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Final Fantasy XI Prompts MMO Legislation

by Aaron Linde, Aug 01, 2008 4:15pm PDT

Related Topics – Final Fantasy XI, xbox 360, Legal, PC, PlayStation 2

The Illinois General Assembly has passed a law requiring the developers of online games to allow account cancellations to be conducted online, prompted by complaints lodged at Square Enix's MMO Final Fantasy XI (PC, PS2, 360).

According to Silicon Alley Insider, State Representative Raymond Poe introduced the bill following complaints of Illinois resident Frank Edwards. who ran into difficulties cancelling his son's Final Fantasy XI account.

Unable to locate any means of discontinuing the service online, Edwards called customer support, spending an hour and 45 minutes on hold before the account was finally closed.

The law stipulates that a game's website include clear instructions on how to cancel an account online, adding that no publisher or developer may require phone or mail correspondence for an account closure.

While several popular MMOs such as Blizzard's World of Warcraft (PC) and Funcom's Age of Conan: Hyborean Adventures (PC, 360) employ full-featured account maintenance services on their respective web pages, Square Enix has been repeatedly criticized for its draconian account management system in Final Fantasy XI.

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10 Threads | 24 Comments

#15

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By: jtthe2nd x Show Full Post

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Gee, that's nice. How about do the same for cell phone contracts?

Aug 01, 2008 8:13pm PDT

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Gee, that's nice. How about do the same for cell phone contracts? : jtthe2nd
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 3 replies.
- Now THAT would actually be useful legislation. : aznboysix
- hell everything shoudl be done online i hate talking i feel pressured to do something im weak minded : Chandler55

#22

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By: doozer667 x Show Full Post

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And how exactly is a state in the United States going to actually enforce this legislation on a video game company in Japan?

Aug 03, 2008 5:12pm PDT

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And how exactly is a state in the United States going to actually enforce this legislation on a video gam... : doozer667
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
- The state doesn't have to enforce it. It probably allows a consumer to sue the local publisher, which es... : pleasedpig

#19

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By: packav x Show Full Post

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I remember reinstalling this game almost a year after my first time playing. They deleted my level 30 mage. After talking with a GM forever and basicallyl being told they couldn't recover it because it was dormant past 90 days or something, I uninstalled. FFXI is wacky.

Aug 02, 2008 8:54am PDT

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I remember reinstalling this game almost a year after my first time playing. They deleted my level 30 mag... : packav
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
- Wow that sucks. I recently installed the game after not playing it for 3 years and was able to get my ch... : SonicusZ

#10

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By: Ellissd x Show Full Post

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I remember when I was trying to cancel my Everquest 2 account, they asked me for my answer to my secret question. And I always type random letters and numbers and stuff i'll never in a million years remember or guess. So I had to call tech support, spent a ridiculous amount of time on hold, to have them cancel my account for me. It was fucking bullshit.

Aug 01, 2008 6:19pm PDT

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I remember when I was trying to cancel my Everquest 2 account, they asked me for my answer to my secret q... : Ellissd
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 3 replies.
- Why in god's name would you do that for your secret question? A better tactic would be to give an answer... : r_picmip 5
- I usually put something I, you know, can remember. Because those things are there to help me. : JimRune

#2

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By: Karnov x Show Full Post

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Not being able to cancel online is the number one reason that I don't resub to certain MMOs. Also, last time I was on xbox live it was the same story, but maybe that's changed.

Aug 01, 2008 4:24pm PDT

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Not being able to cancel online is the number one reason that I don't resub to certain MMOs. Also, last ... : Karnov
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 7 replies.
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  That's correct if you have your credit card in the xbox it will automatically renew without asking you an... : MoreVespeneGas
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    I wouldn't exactly call the phone call tedious. They gave me a free month when I wanted to cancel and th... : IndigoAK
    - I'd rather they just not auto renew then give me a free month and waste my time with a phone call. Fir... : TGammet
    - toggle
      You're right, horribly tedious is a more appropriate description. My phone call took over 45 minutes.... : MoreVespeneGas
      
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      You must have got the wrong person then because my call lasted 15 minutes, tops. : IndigoAK
      
      I found my original post when I did it for your reading pleasure: The Xbox 360/Microsoft have a seri... : MoreVespeneGas

#14

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By: bitter ego x Show Full Post

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Well at least someone is putting a foot in Square Enix's ass (But a bill is a bit much)!

Back during my MMO phase, I played a bit of FFXI here and there. Quickly got bored and canceled my account, only to find out they were still charging my CC. A nasty call to Square Enix customer support didn't do much, because I ended up calling my CC company to get everything handled. :(

Aug 01, 2008 7:42pm PDT

Well at least someone is putting a foot in Square Enix's ass (But a bill is a bit much)! Back during... : bitter ego

#4

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By: Wisp! x Show Full Post

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I was able to cancel my account easily over Play Online a year or so ago.

Aug 01, 2008 4:30pm PDT

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I was able to cancel my account easily over Play Online a year or so ago. : Wisp!
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 3 replies.
- The fact that you have to have POL installed to activate/deactivate your account is ridiculous. POL need... : CyCo_PL
- it MAY have an sram chip and need a 2025 battery; but im like 90% sure its an EPROM; in which case the ch... : Bantis

#11

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By: dhvyse x Show Full Post

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This games always been absolutely atrocious when it came to account management and subbing. What do you expect from a game that charges money extra characters beyond your first one?

I can't believe people actually play that game, fucking timesink and a half.

Aug 01, 2008 6:20pm PDT

This games always been absolutely atrocious when it came to account management and subbing. What do you ... : dhvyse

#3

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By: ghost in my shell x Show Full Post

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You could cancel your account online and it was very easy. It wasn't through the website, but with the game's built in portal when you start it up.

I should know since I go back to the game every other six months like a crack addict. :[

Aug 01, 2008 4:26pm PDT

You could cancel your account online and it was very easy. It wasn't through the website, but with the ga... : ghost in my shell

#1

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By: happynoodle x Show Full Post

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I canceled my account online through their chat support system. I was messaged they had canceled my account.. a couple months later I noticed they were still charging to my account.. so I called my bank and had them cancel the payments.. pretty lame of squareenix or whoever handles their customer support.

Aug 01, 2008 4:20pm PDT

I canceled my account online through their chat support system. I was messaged they had canceled my accou... : happynoodle

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