The TSO Task Squad: Stasi-styled group promises to rat out fellow players
by Alphaville Herald on 05/09/04 at 11:05 pm
In a disturbing and shocking development on TSO, several plays have formed a group “devoted to seeking out and reporting sims that violate the EA Terms of Service.” Called the “TSO Task Squad” the stated motive of the group is to “help restore TSO to an enjoyable and challenging game for all”. But let’s be clear about what the new game really is. It is more aptly called “Stasi” after the East German secret police, and the game strategy is to report your fellow players to a 15 billion dollar corporation for infractions of a contract that the players probably never read. What makes it a meta-game is that it is a nice way to eliminate your competition. And then there is the joy that can only come from ratting out your friends to a corporate monolith. All I can say is that I sincerely hope this is a hoax. The press release of this troubling group follows.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Mr. Adam Roberts
http://www.DragonsCove.00Game.com
Spartacus007@GMail.com
Sims Online Task Squad Forms
Alphaville, Sept. 5, 2004 — In order to help restore The Sims Online to an enjoyable and challenging game for all, the Sims Online Task Squad was formed today. It is devoted to seeking out and reporting sims that violate the EA Terms of Service in ways that unfairly hurt the game play of the other players.
We are not affiliated with EA, and we make no claim to be an official organization. We are simply a loosely affiliated group of Sims that meet to discuss ways to achieve our common purpose- get rid of the money cheaters.
When The Sims Online first came out, it was fun. There was a struggle to earn money and buying an expensive object or expanding to a full-size lot on the beach was a reflection of achievement. Players opened up restaurants and game shows and casinos.
Now that has changed. Some players were able to develop third party tools that took advantages of the game, and made millions of Simoleans overnight. They sell them on eBay and other places. Before long, for just a few bucks a Sim could get a huge house with everything they wanted without lifting a finger.
Money and Skill houses became all-in-one centers, giving huge payouts to whoever would visit. Making money off charging for food is a distant memory. Pay doors and tip jars are ridiculous to think of. Casinos are required to operate at a loss, just to attract visitors.
When EA announced the opening of the new city Dragon’s Cove, the decided to conduct periodic raids and investigations into players suspected of cheating. The idea is that this, along with various other tweaks in game play, would help to stop DC from turning into the boring, cheat-friendly city that is now Alphaville, Blazing Falls, Jolly Pines, and the rest of the Simland.
So why not do this ourselves? There is a handy button in your toolbar in the bottom left-hand corner marked ‘?’ If you click on it you can quickly and easily report a Sim you have found cheating.
But its not enough to passively stumble across cheaters. We need to band together and aggressively seek out and destroy these villains who are ruining the game. For far far too long we have sat back and complained but done little to stem the flow of illegal money in our fair cities. Its time we take action!
When EA announced the opening of the new city Dragon’s Cove, the decided to conduct periodic raids and investigations into players suspected of cheating. The idea is that this, along with various other tweaks in game play, would help to stop DC from turning into the boring, cheat-friendly city that is now Alphaville, Blazing Falls, Jolly Pines, and the rest of the Simland.
Anyone can help. You can visit lots and keep an eye on the Sims there. Do they go more than 15 minutes without moving or timing out? Do their movement patterns follow that of a Sim controlled by a bot program? Report them.
One of the best ways to help is to post your own ideas for catching scammers, and to spread the word to your fellow Sims about the Task Squad.
For information: http://dragonscove.00game.com or
Contact: spartacus007@gmail.com
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ian
Sep 5th, 2004
well i am glad, that atleast to every group that pops up in tso, you gave them all the same treatment, negative.
RB
Sep 6th, 2004
Good luck with that.
Same treatment Ian, because it is a negative thing. There’s enough cheerleading moral ethics police on stratics. We don’t need a full blown vigilante group now.
yawn.
- RB
ian
Sep 6th, 2004
did i say i was complaining?
Claydog
Sep 6th, 2004
Well…this organization can become a good thing. But not in TSO. Why would you make a organization thats trying to help a dying game?
I had a bot when i played TSO. I rarely used it tho. so it didnt matter.
Im currently playined Lineage 2 and one thing ive ntocied about this game is..when there is a bot it bothers you. And it messes your game [play up. In TSO this is so different. You lock your house up, then you do your business. While not bothering anyone.
Why try to stop these bots when they arent even bothering you. I dont have a problem with people buying money..its their own business and sure its against the ToS..but you have no right to go out and try to act as EA police. If EA wants these bots gone then they will do it themselves. If they needed some one to get rid of these things they would hire some one. Not have a mini police force of 7 people go around and try to find bots. Trust me…you are wasting your time.
You all need to face the fact EA doesnt care. They wont do shit even if you do find some bots. EA/Maxis doesnt know how to make a online game. Sorry people but leave the bots alone lmao.
(i also had one of those maze solvers!! woot!!)
CheeckersMan
Sep 6th, 2004
What wheezles.
Crush
Sep 6th, 2004
Buying simoleans is NOT against TSO Terms of Service. This idiot is also assuming that all simolean sellers use bots, and many do, but just as many do not. There are alot of TSO players that have busy lives and don’t have time to run around playing robo cop or spend hours on end making preserves to afford a size 8 lot. They can buy some simoleans from a seller or go straight to Maxis and use HUD. This site actually promotes entrapment through buying simoleans and engaging the seller to admit using a macro program and then tells players to DELETE the money they just paid for! Sure Dudley DooRight…thats gonna happen! I see no reason why a player who has 24 hours a day to spend online should have an advantage over an average player who may only have a few hours to play. Second Life actually recognizes the sale of game items and promotes it. I commend them for that.
I have to wonder what is truly motivating someone that spends their time becoming a cartoon narc.
urizenus
Sep 6th, 2004
“I have to wonder what is truly motivating someone that spends their time becoming a cartoon narc.”
Maybe an unjustified and pathologically huge sense of moral superiority and/or some represssed sexual desire to be a fluffer for a powerful paternalistic figure in their lives? Just speculating…
Scrutineer
Sep 6th, 2004
The Second Life Herald wags its editorial finger at Sims Online players who rat out rule-breaking competitors.
RB
Sep 6th, 2004
lol. Nice speculation there Uri.
Agreed that the person is compensating for something missing in thier RL or just sat on a broomstick. haha.
- RB
Crush
Sep 6th, 2004
LMAO Uri….you nailed that one! I also have to wonder if this guy has actually ever READ this publication since he lists it in his links…and is he aware that Real Sims Online has also been a simolean seller and they are actively shopping for suppliers?
MDP
Sep 6th, 2004
“We don’t need a full blown vigilante group now.”
They may be rat-finks, but they’re not vigilantes.
Crush
Sep 6th, 2004
vig·i·lan·te ( P ) Pronunciation Key (vj-lnt)
n.
One who takes or advocates the taking of law enforcement into one’s own hands.
A member of a vigilance committee.
Entrapment? Random reporting for idleness? Recruitment? That smells vigilante to me.
toy
Sep 6th, 2004
Quote
I honestly never thought of TSO as a challenging game. A totally boring game perhaps but never a challenge. Perhaps to some it is a challenge to see how long one can go without eating, going to the toilet, or showering. Perhaps its a challenge to sit at your monitor and wat your sim solve animated formulas at a chalk board.
It’s one of the main reasons I left it back in February, total boredom. Thank God LL made Second Life where I can be challenged daily even after 7 months.
toy
Sep 6th, 2004
blargh…… the dang quote didnt stay..
“In order to help restore The Sims Online to an enjoyable and challenging game for all,”
MattyS
Sep 6th, 2004
hahahaha…..this new city is sounding better allready
The Alphaville Gazette
Sep 6th, 2004
A group, who calls themselves the “TSO Task Squad”, has set foot, and promised a new day for the players of The Sims Online. His group, which we are not sure about the official member count, has decided to go around and play [play] police, and act li…
MDP
Sep 6th, 2004
Crush: “Entrapment? Random reporting for idleness? Recruitment? That smells vigilante to me.”
Sorry for being pedantic, but informants (even informants who try to entrap others) aren’t “vigilantes”. A “vigilante” is someone who arrests/judges/punishes someone without authority. These “TSO Task Squad” guys ultimately do nothing more than report apparent violations to Big Brother.
Mind you, I’m not defending them. I’m just saying we should use the right term to describe what they are: snitches.
Crush
Sep 6th, 2004
I see your point. Although these narcs are advocating entrapment and random reporting, they ultimately have no power to suspend or ban anyone. Perhaps this is what really has their knickers in a knot.
urizenus
Sep 6th, 2004
Let’s face it, the only thing that prevents them from being full on vigilantes is the fact that they don’t have the tools to lynch people. Reporting people is, in effect, their weapon and only weapon. It’s something between being a vigilante and a mere rat, however, because EA didn’t solicit this information and probably could care less about bot users. These people are training people how to file reports so that EA’s hand is forced in the matter.
Crush
Sep 6th, 2004
This guys website has now removed any comment about reporting simolean sellers and entrapping them. However I still find this rather amusing:
“Anyone can help. You can visit lots and keep an eye on the Sims there. Do they go more than 15 minutes without moving or timing out?”
Apparently this guy wants it to be illegal to be “AFK” as well. If it is botters he is after, wouldn’t they be moving, as in generating simoleans?
Storm
Sep 6th, 2004
I hope this guy realizes that EA Games could care less whether someone BOT’s or not…I used a maze BOT, and was reported on it even, but they did nothing…I hope you get used to “Not enough information provided” because, what you are doing is totally useless.
P.S. I agree with Toy, the game has NEVER been challenging. lol
humdog
Sep 6th, 2004
now that there’s vigilantes,
you think i can get a six gun and a tin star?
Dyerbrook
Sep 6th, 2004
Humdog, if that will bring you back into the game, I’ll award you one *hands humdog a tin star*. Are you coming to Dragon’s Cove sweety?
I’m going to assume, until the facts are gathered, that this entity called TSO Task Force is going to be another Big-Lie type of outfit that purports to serve the public interest even as it violates ethics, in-game or out, to achieve its own goal of acquiring power.
I think it is no accident, comrade, that all those SSG regulars who used to harry and harass me are all back in the game now, and have assembled at a lot called Heaven’s Court, which is utter sacrilege. No doubt they are plotting to leap into Dragon’s Cove at the right moment, so be warned. Non passerante!
ShawnRyanII
Sep 6th, 2004
Ummm, While were on the subject of organisations or whatever in TSO….. WHAT THE HELL EVER HAPPENED TO THE AVG!?!?!?!?! Mr-P supposedly got back from vacation and since, his site hasn’t been updated?
Mr Hugs AKA claydog
Sep 6th, 2004
haha if Mr P left i wouldnt blame him. THE GAME SUX PEOPLE. TRY ANOTHER GAME! Maybe Mr P is taking a permanent vaca from the game..i wouldnt blame him rofl.
What i wanna know is..whos gonna be the first pres in that retarded new city. And will the pres have a lot size 3???? That would be hilarious lmao. So anyway congrats if u did leave the game for good Mr P. and if u didnt…its ok..i guess..
Claydog
Sep 6th, 2004
oh and btw…JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT 2004! (just feel like saying it!)
MattyS
Sep 6th, 2004
lol i dont think the game sucks. I would never leave
Ian
Sep 7th, 2004
You’re entitled to your opinion, however, this game does suck. And I guess a majority agrees, since they have less than 55% of their original player base. And even at that, most of those accounts are not unique, but are owned by the same individual.
YouWishIWasGay
Sep 7th, 2004
Wow, there’s certainly a lot of hostility over people who don’t like cheaters! The only difference between TSO and a ‘glorified chat program’ is the Simoleans and skilling and gameplay… it is the people that use the third party programs that made it so boring. And then as soon as somebody tries to do something about it, they have psychological problems and are Nazi narks???
toy
Sep 7th, 2004
Quote….. Wow, there’s certainly a lot of hostility over people who don’t like cheaters! The only difference between TSO and a ‘glorified chat program’ is the Simoleans and skilling and gameplay… it is the people that use the third party programs that made it so boring. And then as soon as somebody tries to do something about it, they have psychological problems and are Nazi narks???……
okay, TSO was so utterly boring that it isnt strange that people decided to cheat the game. It never bothered me personally, although I hated to see newbies cheated. Who among us is so perfect that we feel we are entitled to decide who is good and who is bad? This so called vigilante group is just another way of ‘playing the game’. It actually means nothing, and I seriously doubt if EA gives a damn
Its been shown over and over that EA has basically written off TSO. All they want is the money monthly from the ones who are sticking it out.
brigit
Sep 9th, 2004
You know it has been a long time since i have posted here…..and months since i have left sims….yet i continue to have contact with friends and such i had made there….but on this subject i wanted to comment
it was funny….i played maze day and night….loved the challenge to see how fast i could get through the maze with my sims partners…..we had contests and challenged each other constantly…..then because others had a cheat which allowed them to make money…..they took away the maze…..*shrugs tossing her soft supple curls off of her forehead* who the hell cared…..yet one of the most interesting ways to make money was gone…….i had made 1 million sim dollars playing maze legally….yet as time went on…..i decided because there was no INTERESTING way to make money any more i would buy some online……and did…
so what is the problem….they make a functional game within the game to allow us to make money…some become proficient in it…with no cheats and when others use a program to do the same thing that others do with skill they take our chance of making a decent living away…..so why not cheat….er buy money …..and why should they care if they keep getting the monthly payments from customers….*shakes her head and thinks she is glad she has left for greener pastures*
*waves to her friends that still play in the Alphaville BDSM community* brigit misses Y/you all and hopes all are safe and well…..
ian
Sep 9th, 2004
could you please post that another 100 times.
thanks.