Speculation Is Banned?

HackTheMinotaur · November 2022

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Hi, everyone. Today we are announcing a change in our policy concerning the sharing and discussion of unofficially released information, rumors, and datamining on the official ESO forums. Starting today, all posts containing any rumors, datamined content, or otherwise unofficial, unreleased information will be a violation of our forum community guidelines and will be removed, regardless of whether the information is true or false.

You are still welcome to post suggestions, ideas, and guides related to officially released information that we have shared in articles, livestreams, interviews, on the PTS, and on our social media channels.

@ZOS_Kevin Can you clarify the above announcement? For example, If I post speculation thread on "the next class" or "Top 5 Features We Need In ESO" will that content be removed because it's discussing unconfirmed features?

EmEm_Oh · November 2022

I would think you'll be fine. Because that's your opinion.

But posting content from datamining or getting your info from websites that say they got it from so-and-so...won't fly on the forums.

Jaimeh · November 2022

What about future content speculation in terms of story?

dragonlord500 · November 2022

Zos may end up in conflict with US law if they keep this up...

Aislinna · November 2022

dragonlord500 wrote: »

Zos may end up in conflict with US law if they keep this up...

What law would that be? Please don't say "free speech".

Kingsindarkness · November 2022

dragonlord500 wrote: »

Zos may end up in conflict with US law if they keep this up...

Private company Private Forums...they can do as they please.

Lebkuchen · November 2022

If you read their rules, you will notice that everything you write can be removed and you can be banned for it. It's just a question of interpretation. I honestly can not tell you how many rules i just broke by telling you that. I hope none, but i guess it's a lot.

TaSheen · November 2022

Eh. It's a private forum run by a private corporation. They can do anything they please regarding datamining as long as it's nothing the FBI is going to be interested in.

I think datamining is the main target here. But there's also some obvious lockdown against some of the more egregious rumor mills/conspiracy theorists.

I don't think you, Hack, need to worry about build info etc - and to my knowledge (not that I spend a lot of time looking) you haven't ever posted anything likely to be considered "conspiracy theories". But I don't work for ZOS, and I'm certainly as likely to be wrong as right.

I actually enjoyed the datamines posted by @Cactus_Back - sad to see them go. Then again, I didn't ever expect what showed up on a datamine to really pop in game.

Kingsindarkness · November 2022

TaSheen wrote: »

Eh. It's a private forum run by a private corporation. They can do anything they please regarding datamining as long as it's nothing the FBI is going to be interested in.

I think datamining is the main target here. But there's also some obvious lockdown against some of the more egregious rumor mills/conspiracy theorists.

Or the "Look at the steam charts everyone is leaving " threads we get at least four times a week...

redspecter23 · November 2022

ZOS is of course free to have whatever rules they want in place on their official forums and they can enforce them however they want. From my point of view, I'll still have access to this same information, just not from here. And posting anything that might be considered a rumor is something I personally wouldn't risk as it would technically be a rules violation and could lead to disciplinary action, which I'm not interested in being involved in if I can help it.

End result is less participation due to an understandable stifling of communication but also out of fear of retribution for misstepping.

luen79rwb17_ESO · November 2022

If datamining is so hurtfull towards the company maybe they should try taking tech-related measures instead of censoring this particular forum and its users (players)?

Other companies try that route because in the end it is more effective. Shutting down posts / users will only move the info to other places that actually could potentially have more engagement and hence supposedly "negative" impact

Cireous · November 2022

TaSheen wrote: »

datamines posted by @Cactus_Back

*Finds his datamine page, favorites it and remembers to check it now and then*

Go ahead, come for me ZOS.

Don't understand what your problem with that datamine is.

It's just pure hype. This game could do better with more of it.

redspecter23 · November 2022

Cireous wrote: »

TaSheen wrote: »

datamines posted by @Cactus_Back

*Finds his datamine page, favorites it and remembers to check it now and then*

Go ahead, come for me ZOS.

Don't understand what your problem with that datamine is.

It's just pure hype. This game could do better with more of it.

The control of information and the specific timing of the release of that information can be valuable. Remember, this is the same company that has an event starting later this month. We still don't know when it starts. If that information is that precious to them, you can imagine how they feel about datamining. As players we can't necessarily see their point of view about how negative it can be. I'll admit that I don't fully comprehend how it can hurt that much, but it's not for me to understand.

omnidoh · November 2022

Given the degree of attempted forced conformity, game players and fans would probably be better off creating their own forum where they can discuss anything and everything with impunity.

Though now that I think about it, that forum already exists. It's called Reddit.

BlueRaven · November 2022

omnidoh wrote: »

Given the degree of attempted forced conformity, game players and fans would probably be better off creating their own forum where they can discuss anything and everything with impunity.

Though now that I think about it, that forum already exists. It's called Reddit.

And discord.

BloodyStigmata · November 2022

I guess I have to update my sig

EDIT: Apparently the formatting of it isn't properly saving on the forums either. Fantastic.

SimonThesis · November 2022

Agreed, things are only getting worse and worse around here. Now we can't even speculate or guess. Everyday a seemingly new topic that now gets you moderated or Banned. Sounds like we all should move to reddit tbh.

Just a reminder the now banned content about D M can be searched on google.

Cireous · November 2022

redspecter23 wrote: »

Cireous wrote: »

TaSheen wrote: »

datamines posted by @Cactus_Back

*Finds his datamine page, favorites it and remembers to check it now and then*

Go ahead, come for me ZOS.

Don't understand what your problem with that datamine is.

It's just pure hype. This game could do better with more of it.

The control of information and the specific timing of the release of that information can be valuable. Remember, this is the same company that has an event starting later this month. We still don't know when it starts. If that information is that precious to them, you can imagine how they feel about datamining. As players we can't necessarily see their point of view about how negative it can be. I'll admit that I don't fully comprehend how it can hurt that much, but it's not for me to understand.

There are only two means by which I can access high levels of dopamine through Elder Scrolls Online 1. On the first day of PTR, exploring a new zone and discovering what the new furnishings will look like, and 2. Viewing datamined content, theorizing about it, and imagining possibilities. So with this announcement, my only concern is finding where to access the datamines, and discussions about datamines, so I can keep the feel-good chemicals rolling. They are all I have now. They're not taking them from me no matter what their reasonings behind it are. If one day actually 'playing the game' makes you feel as good as seeing what's new, or speculating about how it might be changing, then maybe that other stuff won't matter as much anymore.

Bekkael · November 2022

BioWare closed their forums, or had them closed by EA maybe, not sure. I'm actually pleasantly surprised when any official game forums for a given game studio exists. It was very sad to be told to go to social media platforms to have any info or interaction with BioWare after the forums closed. Fans opened an "unofficial" forum to continue to discuss Bio's games, but it just wasn't the same.

Didn't Bethesda close their forums too?

I sure hope ZOS doesn't go down the same path.

RevJJ · November 2022

redspecter23 wrote: »

Cireous wrote: »

TaSheen wrote: »

datamines posted by @Cactus_Back

*Finds his datamine page, favorites it and remembers to check it now and then*

Go ahead, come for me ZOS.

Don't understand what your problem with that datamine is.

It's just pure hype. This game could do better with more of it.

The control of information and the specific timing of the release of that information can be valuable. Remember, this is the same company that has an event starting later this month. We still don't know when it starts. If that information is that precious to them, you can imagine how they feel about datamining. As players we can't necessarily see their point of view about how negative it can be. I'll admit that I don't fully comprehend how it can hurt that much, but it's not for me to understand.

This is a company that can’t even tell us when the “Q&A” for the previous update will arrive, so I can imagine any type of speculation on future content is off limits.

ZOS_Kevin · November 2022

@HackTheMinotaur thanks for reaching out. Just to clarify your question, all of those would be fine. The purpose of this change is to stop rumors and spoiling of unreleased or unconfirmed content. And sometimes players note rumors as well that are harmful to the studio. For example, if someone is knowing sharing something like, “We datamined content for the next dlc. Here is the info and what you can expect”, that is an example of the content we are referencing to that is no longer welcome on the forum. No matter if the information is true or false, we will remove it. Speculation as you mentioned is perfectly fine and encouraged.

Also, we never noted that players would be banned outright. We will delete comments and reach out accordingly. When we note the going through the customer service process, it will be our normal process, where various criteria are evaluated as part of the process.

TechMaybeHic · November 2022

I don't know. It's my experience that when people don't want speculation, transparency is best. If they go the route of silencing in stead; it's usually not because they're trying to do something they're confident will be well received

Amottica · November 2022

dragonlord500 wrote: »

Zos may end up in conflict with US law if they keep this up...

This is a private forum. As such, speech can be regulated.

It would also seem, based on the clarification provided, that guessing where we are going next year based on what we see in a DLC or whatever is permitted. I have seen such threads by a certain forum person who happened to be incorrect. It would not be an issue since it was just a guess.

Mik195 · November 2022

If this is to avoid spoiling unreleased content, can we have PC players use spoilers for content that has released on PC but not console?

I learned the ending of Deadlands before it even released on console because I didn't realize that a blandly titled thread was going to give the whole story away. Console players shouldn't have to avoid the forums for a significant portion of the year because of PTS and PC releasing first.

SammyKhajit · November 2022

Sigh.

This one appreciates where ZOS is coming from, but it will potentially fuel the narrative for conspiracy theories even more. A better approach is to respond to rumours and datamining threads with “this is unsubstantiated gossip/rumour”.

“The absence of a thing does not equate to its non-existence.” Khajiti common sayings 😸

Note: Sammy loves reading on, and speculating about when and if datamined items will materialise. It’s harmless fun and we all know these objects may or may not show up. But you know, seeing Clanmother Tadali in one of the datamine as a house guest gave this one such a boost, it felt that ZOS listened to feedbacks about more alfiq houseguests.

It doesn’t matter if the house guest will happen this year, next, or never. It’s the thought that counted.

barney2525 · November 2022

Well who is leaking the information? Plug the leaks and there is no issue. Punish the Leaker, not the readers.

IMHO

jtm1018 · November 2022

SammyKhajit wrote: »

Sigh.

“The absence of a thing does not equate to its non-existence.” Khajiti common sayings 😸

If Maique the Liar did not not say this, then it is not the truth, for Maique the Liar is the truth.

SammyKhajit · November 2022

jtm1018 wrote: »

SammyKhajit wrote: »

Sigh.

“The absence of a thing does not equate to its non-existence.” Khajiti common sayings 😸

If Maique the Liar did not not say this, then it is not the truth, for Maique the Liar is the truth.

Maique also said, “Trust Sammy. For he is Maique the Liar’s loyal disciple and spreader of Maique’s Wisdom.”

FeedbackOnly · November 2022

Cireous wrote: »

TaSheen wrote: »

datamines posted by @Cactus_Back

*Finds his datamine page, favorites it and remembers to check it now and then*

Go ahead, come for me ZOS.

Don't understand what your problem with that datamine is.

It's just pure hype. This game could do better with more of it.

You can also use this learn what items nobody likes in advance

Katheriah · November 2022

The datamined content will just move somewhere else.

Dr_Con · November 2022

i think people complaining about something not being added was responsible for this change. there's like 20 posts of people saying they refuse to spend money on crates because a certain datamined mount wasn't being added

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en-gb/discussion/617639/official-discussion-thread-for-new-wraithtide-crown-crates/p1

not naming and shaming, but that topic is a prime example that displays specific examples of comments that ZOS specifically no longer allows. It may have an impact on the bottom line to allow discussion of it on their official forums. Reddit is still an option to discuss these sorts of things, as is player discords. They just don't want people discussing things on their forums.

edit 2:
as per Kevin's post here, this specific instance wasn't responsible for the change (nor does any specific example seem to be it), but it is an example of a situation they want to avoid.