ToS: Third Party Programs and Turbo Controllers

[Delsus]

I would really appreciate clarification from the reps regarding the following two:

•The modification, analysis, integration and reverse engineering of game data;
•The creation and diffusion of utilitarian software;

Specifically, do logs count as "game data" and does parsing them count as "analysis"? Also, what qualifies as "utilitarian software"? Would the YG Updater or the parser that generates data for XIVpads from the Lodestone pages count?

EDIT: how did this end up not replying to the thread in total? oh well.

As TheVedis says, its against the ToD to decompile the source for FFXIV well for any reason because its closed source, but the analysis part is about decompiling the code and finding exploits in the code which will allow you to use bots or other 3rd party software.

Integration is things like plugins that will display information on screen that you shouldnt see.

Chat logs are not in this, they are available in your character information for you to see, the parser however is against the ToS because it is 3rd party software. the scripts for XIVpads is legal, its just a lodestone lookup and I would imagine SE has nothing wrong with YG's auto updater or they would have issued a C&D by now.

[Matsume]

i know that language!

basicaly what they are saying, is you cant use their source code for your own purposes, and you cant hack the game in general to do stuff to it


its not talking about 3rd party software in general, but the actual use of it to alter the game itself

This is correct.

Parsers seem to be in a bit of a grey zone imho... It seems that the post was directed at any function that allows for the automation of an in game process, and not so much towards the automated recording of data that is freely given to the player.

[ShadowCadja]

Chat logs are not in this, they are available in your character information for you to see, the parser however is against the ToS because it is 3rd party software. the scripts for XIVpads is legal, its just a lodestone lookup and I would imagine SE has nothing wrong with YG's auto updater or they would have issued a C&D by now.

How is the parser against ToS when the only thing it does is read the logs? (Basically just a "lookup" as you stated for XIVPads/Lodestone, interested in knowing this, not flaming)

[TheVedis]

How is the parser against ToS when the only thing it does is read the logs? (Basically just a "lookup" as you stated for XIVPads/Lodestone, interested in knowing this, not flaming)

depends on the parser, alot of parsers in other games actualy do things that would be considered illegal here, whereas just reading the logs alone as a program would be ok

[ShadowCadja]

depends on the parser, alot of parsers in other games actualy do things that would be considered illegal here, whereas just reading the logs alone as a program would be ok

What parser for XIV does that? The only ones I know for XIV simply read logs I think.

[Quesse]

Windower please.

[Delsus]

How is the parser against ToS when the only thing it does is read the logs? (Basically just a "lookup" as you stated for XIVPads/Lodestone, interested in knowing this, not flaming)

XIVpads is as I said lodestone lookups, however a parser can be made to do anything, you want it to flash up information for example when ifrit will use a tp move it can easily (for a programmer) be modified to do that.

XIVpads also isnt technically 3rd party software, it is just a script that issues lodestone lookups whereas a parser is 3rd party software that interfaces with the game, and does give information that can give you an advantage, for example you can see which weaponskill/combo does the most damage and just use that weaponskill/combo over the fight which someone without the parser doesnt know unless they work it out damage per 1000 tp. XIVpads however offers no information like this.

[ShadowCadja]

XIVpads is as I said lodestone lookups, however a parser can be made to do anything, you want it to flash up information for example when ifrit will use a tp move it can easily (for a programmer) be modified to do that.

XIVpads also isnt technically 3rd party software, it is just a script that issues lodestone lookups whereas a parser is 3rd party software that interfaces with the game, and does give information that can give you an advantage, for example you can see which weaponskill/combo does the most damage and just use that weaponskill/combo over the fight which someone without the parser doesnt know unless they work it out damage per 1000 tp. XIVpads however offers no information like this.

Would like to know which parser for XIV does that, cuz the parser I've used and seen others use just read logs and give all the info you said and doesn't actually interact with the game. o.o;

Unless I got it all wrong. @.@

[Treach]

I tied a laser pointer to the edge of my fan and I set my keyboard underneath it so the red dot goes over the enter key. I then put my cat in a cardboard box with just a hole for his paw and head to get through and face it toward the keyboard so that every time he sees the red demon dot he smacks enter.

Is this against the ToS?

[Soukyuu]

To be present in front of ones computer does not make the use of these automated action programs acceptable.

And they want to prove it how?