Sean Dahlberg, Star Wars: The Old Republic
We are intrigued regarding the use of the term "permanent removal from the service" language after stating removal from the Game Testing Program itself; this may indicate that BioWare and LucasArts are taking steps to permanently ban violators from subscribing to the retail version of the game.
Further clarifications after the jump.
"Permanently removed from the service" is mentioned again separate from the Game Testing Program.
We have seen many questions about the Game Testing Agreement and we want to clarify a few things.
1. Per the Game Testing Agreement, a user can state there is a Game Testing Program.
2. Per the Game Testing Agreement, when someone is selected for testing, they can disclose the fact that they are a member of the Game Testing Program.
That is the extent of it and anything else would be a violation of the Game Testing Agreement. Users that are found to post or even repost confidential materials will be permanently removed from the Game Testing Program and subject to discipline up to and including permanent removal from the service. This is not limited to screenshots of the game but taking "screen grabs" or sharing of confidential documentation and materials.
If you have any questions pertaining to this, ask them here.
We are intrigued regarding the use of the term "permanent removal from the service" language after stating removal from the Game Testing Program itself; this may indicate that BioWare and LucasArts are taking steps to permanently ban violators from subscribing to the retail version of the game.
Further clarifications after the jump.
If or when someone is invited to Game Testing, such a document is confidential and should they share it in any form, it is a violation of the Game Testing Agreement.
To make it super simple, unless it is something that is public accessible on the website without being logged in and posted by The Old Republic Team and it's not someone simply posting "I'm in Game Testing", it is probably a violation of the Game Testing Agreement.
This includes people who are just reposting and were not directly sent the information from The Old Republic Team.
Unless it includes confidential information, an individual's computer specs are their personal data and it's no issue if they share them.
Yes, Sean's "NDA" is part of his job... and I like my job. It allows me to help drive my team to give all of you great content and news and updates and, once the game is out, keep everyone as informed as possible. So, I don't want to violate my "NDA" because it doesn't just mean I'm out of testing, I could be out of a job
On a more serious note, though, while the Game Tester Agreement is full of legalese, the short of it all is that outside of two simple statements, there isn't much of anything that a Tester can say or do outside of the game and any related communication tools provided.
For anyone discussing things that may be questionable; if you can't find the information posted by someone from the TOR Team in a public area (i.e., something you can read without being logged in)... don't quote or discuss it.
For anyone caught violating the rules, they will be notified and depending on the situation, they may be (1) temporarily suspended, they may be (2) removed from any testing, or they may be (3) permanently removed from the service or a combination of the above. Regardless, they will be notified of such actions and any and all relevant information will be documented.
"Permanently removed from the service" is mentioned again separate from the Game Testing Program.
Comments
Look I know you will be professional but, I remember when you guys went to Lucas Arts studios in S.F. and you could not reveal what you saw until they said. It just didn't sit well with me and the site got quite quiet. I know many of DH team will disagree with me because they want to test the game but, you can't be a true info site if your holding back info. Wouldn't that be really hard anyways, how can you truely be sure you remember what you played in beta and what you can actually talk about?
Have some faith. :)
Are you telling everyone that the confidential information is better in the hands of random players that have the technology of you tube and blogs to post whatever they want and with little consequence.
As for people like DH having the info before most people and "losing the excitement when releasing the info" is just silly. How can you be a game info site and you are the one left in the dark till the end? Sites like DH aren't here to only show emotion. Their main purpose is to get solid info delivered to the fans. Its the fans' job to post their "feelings" and "emotions" when the NDA is lifted.
Sorry for being nitpicky, but I'd hate to see the great work you do suffer needlessly.
Have some faith. :)
I have seen people participate in Public speculation and discussion, without ever breaking the NDA, nor people knowing they were in Beta.
In other words, their dissection would be the same, regardless if they were in beta or not, so it could not be a violation of the NDA. It is like how a Judge or Lawyer is able to work around knowledge that is inadmissible to a case.
I agree it is a tough line to balance, but I believe they professional enough to not slip up and say something like 'Well in Beta', 'What we have seen', or something else that only someone in beta would be able to say. And as a DH reader, I would take everything they say as part of their normal 'Dissection', rather than considering it as if we were chatting on the Beta Forums.