{} EA forum Moderators paid to limit negative feedback {} - TreFacTor's Blog

TreFacTor's Blog

{} EA forum Moderators paid to limit negative feedback {}

Posted on October 23, 2009 at 10:21 PM.

(34)

I have been an outspoken opponent to the Madden franchise for the last 5 years. Yesterday (1:30pm EST) I received a message telling me I had been warned that I violated a TOS (Terms of Service) agreement on the EA forums. I really didn't pay much attention to it other than to change the way I had been trying to get my message out... the truth about the defects in the game. (3:30 pm EST) I received another email stating I had been suspended for 72 hours for making another violation of the TOS. Now it took me some time to figure out what was going on, but after calling customer service and getting the run around i got connected to a manager who then was able to tell me that I recieved the first infraction for posting "The Madden development team is a group of pre-pubescent girls who don't care about their loyal fan base because they already have your money". I can agree that I posted that out of anger, and that clearly was in violation of the TOS ( you cannot post negative remarks on the EA forums regarding any employee)

The second infraction he read to me was not regarding the game at all, and was instead directed to one of the new moderators and was not inflamatory, or biligerant. He said your second infraction was for this post to a moderator created thread.

"Moderator"
"If you had the opportunity to be at the Ea Studio, and put some aspect into madden what would it be? And why would you want that in the game? For me, I would put in a feature where we can watch other ppls online ranked games, i think that would be awesome to watch other ppl. how about you?"

"My Response"
"Input:

a new game engine.... something physics based.
New AI that doesn't rely on cheating to provide a challenge
Player ratings that MATTER
Coaching (The computer now does not recognize tendencies, and doesn't adjust to the player)
RETURN ALL OF THE FEATURES THAT HAVE BEEN STRIPPED OUT SINCE 05
NFL 2K 5 PRESENTATION HALFTIME SHOW, WEEKLY RECAP,
start em sit em recommendations from the sunday football team on espn
Monday Night football presentation from espn
Better collision detection
RATINGS THAT MATTER
EUPHORIA ENIGINE
Manual touchdown celebrations
Replays that run from walking to the line of scrimmage until the play ends.
Roster updates for online franchise
Random weather offline, online, franchise, play now
progressive lighting

BASICALLY EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THE MADDEN 11 WISH LIST THREAD!

Are mods the only members allowed to make useless posts? Another mod should come through and lock this post."

Yes the bold line is what the moderatore reported as a TOS violation. When I initally called customer suport, the rep blew me off, and said he would contact me within 24 hours. The 24 hours passed and I felt that nothing ws going to be done so I called and immediately asked for a manager regarding "connection issues" I then told the manager my situation and he put me on hold to look up the issue. After getting to the bottom of my 3 day slap on the wrist, I was shocked that a forum moderator could infact have my ONLINE account banned for a post I made on the forum.

An even more shoking surprise was that they only have to attach what they feel is in violation. It is never reviewed or taken into consideration that they themselves need to be policed! EVEN MORE SHOCKING was finding out that the moderators lie about working for EA. The manager let it slip when I pressed the issue that the remarks were in the grey area to say the least, and that no one had final say over the moderators opinion.

I asked so the moderators can take any negative remark regrading EA or their games or their employees as a TOS violation, and delete any negative information regarding bugs, or glitches... his response was "That's what they get paid to do". To make sure I heard him correctly, I repeated "ohh so they do get paid to limit the amount of negative exposure regarding the game"... he reitterated "yes that's what they get paid to do".

He then proceeded to tell me to wait out the suspension, and to watch what I post in the future. Now I have 3 other live gold memberships, and don't have any other EA games that I play so this really is no big deal, but I do frequent the EA forums to offer help, suggestions and complain and since I have never played an online game this year I was certain that my ban came from my comments regarding this years flawed game, now I know watch what you say on the EA forums if you plan to play online. The moderators have free reign, and you are at their mercy should you hurt their precious feelings!