The Coffee House

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-49985747

A mobile version of video game Call of Duty has been downloaded more than 100 million times in its first week.

However, a boycott aimed at the game's publisher, Activision Blizzard, has been launched after Blizzard placed a 12-month ban on a Hearthstone gamer who staged an online protest over the political crisis in Hong Kong.

The hashtag #Blizzardboycott is now trending on Twitter.

Boycotters included Mark Kern, a developer who has worked for Blizzard.

"It's done," tweeted Mr Kern, with a screenshot suggesting he had just cancelled his subscription to World of Warcraft.

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I'm a little bit surprised by this... I know it's a massive franchise, but I wouldn't have thought it'd lend itself particularly well to mobile.

As for the 12-month ban... I can kind of understand them not wanting players to drag politics into their events, but it does leave a sour taste in my mouth, and makes me wonder whether they're just pandering to Chinese customers. And, in any case, the length of the ban is excessive IMO .

Oh they are certainly pandering to the chinese. Blizzard has a rather large market in China. Especially games like World of Warcraft. I'd also wager that Activision Blizzard the parent company itself is breathing down Blizzard's neck.

Yeah, most probably.

And now, Epic Games (the creators of Fortnite) have expressed solidarity with the banned player, and announced that they won't punish players who express support for human rights:

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style...50766.html

No doubt, they'll take considerable flak for this from within China, but good on them for doing the right thing .

(10-10-2019, 05:23 PM)Kyng Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah, most probably.

And now, Epic Games (the creators of Fortnite) have expressed solidarity with the banned player, and announced that they won't punish players who express support for human rights:

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style...50766.html

No doubt, they'll take considerable flak for this from within China, but good on them for doing the right thing .

Tencent owns 5% of Activation-Blizzard, and 40% of Epic.

Activision has totally and absolutely ****ing destroyed Blizzard North. This is a travesty.

The Chinese are probably amongst the most whiny of nations, especially considering how many human rights abuses occur there. Uyghur camps anyone?

People would buy that trashy game even if it didn't run...

(10-10-2019, 05:58 PM)Dust Bowl Wrote: [ -> ]People would buy that trashy game even if it didn't run...

Yeah, they probably would, in all honesty .

And now, Blizzard have found themselves in hot water, when people who have tried to delete their accounts in protest at the whole Hong Kong thing have found that they're unable to do so:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-49999144

I suspect Blizzard will be in no hurry to fix this, but it certainly won't help them...

I would like to add that the commentators who were casting blitzchung were also fired just for being present when he expressed his support for hong kong.  Actibliz is showing they support money and greed over human rights, and with how this is blowing up one can only hope that at the very top levels there is a shake up and some massive lawsuits to follow. only time will tell what happens. but i do not support them and what they did, and they are doing everything they can to lock down how players can boycott them such as preventing people from deleting accounts.

Well, Blizzard have reduced the ban from 12 months to 6 months, and they've decided to give Blitzchung his prize money:

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/12/blizzard...tests.html

I guess it's something, but honestly, I think even the revised ban is harsh and excessive (and I'd rather he wasn't penalised at all).

should we split the topic to one more focused on the actibliz mess? there is some news on it and its just another carefully crafted nonpology from the CEO of blizzard, they very much did do what they did more monetary reasons, plus when you look at the TOS they have its so vaguely worded that they can basically get away with removing someone regardless.

anyway a little video on what im talking about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpWbKo0h2Vw