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I have no doubts the accounts that used it more than once will be banned. EA doesn't let anything slide...I feel bad for the people behind this promotion. I am sure there are some job openings at EA.

Though it is completely wrong that anything should happen to any one who used the code. It is like the time I had a coupon for a free one topping pizza, a side and two litter soda with a purchase from a pizza place. We would order and the delivery guy shows up with the food...and would never ask for the coupon. We would pass it around. It was used probably 40 times. Even after it expired it was used several times before the place finally caught on. They didn't take the coupon when it was used (meaning invalidate the code) so there was nothing illegal done by any user, though I am sure there is some wording in the EULA for EA that will justify them banning any one that even looked at the code.

 

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Josenba2k

How can I get that code? I want to buy a copy of BFBC2 abd I'll like to know if I'll get it free, since it's less than $20

latest word is that code is no longer valid...which is dumb. They should have fixed the code to work only once rather than kill it.

What I would like to know is if the Origin codes have always been like this. Though this is the first one I've seen. So they might be rather rare.

 

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Quote:

Originally Posted by dph314

True. It was a deal thread. Not an armed riot on the streets looting store fronts. A promo code provided by the company we were using it with.
And yeah there was no hacking involved, no stealing. It's not against the law to walk into a Wal-Mart with Monopoly money and try to buy food. If the cashier accepts the Monopoly money and sells you the food, you didn't do anything wrong, the cashier did, because they didn't throw you out, they accepted it. Origin put a code out there...and then accepted it. We didn't hack or steal. Obviously they ended up deciding they shouldn't have done what they did, but that doesn't mean we held EA up at gunpoint or anything.
And yeah a mod posted in the thread and didn't lock it, and rightfully so.

In this thread I believe referenced a pizza place that never would ask for my coupon for a free pizza so I kept using it...that is exactly what happened here. There was no hack, fraud or attempt to swindle with fake money. They just never flagged an account after the account used the code so people were able to use the "coupon" over and over. Had the account been flagged the code would have been redeemed and that would have been that.

I am still expecting the bans to come down though. EA seldom even puts a game on sale. I just don't see them doing this on purpose or letting it slide.

 

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Infinitegrim

Just finished downloading my ~$700 180gb worth last night....

My only trouble is that I don't think I will even play any of the games I got...not many are all that interesting and the few that are I already have. Dragon Age 2 is one heck of a disappointment...I didn't know it was possible until now that a free game could make you feel ripped off.

Mirror's Edge might be fun once I learn the controls...the tutorial expects you to have a 360 controller or something.

Haven't tried any of the others yet.

This is probably why they just gave them out...I bet none of these games have had many purchases lately anyway.

 

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxxa

I only picked up TW:12 Masters~ I already had everything that I have any interest from that worked with the code...IMO they should give out TW for free anyway at 9PM EST there were only 9 people connected online lol and that's after the free coupon code... I think the peak I saw was 29 people earlier in the day.

heh wow...

I am really hoping for a revival of BF2142 after this. Not that it ever really died, but the number of servers dropped pretty drastically after BF3 and a map with 63 players on it was even less common. There would be like two full that stay that way and the others would be half empty.

 

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Infinitegrim

When I first learned of the coupon I bought mass effect 1, 2, 3 and mercenaries 2 for a total of $22 Got 2 for free and 65% off the others, could have got them free (sad face)

I would have rather caught the code working like that actually. The word on the street is that it only worked like this for a little while on Friday though.

That was the first thing I tried to do....just get $20 off of the purchase of ME3. I would gladly trade all the games I did get for that one game. I haven't really heard or read anything good about the game so I am holding out for a $10 purchase, but I still want to play it to see how the story ends (though I've heard it is bad)
Quote:

Originally Posted by youra6

Never played it but I feel like I'm missing out.

I have yet to play a open map on BF3 and not think, "Man, a Walker would totally be bad ass on this map."

I also painfully miss Titan matches...it was combo of both open map fighting and close quarters fighting (control point captures of missiles to take down the Titan's shield and then you can board the titan and blow up its reactor...or your team could defend the titan well and keep the silos to just blow up the enemy's titan. It was great fun...however, with BF3's near complete lack of squad and commander tactics I don't know if it would even work.)

Not to mention even the transport was more maneuverable than the attack helicopters in BF3...I think they tried to make them too realistic. There is a point where realism starts to impact the enjoyment factor and the flying vehicles in BF3 took a very large step across it.

 

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Quote:

Originally Posted by di inferi

This is exactly why there is a code of ethics for software engineers and most professionals. People wonder why ethics classes are mandatory for degrees.
If you got more than one game it was immoral and equivalent to stealing.
Some of you obviously have poor morals, bragging about your huge hauls like a gangster who just hit up a mom and pop store.
It's worse than piracy because you got a free ticket to do it, with no consequences, and now you brag?
Well done. Your parents did a great job. But hey, at least your "opinion" about EA has changed since they let you steal from them.
/rant.

It is a double standard. As a customer any and all ethics are thrown out the window. If that weren't true you'd see people paying extra to cover discounts and scoff at the idea of using a coupon. The ethics classes are only geared toward a seller not hurting the consumer...really it isn't even related to business. Scamming is not business. And not all education systems even require those classes. Pretty much only the US does and I am 100% certain it is for no other reason than to increase the size of student loans...along with all the other stupid fluff classes that my foriegn educated colleges laugh at because they did not have to take them.

A "consumer" is expected to "consume" as much as they possibly can for the lowest cost. Just like a supplier is expected to supply as little as possible for the highest price possible. The balancing of the two is what drives business. There are no social ethics involved...just two opposing forces. If a consumer can get something for free they are expected to take advantage of it. If a supplier can get paid for not supplying anything then they are expected to do so. THAT is business ethics and if it were not this way...well, we would be living in Startrek without money.

 

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Quote:

Originally Posted by di inferi

No.
You obviously need the classes.
Please tell me why insurance fraud and shop lifting is illegal if 'consumer ethics are thrown out. "
People trying to justify stealing just shows you how poor the moral standard is today.

Because business ethics are not laws. We have laws in place to protect people from each other. Do you honestly think that ethics are a substitute for laws?

Plus in those cases there is fully blatant deception and scamming going on. If a person filed an insurance claim for a dinosaur stepping on their car and the insurance company reviewed it and approved it...the submitter did nothing wrong. If a person went through a check out line with a bunch of items that rang up at $0.00 due to an error...they are not shop lifting.

Heck, I got reported for a drive off at a gas station once. I was in a hurry and when I was at the counter paying I said, "I have fuel on pump 4 as well". All they charged me for was my pop and gum, but I was in a rush so I signed with out taking notice of the total. When I showed the cop the receipt copy all charges were dropped. I actually tried to pay for the gas, but the station said I couldn't because it would mess up their booking.

 

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Quote:

Originally Posted by di inferi

You didn't answer the question.
You are justifying using a code, which you know should have only been used once, but you used it multiple times, against the consent of the publisher and the developer, because you were either told of the exploit or figured it out on your own.
I really can't believe how many people are trying to justify this. It's sad. If you can't afford it then you don't automatically have the "right" to steal it.
Good luck in life. Hope you don't end up at a job interview with me.

Ahh, but you see they did have the consent of EA. Not of a conscious thought, but by mistake (though an actual motive behind this deal hasn't been ruled out). You are telling me that if you had a coupon that a cashier forgot to take you would rip it up? Well, even if you say you would I would never believe you...hell, the candy dishes for missing children go empty long before the donation box is full. I guaranty there were plenty of pagers going off at EA over the weekend, but they let it go on for almost two days. Consent was given just from their lack of action. No one stole anything...they actually added games their cart and bought them...for $0.00. Stealing would have constituted hacking the file servers and downloading the games or otherwise circumventing the checkout process. (reason why shoplifting is against the law)

Heh, no need to worry about a job interview from you since you won't last long unless you are working for a non-profit...and even there you are typically expected to pull in at least 70% of your aggregate direct costs.

Even managers have to balance screwing over their employees and keeping them happy. They can't just not do something because it isn't nice. Some places are better than others, but I personally know of people who were over looked because they were not "aggressive enough". It is a dog eat dog world. I don't like it, but it is what we were given.