Questions about ToS and Windower

[Meyi]

Doubt SE would ban for this, in fact they tolerate windower as far i know, or they would need to ban 50% of they player base. But don't ask them if is "OK" or "SAFE" as is again they ToS. Just don't push your luck with stuff that would give you "game advantage" again other player.

This is direct proof that someone is using Windower, though. In general it's difficult to differentiate someone using windower and someone not using windower, unless they dug through the files installed. With direct proof comes punishment. Technically, this is a "game advantage" as someone who can speak Japanese and type in it now has advantage over people who can speak Japanese but cannot type in it (PC legit/PS2/XBox360).

I've personally argued for either being able to purchase the usage of the IME as a foreigner or allowing us to copy/paste into legit windowed mode myself. Anything to allow us to speak to our Japanese friends more successfully is welcome in my book. The biggest reason they ignore us is because they don't want to deal with English and Romaji, and I can't say that I blame them (though it does piss me off when auto-translate goes ignored, but I digress)...

Basically, Windower is against the ToS. If you make it blatantly obvious that you use it, I'm fairly sure they'll do something about it. Using Japanese on a client that is not Japanese is a good way to shout out your console of choice. From what I've witnessed, it seems in terms of Windower itself, it's a "don't tell don't ban" kind of policy.

Odds are high this topic will be locked soon for guideline boundary material. At least you'll know there are people supporting Japanese IME for nonJapanese players.

[Byrth]

This is direct proof that someone is using Windower, though. In general it's difficult to differentiate someone using windower and someone not using windower, unless they dug through the files installed.

This is untrue, and it's a huge misconception. If SE did any statistical analysis of the data that is sent to their servers it would be immediately obvious who is using the plugins like Spellcast, Gearcollector, Blinkmenot, Lightluggage, etc. I bet I could write a stupid little script that would sort through their data and label people who automate those functions and those who don't that's like 99% accurate within a day. They don't prosecute people for it because they're choosing not to, not because they somehow can't. Anyone who was around for the gardening bans knows they have no problem with banning a guiltless 1%. Whatever, bravo for SE.

.... welllllll.... these are the people who took almost a decade to invent moogle storage slips, which pretty much use a 101-level programming trick.

Honestly though, I have a friend who was a quasi-diehard anti-Spellcast guy for years. He switched and started using spellcast in his twilight days and loved it, then quit about a year later. The first thing he said when I told him FFXI might be coming out for PSVita last week, "That sounds great and it would be cool to be able to pick it up and play wherever, but spellcast won't work on it so I don't really feel like playing." Windower and its plugins are a huge asset to SE in terms of player retention and they apparently recognize it enough to not ban for it.

[FrankReynolds]

This is untrue, and it's a huge misconception. If SE did any statistical analysis of the data that is sent to their servers it would be immediately obvious who is using the plugins like Spellcast, Gearcollector, Blinkmenot, Lightluggage, etc. I bet I could write a stupid little script that would sort through their data and label people who automate those functions and those who don't that's like 99% accurate within a day. They don't prosecute people for it because they're choosing not to, not because they somehow can't. Anyone who was around for the gardening bans knows they have no problem with banning a guiltless 1%. Whatever, bravo for SE.

.... welllllll.... these are the people who took almost a decade to invent moogle storage slips, which pretty much use a 101-level programming trick.

Honestly though, I have a friend who was a quasi-diehard anti-Spellcast guy for years. He switched and started using spellcast in his twilight days and love it, then quit about a year later. The first thing he said when I told him FFXI might be coming out for PSVita last week, "That sounds great and it would be cool to be able to pick it up and play wherever, but spellcast won't work on it so I don't really feel like playing." Windower and its plugins are a huge asset to SE in terms of player retention and they apparently recognize it enough to not ban for it.

They said this about the new UI in the Final Fantasy XIV 2.0 overview:

Therefore, we have chosen to
completely rebuild the UI system
core in conjunction with the server
system updates. Not only will this
allow us to implement new features,
but also significantly improve
response times and open the door
for user-made add-ons.
*What are Add-ons?
Add-ons are user-generated UI content
created by fans from around the world for
use within a company-developed game. Addons are customizable, and help to enhance
the overall gameplay experience

Just a shot in the dark, but I get the impression that they are trying to incorporate some sort of official windower plugin thingy here. At any rate, it appears that they have warmed to the idea of players controlling the interface to some degree.

[Meyi]

This is untrue, and it's a huge misconception. If SE did any statistical analysis of the data that is sent to their servers it would be immediately obvious who is using the plugins like Spellcast, Gearcollector, Blinkmenot, Lightluggage, etc. I bet I could write a stupid little script that would sort through their data and label people who automate those functions and those who don't that's like 99% accurate within a day. They don't prosecute people for it because they're choosing not to, not because they somehow can't. Anyone who was around for the gardening bans knows they have no problem with banning a guiltless 1%. Whatever, bravo for SE.

-sigh- I meant Windower itself, not the plugins that some people choose to use with it. :/

Honestly though, I have a friend who was a quasi-diehard anti-Spellcast guy for years. He switched and started using spellcast in his twilight days and loved it, then quit about a year later. The first thing he said when I told him FFXI might be coming out for PSVita last week, "That sounds great and it would be cool to be able to pick it up and play wherever, but spellcast won't work on it so I don't really feel like playing." Windower and its plugins are a huge asset to SE in terms of player retention and they apparently recognize it enough to not ban for it.

I agree.