Petition to SE: Start banning modding users who engage in 18+ activities immediately

[ForteNightshade]

Well, you see, they don't need an intrusive anti-cheat system. They could for instance, simply send a takedown request for Mare and their servers. They should eliminate these networks that accept money disguised as "donations" to develop software that abuses the Terms of Service.

Square Enix has become too complacent with not doing anything, it's time for them to step up their game.

Mare now has 100,000 confirmed accounts:



How much longer will they allow this blight to rage? We all came here to play Final Fantasy, not VRChat. This isn't meant to be a make your own game experience.
We need to raise our voices and compel Square Enix to take action.

If they were going to do that, they'd have attempted it with FFlogs a decade ago. The reason they didn't and won't act on third party tools is it directly benefits them. Banning mods, ACT and etc would lose them millions given just how many people use at least one of those programs nowadays. Furthermore, even if they wanted to, they can't pursue a takedown claim as that necessitates actual thievery. Programs like Mare or ACT don't "steal" anything but hook into existing data to either function or calculate. Put simply, SE would have to prove any one of these third party programs costs them money, and a sizable amount at that. We all know none of them do. Quite the opposite, in fact. Which is why they've done nothing and will continue to do nothing unless someone openly acknowledges using them in game.

Your report of Stormpeaks will be tossed in the bin along with the thousands of others from people pretending to play vigilante. In fact, if we're being technical here, you're responses do more harm to the ToS than anything they've said. Not only have you outright advertised Mare but showcased just how many people have accounts, which makes it all the more appealing for those who may be on the fence. Now they have confirmation SE will do precisely nothing thanks to the data you provided. Congratulations, in an effort to fight this supposed "problem," you've may well have encouraged more to part take in it.

[Rein_eon_Osborne]

Well that escalated pretty quickly.

[AngelCheese77]

This thread is so sad.

A few years ago on Mateus, I had someone send me a pic of my female character. The person who sent the pic had mods that changed certain clothing, so to them my character was topless with pretty hi-def breasts.

I was shocked for a few seconds then laughed. I thought it was weird but put it to the back of my mind. Their modding didn’t affect me in any way. Just because they saw my character like that I knew I didn’t.

I ‘ve seen and have been part of communities on Discord and Twitter who create such screenshots using 18+ mods. What’s interesting is it is with consenting players and their characters or mods where NPCs from the game are put in such positions. Fanfics becoming fantastical kinda thing.

I have not seen one account be reprimanded. They don’t have the Ff14 logo on any picture nor is there any character names or server names. Specific hashtags are used as well as to not be shown in official FF14 twitters.

Never heard or Mare, nor have I ever been asked if I use it. Played since ARR. So either this is a very small occurrence being blown out of proportions or a straight up witch hunt for people the OP and certain others don’t like.

[Absurdity]

Specific hashtags are used as well as to not be shown in official FF14 twitters.

Granted that only became a thing after Yoshi had to tell people in a live letter not to put the official FFXIV hashtag under their lewd twitter posts...because a whole lot of people, especially on twitter, lack any kind of common sense.

[BristolRuss]

Ah, we are back on the mods and parsers are evil and must be banned talk are we? Cool. I've gone and found an old interview from Yoshi where he talks very frankly about it. I actually had to use the waybackmachine to find it as the original Youtube clip has been made private.

https://web.archive.org/web/20140212...?v=3-WXYg-S05U

Skip to 6:03

Transcript:

"Q: Currently players on the PC have access to parsers. Do you think this gives PC players an unfair advantage over console players?

Y: In terms of the topic of using parsers, it is a very delicate topic. Officially we are not allowed to use outside tools, and if the dev team is asked 'Oh is it ok to use an outside tool or an add-on?' our official answer will have to be no you're not supposed to be using that. But, of course, there is a culture with PC gaming that people use these add-ons and whatnot. And so (he doesn't feel it makes too big of a difference in giving users an advantage or not. He feels that what is most important is the actual skill of the players themselves).

In terms of different tools that are being used like hacking tools and whatnot, or like bots that will do menial tasks for you or generate gil for you, those are definitely not good - and we would have to go in and ban those people that are abusing the system.

But I'm sure people on the PC would want to enjoy gameplay on FFXIV to the best of their gaming environment. And so, of course, if they come to the development team and ask 'Can I use this tool or can I try this hack' of course not. We would have to officially decline and let them know that it is not allowed.

But just please take responsibility in how you're utilizing elements and tools that you're using to make your gameplay experience more enjoyable. There are people who are going around bragging 'Hey look at this tool I am using' and that is what is going to get you heard, you need to take responsibility and be very discrete about what you're doing. We are all adults here (laughs). "

Bolded the important parts for emphasis.

[Thelasoriao]

Ah, we are back on the mods and parsers are evil and must be banned talk are we? Cool. I've gone and found an old interview from Yoshi where he talks very frankly about it. I actually had to use the waybackmachine to find it as the original Youtube clip has been made private.

https://web.archive.org/web/20140212...?v=3-WXYg-S05U

Skip to 6:03

Transcript:

"Q: Currently players on the PC have access to parsers. Do you think this gives PC players an unfair advantage over console players?

Y: In terms of the topic of using parsers, it is a very delicate topic. Officially we are not allowed to use outside tools, and if the dev team is asked 'Oh is it ok to use an outside tool or an add-on?' our official answer will have to be no you're not supposed to be using that. But, of course, there is a culture with PC gaming that people use these add-ons and whatnot. And so (he doesn't feel it makes too big of a difference in giving users an advantage or not. He feels that what is most important is the actual skill of the players themselves).

In terms of different tools that are being used like hacking tools and whatnot, or like bots that will do menial tasks for you or generate gil for you, those are definitely not good - and we would have to go in and ban those people that are abusing the system.

But I'm sure people on the PC would want to enjoy gameplay on FFXIV to the best of their gaming environment. And so, of course, if they come to the development team and ask 'Can I use this tool or can I try this hack' of course not. We would have to officially decline and let them know that it is not allowed.

But just please take responsibility in how you're utilizing elements and tools that you're using to make your gameplay experience more enjoyable. There are people who are going around bragging 'Hey look at this tool I am using' and that is what is going to get you heard, you need to take responsibility and be very discrete about what you're doing. We are all adults here (laughs). "

Bolded the important parts for emphasis.

That quote is irrelevant now. We now have predators lurking in "RP" communities all over the game, using third party mods to engage in degenerate, illegal activities, often preying on minors. This didn't happen when the quote was made.

The fact you had to dig up an old, 2014 interview when the developers have come out and spoken against third party plugins numerous times and has become increasingly stern and disapproving of plugins shows that you are trying to downplay the crimes and abuse taking place under the hood. So much so that even the developers are now just saying they are flat out illegal.

[Renalt]

I once saw someone say they were using Chat Bubbles while I was hanging outside the Quicksand and then they started to immediately sexually harass everyone in sight.

It's true. 3rd party tools = rapist.

[RitsukoSonoda]

I once saw someone say they were using Chat Bubbles while I was hanging outside the Quicksand and then they started to immediately sexually harass everyone in sight.

It's true. 3rd party tools = rapist.

Meh... people should go thru that door that says therapist on it... >.>

[Ranaku]

Well, you see, they don't need an intrusive anti-cheat system. They could for instance, simply send a takedown request for Mare and their servers. They should eliminate these networks that accept money disguised as "donations" to develop software that abuses the Terms of Service.

Square Enix has become too complacent with not doing anything, it's time for them to step up their game.

Mare now has 100,000 confirmed accounts:



How much longer will they allow this blight to rage? We all came here to play Final Fantasy, not VRChat. This isn't meant to be a make your own game experience.
We need to raise our voices and compel Square Enix to take action.

So that is over 1m dollars monthly SE would lose if they ban all these people. Plus that isn't even a fraction of all the modding folks.

I don't think that SE will ever go after those people cause what company wants to shoot their own foot, murder their stock, make their investors unhappy and lose a lot of profit?

[hynaku]

One of these days there going to add those programs that one's don't want that block third party programs. If it happens, I'm going to blame all the ones using mods and other third-party programs.