It could lead to a ban, if it happens many times, which is unlikely.
I did that once last week. I'm still here.

It happens to me almost every time I play while at work, which is why I never harvest while at work anymore.

And thank you for adding in a constructive debate, we are both viewing things from opposite sides, and hopefully people can read this and learn from it, and have a better understanding of why bans happen.
I'm glad you understand that I'm not attacking GA, just looking for "possible" reasons, no matter how unlikely they might be. And I have a better understanding of how GA works and does bans from reading your responses, a much better understanding than from anything I have read from GA.

I am also speaking for the 50% or so of players who are not on the forums, and may not know what is considered an exploit and what's is not, those people could be banned without knowing they were doing something wrong ..

Perhaps a well and clearly detailed list of what can get you banned (beyond just the ToS) and some type of warning system, or 1'st and last chance 3 day ban before a perminate ban

As for the anger and attacks on GA, I think it's mostly because people see well known cheaters/exploiters still running around in the game, while watching people they know and trust getting banned.

In response to a request for a list of bannable offenses, Khamos simply linked the FAQ Chadj was sending us to before. GA seems to think it is clear enough. Many players, not so much.

Lazarus, no offense taken. You don't know me from Adam. But there are other players who know me and the other other banned players pretty well - as well as you can know anyone from just playing a game - and they are therefore unhappy with how GA is handling this. I think you might be unhappy too if someone whom you did trust had a similar experience.

Hnktong
In response to a request for a list of bannable offenses, Khamos simply linked the FAQ Chadj was sending us to before. GA seems to think it is clear enough. Many players, not so much.

I think this is pretty clear:
"If you question whether or not an action is an exploit, ask yourself, does the action allow you to accomplish something that circumvents clearly defined game restrictions, such as harvesting a dominator from a distant or remote location? If you truly aren't certain, it's probably best not to engage in the questionable activity until clearer definitions are made regarding the specific activity. "

The game is quite simple. It's damn easy to play according to the rules.

It seems that the problems arise from the extremely competitive people who need to stretch the rules as far as they can be stretched. Usually the excuse is "because the opposition is surely it too".

I don't actually mind cheaters that much, if they don't get in the way of my fun. And my fun does not usually come from winning.

This is how I summarize the FAQ: "If you don't know what an exploit is but you think you might know, then don't do it, even though we are allowing the exploit to occur because we can't fix our system to make it such that can't use them. But if you do exploit the system, we will terminate your account without warning and not allow you to appeal. But you can start a new account if you'd like."

FAQ
However, as we believe strongly in second chances, we will most often opt only to close the offending account, in hopes the player will be rehabilitated toward fair play.

You believe in second chance ? So why permanent ban without warning or explanation ?
Permanent ban means 1 year lost on this game for them and also money spent for nothing...

You know that in france you are considered innocent until proven guilty ? You show no proof of guilty there...

Edited by BotenRomeo (May 25, 2012 17:18:01)

My complaint here is not that *we* don't get to see the evidence against these banned players; that's none of our business.

My complaint is that these players are not allowed to see the evidence against themselves, not even in a summarized form.

And I understand that under the ToS, a player's account can be suspended at any time for any reason with no obligation on GA's part. They can Take Their Ball and Go Home whenever they see fit.

But that doesn't make it right, fair, respectful, or smart on their part to do so.