all SOE removed from my pc, all subs cancelled, one pos company

Originally posted by Mrbloodworth

Originally posted by Lydon

Originally posted by Mrbloodworth 

I’m not talking out my ass. It’s called reality. I have however concluded that most of you are comfortable in your ignorance, and simply want to bitch about something. Also no one said it was awesome, I already said I didn’t agree with it, but what I was attempting to do, was correct the misconceptions going on here, that is just perpetuating the stupidity.

So I will leave you to it.
Enjoy the sensationalist drama.

 

And that, people, is how you realise you've lost an argument and try but fail to save face with the "you're wrong no matter how logical your arguments may be" argument.

As i said, its pointless to discuss it, as to many here are simply just wanting to bitch. If you see this as some sort of "winning", more power to you.

 

Originally posted by Mrbloodworth

Originally posted by Daffid011

Originally posted by brostyn 

They absolutely will not be selling top end gear. Its easy to understand why they wouldn't. If they did you'd get all the best gear instantly, and have no motivation to continue to play. Cash shops typically don't sell gear. They sell potions that increase XP or coin lool, mounts, cool looking clothes, and other items that have less of an impact on the game.

 

A few years ago I would have said SOE would never endorse players selling characters and items to each other in game for real life cash.

A few years ago I would have said SOE would never sell in game items directly to player for cash.

A few years ago I would have said SOE would never hire the CEO of a major gold selling site for a position they created specifically for him.

A few years ago I would have said SOE would never sell in game items through a virtual card game to players for real life cash.

A few years ago I would have said SOE would never partner up with a company specifically designed to sell virtual items to players for real money.

 

I remember a time when SOE stated these types of things hurt thier games and they would do everything they can to stop them.

 

Considering all of what has happened in the last few years I don't think anyone can say with any degree of certainty what sort of limits SOE might have on what items they will sell.  

Very true, but all of that just reflects the state of the current industry, and what is needed to stay competitive.

Players (on the whole) want the things listed above, or they would not do it.

 

How many other companies are not doing that and still remaining competitive. I am certain we will not see any amount of new players joining EQ/EQ2 to get at these features and both games have said in the past they do not want them.

The fact is that SOE was once the leader in the industry and now they are mere shadow of their former self.  Part of that reason is because they keep doing the things I listed above.

None of those changes will make them competitive in their current lineup.  In fact it is hurting their reputation and give they naysayers proof their words cannot be trusted.  As I look around I don't see other companies thrusting RMT on their current games to stay competitive.  

Just like when SOE tried selling single dungeons for 9 bucks while their competitors were giving them free to their subscribers.  SOEs idea of competitive seems to be squeezing money out of the few people they still have as long as they generate enough to compensate for the people they chase away.

Honestly the vibe I am getting from SOE is desperation. 

as i see it the RMT esque cash shop will only hurt the game they're saying its only fluff items ... for now. SOE will get lazy and when they go to add something that should be implimented already they will charge extra for it. and idk if any of you ever looked at cash shops most of the fluff items don't last long so if you want to keep wearing that looks cool item you have to keep buyin it week after week. and i wouldn't doubt they'll start giving bounus in game money with your purchase of you tiny blob pet. the game S4 has totally fluff items but if you buy one it comes with in game cash as a bonus. used taht as a refrence as its the only cash shop i ever looked at.

and the fact that he would say without certainty in that interview with tenton, that they wouldn't sell any stat gear of any kind says something.uber gear or not they should NEVER sell anything with any type of stats in the shop. and future games they release i foresee being insane grinds (worse than eq1 ever was)with cash shops so if you want to lvl at a usual pace you'll HAVE TO buy the exp potions like the asian grinder chash shops out now.

Originally posted by Daffid011

The fact is that SOE was once the leader in the industry and now they are mere shadow of their former self.  Part of that reason is because they keep doing the things I listed above.

A much bigger reason is that Blizzard simply made a much more accessible, much more polished game and they had a stellar reputation for putting out quality games.

SOE was already on shaky ground long before anything on your list, and yet they're still in business. Someone out there clearly likes playing their games enough to keep them going despite all the forum drama that SOE's business decisions ignite.

Originally posted by Lidane

Originally posted by Daffid011

The fact is that SOE was once the leader in the industry and now they are mere shadow of their former self.  Part of that reason is because they keep doing the things I listed above.

A much bigger reason is that Blizzard simply made a much more accessible, much more polished game and they had a stellar reputation for putting out quality games.

SOE was already on shaky ground long before anything on your list, and yet they're still in business. Someone out there clearly likes playing their games enough to keep them going despite all the forum drama that SOE's business decisions ignite.

Actually, Sony has a problem of bankrolling losing products -- PS3 -- is a prime example. By any industry standard it should've been scrapped over a year ago, solely on selling it for cheaper than it can be made  (how to lose not only the console wars, but the company's shirt, even).

With EQ1 and EQ2 (and their other titles) SoE is more into keeping them alive to show they have something on the market, not so much as it making money (it won't, like many MMOs due to the fad nature of WoW).

What kills SoE the most is their almost dead marketing department. Ever since Sony movies got caught paying for fake reviews (anyone remember that?) let alone some other marketing snafus, marketing has been mouse quiet.

Once a company not only lies about a movie; now their games; it's pretty difficult for customers to believe anything from corporate (or maybe their paid salesmen on forums).

Originally posted by Lidane

Originally posted by Daffid011

The fact is that SOE was once the leader in the industry and now they are mere shadow of their former self.  Part of that reason is because they keep doing the things I listed above.

A much bigger reason is that Blizzard simply made a much more accessible, much more polished game and they had a stellar reputation for putting out quality games.

SOE was already on shaky ground long before anything on your list, and yet they're still in business. Someone out there clearly likes playing their games enough to keep them going despite all the forum drama that SOE's business decisions ignite.

Shaky ground when?  Except for after WoW launched could you detail it for me?

The reason I ask is.. outside of asian games that have had huge subscriber numbers (but failed in western markets).

Just before WoW launched...

SOE had the number 1 (non asian) subscriber MMO with EQ..

and the number 2 (non asian) subscriber MMO with SWG.

450,000 or so with EQ and 300,000'ish with SWG.

Then WoW launched and EQ was suddenly "old" and SWG was a "failure".

Aside from that I think SOE was doing pretty well until that point.

My personal feeling is almost every decision that's been made since 2005 has been the wrong one.  They keep going even further in the wrong direction and keep getting the same results.  Somehow they seem to think if they go "wrong" enough things will turn around.  Personally I would have changed direction a long time ago.

You'll also notice that most of the people who made "good" stuff with SOE and are still in the industry..

Now either work for:

1) BioWare

or

2) 38 Studio's.

There are some in other places but Schillings company in paticular has taken a lot of people from SOE.

Probably the biggest issue for SOE right now is in my opinion they don't really have much talent and/or those people are NOT in a place to make decisions.  Yet they continually promote people who are experts in failing.

Like.. I wouldn't have promoted Chris Cao to be the lead on anything other than .. well I can't think of anything I would hire him to do to be hoenst.  I certainly wouldn't have him leading my team on DC Universe tho... if I wanted it to have a chance in the market.

That's just me tho..

*edited to add*

If you were stating that Sony Corp was on shaky ground instead of SOE "before that" then I would have agreed.  In order to sell TV's for a long time they had to buy picture tubes from .. I believe it was Samsung (it was a Korean company and a rival not sure it was samsung).

Sony was mostly known for electronics but was losing the market.  Before they hired Sir Howard they had admitted they had lost touch with their customers.  Oddly enough SOE pretty much takes that little comment and is a big glowing example of it.

It was perhaps the guy in charge before "Sir Howard" that made the comment about being out of touch with their customers.

To bad they don't actually try to fix that on every level.  And yes the PS3 has lost them a lot of money.  While Xbox 360 may have lost money for microsoft.. M$ was making money in other places.  Sony had two divisions floating the entire corporation.. that's not good.

Originally posted by Antarious

Originally posted by Lidane

Originally posted by Daffid011

The fact is that SOE was once the leader in the industry and now they are mere shadow of their former self.  Part of that reason is because they keep doing the things I listed above.

A much bigger reason is that Blizzard simply made a much more accessible, much more polished game and they had a stellar reputation for putting out quality games.

SOE was already on shaky ground long before anything on your list, and yet they're still in business. Someone out there clearly likes playing their games enough to keep them going despite all the forum drama that SOE's business decisions ignite.

 

Shaky ground when?  Except for after WoW launched could you detail it for me?

The reason I ask is.. outside of asian games that have had huge subscriber numbers (but failed in western markets).

Just before WoW launched...

SOE had the number 1 (non asian) subscriber MMO with EQ..

and the number 2 (non asian) subscriber MMO with SWG.

450,000 or so with EQ and 300,000'ish with SWG.

Then WoW launched and EQ was suddenly "old" and SWG was a "failure".

Aside from that I think SOE was doing pretty well until that point.

My personal feeling is almost every decision that's been made since 2005 has been the wrong one.  They keep going even further in the wrong direction and keep getting the same results.  Somehow they seem to think if they go "wrong" enough things will turn around.  Personally I would have changed direction a long time ago.

You'll also notice that most of the people who made "good" stuff with SOE and are still in the industry..

Now either work for:

1) BioWare

or

2) 38 Studio's.

There are some in other places but Schillings company in paticular has taken a lot of people from SOE.

Probably the biggest issue for SOE right now is in my opinion they don't really have much talent and/or those people are in a place to make decisions.  Yet they continually promote people who are experts in failing.

Like.. I wouldn't have promoted Chris Cao to be the lead on anything other than .. well I can't think of anything I would hire him to do to be hoenst.  I certainly wouldn't have him leading my team on DC Universe tho... if I wanted it to have a chance in the market.

That's just me tho..

you win this thread..seriously....someone with a brain finally shows up /hi5. And lets not forget also: PS2 was PROFOUND success, prove me otherwise, i dare ya.

Originally posted by miagisan

you win this thread..seriously....someone with a brain finally shows up /hi5. And lets not forget also: PS2 was PROFOUND success, prove me otherwise, i dare ya.

Well I don't think I'm overly brainy its just fairly obvious and I had forgotten a word in there altho I edited it after.

If they actually have any talent its NOT in a position to make decisions.  I kinda forgot the "not" part the first time.

The PS2 was obviously a huge success.  Which leads me to thinking at times.. Smed won't get fired.  When they get sick of the extra losses.. anything with "SOE" on it will just not exist.

They will keep playstation over SOE for the simple matter that more people recognize it and SOE is a fairly small part of their corporation.  Now that SOE is part of the same division they can just keep what they need for the "live" services and dump the rest.

Which is in my opinion where things will be.. if somebody doesn't wake the F up.

Originally posted by Antarious

Originally posted by Lidane

Originally posted by Daffid011

The fact is that SOE was once the leader in the industry and now they are mere shadow of their former self.  Part of that reason is because they keep doing the things I listed above.

A much bigger reason is that Blizzard simply made a much more accessible, much more polished game and they had a stellar reputation for putting out quality games.

SOE was already on shaky ground long before anything on your list, and yet they're still in business. Someone out there clearly likes playing their games enough to keep them going despite all the forum drama that SOE's business decisions ignite.

 

Shaky ground when?  Except for after WoW launched could you detail it for me?

The reason I ask is.. outside of asian games that have had huge subscriber numbers (but failed in western markets).

Just before WoW launched...

SOE had the number 1 (non asian) subscriber MMO with EQ..

and the number 2 (non asian) subscriber MMO with SWG.

450,000 or so with EQ and 300,000'ish with SWG.

Then WoW launched and EQ was suddenly "old" and SWG was a "failure".

Aside from that I think SOE was doing pretty well until that point.

My personal feeling is almost every decision that's been made since 2005 has been the wrong one.  They keep going even further in the wrong direction and keep getting the same results.  Somehow they seem to think if they go "wrong" enough things will turn around.  Personally I would have changed direction a long time ago.

You'll also notice that most of the people who made "good" stuff with SOE and are still in the industry..

Now either work for:

1) BioWare

or

2) 38 Studio's.

There are some in other places but Schillings company in paticular has taken a lot of people from SOE.

Probably the biggest issue for SOE right now is in my opinion they don't really have much talent and/or those people are NOT in a place to make decisions.  Yet they continually promote people who are experts in failing.

Like.. I wouldn't have promoted Chris Cao to be the lead on anything other than .. well I can't think of anything I would hire him to do to be hoenst.  I certainly wouldn't have him leading my team on DC Universe tho... if I wanted it to have a chance in the market.

That's just me tho..

*edited to add*

If you were stating that Sony Corp was on shaky ground instead of SOE "before that" then I would have agreed.  In order to sell TV's for a long time they had to buy picture tubes from .. I believe it was Samsung (it was a Korean company and a rival not sure it was samsung).

Sony was mostly known for electronics but was losing the market.  Before they hired Sir Howard they had admitted they had lost touch with their customers.  Oddly enough SOE pretty much takes that little comment and is a big glowing example of it.

It was perhaps the guy in charge before "Sir Howard" that made the comment about being out of touch with their customers.

To bad they don't actually try to fix that on every level.  And yes the PS3 has lost them a lot of money.  While Xbox 360 may have lost money for microsoft.. M$ was making money in other places.  Sony had two divisions floating the entire corporation.. that's not good.

SOE was making major mistakes with their playerbase before 2005, such as the player boycott that lead to the infamous player summit.  They simply new they were the only game in town and their actions reflected that.  When some new games finally came out that were not utter garbage people flocked away.  There was finally another choice in a few games. 

For a very long time SOE has been giving its customers numerous reasons to leave. 

I've also noticed that the talent at SOE seems to be moving away from the company to greener pastures. 

WoW sure hurt SOE, but there have been a number of other games that still do well.  Some better than SOE while being much smaller companies.  Even the overhyped lackluster releases are outpeforming SOE titles.  

There is a large number of reasons why things ended up the way they did from WoW to SOEs treatment of their customers to rushing out unfinished products.  The overall summary is that the company isn't being run very well and makes far to many mistakes.

Sure some people like their games and that keeps them in business, but at their current pace something drastic needs to change or that will come to an end.

Originally posted by Antarious

Which leads me to thinking at times.. Smed won't get fired.

Sony just fired 15000 people without blinking last week. You think his job is safe? He's one step away from being fired.

In total they fired 50.000 people in december.

Originally posted by miagisan 

you win this thread..seriously....someone with a brain finally shows up /hi5. And lets not forget also: PS2 was PROFOUND success, prove me otherwise, i dare ya.

What does the PS2 have to do with anything?  Does that somehow make SOE better?

hehe bump

SOE has never created a really successful game. They hit the jackpot when they bought the company that was designing EQ, but look what they've produced since then - SWG, which they ran into the ground, Planetside, which they let whither on the vine...the closest they've come to success was EQII, a mediocre game that rode EQ1's wave and would have been a complety pedestrian offering if it wasn't for the EQ brand.

Originally posted by Daffid011

Originally posted by miagisan 

you win this thread..seriously....someone with a brain finally shows up /hi5. And lets not forget also: PS2 was PROFOUND success, prove me otherwise, i dare ya.

 

What does the PS2 have to do with anything?  Does that somehow make SOE better?

Yeah, SOE has nothing to do with Sony's other departments...SOE is responsible for MMORGs and thats about it.

---

Originally posted by Daffid011
SOE was making major mistakes with their playerbase before 2005, such as the player boycott that lead to the infamous player summit.

---

 
And let's not forget incidents like this, either...

http://www.massively.com/2008/03/18/losing-influence-with-soe-eq2-flames-admin-lfg-tells-all

Which is how SoE operates (reading this Waterlilly?), by keeping those who can influence a block of subscribers close to their vests, by offering trinkets in expectation of loyalty.

Ty, didn't know that.

Originally posted by Agricola1

I think they need to wait a couple of months for people to renew subscriptions before they declare it a success. It seems SOE deems short term financial gain using smash and grab tactics a success, despite obvious longterm penalties and having thier name dragged through the swill once again.

Smedley just seems to be set on having RMT, and if that means people quit he doesn't care since his new target audience will fill the space. However with EQ 1/2 being a P2P at the sametime I don't see how that is possibile. A game is either P2P or F2P with a cash shop, Smed has created a new catagorey P2P with RMT and TCG. Maximizing profit for the minimum effort, all paid for by the subscriber .... Gotta love that Smedley!

That's true, they aught to wait to see what the long term gains are.. if there are any before they start calling it a success.

Originally posted by Mrbloodworth

Very true, but all of that just reflects the state of the current industry, and what is needed to stay competitive.

Players (on the whole) want the things listed above, or they would not do it.

 

Who are those players on the whole you are talking about????

No one doubt there is people who use Gold Seller service, no one doubt that some people would like to buy Items from an official item mall.
Of course there is a market for that.

But where do you get the idea that the majority of players wants that?
Because SoE say so?
Because Blizzard and EA are thinking about it?

If those companies are taking into consideration this kind of payiment it is only normal.
The item malls are very succesful in Asia, therefore is a case study and big companies get interested in it.

But as I said before, the Asian culture and the Western culture are very different, we like different games, different music, different movies and so on.
I made the example of Codemasters who imported RF Online and Archlord, which have item malls, games very succesful in Korea but which in our countries didn't make a big impression.
In fact Codemasters discontinued RF online and Archlord is not far from the chop.

So where are those succesful RMT games you are taliking about?
None of the top 10 MMO in western countries have RMT and that's considering the invasion of all F2P Asian games with Item Malls.
Maybe only a couple of games out of the hundreds Asian games on our market make some kind of money out of RMT, Atlantica Online and Silk Road Online, the rest of them are not even worth to be mentioned.

Ultimately RMT should be an option, it should be a choice to offer to their customers, it shouldn't be forced on the players and certainly it should no be used in addition of the monthly payement, whether is fluff stuff or not.
People pay already a monthly fee for that, even the fluff.
SoE as usual go to extremes, it never does things discreetly, what SoE does is not normal, and worst of all they are recidive offenders.

It just make me laugh that you justify this decision as appropriate because SoE took it (I know you are against, just referring to the fact that you said SoE made the right business decision)
Marketing people makes lots of mistakes, there are lots of companies who close business each year for wrong decision made by marketing departement.
And by the way SoE marketing in particular hasn't a very good track record (NGE, RoK).............so I don't understand where do you get all this confidence from.

Originally posted by Antarious

Originally posted by Lidane

Originally posted by Daffid011

The fact is that SOE was once the leader in the industry and now they are mere shadow of their former self.  Part of that reason is because they keep doing the things I listed above.

A much bigger reason is that Blizzard simply made a much more accessible, much more polished game and they had a stellar reputation for putting out quality games.

SOE was already on shaky ground long before anything on your list, and yet they're still in business. Someone out there clearly likes playing their games enough to keep them going despite all the forum drama that SOE's business decisions ignite.

Shaky ground when?  Except for after WoW launched could you detail it for me?

I was playing EQ1 when WoW was in beta. A whole lot of people, even back then, already had axes to grind with SOE for a variety of reasons, and I remember a whole lot of hate for Smed that already existed at the time. None of this venom for SOE or Smed is new, and none of the dire predictions that people are making about how this boycott or that protest will be what gets SOE to agree with them or fire Smed (or both) are new either. This kind of nonsense has been going on for years, long before the CU/NGE ever happened, and even before WoW launched.

There were stories of EQ addiction. Divorces. Even several deaths here in the States directly attributed to EverQuest, including at least one suicide, one murder, and a child left in a car for hours while their mother played the game. Those all happened before 2004.

EQ got eBay to remove listings for their items in 2001. That set off a firestorm of debate over who owns what in an MMO, and what property rights players have in a game. Do they own any gear they earn in a game? If so, doesn't that mean they can sell it to others for their own gain? That debate was a long standing one when WoW finally hit.

There was also the Mystere incident in 2000, where a player wrote a fan fiction story detailing the rape of a young Dark Elf girl who was barely 14. The player was banned from EQ for it, even though the story had been posted on third party boards that weren't connected to Sony or to EQ.

The fallout from Mystere's banning was a long, drawn out debate about the rights of players in a virtual world, and about how far is too far in terms of roleplaying in an MMO. Heck, EQ even had to remove a quest from the game directly due to the controversy, because it required you to murder a pregnant Halfling. People rightly called Verant out on that quest while they turned around and banned a player for a disturbing bit of fan fiction on a third party site.

There were also protests being organized over the Omens of War expansion, which came out well before WoW launched, with players demanding that SOE fix previous issues before foisting another paid expansion on players. And that's just one expansion. I remember the explosion of flames, petitions, and boycott threats when the Planes of Power expansion launched, as well.

EverQuest was no stranger to controversy or heat for SOE before World of Warcraft launched. Anyone who thinks that SOE suddenly became a bad guy in the last couple of years is kidding themselves.

---

Originally posted by ste2000
Ultimately RMT should be an option, it should be a choice to offer to their customers, it shouldn't be forced on the players and certainly it should no be used in addition of the monthly payement, whether is fluff stuff or not.

---

And only on specific servers, so players who earned their gear don't have to associate with such cheats.

It would've been okay if SoE released this on the Exchange servers, as that's where the money types play. The outrage is that it's on the main PvE servers that challenged and revolted the last time SoE tried to introduce this crap.

Had it with SoE and their two facedness.

Shame, Sony, shame. 

Consider anything that comes out of Smedley or SOE's mouth a flat out fabrication.  They would not know the truth if it slapped them in the face.

What I don't get is the number of people who will complain to high hell about SOE's decisions to change their game and yet.....they continue to pay SOE to play the game they are complaining about.

Making posts won't get you anywhere.  SWG proved that on November 15th 2005.  The only thing that will get their attention is canceled accounts...and even then, there will have to be an overwhelming majority.  Other than that, don't expect to accomplish anything with complaint posts.

Originally posted by SkeeSkee

What I don't get is the number of people who will complain to high hell about SOE's decisions to change their game and yet.....they continue to pay SOE to play the game they are complaining about.

Making posts won't get you anywhere.  SWG proved that on November 15th 2005.  The only thing that will get their attention is canceled accounts...and even then, there will have to be an overwhelming majority.  Other than that, don't expect to accomplish anything with complaint posts.

Not only that, but even if SOE took the time to try and respond to any criticism, they'd just end up getting flamed for lying or for being evil incarnate.

The best way to handle any issues with Station Cash or with anything else SOE does that people find game-breaking is simple. Cancel your account. Call SOE directly when you do it so you can talk to a person on the other end of the line and tell them exactly why you're quitting. Write letters to their corporate offices explaining your decision and your reasons.

Hell, buy Sony stock and go to shareholder meetings, raising issues with the way SOE operates or with Smed directly. It might sound paradoxical to buy stock in a company you hate, but doing so makes you an investor and enables you to go to those investor meetings and speak to the people who have an actual stake in how the company is run.

Whining about it all on a message board? Not so much. None of the endless flames, petitions and whines that have gone on for years, either by EQ1 players wanting a "Classic Server", or disgruntled SWG vets wanting the CU and NGE to disappear, or for Smed to be bounced out on his arse have made a bit of difference. It will take much more concrete actions to make any real changes in how things are done.

Originally posted by Lidane

Originally posted by SkeeSkee

What I don't get is the number of people who will complain to high hell about SOE's decisions to change their game and yet.....they continue to pay SOE to play the game they are complaining about.

Making posts won't get you anywhere.  SWG proved that on November 15th 2005.  The only thing that will get their attention is canceled accounts...and even then, there will have to be an overwhelming majority.  Other than that, don't expect to accomplish anything with complaint posts.

Not only that, but even if SOE took the time to try and respond to any criticism, they'd just end up getting flamed for lying or for being evil incarnate.

The best way to handle any issues with Station Cash or with anything else SOE does that people find game-breaking is simple. Cancel your account. Call SOE directly when you do it so you can talk to a person on the other end of the line and tell them exactly why you're quitting. Write letters to their corporate offices explaining your decision and your reasons.

Hell, buy Sony stock and go to shareholder meetings, raising issues with the way SOE operates or with Smed directly. It might sound paradoxical to buy stock in a company you hate, but doing so makes you an investor and enables you to go to those investor meetings and speak to the people who have an actual stake in how the company is run.

Whining about it all on a message board? Not so much. None of the endless flames, petitions and whines that have gone on for years, either by EQ1 players wanting a "Classic Server", or disgruntled SWG vets wanting the CU and NGE to disappear, or for Smed to be bounced out on his arse have made a bit of difference. It will take much more concrete actions to make any real changes in how things are done.

True, investing in a company gives a stockholder more say, but most gamers don't have that type of cash to spend on stock -- especially enough to have influence on marketing decisions (need more than 0.010% stake!).

Complaining does have one benefit: more people upset who will explain why they're upset to a new unexpecting gamer generation. The warnings may prevent some misery, and despite the negativity, is a good thing (as this genre sure doesn't need more upset gamers).

I'll be snail mailing SoE, let alone filing a BBB compliant, so I'm not just going to complain online. Tired of game companies treating gamers as tampons.