Still nothing about the PvP

The answer to the question about in-game items and currency being traded for cash was answered very politically. It appears to support those who intend to cheat. It appears to defend those who do not cheat. Which is it? You cannot do both and offer true protection to non-cheaters; unless you mean to keep that level of protection as part of a server ruleset or on servers located on a different continent.

Assuming that we "ARE engaging" in underhanded behavior is letting Hope out of the Pandora's Box. Have more faith that people who pay extortionist monthly rates to play a game (like 30-50/month for premium servers) are less likely to soil their hobby by cheating.

So -

By protecting cheaters against those who provide the means to cheat (the sale of in-game cash and items for real life cash), you are saying that it is OK to cheat. Is this exclusive to servers in Asia? If not, will ALL subscribers be paying for the cheaters' customer service calls?

By protecting those who do not cheat, you are saying that you will crack down upon both those who cheat and those who provide the means to cheat. Won't a strict policy, coupled with dutiful enforcement deter most of the cheating that goes on?

How can both be accomplished?

If this is unknown or cannot be disclosed, then the answer should have been, "Simutronics has a plan in place to curb the need to cheat with real life cash, but we are unable to disclose our plan at this time." As it stands, it looks like a page ripped out of "Political Sidestepping for Dummies."

- MJ

P.S. No slight was intended for Eric Slick, as I'm sure he is under extreme pressure to say 'something,' yet cannot disclose details at this time that have not been approved.

P.P.S. I could give a cup of stinky wind about how players in Asia expect to play their games. People who do not cheat and who do not stand to make a living off of cheating DO NOT want it in their hobby! Go read the responses to the SOE Exchange servers on EQII or hit the message boards for Lineage ][ to find that ARE NOT all engaging in such despicable, game-cheapening activities.

Simutronics - can you imagine supporting someone winning a chess match who buys out the player in the winning seat, just so they can make the announcement of "Check Mate?" I can't either, and it's why I and my friends do not support cheating or those who condone/protect others who do cheat. God save us all if we are in the minority.