PTR Notes: No cyborz in the Deeprun Tram
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 21st 2007 at 4:05PM
What did Skazarund do to get banned from the PTR? All he did wrong was cyborz, man. Cyborz, if you didn't know, is a little bit of the digital hanky-panky. The Internet in-and-out, if you will. The networked nookie, know what I mean?All joking aside, apparently that's true-- Timbal says the test realms are for "testing new game content and functionality, not your abilities to write romance novels." Now, I'm not a huge fan of cybersex or anything (the real thing seems much more fun), but there are people out there that do it, and as long as they don't hurt anyone, I'm fine with leaving them alone. Does Blizzard really feel the need to ban anyone who gets it on on the PTR? Is it somehow more wrong there than on the live servers?
Skaz may have been obscene in some way, and if so, then yeah-- he broke the terms of service, and a ban is in order. But if he's just gettin' it on, RP-style, baby, is that really being "disruptive or counterproductive to testing"?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Virtual selves, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Humor
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
luchifer Aug 21st 2007 4:35PM
why this discussion even exist? Its the TEST realms up so when can test our typing skills or do some actual TEST of the new content of the game?
Ahoni Aug 21st 2007 4:17PM
Journalism where have you gone?
We don't know what happened.
We don't know where it happened.
We don't know who it happened to.
We don't know when it happened.
We don't know why it happened.
Good thing we posted the story then. Wouldn't want to wait for one or two of the 5 W's of journalism.
So, what kind of cyber sex did he participate in? Was it in general chat? Was it in /s? Was it /y?
Who else was able to see the cyber? What words were used during cybering? Where was the cyber. What time of day was it.
Do we actually have any information, or are you just creating a story out of nothing.
What part of the patch was he testing by having cybersex? Is there a cooldown involved? Does resilience now have an impact on sex? Why was he doing this on the PTR? If you are going to cyber, and who hasn't, there are much easier, better, faster ways than using WoW PTR.
Rick Aug 21st 2007 4:27PM
"Now, I'm not a huge fan of cybersex or anything (the real thing seems much more fun)..."
Seems? SEEMS?!? LOL
Guidinglight Aug 21st 2007 4:30PM
LOL did he use stam food to increase his performance?
It's Blizzards game, let them do what they want. I just don't understand how anyone gets joy out of cybersex.. are you that incapable of getting it in real life...
DrCheckmate Aug 21st 2007 4:33PM
Is he related to the adult star that just got banned from WoW?
DrC
Chris Gardner Aug 21st 2007 4:35PM
"Does Blizzard really feel the need to ban anyone who gets it on on the PTR?"
Can you make an argument that "getting it on" actually helps test the game?
Nails Aug 21st 2007 4:35PM
in before he edits the article to change the word 'seems'
w00t!
Dyermaker Aug 21st 2007 4:40PM
If the PTRs are there for testing new content, and you are not testing content, you should be removed to make room for someone that will.
To cry about being banned from a server that will be completely wiped in a few days anyway, seems like another waste of time. Which appears to be the purpose of the whole thing from this user, to waste people's time.
Baluki Aug 21st 2007 4:41PM
I doubt being on the test realm has anything to do with it. He/she/they were probably speaking out loud instead of keeping it private.
I feel like making a run down to the Deeprun Tram now. Such a hassle for a troll to find lovin' these days.
Ryknow Aug 21st 2007 4:48PM
since kids play this game i think all instances of cybering should get you banned anyways. its a game, play it the way int is intended.
native Aug 21st 2007 4:46PM
the cybersex is the only reason i dual box.
i find this whole matter upsetting.
TheMinority Aug 21st 2007 4:47PM
I could understand banning from the PTR since they really are meant for testing and testing only and cyboring *could* be considered counter-productive if it was distracting people from testing or whatever nonsense Blizzard can come up with, but not from the entire game for one incident.
And while I'm not a fan of the whole cyboring thing, if you want to do it in WoW that's fine I guess. After all, people get married on RP servers. What do they do the night after? Go to the inn at Booty Bay and sleep in separate beds? Chyeah.
But at least be decent about it. There are plenty of people who don't want to hear you getting it on, and a few who would vehemently oppose it and report you ASAP. Keep it in /tells or go to a secluded place and not a well-traveled area (ie: NOT the Deeprun Tram).
Friends don't let friends cybor in /say.
Tumples Aug 21st 2007 4:50PM
I am glad that other people noticed the seems :D
Eric Vice Aug 21st 2007 5:00PM
What happens in party chat stays in party chat. Always has.
'Nuff said.
SeanKReynolds Aug 21st 2007 5:11PM
From the WOW Terms of Use document, section B1, which says you may not "Transmit or post any content or language which, in the sole and absolute discretion of Blizzard, is deemed to be offensive, including without limitation content or language that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, *vulgar, obscene, hateful, sexually explicit*, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable, nor may you use a misspelling or an alternative spelling to circumvent the content and language restrictions listed above;"
Seems pretty clear to me, especially the part I marked with asterisks.
Scruffy Aug 21st 2007 5:18PM
Need link to relevant PA comic.
Coherent Aug 21st 2007 5:33PM
Was it in public, or private? If they banned him for a private conversation with someone else, no matter how explicit, then it was a terrible invasion of privacy and they should apologize immediately.
If it was in public, then they're entirely in the right and don't need to apologize for anything. Explicit public sex isn't really something that everybody is interested in watching.
luchifer Aug 21st 2007 5:47PM
@17 the player should be the going appologizing to blizzard for using the Test Realm to cybering and not actually helping testing new content. If people dont use the Test Realm for its intended purpose, then there is no point for making it Public.
Mike Schramm Aug 21st 2007 6:08PM
Slow down, folks. I've never had *cybersex*. Leaves me without a point of comparison.
Here's the Penny Arcade strip in full:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/01/23
SeanKReynolds Aug 21st 2007 6:13PM
{Was it in public, or private? If they banned him for a private conversation with someone else, no matter how explicit, then it was a terrible invasion of privacy and they should apologize immediately.}
Also from the Terms of Use, which you agreed to in order to play:
"Communicating with other Users and Blizzard representatives is an integral part of the Program and is referred to in this document as "Chat." You understand that Blizzard *may record your chat sessions and you consent to such monitoring or logging.* Your Chat sessions may be subject to monitoring, logging, review, modification, disclosure, and/or deletion by Blizzard without notice to you."