Nestor wrote: »

Its not that ZOS does not remove Bots, its that ZOS won't hardware and IP ban the people running them.

IP numbers are often shared. It isn't feasible to ban an IP address because you risk locking out genuine players. IP numbers can also be changed or got around so it doesn't provide a real solution anyway. Hardware locks are complicated by those players who use more than one machine, and (depending on how it's done) most of us don't want a games developer rummaging through our machine registering this bit and that bit.

People are often quick to single out ZOS over bots, but one of the games that a lot of ESO critics like to cite as having got everything right in various respects is FFXIV, and while I've logged into that game on and off throughout the years since it relaunched, I can't recall a single occasion when I've logged into it and not been pestered by gold sellers within seconds of doing so. My ignore box is full of them, but they keep getting new accounts and defeating all attempts to get rid of them for good.

The good news with bots is firstly that most people don't notice them because they don't actively interfere with their playstyle, and secondly gold sellers etc tend only to target the really successful and well-populated games so the fact that ESO is significantly affected is a positive sign!

Tandor wrote: »

Hardware locks are complicated by those players who use more than one machine, and (depending on how it's done) most of us don't want a games developer rummaging through our machine registering this bit and that bit.

That boat has sailed.

All you have to do is change a piece of hardware and ZOS knows your machine is different and you have to go through the challenge email. Happened with each video card I have installed, an SSD, and a sound card. Heck, I updated a driver and had to answer a challenge email. So, they already know the detailed hardware signature. A hardware ban is already feasible to do with the current set up ZOS has now.

And, it's not like these guys have banks of machines maintained by a staff of IT wizards. These are people who are too stupid and lazy to get a real job so they live in a basement running these bot programs on their machines. Hardware ban them with a reference to their IP and they go bye bye and don't come back.

Remember, it does not need to a be full proof system, it just had to make it inconvenient and difficult for the botters so they move on to easier targets. You know that lock on your front door of your house? Do you really think it will stop a thief who wants in? No. but it stops 99% of them as they will look for an easier mark. Thieves are lazy, if they were not, they would be working a legit job. Make it hard for the botters and they go away, or at least most of them do.

Not doing something because 1% of the botters out there might figure out a way around just leaves the 99% who would go away thriving in the game.