Post Meeting Discussions

[Dr. Zeppers]

I know im not part of TBC, and my apologies if I am jumping in where I have no business, however I believe there are some major inaccuracies being stated in the VOIP debate.

There is something to be said about applying rules in the manners for which they were intended, and not bending the letter of them to apply in ways they were not intended.

The rule of 3rd party applications is a rule designed to encompass those that would use 3rd party applications to cheat. Applicatons that would change aspects of the game, edit gold, give weapons, grant special powers, grief other players, etc (ie cheats). Not because they can be used to circumvent communication rules in the game.

VOIP is not new, it was developed years ago, and has been in use by gamers for years. It has never been considered a cheat, merely a tool. Those competing that do not use it will definately be at a disadvantage to those that do.

The only rules applied towards such applications are the sharing of such contact information in the game itself. Giving emails, usernames, ip addresses, etc. Anything that leads to sharing of personal information IN THE GAME.
This is why noone has ever been banned for using one, not because Disney cannot tell they are using them as has been suggested, identifying known applications running in memory is very easily done if they had rules specifically against these applications. The rule is to cover those cheating applications that are not only designed to change the game, but to hide themselves from identification in the first place. I've gamed, and ladder matched for years, I know what cheating and the use of "3rd party applications" means in a games TOS.

People have even gone through steps to contact, and inquire with the games customer service/moderation staff and been told its alright, but theres still argument I guess over what Disney's lawyers meant, instead of how those that run the game interpret and apply the rule?

Stretching the term 3rd party applications as I have seen some apply it here could very easily be applied to POF as well in the aspect that Internet Explorer (or other browser) absolutely is without a doubt, a 3rd party application, and viewing/sharing information thru it via a 3rd party website would also be a violation of TOS. One could continue to stretch it and say you cant use your cell phone while playing because it is/uses 3rd party applications. Which btw VOIP is more reknowned these days for replacing our telephones, so applying the rules as stringently as has been suggested may disallow use of your telephone.

Now I think most think that idea is somewhat ridiculous, however if you apply the term 3rd party applications as loosely as a few have suggested, where does it end?