Ongoing concern with content selling in party finder

[KamBrez]

In light of this thread:
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...en-compromised

about RMT in PotD / HoH, we should also examine the RMT in end game raiding and other areas as well.

Many players are now participating in these “content selling services” to clear Ultimate, PoTD, HoH, PvP, and any other content that people find remotely difficult. What is worse is that it isn’t just one person offering “content selling services” - It is a multitude of people. In a sense, you can even say this has become a lucrative business for them.


This isn’t just a recent fad, people have been selling content for years. It has just gotten progressively worse over time. To the point where people’s actual accounts are being stolen. I don’t feel particularly bad for people who lost their accounts because it is their fault for engaging in RMT activity. However, my hope is Square Enix does something to fight the overwhelming amount of content sellers this game has.

I do what I can to report these actions in the game but the way the RMT groups operate eludes the standard GM report and investigation practices. Some of those involved have a history of being reported for RMT for one reason or another.

Under the rules and policy guidelines for Final Fantasy XIV - these individuals offering content selling services are violating a few sections within this guideline.
Source: from Square-Enix website
http://support.na.square-enix.com/ru...2&tag=users_en

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A lot of evidence is found on RMT websites, Discord messages that have circulated in known Discord communities, and activity within the game. I’ve contacted game masters on numerous occasions for a few years. The general response seems to be that they are unaware or unsure of how to handle the problem. A glance at Party Finder on any NA datacenter will show an in-game advertisement for content clearing and sales, directing players to contact the seller on Discord or by some other means every day. It's obvious to any observant player what is going on here, doubly so when the seller refuses to discuss the details of their services in-game. With the insistence of information being shared outside of the game, and a refusal to discuss such things in-game, it's clear they're doing something shady. That won't stop people finding a way to get around it, but I'd much rather settle for not seeing blatant scams, shady deals, and RMT advertisements being openly broadcast through the Party Finder. Since Alexander Ultimate will be releasing soon with new rewards, the potential for RMT sales of this content will be high.

Examples of what is currently going on:

[KamBrez]

2.2 Real Money Trading, Farming and Power-Leveling. You may not sell, purchase or exchange for real-world money or value any in-game currency, accounts, characters, in-game services, or in-game virtual items. You may not play the Game for the purpose of acquiring virtual items or advancement in game play on behalf of a third-party or for the purpose of selling any virtual assets to a third party for real-world money, specifically including "gold-farming" and power-leveling services.


Party Finder Examples:


Crystal:



Aether:



Primal -







The rule is obviously being violated as the RMT group is participating in the act of content selling to players and clearing content in exchange for real-world currency.

3.1 Sharing Account Information. You may not share your account or login information (such as your Square Enix ID and password) with anyone except your legal guardian, your minor child, or Square Enix. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and login information, even from your friends and family. If you violate this provision, you may unexpectedly lose access to your account to a third party without recourse against Square Enix. Square Enix will not be obliged to credit your Square Enix Account with Crysta or other points or awards, which may have been used by a third party as a result of the violation of this clause.

This rule is being violated due to the simple fact that to ‘boost” an account, an individual requesting a clear (buyer) must share their account information with the content clearer (seller).

2.1 Cheating and Botting. You may not create or use any unauthorized cheats, bots, automation software, hacks, mods or any other unauthorized software or hardware designed to modify the Game and gameplay. In addition, you may not take advantage of game system bugs and exploits during gameplay.


3.2 Disruption. You may not in any way disrupt or interfere with the Game experience of other players, including the disruption of Square Enix's computers and servers.

While the act of RMT does not involve disrupting the game experience for everyone directly, it often does so indirectly. It minimizes the efforts and genuine hard work of players who go out of their way to clear a piece of content or achieve a difficult goal. This reduces the value of their legitimate rewards and upsets the intended content structure that Square Enix has envisioned, oftentimes saturating the game with illegitimately-obtained prizes that no longer represent the prestige they are intended to show.

[KamBrez]

In addition, since content selling is a business to many of these groups, we have some select groups who engage in exploiting bugs or are involved in using mods/hacking to simplify the process. This violation is a no brainer, yet we don’t often see action taken against these groups.


As a player, it would be slightly hopeful to see an NA community rep to acknowledge this ongoing issue, or better yet administrative action being taken on some of the more open and egregious offenders. I am limited on evidence to provide because I don't want to violate the official forum rules. I mainly just want to turn Square Enix's attention to this ongoing problem which plagues the community and negatively impacts the gameplay experience for all.

[AvenFate]

I too have done my fair share at reporting these things. Even left suggestions of some tactics ff11 has used in the past to limit this kind of behavior, such as hiring GM to patrol in game - making their presence known to those online from time to time, as well as having a timed system chat reminder warning against these kind of activities so that especially new player's do not fall into these traps. Making it easier to blacklist or report suspicious activities just by right clicking the character - not just from local chat. Some people even have taken to "shouting" their donation and twitch streams in order to get more views or profit off the player base or even putting such adds in the partyfinder, like the "clear and loot sales" you speak tend to pop up from time to time when I check for hunts or raids. I've seen people advertising brothel's believe it or not... next might be cam girl's and escorts before we know it. We still have bots in PVP running to crystals and standing there. Or if no crystals running into the mass to die over and over. I've seen "normal looking" players using bot programs to mine or harvest. I still see multiple spams of gil sales in both shout and chat in main cities around the crystal and market board as well as the magical sky walking ground clipping rmt bot groups with their wonky names and fake fc's to try and bypass normality, in towns, at zones, teleporting from npc to npc. People in shouts asking if its even worth "reporting" when it seems nothing is being done only to be discouraged by other players saying its not. Whats worse is being told by GM's that I after all the years I've played FF am making stupid assumptions. That I clearly do not know what I am talking about. Then they want feedback from me...

[ForteNightshade]

3.1 Sharing Account Information. You may not share your account or login information (such as your Square Enix ID and password) with anyone except your legal guardian, your minor child, or Square Enix. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and login information, even from your friends and family. If you violate this provision, you may unexpectedly lose access to your account to a third party without recourse against Square Enix. Square Enix will not be obliged to credit your Square Enix Account with Crysta or other points or awards, which may have been used by a third party as a result of the violation of this clause.

This rule is being violated due to the simple fact that to ‘boost” an account, an individual requesting a clear (buyer) must share their account information with the content clearer (seller).

I just want to comment on this. You're misinterpreting the intent. This rule exists solely to protect SE in the event someone claims they weren't using their account, thus they shouldn't be responsible for potential violations. Put simply, they couldn't care less if your son, daughter, uncle or BFF plays on your account. If they do anything disruptive, however, SE can immediately put to this rule and blame you for allowing them access.

With that all said. SE is notoriously bad at enforcing their own rules primarily because of the policy proof of violations will only be accepted if mentioned in-game. Even Twitch clips will be dismissed as "possibly edited" which is absurd. Nonetheless, it means they aren't likely to do anything about it. Speaking for myself, I'm somewhat indifferent to content selling. It doesn't give anyone an "edge" so to speak since PvE content isn't directly competitive. Someone buying an UwU clear doesn't impact my clear or gameplay—at least not compared to the rampant bot problem. At the same time, I'll quickly dismiss anyone who actually buys a clear, and do think SE should actually do something about it.

They won't though.

[KamBrez]

At the same time, I'll quickly dismiss anyone who actually buys a clear, and do think SE should actually do something about it.

They won't though.

At the rate of what is currently going on, you might end up dismissing a lot of players. That should be alarming to anyone. Even more so we shouldn't ignore the problem entirely.
Either way, at the end of the day this post is mostly for community reps to see.

[ForteNightshade]

At the rate of what is currently going on, you might end up dismissing a lot of players. That should be alarming to anyone. Even more so we shouldn't ignore the problem entirely.

Not... really. I'd have to do some digging but someone on reddit who sells content explained the whole gist of it, how profitable it actually is and etc. Going off memory, they said they averaged five or so buyers in the first couple weeks but it peppers off fast; Ultimate especially. The amount of people both willing and capable of spending this kind of money are very few and far in between. If I had to estimate, maybe 1-2% of Ultimate clears were bought. It may even be less.

[RyuSaarva]

Not... really. I'd have to do some digging but someone on reddit who sells content explained the whole gist of it, how profitable it actually is and etc. Going off memory, they said they averaged five or so buyers in the first couple weeks but it peppers off fast; Ultimate especially. The amount of people both willing and capable of spending this kind of money are very few and far in between. If I had to estimate, maybe 1-2% of Ultimate clears were bought. It may even be less.

you see people who have legend titles all the time, there is no way there are so many skilled people playing this game, I would say the number is more like 50%.

[Aybee]

With that all said. SE is notoriously bad at enforcing their own rules primarily because of the policy proof of violations will only be accepted if mentioned in-game. Even Twitch clips will be dismissed as "possibly edited" which is absurd. Nonetheless, it means they aren't likely to do anything about it..

It is also important to mention that in the second post, you have people content selling within the game by using party finder. That would be classified as "in-game".

[Alucard135]

It is also important to mention that in the second post, you have people content selling within the game by using party finder. That would be classified as "in-game".

Yes, but the problem is that they're not mentioning any real money being involved in PF. If I recall correctly, selling content for Gil is not against SE's policy and that's how they get away with their in-game advertisement.