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[cormack12]

EA SPORTS has been hit with a new United States federal lawsuit, which alleges Electronic Arts “unlawfully increases game difficulty” ⁠— dubbed ‘scripting’ by a number of FIFA 21 fans ⁠— in a deliberate effort to sell more Ultimate Team packs.

In the suit, they claimed EA SPORTS uses “deceptive practices” and “false advertising” to drive sales in their FUT mode.

The lawsuit suggests EA willingly and “unlawfully” tricks FIFA players into buying Ultimate Team loot boxes by “utilizing artificial intelligence technologies that adjust game difficulty dynamically.” As mentioned, this is known as ‘scripting’ by fans.

“Unbeknownst to most… EA utilizes technologies like ‘Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment’ and ‘Adaptive Difficulty.’ These technologies use heuristic prediction and intervention to dictate or even influence outcomes, thereby keeping gamers more engaged,” the suit, filed in November, reads.

EA has responded to the Zajonc v. Electronic Arts lawsuit. The FIFA 21 publishers wrote, “We believe the claims are baseless and misrepresent our games.”

 

[jaysius]

They're describing how F2P mechanics work, so I'm not shocked by any of that.

 

[GHG]

About bloody time.

It's no coincidence that your team suddenly perform better after opening a few card packs in my team.

It's all designed to push you towards spending more money rather than allowing the game to be 100% skill based as it should be.

 

[MiyazakiHatesKojima]

About bloody time.

It's no coincidence that your team suddenly perform better after opening a few card packs in my team.

It's all designed to push you towards spending more money rather than allowing the game to be 100% skill based as it should be.

FIFA died in my eyes when I found about scripting.

That's just a no-no in a skill-based game.

 

[Andodalf]

I don't think it's actually true that these games do that, it's usually just people getting salty when they lose a game when these accusations come up.

 

[The Bloody-Nine]

All sports games pull this shit. Which is why I avoid them.

 

[baphomet]

I don't think it's actually true that these games do that, it's usually just people getting salty when they lose a game when these accusations come up.

They 100% do it.

 

[diffusionx]

They're describing how F2P mechanics work, so I'm not shocked by any of that.

As opposed to slot machines where all the odds have to be clearly labeled and announced to regulators and available for public review.

It really shows how scummy and slimy the whole F2P/GAAS market is.

 

[Mokus]

I don't think it's actually true that these games do that, it's usually just people getting salty when they lose a game when these accusations come up.

You must be working for EA.

 

[Armorous]

I remember as a kid at the arcade, every racing game does this. The longer you are on there the more you could see cars randomly appear up closer to you in the race or appear from no where to pass at the last second.

 

[a multicultural team of v]

This garbage is like 20 years old at this point. Even back in college playing like Madden 2003 you could almost always predict when the game was going to cause a fumble or interception, shit was like clockwork. Even if you literally dove the second you got the ball with your running back, if Madden wants you to fumble, you are fumbling.

 

[Allandor]

About bloody time.

It's no coincidence that your team suddenly perform better after opening a few card packs in my team.

It's all designed to push you towards spending more money rather than allowing the game to be 100% skill based as it should be.

And it does not even make sense in a football games that is all about training and transfers. There shouldn't be something like those packs.

They should really leave such packs just to cosmetics, but well... in a football game even this makes not sense.

 

[hyperbertha]

In EA games, even the gameplay is randomly selected.

 

[AJUMP23]

So fifa has rubberbanding like a racing game. I guess if you are EA dynamic difficulty is good for business.

 

[ManofOne]

I heard about this but never thought it to be true. Good luck thou, EA lawyers are like satan's balls

 

[Traianvs]

The only game my brother buys every year is Fifa and he always says that "the computer decides who shall win before the match starts". Now I'll have to stop telling him he's crazy?

 

[HarryKS]

I was playing yesterday, passed a driven low ball, it hit the opposition player's heel and looped in an unrealistic way to an unmarked attacker who promptly scored. The controls also became unresponsive and the players were running in molasses.

 

[darth.shrimp]

"Scripting outcomes"? Hey, just like with real sports!

 

[Cravis]

Bitches please, this has been going on since NBA Jam.

 

[iJudged]

good, i hope they get fucked hard. Same shit in Pro Clubs, scripted gameplay to level the playfield....it has been happening for at least 5/6 years...reason i stopped buying their garbage

 

[A.Romero]

Why would anyone play these modes? Why not just play regular matches and be done with it?

 

[ZehDon]

I don't play any sports games, so I haven't heard about this before. How long have they been doing this? If true, this is fucking heinous.

 

[Knitted Knight]

Remove the FIFA rights from EA and give it to someone else. That will be the day.

 

[HTK]

I'm not sure what kind of evidence is going to be used to prove this, I definitely believe in the script based on my experience with FIFA.

 

[Kamina]

EA is the videogame-devil, news at 11.

 

[a multicultural team of v]

This should be easy to determine too, just use save states and keep running the same play/situation over and over. See how often the exact same outcome happens.

 

[MrFunSocks]

Lol what’s next, someone will sue them for rubber band AI in their racing games?

“Gamers” need to grow up. I’d expect the person that filed this personally likes to screech on places like Reeeeee too.

 

[M1chl]

"Scripting outcomes"? Hey, just like with real sports!

Watch them being this their defense.

Lol what’s next, someone will sue them for rubber band AI in their racing games?

“Gamers” need to grow up. I’d expect the person that filed this personally likes to screech on places like Reeeeee too.

EA SPORTS has been hit with a new United States federal lawsuit, which alleges Electronic Arts “unlawfully increases game difficulty” ⁠— dubbed ‘scripting’ by a number of FIFA 21 fans ⁠— in a deliberate effort to sell more Ultimate Team packs.

That's different than rubberband in Mario Kart.

 

[sobaka770]

I don't know about FUT but just in normal AI games there are times when the bots are just letting everything pass and times when no matter what you do you get a perfect attack on your goal through impeccable passing and dribbling and it just feels like AI is being cranked up or down.

I guess EA calculated that it drives engagement, but there's clearly no need for an adaptive difficulty anywhere. There are already like 6 levels.

 

[diffusionx]

Lol what’s next, someone will sue them for rubber band AI in their racing games?

“Gamers” need to grow up. I’d expect the person that filed this personally likes to screech on places like Reeeeee too.

This would be like adjusting the rubber band AI depending on whether or not the gamer has bought enough loot boxes.

the contention here is that EA is running a rigged casino that is messing with the odds to steer people towards more purchases. That is something that is 100% illegal in every single gaming jurisdiction.

 

[cryptoadam]

 

[Soodanim]

Lol what’s next, someone will sue them for rubber band AI in their racing games?

“Gamers” need to grow up. I’d expect the person that filed this personally likes to screech on places like Reeeeee too.

I think the point is that it’s allegedly tied to real money spending, although I don’t know if that’s breaking any sort of law.

edit: I guess post#90 understands it better

 

[Evil Calvin]

But all sports games have had player ratings, even NHL on Genesis for example had player ratings. You would crush everyone if you used the all-star team. So I don't know why it's an issue if you open packs, get a good player and your team gets better. That's how it's always worked.

 

[chonga]

Lol what’s next, someone will sue them for rubber band AI in their racing games?

“Gamers” need to grow up. I’d expect the person that filed this personally likes to screech on places like Reeeeee too.

Good reference - because that is basically what this is.

Lots of games have adaptive difficulty, and if it does a good job of it, you'll never know.

But good luck proving that it is done to make you buy stuff.

 

[TheKratos]

I'm willing to bet COD does similar shit.

 

[TTOOLL]

Keep buying their shit, suckers

 

[alabtrosMyster]

The lawsuit suggests EA willingly and “unlawfully” tricks FIFA players into buying Ultimate Team loot boxes by “utilizing artificial intelligence technologies that adjust game difficulty dynamically.” As mentioned, this is known as ‘scripting’ by fans.

Sega used to do this in games on the Genesis! but they did not use it to sell DLC.

 

[oldergamer]

A friend just sent this to me. I've been complaining about this exact issue in EA sports games. Had many arguments with moderators over at the EA forums

EA Sports Hit With FIFA 21 Lawsuit Over 'Dictating Outcomes' Through Alleged Scripting

The FIFA 21 lawsuit alleged that EA Sports had used "deceptive practices" and "false advertising" to drive sales for Ultimate Team.

www.sportbible.com

Now, EA Sports faces another legal challenge in the US after a lawsuit was brought to a Californian court.
The Zajonc v Electronic Arts lawsuit was brought forward by a FIFA trio -- Jason Zajnoc, Danyael Williams and Pranko Lozano -- and alleged that the publisher had used "deceptive practices" and "false advertising" to drive sales for Ultimate Team.
The lawsuit claims that EA "unlawfully" tricked players into buying packs from Ultimate Team by "utilizing artificial intelligence technologies that adjust game difficulty dynamically."

I think my thread from years ago was title Dynamic Difficulty on GAF. I hope EA is torn to shreds for this.

 

[Tschumi]

Mmmh that sounds annoyingly likely, like someone's mum sneakily replacing a Hamburger and coke with bran and soy milk because really that kinda thing shouldn't be left up to a kid~

 

[Hawking Radiation]

Only thing that comes to mind when I think about EA

 

[iconmaster]

The lawsuit suggests EA willingly and “unlawfully” tricks FIFA players into buying Ultimate Team loot boxes by “utilizing artificial intelligence technologies that adjust game difficulty dynamically.”

I doubt it’s unlawful, unless and until loot boxes get classified as gambling (which could happen, in the EU at least). Until then, the practice is merely extremely scummy.

I kind of think FIFA players should know better by now? Maybe they and EA deserve each other.

 

[oldergamer]

They nerf experienced players to give newbies an even playing field.

I'll never forget that game of NHL17 where I outshot some newbie 58 - 2 and outplayed him where he had less then a minute time on attack the entire game. He won the game 3 - 2. he literally didn't get a shot off and two of my own players triple deflected the puck around my goalie. Pretty sure i broke a controller on that game.

fuck EA

 

[RPSleon]

Disgusting manipulation. Very EA.

 

[Teslerum]

I doubt it’s unlawful, unless and until loot boxes get classified as gambling (which could happen, in the EU at least). Until then, the practice is merely extremely scummy.

I kind of think FIFA players should know better by now? Maybe they and EA deserve each other.

Depending on country it definitely can be even without loot boxes being branded as gambling. Simply using these or similar tactics on purchases in general is enough to trigger relevant laws. This is a separate issue.

Ofc, it's a tactic that's running rampart in the world right now anyway, especially in the electronic/tech sector. Lack of know-how in the general public and exploiting legal loopholes sadly makes them very attractive. Think electronic devices or parts being made slower with updates or surprisingly *failing* after set periods of time.

 

[BaneIsPain]

Well, this is the highest order of Evil Gaming company.
You should've avoided them ages ago.

 

[iorek21]

This happens even in standard online mode and sometimes in career mode.

There will be times which your team will be slow as fuck for some unknown reason, miss passes on purpose, miss goals, etc. That happens since FIFA 10 or even earlier.

 

[Craig of War]

They will settle or EA will pay the judge to rule in their favor.

 

[eyesabitdull]

Having watched that gaming documentary on Netflix and seeing the guy who founded EA and hearing about his convictions when it came to sports games, or specifically American Football, this is sad.

It's sad to see a company hit such a low to scrape money off their audience.

 

[drek_max]

Very interesting .

 

[Warablo]

I totally believe this after playing Nhl for two years. Especially the challenges.