Formal Letter to SE about RMT situation.

[Zabuza]

For any other topic, I'd agree with this. But in this case, suggestions aren't really what's needed. SE already knows how to fix this. Even if they hadn't already gotten plenty of suggestions already, there are quite a few well known industry standard features that just about every other MMO uses to throttle RMT. SE has not bothered to implement any of them. That's the real issue here. What we need here is simply for SE to recognize that this problem is a problem. Once they accept that it's a problem and that they should implement solutions, neither finding those solutions nor implementing them would be much of a roadblock.

Honestly, I have no idea why getting them to acknowledge that it's a problem worth solving is so hard. They're already losing customers over it. And it doesn't seem that discussing the problem here on the forums is getting through to them. At least it hasn't yet. But there isn't a lot else we can do to tell SE it's a problem besides telling them it's a problem (and showing it in images, discussions of its impact, etc. —all the discussion that goes into these complaints you don't like). So, effective or not, these forum discussions (or constant complaining as you characterize it) is about the only thing we can do to try and get the problem fixed.

Eventually I guess it could reach a point where there will be no choice but to vote with my wallet and leave, but at that point any fix to the problem would be irrelevant, coming too late to help. I'll already have lost access to my favorite game and SE will already have lost the income from my subscription and purchases. I like the game too much to be willing to give up on it yet.

Exactly, I'm already refusing to buy HW because of this, and if the problem still persists when HW releases, I'll be unsubbing for good unfortunately.

[Magusrex]

Exactly, I'm already refusing to buy HW because of this, and if the problem still persists when HW releases, I'll be unsubbing for good unfortunately.

This is all we can do...they keep posting that junk about actions taken....It is accomplishing nothing, whoever is charge of countering the RMT needs to step and do a better job or admit they are overwhelmed and request help. If they would just act like they care and respond to us, I would STFU

[Godwin1]

I hit my max for 200 blacklist 2 weeks ago, not a single gold seller of those 200 has been deleted yet. So all those new PMs from other gold sellers I get every 10 minutes or so, can't block them. I'm trying to watch a cutscene and some gold seller tries friending me during the cutscene. I JUST get out of a dungeon and three of them are already on me. If you refuse to actually do anything about it, at least let us block more, because 200 is NOTHING in the long run against gold sellers.


EDIT: By the way, just in the couple minutes of typing this, four gold sellers tried to get me to buy from them.

[Dualblade]

I hit my max for 200 blacklist 2 weeks ago, not a single gold seller of those 200 has been deleted yet. So all those new PMs from other gold sellers I get every 10 minutes or so, can't block them. I'm trying to watch a cutscene and some gold seller tries friending me during the cutscene. I JUST get out of a dungeon and three of them are already on me. If you refuse to actually do anything about it, at least let us block more, because 200 is NOTHING in the long run against gold sellers.

Note: Deleted only comes up if the character is literally deleted. If the account is banned the character is still technically there, thus it won't show up as deleted.

[Buff_Archer]

It is getting worse, now that we all use /busy I can't go to the main aethyryte on Gridania without getting /say spammed by a lvl 1 Hyur standing right there doing it all day without end. They need to make it so people can't generate these throw-away characters so cheaply that it's worth it to them to send an army of bots after us for the sake of a sporadic successuful sale here or there. If RMT were no longer profitable they would no longer do it... so why are they allowed to continue to create characters over and over, if it's for the sake of free trials well guess what those of us already paying for the game should come first.

In no other game have I encountered anything like this.

[SummerSkye]

If you want proof go to any JP server and see how much you get spammed by RMT(you will get 0 spam messages). This is for two reasons. JP don't buy gil like we do, and RMTs know better than to spam the JPs, since they know they will face consequences if they do. Unlike on NA servers where the RMTs run around laughing with impunity.

Agreed. The RMT are there. JP players do buy gil or they would not be there. I tested this out myself by making characters on Japanese servers and searching for obvious RMT Black Mage clone armies. They are there, if you search level 50, BLM, you will see dozens of, "Sfsadf Klklkj" and "Fgfdd Jkjhd"s all in the same zones. The difference is, they DO NOT spam players and public chat with their garbage. This is probably because they know better than to shake the hornet's nest so close to home.

Regardless, this issue needs fixed for the healthy future of this game we all enjoy.

[Zabuza]

I really didn't want to say there was favoritism toward JP players, but I honestly feel like we're second class citizens in the game at this point compared to the JP. Believe it or not, I used to be a rabid fanboy of this company. My opinion of SE had a long way to fall to get here, to this point.

I'd be more than willing to embrace the way JPs have it right now. No spam on the game servers themselves and in exchange, they are on sites all over the place. I don't endorse RMT activity of any sort, but I'd gladly take this choice in a heartbeat just to get them to leave our servers alone and let us play the darn game. It's obvious SE isn't going to step in and help so. The effect of the spam and harassment is more game breaking than the actual effect that RMT have on the in-game economy at this moment.

[Magusrex]

I don't think bringing up JP is worth mentioning, it allows people to bring a different discussion. We need to Hammer a few key points.

1. We are being harassed
2.SE attempts at combating the harassment is not working and the harassment is getting worse.
3. They do not appear to be trying anything different.
4. They appear to not care about our harassment because they cannot be bothered to address the issue publicly.(Cowardly)

Those of you thinking of playing game should pay close attention to the above. Don't take my word for it do some research.

[OlyverW]

yesterday had the same bot friend request me right after I had denied them the first time I really hope they can fix this come heavensward I really don't like having to be busy all the time -.-

[Gramul]

4. They appear to not care about our harassment because they cannot be bothered to address the issue publicly.(Cowardly)

Now, I am reality away from saying Square is right in their approach, but in all likelihood, they don't want to make any promises they might have to go back on. Not to mention any possible legal issues that might surround it for whatever reason. You know how reactive gamers can be.
If it is being addressed, we probably won't hear about it until it's already happening. I can't see it as cowardly as much as cautious.