Sep 2, 2005, 05:26 PM	#10
Matt Techy Bloke Wasting Time Join Date: May 2002 Location: England UK Posts: 106 Rep Power: 0	LoL, great who cares, well done to them. Does it make any diff if the rank icon that floats over their head is better than my one. As for the unlock weapons well most of them are pants anyway. __________________ Add your System spec Here