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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[SOE caught red-handed: EQ2 Player / Dev relationship breached ethical boundaries]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/soe-caught-red-handed-eq2-player-dev-relationship-breached-et/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/soe-caught-red-handed-eq2-player-dev-relationship-breached-et/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/soe-caught-red-handed-eq2-player-dev-relationship-breached-et/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/" rel="tag">EverQuest II</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/exploits/" rel="tag">Exploits</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guilds/" rel="tag">Guilds</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/politics/" rel="tag">Politics</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/12/mayongcriescomic.jpg" alt="" /><br />
<div align="left">Several days ago <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/rumor-entire-guild-unhallowed-triad-moved-from-eq2-test-server/">Massively reported</a> that <a href="http://eq2flames.com/"><em>EQ2</em> Flames</a> administrator <a href="http://www.eq2flames.com/your-guild-sucks/16578-unhallowed-triad-unrest-moved-test-soe.html#post367501">broke the story</a> on a scandal that regards numerous members from Unhallowed Triad, a guild on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/"><em>EQ2's</em></a> Test server that was transferred to Unrest, a Live server through an inside connection at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/sony-online-entertainment/">SOE</a>. Character transfers from the Test server to a Live one is not allowed and against current SOE transfer policy; albeit, the EULA has a clause that SOE may change this policy at any time. However, the case is made that a Player / Dev affiliation has led to corruption, leaving many infuriated players with lots of unanswered questions as seen in <a href="http://www.eq2flames.com/your-guild-sucks/16578-unhallowed-triad-unrest-moved-test-soe.html">these</a> <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=399007#4482777">two</a> threadnaughts. To recap for those not following this closely or wanting to sift through 100+ pages on the forums:<br /><br />
<ul>
    <li>SOE employee(s) abused their power breaking various codes of ethics (confirmed &amp; guilty)</li>
    <li>Numerous Test players accuse Unhallowed Triad with a history of exploitation and getting away with it in due part to their SOE connection (rumors)<br /></li>
    <li>Someone at SOE made the call to transfer Test characters to a Live server breaking policy (confirmed &amp; guilty)</li>
    <li>Not only were characters transferred to Unrest, but items as well. Unhallowed Triad's Guild level was also inflated to 60. (confirmed &amp; guilty) </li>
    <li>Many Unhallowed Triad guild members admitted to transferring off test in Assassin's chat (confirmed)</li>
    <li>Several Unhallowed Triad guild members were transferred unknowingly (more than likely)</li>
    <li>Legitimately leveled characters belonging to several Unhallowed Triad members were transferred over from other servers or already leveled on the Unrest server (confirmed)</li>
    <li>Unhallowed Triad guild tag no longer exists but there other guild tag Unholy Trinity exists and their Guild level stands at 30 (confirmed)</li>
    <li>All players on the Test server have not been given the same opportunity to transfer to a Live server</li>
</ul>
The evidence found via <a href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">EQ2 Players </span></a>alone is overwhelming. So much so that it's impossible to sweep all the allegations under-the-rug. Initially, SOE was quick to react as both <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?start=465&amp;topic_id=399007&amp;#4482397">Alan "Brenlo" Crosby, Director of Global Community Relations</a> and <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?start=675&amp;topic_id=399007">Bruce "Froech" Ferguson, <span style="font-style: italic;">EQ2's</span> new Senior Producer</a> admitted to SOE's involvement. Well, rather that someone at SOE made the call to override the policy, but in a good natured manner to reward certain players for their hard work on the Test server. Not a smart choice of words or tone given <em>EQ2</em> players warranted concerns. In any case, Ferguson claims the transferred characters will be removed. Since their initial statements and response there has been no further word from a SOE representative on this matter. <br /> </div>
</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/soe-caught-red-handed-eq2-player-dev-relationship-breached-et/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>SOE caught red-handed: EQ2 Player / Dev relationship breached ethical boundaries</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/soe-caught-red-handed-eq2-player-dev-relationship-breached-et/">SOE caught red-handed: EQ2 Player / Dev relationship breached ethical boundaries</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.eq2flames.com/your-guild-sucks/16578-unhallowed-triad-unrest-moved-test-soe.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/soe-caught-red-handed-eq2-player-dev-relationship-breached-et/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1063809/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/soe-caught-red-handed-eq2-player-dev-relationship-breached-et/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>brenlo</category><category>character-transfer</category><category>eq2</category><category>eq2flames</category><category>eqii</category><category>ethical-conduct</category><category>eula</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>exploits</category><category>froech</category><category>grimwell</category><category>live-server</category><category>player-developer-relationship</category><category>scandal</category><category>soe</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>test-server</category><category>unhallowed-triad</category><category>unholy-trinity</category><category>unrest</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Warner]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
