HALF-LIFE 2 WAREZ or SPOILER IN WRONG PLACE = BAN

coilcoil Amateur pirate. Professional monkey. All pance. Join Date: 2002-04-12 Member: 424Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
edited November 2004 in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">no questions, no excuses, no exceptions.</div> There is much evidence floating around that Half-Life 2 is at or near gold and will be shipping in November.

1) Score!

2) Let me take this moment to remind you of the NS Forums' strict policy against warez of any kind:

<span style='color:white'>The NS Forums have a strict policy against warez of any kind.</span>

You may remember my thread from the DOOM 3 release. The same rules apply here. I know everyone wants the game, and I know a few of you are going to be less than scrupulous about it, so here are the rules. They're simple.

1) Any discussion of warezing Half-Life 2 will result in a 24-hour suspension. Further offenses will increase the length of said suspension drastically. This includes but is not limited to:
-- where to get it
-- claims to have gotten it illegally
-- "clever language" suggesting warez, e.g. "I *cough*bought*cough* HL2 the other day..."

2) The rules are so simple, that's the only one.

Whether or not warez is being discussed is determined by the moderators. Excuses or explanations will most likely fall on deaf ears. This is a zero-tolerance policy; you've been warned.

[edit]Addition as of HL2's release: unless the thread title says you can post screenshots or talk about spoilers, NO POSTING OF SPOILERS. Many people, including one or more forum admins/mods, aren't able to play the game yet. Especially from me (Marik) expect trigger-happiness towards spoilers to be possibly equal to or greater than towards piracy talk. Understand that my definition of "spoiler" is very wide. Example: when downloading the soundtrack to Deus Ex 2 from the game's official website, I cringed at how much the track titles alone gave away about the game and where the player would go.
If you want to be particularly sure you don't ruin any part of the game, or if you have <i>any doubt</i> as to whether or not something could be considered a spoiler, please read TAK's (That Annoying Kid's) guide <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=79162' target='_blank'>here</a>

Comments

  • coilcoil Amateur pirate. Professional monkey. All pance. Join Date: 2002-04-12 Member: 424Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    Just a bump to make sure everyone notices Marik's little addendum. Spoiler = dai. TAK has suggested a very elegant solution for discussion of spoilers; follow the bouncing <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=79162' target='_blank'>link</a>.
  • ComproxComprox *chortle* Canada Join Date: 2002-01-23 Member: 7Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Silver, Subnautica Developer, Subnautica Playtester, Pistachionauts
    Ok, this has been here long enough I think. De-webbed.
  • Marik_SteeleMarik_Steele To rule in hell... Join Date: 2002-11-20 Member: 9466Members
    edited January 2005
    I agree on the decision of de-webbing, but I'm re-opening the thread for the sake of discussing OT forum rules with the public. I made a poll for this some time ago, but I'm going to change the wording of the question to include a timeframe. When should we start going lax on the anti-spoiler rules?
  • SoulSkorpionSoulSkorpion Join Date: 2002-04-12 Member: 423Members
    I think it's important to *always* mark spoilers (if it isn't already clear that the thread is full of spoilers about a particular topic), but banning is a little harsh.
  • marcemarce Join Date: 2004-08-24 Member: 30869Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-SoulSkorpion+Jan 24 2005, 03:32 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (SoulSkorpion @ Jan 24 2005, 03:32 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I think it's important to *always* mark spoilers (if it isn't already clear that the thread is full of spoilers about a particular topic), but banning is a little harsh.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Exactly.

    For example, I wouldn't think it fair to be banned for inadvertantly saying that

    <!--QuoteBegin-DeusEx+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (DeusEx)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--><span style='color:#031D1F'>JC and Paul Denton's parents weren't killed in a car crash at all!</span><!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    Ahem. However, I do think that there should be some punishment, and that there should be an established rules system for it. I don't want to be banned for a mistake, which I only made because the rules are in any way unclear.

    Could we make it more accessible to make anti-spoiler quotes? Remembering "#031D1F" sucks.
  • SoulSkorpionSoulSkorpion Join Date: 2002-04-12 Member: 423Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-marce+Jan 24 2005, 05:01 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (marce @ Jan 24 2005, 05:01 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Could we make it more accessible to make anti-spoiler quotes? Remembering "#031D1F" sucks. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    That would be very helpful. Maybe even with prompt windows along the lines of "enter the title of the thingy the spoiler's from", to make it a real no-brainer.
  • PetcoPetco Join Date: 2003-07-27 Member: 18478Members, Constellation
    edited January 2005
    Yeah like this <!--QuoteBegin-Spoiler+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Spoiler)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--><span style='color:#031D1F'>Gordon killed a snark</span><!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    EDIT: Fixed color, it was hidden text if I didn't use [Quote]
  • Seph_KimaraSeph_Kimara Join Date: 2003-08-10 Member: 19359Members
    Just add a spoiler tag to the BBcode. It's not the hardest task to do (I'm pretty sure some code already exists out there for it - all it'd require is a copy and paste at most)

    All it essentially needs is the quote function copied, the "quote" header changed to "spoiler[highlight to read] (title)", and the font colour set to the quote table BG colour.

    Add that in, then there won't really be too many spoilers slipped (or at least those slipped without reasonable excuse). A lot of people don't use them because they're currently a hassle to remember (if going by the hex number colour code) or don't really protect from spoiling (the "++++SPOILERS BELOW++++" method - it's incredibly crude, and some people don't seperate the spoiler from the rest of the text, so you don't really know where it ends if they don't use a spoiler ending "tag")
  • Fire_EelFire_Eel Join Date: 2003-08-19 Member: 19950Members
    ? ?
    <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    I sincerely apologize for my stupidity, but exactly what is warez? I dun even think I saw the word in my dictionary, but I am gonna check right after this post.
  • spinviperspinviper Join Date: 2003-05-08 Member: 16151Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Fire Eel+Jan 24 2005, 05:26 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Fire Eel @ Jan 24 2005, 05:26 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> ? ?
    <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    I sincerely apologize for my stupidity, but exactly what is warez? I dun even think I saw the word in my dictionary, but I am gonna check right after this post. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Warez (pronounced as though spelled "wares" or possibly by some pronounced like the city of "Juarez") is a term used by software "pirates" to describe software that has been stripped of its copy-protection and made available on the Internet for downloading.
  • ThansalThansal The New Scum Join Date: 2002-08-22 Member: 1215Members, Constellation
    edited January 2005
    I say that the simplest soloution is via good old spoilertags

    [spoiler]Everything in here is now Black On Black[/spoiler]

    doh, forgot that (s) is strike through <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    simple, eh?

    I know there is a plugin for phpBB, and thus probably one for invision <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • CrispyCrispy Jaded GD Join Date: 2004-08-22 Member: 30793Members, Constellation
    The spoiler tags is the best idea imo.

    When people mark them with a ***Spoiler*** line they often don't leave enough space before the spoiler, and if they do then it tends to be annoying for anyone who wants to see the post below.

    I think the Mod team did a good job on making it hard for me to have HL2 spoilt for me, I really had to dig for any tidbits on the storyline <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    The only place on these forums I've seen the spoiler hexcode posted is in the fanfic forum, so it's by no way obvious or easy to find. I did quite an extensive Google for this code (I couldn't remember the specific term "hexcode" so I searched for 'code' and 'changing fonts' in 'phpBB' or something) and didn't find anything that was immediately helpful.

    To sum up, either include the hexcode in the stickies (I'd prefer not to do this because it will make the 1st page of the Off-Topic even smaller), or include a spoiler tag, similar to quote or [s]trikethrough[/s.] (ftw).
  • ZupiCoZupiCo Custom titles rule&#33; Join Date: 2003-03-22 Member: 14792Members
    So, the ban does only apply to HL2-spoilers? Why?
  • Nemesis_ZeroNemesis_Zero Old European Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 75Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    edited January 2005
    You know, it's heartwarming to see de-stickied topics bumped this often...<ul><li>Read the topic. The 'ban' was a 24 hour suspension. I'd argue that most people will be capable of surviving this.</li><li>We do such topics whenever big releases (Matrix, Lord of the Rings, Doom3, HL2) come around, since pretty much everyone waits for them and having them spoiled won't make many happy.</li><li>Spoiler tags or the like are not a bad idea. Let's see whether I can club one of the coders into making the change.</li></ul>
  • Marik_SteeleMarik_Steele To rule in hell... Join Date: 2002-11-20 Member: 9466Members
    edited January 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-ZupiCo+Jan 24 2005, 12:11 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (ZupiCo @ Jan 24 2005, 12:11 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> So, the ban does only apply to HL2-spoilers? Why? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Because, quite honestly, HL2 was the biggest concern for some time. Other than Knights of the Old Republic or Deus Ex 2, I don't remember any other recent games for which people have been hoping to avoid spoilers. Doom 3? Chronicles of Riddick? We already knew the endings to both. HL2? It's HL2. 'Nuff said.

    [edit]Nem just reminded me that we were pretty strict on some movies.
  • HazeHaze O RLY? Join Date: 2003-07-07 Member: 18018Members, Constellation
    Any spoilers for anything should definantly have a warning, no matter what it is. If a person is <i>blatently</i> blabbing things out so he ruins the experience, he deserves the boot, but if its on accident, just tell him to watch himself, and move on. No need to be so harsh.. even though we are gamers. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> (WITH ADMIN)
  • KungFuSquirrelKungFuSquirrel Basher of Muttons Join Date: 2002-01-26 Member: 103Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    <!--QuoteBegin-Marik Steele+Jan 24 2005, 12:19 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Marik Steele @ Jan 24 2005, 12:19 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Other than Knights of the Old Republic or Deus Ex 2, I don't remember any other recent games for which people have been hoping to avoid spoilers. Doom 3? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I had major points of Halo 2 spoiled 4 different times, 2 within the NS forums or IRC channel. I still enjoyed the game, but damn. DAMN, I say! 4 times was really disappointing. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    The third was a guy at work during lunch, and the fourth was some moron on the Snark Pit who started off ok - he put the text in black (matching the background), but then immediately following in normal text continued on by <i>describing what impact the spoiler had</i>.

    Freakin' idiot <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • ThE_HeRoThE_HeRo Join Date: 2003-01-25 Member: 12723Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-KungFuSquirrel+Jan 24 2005, 05:40 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (KungFuSquirrel @ Jan 24 2005, 05:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Halo 2 was really disappointing. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Fixt. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • Marik_SteeleMarik_Steele To rule in hell... Join Date: 2002-11-20 Member: 9466Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-KungFuSquirrel+Jan 24 2005, 05:40 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (KungFuSquirrel @ Jan 24 2005, 05:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Marik Steele+Jan 24 2005, 12:19 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Marik Steele @ Jan 24 2005, 12:19 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Other than Knights of the Old Republic or Deus Ex 2, I don't remember any other recent games for which people have been hoping to avoid spoilers.  Doom 3? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I had major points of Halo 2 spoiled 4 different times, 2 within the NS forums or IRC channel. I still enjoyed the game, but damn. DAMN, I say! 4 times was really disappointing. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    The third was a guy at work during lunch, and the fourth was some moron on the Snark Pit who started off ok - he put the text in black (matching the background), but then immediately following in normal text continued on by <i>describing what impact the spoiler had</i>.

    Freakin' idiot <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Ah, my mistake, I neglected to mention Halo 2 because I've never owned a console, and the unfortunateness of quickly learning of the reportedly-lackluster ending was tempered by my instant realization that I could use the fact to convince friends to buy HL2 <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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