BlueAlien.org

Above is the advisory that comes with all copies of Battlefield 2142. I've transcribed it below but the long and the short of it is that to play the game you agree to install software that will collect "anonymous information". Unspecified anonymous information. EA has said that they will only be collecting information on how people view their clumsy, obtrusive advertising but that's not what the papers you sign state. EA's advice to players who don't want this? "do not install or play the software on any platform that is connected to the internet". We all know how much fun single player Battlefield is right?

Simply put, don't buy Battlefield 2142, and discourage everyone else from doing so. Make this the poorest selling game of the franchise, if not the poorest selling game in EA's history. The only way to prevent publishers from adding invasive, destructive advertising features to our games is to make it clear to them that they have more money to gain from ad-free games than from "experience-enhancing" advertising.

It's very, very underhanded of EA to have included the notice inside the box instead of on the package. Don't want to be stuck with a game that is functionally unplayable because you don't want spyware on your machine and want to use it for the internet? Good luck getting any store out there to give you your money back - opened software is unreturnable at almost every store that sells games. You're stuck with a game you can't play and you have essentially lit your $49.99 as a sacrifice to the dark gods at EA, who get to rack up another sale, and "IGA Worldwide Inc", who get a contribution to the "success story" of their spyware.

EA has signed an agreement with IGA whose website is http://www.ingameadvertising.com/, for a "portfolio" of games to include their software. Every single Electronic Arts game released from this day forward should be considered contaminated and should be avoided at all costs. We can make this advertising campaign fail. As long as 2142 is contaminated with advertising simply don't buy it.

This Software may incorporate technology developed by IGA Worldwide Inc. ("IGA" (the "Advertising technology"). The purpose of the Advertising Technology is to deliver in-game advertisements to you when you use the Software while connected to the Internet. The Advertising Technology may record your Internet Protocol address and other anonymous information ("Advertising Data"). The Advertising Data is temporarily used by IGA to enable the presentation and measurement of in-game advertisements and other in-game objects which are uploaded temporarily to your personal computer or game console and changed during online game play. The Advertising Technology does not collect any personally identifiable information about you and EA will not provide IGA with any of your personally identifiable information. The servers used by the Advertising Technology may, from time to time, be loacted outside your country of residence. If you are located within the European Union, the servers may be located outside the European Union.

By installing and using the Software you agree to: (i) the transfer of the Advertising Data to servers located outside your country of residence and, if applicable, outside the European Union; (ii) the collection and use of the Advertising Data as described in this Section; and (iii) the delivery of advertising and marketing content by the Advertising Technology. IF YOU DO NOT WANT IGA TO COLLECT, USE, STORE OR TRANSMIT THE DATA DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION DO NOT INSTALL OR PLAY THE SOFTWARE ON ANY PLATFORM THAT IS USED TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET.