Well, first of all I'm sorry if my grammar is off, but english is not my primary language. My question is, since we don't have servers for Brasil, Latin America, Oceania, etc, why do a contest (Cartographer one) that is giving away a DIGITAL CONTENT is being restricted to USA or CANADA only ?.
Do we, "the not NA crowd", as paying customers are second class subs because the country we live in?
I want to participate in the contest too...
Printable View
-
09-25-2015, 05:04 AMAlithlinaI want to participate in the contest too...
-
09-25-2015, 07:13 AMEtiken
Every single country in the world has their own contest rules. Whether it be baed on a contest that is judged or a contest that is based on chance, such as gambling.
It comes down to a simple thing, Square Enix obeys international laws or they would face a penalty. It has nothing to do with you being "second class", you aren't that special.
I feel for you, I truly do. It's a shame that some countries are not able to participate in events. However it is totally out of SE control and has everything to do with the country you live in and the laws that restrict you from participating in such events.
If you don't like it you only have a few options.
#1 - Petition to the appropriate government officials/department in charge of these restrictions and start a movement to overturn such laws.
#2 - Move to another country
I just thought of something else and I wonder if this may have any affect on things. I am not a lawyer so I really don't know but it's just a thought.
I wonder if the fact that we pay a subscription has anything to do with it. Only people with an account can participate in these things, correct? Hosting a contest where people have to pay to enter may most definitely be against some countries laws. The reason SE can get away with it in some areas is because we aren't winning anything with monetary value. Iunno, just a thought. -
09-25-2015, 08:35 AMAltera
Yeah every country has their own set of rules, and Square Enix just either have to abide by them, or face charges/lawsuits
-
09-25-2015, 08:46 AMShadowsun
Servers are in Quebec
Quebec residents may not participate
ffffffffffff -
09-25-2015, 10:56 AMNiqote
The thing is:
We were all able to participate in the ring design contest. However only a few countries in EU were able to participate in the hair design contest (Which means everyone else in the EU category such as Oceania could not participate).
Because of the lack of consistency, not to mention it is ''in game items only'' (so naturally it will be compared to other MMOs contests) I can understand why people become perplexed and saddened. -
09-25-2015, 11:13 AMFevelleSo you're saying this contest is only avaiable to USA and Canada players because of NA rules? Guess I will never put my greedy roe hands on that Ahriman Choker then...Quote:
Originally Posted by Etiken
-
09-25-2015, 02:21 PMChiramu
It's not on the JP lodestone either OP, don't worry the EU and JP clients miss out on this contest.
-
09-25-2015, 04:00 PMNoxiferUntil they set that choker as a prize in another contest where you can participate =)Quote:
Originally Posted by Fevelle
I'm an EU player, and won a Mandragora Choker (for my lala alt) in the 2014 Little Ladies' Day screenshot competition. I've seen that choker in other contests too, just like I've seen the Bluebird Earring in more than one competition as well. Chances are the same will happen with the Ahriman Choker ^^
(But I agree that it's annoying how some contests are limited to certain areas, when they all give out in-game prizes only. Those that give out more than just in-game items, on the other hand, I can understand if they might be iffy in the eyes of the law in some areas. I would love it if a community rep could give us an answer as to why this is. I mean, there's got to be something else they have to take into consideration rather than the prizes offered, but I'll be damned if I can figure out what ;_; ) -
09-25-2015, 04:04 PMSelliI've seen this on quite a few other games as well. I dunno what y'all do in Quebec, but MMORPGs fear you guys. XDQuote:
Originally Posted by Shadowsun
-
09-25-2015, 06:07 PMBunnyChain
Well, I hope there will be something nice for EU at least. As of right now we're 3 contests behind NA (19 for NA - 16 for EU).
EU is 2nd class, you're 3rd class, OP. ;c
Which law is that exactly?Quote:
Originally Posted by Etiken
-
09-25-2015, 06:21 PMsirDarts
I actually like limited events, as long as they switch it up evenly on who can participate where.
Why you might ask? Because limiting these events = less participants = higher chance of victory.
TBH I have no idea whether SE is switching it up somewhat evenly, I don't really follow these events much, although my FC did participate in the video contest and we got the mandragora chokers. But if they do, it's all fine and dandy with me, if they don't then yeah, there is a reason for being unsatisfied. -
09-25-2015, 06:25 PMMihaelB
If only we could :(
Feel like this would be a great scenic screenie
http://puu.sh/knw1p/f6daea0804.jpg -
09-25-2015, 09:32 PMAtamosThis. I feel ya my friend. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Shadowsun
-
09-25-2015, 10:23 PMVinestra
Then there's Oceanic countries stuck in the Euro. yay... (seriously what contests have team oceanic been allowed to enter ;-; )
-
09-25-2015, 11:01 PMKyne_Lyons
I remember a long time ago, there was a really sour complaint by a poster on the Blizzard forums for a similar reason that got some circulation around the NA forums: http://eu.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/2587678782
Any perceived inconsistencies can probably be attributed to the way winners are selected and how that can be defined as "a game of chance" within certain countries. Direct voting for winners may not be considered "a game of chance" and fall outside of the respective legal entities definition of gambling, whereas judges selecting a winner might be considered "a game of chance", it's really just a huge mess of technicalities that varies wildly from place to place but the law's the law.Quote:
Q: Why can't players from all countries participate in your contests?
A: Unfortunately there are restrictions outside our control that apply to contests of this kind, and we as well as our sponsors have to abide by the laws and regulations of the different countries in Europe. Some restrictions apply due to the value of the prizes, some due to the nature of the contest - wherein the definition of "game of chance" is a tricky one. We do our best to work with (or around) this and adapt our contests to the different regulations, but we will not gamble with the law and must therefore exclude some countries from our contests. We will continue to adapt our contests, gather additional information and look into the fine details of national lottery and contest laws to try include as many countries as possible in the future.
I don't follow these contests closely so please don't try to quote me and pick apart my explanation nor do I remotely care, just understand that it's for legal reasons and Square Enix doesn't write the laws where you live, they just have to abide by them. -
09-26-2015, 12:12 AMHito-ShuraQuebec has a very strict language policy which requires everything to be made in both languages(English and French) such as the box covers and instruction manuals. This law extends to any services, products and events in the province. If something doesn't have a written translation, it cannot be sold in Quebec. That's why we can't have nice things.Quote:
Originally Posted by Selli
Quebec is also the only province with 2 taxes which really causes a lot of problems in many importations but I doubt that's an issue in this case. Still... Could be. Quebec has really stupid laws. -
09-26-2015, 07:18 AMEtikenWhat? no. That's not what I'm saying at all. What I am saying is that the country you live in has it's own rules against internet contests which prohibits SE to allow you to participate. It has nothing to do with out countries. It has everything to do with your country.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fevelle
-
09-26-2015, 07:23 AMFevelleWell it has nothing to do with brazilian laws, because our laws don't count online games and related things as game of chance but as cultural products, much like movies, books and documentaries. So, should I blame it on SE then? Because I want that Ahriman Choker.Quote:
Originally Posted by Etiken
-
09-26-2015, 07:26 AMEtiken
I just thought of something else and I wonder if this may have any affect on things. I am not a lawyer so I really don't know but it's just a thought.
I wonder if the fact that we pay a subscription has anything to do with it. Only people with an account can participate in these things, correct? Hosting a contest where people have to pay to enter may most definitely be against some countries laws. The reason SE can get away with it in some areas is because we aren't winning anything with monetary value. Iunno, just a thought. -
09-26-2015, 07:27 AMEtikenlol no no, don't blame SE just yet. Let me look into it for you. I'm going to find out what is in the Brazilian law that may scare SE away from allowing you to participate.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fevelle
-
09-26-2015, 07:59 AMKemas
If I could give you my spot in the contest I would. SE's idea of fun contests and the way they decide the winners is anything but entertaining to me. I would rather them not keep the NA community in the dark on important topics rather than allow us to enter some cartography event. The fact that we're translating interviews to stay updated is a problem. Especially when events like this and glamour/minions are taking priority. Blech.
-
09-26-2015, 08:07 AMEtiken
Alright so I've been reading for the past half hour and again, I not a lawyer... but to me, it is really seeming like they might be possibly getting scared off because of the game having a subscription, and thus needing an account to participate. Some countries seem to see contests that require a payment to enter as illegal gambling. (which again, would be riding a very thin line with our accounts needed for participation).
It may just be that some countries are a bit more developed with the specifics of internet gambling laws than others. I really don't know the specific law that scares SE off, in fact, it may not even be just one. It could be a combination of poorly written laws that makes SE (and other companies) look at it and say, "I'm not touching that with a 10 foot pole!" lol.
One thing is for sure though. There is :something: in EVERY country/province/whatever the hell else is out there that scares companies and lawyers (including SE) away from opening these contests to the world. The last thing SE would need is a multi million dollar lawsuit because they gave away a few thousand ahriman chokers. That would kiss 3.2 goodbye, real quick. lol
Sorry!