Who should be responsible?
Hmmmm this is my first post on these forums.... The reason being that for once I read a post that was so far away from any logic I can relate to. Since I realize that discussing Demios banning is pointless given that FC won't comment, I won't go there. I will discuss some issues in general. This post springs from the following comment made by Cz:
Quote:
Originally posted by Cz
And, as far as I know, we don't have people who "can't program properly", unless you define "program properly" as "making 100% flawless code", in which case I doubt you will find many programmer who can "program properly" at all.
This is true if said in the context that a programmer should be making flawless code as the very first attempt at a task. That would require superhuman intelligence. However this is not the case. The code in question is the code of a game that has been released as a beta and testet by MANY betaplayers who have given extensive comments on flaws, bugs, exploits and others. It is a game with a dedicated test server to try out any new features in the game before launching on the "live" servers. It is a game that has been on the market for over a year and still has more bugs than many betareleases. It is a game that has been patched, repatched and fixed so many times that we by now write 14.5 in patch version and many of the things claimed fixed in varous of these patches STILL aren't fixed. It is a game with a large and active playerbase giving constant input as to what to improve/change and even so I can fill the rest of this post with bugs and flaws currently in this game (don't challenge me, I will do it).
I've been reading this thread in its intirety and analogies seem to be a popular means of explanation so try to follow me on this one:
A big spaceprogram is underway. The launch of a space shuttle into space/the moon/mars/whatever. The project cost a S***load of money and the schuttle is state of the art. Never done better by humanity. Finally the day of the launch arrives. Countdown is done and shuttle lifts off. Unfortunately something goes wrong and halfway out of the atmosphere the shuttle blows up. A lengthy investigation is conducted to find out where the error was so the blame can be placed and the government can get an explanation as to why they invested a gazillion $ in a project that had such bad outcome. The error was in the software controlling the fuel. The programmers are confronted on the issue and the response is: "well you can't expect us to make 100% flawless code!"..........
How many people in the government, NASA, the press and elswhere do you think will accept that explanation? "oh ya thats right, we shouldn't be too hard on them, never mind that we spent the money and gained nothing from it, because we couldn't expect that from them"...... I don't think so....
I chose this particular analogy because I know that, what programmers usually hide behind is the fact that the system they work on is so huge and complex. I don't think the software system for a space shuttle is any less complex.
Of couse it is possible to make flawless code. It may take more money, more time, and more tenasity, but it can be done. I realize that the safety regarding a space shuttle is more important than that of a game, so I don't even expect 100% flawless code, but well into the 90's would be nice, and it certainly isn't at the moment (see earlier threat to list bugs and flaws...)
No matter how you view this issue it can NEVER EVER be the responsibility of the player to compensate for FC's flawed code and in failing to do so risking to be banned. How can you ban players for something that is FC's responsibility?
I'm not trying to defend exploiters here. People who intentionally exploit bugs for their own benefit should indeed be banned, but realize, that with AO being as bugged a game as it is, the burden of proof should be on FC. The evidence should prove BEYOND ANY REASONABLE DOUBT, that the player in question in fact did exploit, for a ban to occur. The reason for this being, that as initial player of a new game, that player can only assume that whatever he/she can do ingame, can be done because that's how it was intended. If this is not the case, all players should be properly notified of this, and only then can evil intent be proven, should a player repeat the action. And even then the exact rule broken should be stated, as well as the specific incident where a rule was broken should be explained in context to the rules
Furthermore, problems arise from the fact that FC changes the rules of the game ever so often.... What was allowed last week is now no longer allowed, what was illegal last week is now legal. This further adds to the player getting the benefit of the doubt, since he/she might not have known the most rescent change of rules.
Bottom line is that as long as FC don't follow the very basic rules of "procecuting" a player in a fair manner, I don't see how they can defend passing sentence on any players in question.
Decide on the rules, publicise them, stick to them, enforce them..... In that order.
It's as simple as that.
--- SheDevilX
Edit: As you might have guessed English is not my mother tongue, and I appologize for spelling errors and grammar errors in this post. :)
Re: Who should be responsible?
Quote:
Originally posted by Combat/SheDevil
Since I realize that discussing Demios banning is pointless given that FC won't comment, I won't go there.
And probably *can't* comment... to discuss such would probably be in breach of the law in many countries without prior consent from the individual involved.