Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsMartin Fury cheat draws Blizzard ire
by Adam Holisky 
Apr 30th 2009 at 5:37PM
WoW Insider had a chance to sit down today and talk with Karatechop, the man at the center of the cheating scandal that has been rocking World of Warcraft to its core.We'll have the full interview up for you soon (later today hopefully, or tomorrow at the latest), however one thing we learned from the interview is that his account has been closed, permanently. While we cannot verify this with Blizzard directly, as there are privacy concerns that forbid them from talking about other people's accounts, we can verify that the account administrator who dealt with the closure is real, and that the template used in disseminating the account closure information is legitimate.
The account closure email was forwarded to us from Karatechop during the interview, and we are confident in its authenticity. You can see the full email after the break. We have his express permission to reproduce and report on the actions taken against his account.
The other thing to note is that despite claims on other websites, he is not an employee of Blizzard. There is no evidence to support such claims, and he made a point of telling us today that he is in no way affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment, which we believe.
The full account closure email, sans personally identifiable information, after the break!
From: "wowaccountadmin@blizzard.com" <wowaccountadmin@blizzard.com>
To: REMOVED
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 6:30:24 PM
Subject: World of Warcraft - Account Issue
Salutations,
Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding the World of Warcraft account you are using. We apologize for any gap in communication, yet our in-game Player Relations team sent an email detailing the account issue and resolution to the registered email address on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 7:55:14 PM Pacific Standard Time. We have included a copy of the original message for your review and apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced.
*********************************Original Email*******************************************************
Subject: World of Warcraft - Account Closure
****Notice of Account Closure****
Greetings REMOVED,
Account Name: REMOVED
Realm: Vek'nilash
Character Name: Karatechop
Account Action: Closure
Reason for Action: Terms of Use Violation - Abuse of Game Mechanics
• Using or exploiting errors in design, features which have not been documented, and/or "program bugs" to gain access that is otherwise not available, or to obtain a competitive advantage over other players;
• Anything that Blizzard considers contrary to the "essence" of the Game.
After a thorough investigation, Account Administration has determined that the account above was found to have participated in exploitive activities.
The character, "Karatechop," on the realm "Vek'nilash" was found to have obtained an item (inaccessible by standard game play) from another player and trivialized the World of Warcraft raid contents with the exploitive use of this item. Consequently, this character was able to assist with the accumulation of items and achievements through the use of this item that is not obtainable by "normal" means.. The character's actions gave the account an unfair advantage over all other players. As a result of the violation of the World of Warcraft Terms of Use, this account will be permanently closed.
This action has been taken in accordance with the Terms of Use (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/legal/termsofuse.html) and our In-Game Policies (http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/20309). Any recurring subscriptions on this account have been suspended to prevent further monetary charges.
Only the Account Administration department can address disputes or questions you may have about this account action. To learn more about how we are able to assist you, please visit us at http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/21505.
Regards,
REMOVED
Senior Account Administrator
Blizzard Entertainment
www..blizzard.com
*********************************Original Email*******************************************************
Thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter. Please feel free to contact us with further questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
REMOVED
Account Administrator
Blizzard Entertainment
www.blizzard.com
----------------------
"Players who buy gold are supporting spamming, botting, and keylogging."
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/basics/antigold.html
"How to Stay in the Game"
http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=21506
Filed under: Bugs, News items
Reader Comments (Page 9 of 13)
ryan Apr 30th 2009 10:42PM
The thing I hate most about this... he's goes to become infamous. He shouldn't be. He's a cheat, pure and simple, and we, the collective of WOW players, should shun this fucktard.
epicpwny Apr 30th 2009 10:54PM
He's not a cheater. Cheating would involve breaking the rules of the game. In this case, he had a legitimate item (by legitimate, I mean it isn't hacked or broken - Blizzard deliberately created it and put it into the game). He used it legitimately (by which I mean he wasn't using any server exploit or anything of the sort - he simply used the item normally).
The mere fact that the flavor text says "cheater" is not material. The item is real and was used in an appropriate manner.
The question is not whether he cheated - he didn't - but whether he had a duty to Blizzard to not use the item at all. Blizzard apparently thinks he did, and has terminated his account.
While I would agree that a 7 day ban may be appropriate ("don't do this again"), I think a permanent termination is ridiculous.
This story is, in essence, the garden of eden. There is a tree/shirt, and I have left it where you can eat/wear it. But if you do, you and your descendants will be condemned for all eternity.
If Blizzard wants to play at being an inscrutable, turn-you-into-a-pillar-of-salt-for-random-infractions divinity, they wrote their EULA broadly enough to permit themselves to. But I think that they shouldn't. Permanent account bans should be reserved for people hacking the servers themselves or inducing real damage outside of the game.
Hoggersbud May 1st 2009 3:38AM
>The item is real and was used in an appropriate manner.
Wrong. He used it to get some kicks in while raiding Ulduar.
That isn't appropriate at all, except maybe on the PTR.
thejavster Apr 30th 2009 10:59PM
this isnt fair, i feel sorry for karate, blizzard were the gods and they gave humans the fire, its there fault for giving karate the object
Matazuma Apr 30th 2009 10:58PM
"We didn't hack the game. We were given a 'You Win' button and it was something we used."~Karatechop
This man speaks the turth
insanitysigyns May 1st 2009 12:52AM
Several months back there was an error on a few realms enabling the purchase of pvp reward gear without spending tokens. Hundreds upon hundreds of players on many toons bought as many items as they could carry, so many people invaded Stormwind at once that it crashed. These people used those items, sold those items and much more, they all knew it was an error, they didn't care. Blizz's only reaction was to remove said items and anything gained from the sale of them from players acounts and saying "oops we screwed up." Those players knowingly and willingingly tried to cheat the system and there was nothing done other than taking back the stuff. Blizz has the ability to have rescinded the achievements, taken back the loot and the item and claimed responsibility for their mistake. Instead some idiot is sitting at his desk in HQ feeling damn lucky he didn't get hit half as hard as Karate and his guildies. Justice is indeed relevant to power.
Julie May 1st 2009 12:40AM
Honestly, this is very bad customer service :/ I was in a similar business. And the philosophy that was always ingrained in me was "the customer is always right".
Of course, that doesn't mean Blizzard has to put up with hackers and gold sellers. But come on, these guys weren't trying to break the rules. They were given an item, by mistake. It's the GM's fault. And then Blizzard wants to turn around and make the player responsible?? Yes, maybe they shouldn't have used it. But really what harm was done? They didn't hack the game, they weren't trying to cheat anything. They got something by mistake and tried it out. lol. All blizzard has to do is remove the achievements and the loot that was dropped. No biggie. And they SHOULD do it; becuase it was the GM's fault this happened in the first place.
Winterhoof May 1st 2009 2:53AM
once it ended up in his possession by GM means, it became available to players.
ergo, Section 1 is null. He didn't hack the game maliciously to aquire it.
Section 3 pretty much covers anything blizzard doesn't like. If they think DKs are contrary to the game suddenly, Section 3 would let them ban all DKs.
Scritch May 1st 2009 3:08AM
You know, they should be looking into how the person got the item instead of prosecuting the player and all of his guild mates.
Sounds to me like a GM knew this person or knew someone that didn't like him, and hatched a scheme to get him f*cked over.
Cuz face it, if you got that in your mail box, that's like putting a mouse in a snake cage. How many snakes are going to ignore the mouse?
Hoggersbud May 1st 2009 3:41AM
You know, they just might be doing that! They just aren't telling us because well....they don't tell us.
Though personally I find your reasoning that a GM was out to screw a player to be less than believable. I find it more believable that said GM was aiding a buddy.
I do hope it was just an honest mistake though.
ucntcme May 1st 2009 3:28AM
"Amen!! That is exactly what I was going to say. I think people have been forgetting that this is just a game and has no real world consequences in and of itself. Sure I believe some kind of punishment is in order but a permanent ban seems a bit too harsh."
Yes, it is JUST A GAME, meaning that he is banned from JUST A GAME.
Bummer, but the reality of it is if you argue that "it is just a game" as a reason for a "lower punishment" then the punishment's severity is then related to the argument. It isn't like they are prosecuting him for criminal activity or something of that ilk. He is just getting banned "from a game".
Live by the argument, die by the argument.
Hoech May 28th 2009 10:43PM
yeah he is getting banned from a game that he has been dumping $15 a month into. So game side he hasn't hurt anyone, in rl blizzard has been taking his money, got pissy and is now turning their back on him.
ucntcme May 1st 2009 3:36AM
Oh and no I would not have used it. Why? Not for some moral reason. Simply because it would be boring. Just like being run through instances you've not experienced the "normal" way is boring. Now after I've run the instance, my third toon, etc. sure.
Seriously, if one-shotting things is your thing, just hang out in 1st level instances one-shotting critters.
Pronkey May 1st 2009 3:58AM
Found a gun in your mailbox lately and went out and shot people?
Noticed your bank account inflated by a million dollars or more and did your best to hide the money before anyone notices?
These situations are somehow on par with....
Guy receives a pixelated shirt in a video game with a pretty awesome use and uses it.
I honestly cannot believe how off so many of you people are.
This is on Blizzard's doorstep. This is a Blizzard mistake. Blizzard is the one who screwed up here. Blizzard. Blizzard. Blizzard.
A permaban in this case is the icing on the cake of Blizz's horrific customer treatement. Their "F" BBB rating is no mistake.
Gothia May 1st 2009 4:23AM
Bullshit
Blizzard you are the one at fault not the player. Blizzard you failed to put safeguards on you "God Mode" item and sent it to a player. Development tool my ass this is a Dev toy that they could have put all kinds of restrictions on or just deleted it.
Karatechop - way to kick blizzard where it hurts
Ghostcrawler - Resign for the good of the game this is your and only your screw up - take responsibility for the damage that has been caused by your dereliction.
Enerla May 1st 2009 10:03AM
Gothia: Let me correct you.
I think it wasn't Ghostclaw who forgot to put restrictions to the GM only items.
I think it wasn't Ghostclaw who forgot to add "for GM use only, if you found this item by accident contact a GM" to tooltip.
I think it probably wasn't Ghostclaw who designed GM powers to be used as ITEMS and not special commands, spells, talents, etc. enabled on GM characters.
I think it probably wasn't Ghostclaw who sent out the item.
I think it probably wasn't Ghostclaw who decided that people get random items instead of their old gear if something happens to a character.
I think it probably wasn't Ghostclaw who sent out the item to the player.
I think it wasn't Ghostclaw who made support very slow.
I think it wasn't Ghostclaw who is responsible for the players seeing: "I lost a lot of epics including top tier epics, we lost a lot of chances to get top tier epics, and now I got a tool that lets me to get such top tier items now without work as compensation". As you see you get top tier epics for several characters for top tier epics lost on several characters. The GM item isn't the compensation itself but a tool to get such compensation. And making the player farm the items can be seen "extra fun for the lost fun" when they laugh at the encouters and not a massive abuse.
Most people say: How bad and nasty this GM item is and they would report it if they would get it. But if you would lose epics, and would see a tool to get epics that puts you into comparable position with compensation.... then you would have every reason to believe: Blizzard sent it because they want to see you to use these tools to farm gear back (both that is lost by you, and both the stuff that lost by slow progress thanks to their slow response) and you can use it.
The moment you come to the conclusion that you should use this item to compensate for lost epics, and lost chances both for you and your guild and get epics in the most efficient and fastest way... But you say you don't want to get ahead of top guild since you didn't have first kills before... that is a different story.
Who is responsible for Blizzard policy not restoring old gear, enchants, etc. but sending out random items that makes people think, they should use it to get items back? It isn't Ghostclaw.
And I think it isn't Ghostclaw who decided tha when Blizzard messed up this badly they ban people who weren't on ulduar run but were in the raid.
I think the problem isn't that this guild is banned. The problem is: When there is a logical expalantion to treat the item as valid compensation, so it isn't a clear abuse, so even banning the involved players is fishy, banning guild members who weren't present and knew nothing, done nothing related to the incident even for a day is bad.
How would you feel if you would be banned and named publicly for something someone else did if you and your account wasn't involved?
The decision to ban wasn't made by a single person. We seen many different people responsible for this.
Ghostclaw is a blue poster, responsible for posting information about decision, not the one who makes such decisions. I think it isn't Ghostclaw who is responsible for this.
Enerla May 1st 2009 8:47AM
Lets see the question from a different perspective: Someone waits for some time to get an answer from Blizzard, can't play, expects some compensation. I can't say that it is bad. I know that even if Blizzard messes up things you still don't get compensation. Once they found that payment from the card I used regularly was somehow strange (possibly updated billing system, etc) and they investigated it, account wasn't working for weeks. Sadly they forgot to refund that money, and with this they ruined the plans to give xmas presents to in game friends, to see new years eve events (when you live in a new town and no friends nearby that can be bad). I was furious. Yet they forgot to compensate. So I don't think anyone else would get compensation.
But seeing how bad Blizzard Customer Service, etc. can be, I think someone can think they *deserve* some, and when they think they deserve some huge bonus and get it quickly from a source who can send out items in a legitimate way, then why would they question the validity of the item?
They might laugh about how stupid it is, what can it do, and see that even if they try to respect others and don't clear the instance, it helps them to gear up the people who was unable to play his chars, his fellow raiders who lacked his help in instances, so some items from current top level helps to compensate for the "top level" items they haven't earned in months.
As I see: assuming that you can use the item mailed to you is a mistake that can be explained.
Is it breaks any rules? Blizzard says it isn't something you can get in a normal way. I think in game mail IS normal way. Item compensation with "random" items is pretty standard for Blizzard. Seeing unique and powerful items as compensation for big problems happened in industry, so it seems to be normal. Ok, unique tabards, shirts, pets, etc. that can show blizzard said sorry but has no other uses are better compensation, but would you expect Blizzard to know that?
Also is it against the essence of game to leave first kills to game, but use your valid items to farm gear which is a core concept of the game?
To my best knowledge, GMs can have higher level than 80, and if Blizzard wants an item to be GMs use only they can put on a level 255 requirement on it. They can require a GM class on items. A GM flag. They can make sure GM powers are GM only commands and not based on items, so most items are valid in players hands. They can review the mail they send out. GMs can pay attention to what they do and double check.
IS it in the spirit of the game that when you get something from a valid source (customer service) you have to invesitage why the item is strange?
A compensation from Blizzard is unlikely. But I think that it is even more unlikely that after problems with players on GM island Blizzard simply forgot that they should have to keep all GM only items, powers safe AND they don't check what they send out AND you get a such item by mistake.
Also: As we see from the linked blog people who weren't online at time of ulduar run, wasn't in ulduar run, probably haven't heard about the item before bans happened got bannad for doing nothing wrong.
Blizzard made many many mistakes in this incidents, including quite big problems in game design and inculuding the fact they haven't made GM tools secure after GM island incident, even if it was clearly their responsibility.
Someone as player did a mistake and from what we know it can be a honest mistake that can be explained. Yes it is bad mistake, but as you see both sides have good reasons, so it isn't a clear issue.
Blizzard and their employees don't own up for the problems they created BUT banned innocent guildies of a player who did a mistake.
Imho: Blizzard should remove the bans, remove the achivements, loots etc. earned with the problem. Apologize for the players who were unable to play even if they did nothing wrong.
Blizzard should fix all GM items, GM powers.
And if it was their fault on several account and most people who raid hard core think there is something should be done about this incident, it should be Blizzard who suffers the consequences.
People who designed item powers, who made big mistakes should be busy working on level 80 version of some old favorite raid instances.
Also there is a key question: Blizzard say actions that are against the essence of the game, abuse game mechanism in any way to get unfair advantage over others are valid reasons for a ban.
Lets think about this a bit.
When a master looter abuses the game mechanism to get unfair advantage over others by ninja looting (he has far better chances to get items this way, which is an unfair advantage. Master loot mechanism wasn't designed to help ninja looters to take advantage of a raid) should be against the essence of the game. People who do this know it is immoral, wrong, can hurt the experience of other players.
Yet if you report people who ninja loot on regular basis, exchange accounts for a few days with others, and use accounts of others to do abuse (yes, such thing happened on Arathot a few times) can stay without any ban, any warning, then it is hard to justify that in the above mistake the whole guild should be banned.
It is out of perspective.
What is a difference?
Blizzard wants the money from ninja looters and other cheaters.
But doesn't want to lose money because raiders get dissapointed by this incident and some would unsubscribe. And it is easier and cheaper to ban people from the guild who wasn't present and knew nothing than fixing the problems. Money talks.
Their investment, their game, and the fact that they did nothing wrong doesn't count.
People who support such bans should get one because they "raided with cheaters before", or "same class as cheaters" or ...
But people who want to see Blizzard fixes the problems they made and take responsibility for their action deserve a game without such incidents, and I hope they get it in wow or elsewhere.
Michael May 1st 2009 10:10AM
While I agree somewhat that the item was sent by a GM mistakenly and there should be no punishments applied to players, I think the guy that received the item in the first place and karate should be perma banned.
First the item was not sent to karate. So the guy that received it knowingly gave it to karate for 1 shotting ulduar boss fights. So for sure there were 2 people that knew they were going to be cheating. Banning everyone in the guild was over the top, everyone in the raid I can see and that should have been done, not a perm ban just temp.
Also, for everyone that says that nothing should have been done, you think it would have been alright for this item to go up on the AH for the highest bidder?
Hammer May 1st 2009 10:08AM
~obtained an item (inaccessible by standard game play) from another player and trivialized the World of Warcraft raid contents with the exploitive use of this item.~
How is using an item that is designed to kill things around it exploiting the use of the item ?
I understand everything else and don't question it but i do not understand how using an item for what its supposed to be used for are is exploiting that item ?
I use a potato peeler to peel potato's is that exploiting that item ?
I use a potato peeler to not pay my taxes. now that would be a exploit.
Ripped May 1st 2009 10:20AM
(I've been playing wow for about 3 years casually, I'm around 30yrs old and played the game for fun to pass the time sp forgive me if my facts are not exact.)
This story reminds of the one day I logged into the game and my arena partner messaged me and said he was excited for a patch. Now this was just before or just after the launch of wolk i just cant remember exactly .
But anyways So i waited for this patch on Tuesday because my buddy said we would get some new arena gear possibly in the patch. So me being a so called NEWB I logged in as soon as the servers where up.
I ran down with my pally to the place in SW where you get gear from. As I'm searching to find new gear I notice that some of it is FREE, I was like WOW is this for real. So i messaged some people on my friends list and they also had a few items that where free at the arena vendors. Every class had 1 or 2 free Purples. mages I think got a FULL set of gear. Now of course EVERYONE and their dog was excited on trade and saying what kinda gear they got. Some people even gem'd them.
But the point of this story is I also took the gear thinking wicked! I really needed this.....As a NEWB even after playing for 3 years I was oblivious in thinking that het this gear is free now. Since everyone else was taking free gear i figured I getting everything I can. Why not?
But it was not long before Trade channel was full of Vets saying don't gem the gear. They will restart the servers and everything will be gone... So i thought ok. I'm gonna throw it in the bank and see what happens.
Well the next day all gear was removed and the vendors had honor points on those items.
What makes me write this at all is that there where hundreds if not thousands of people that took the gear and even used it that day.
My point is - What if the Martin thunder was magically in the gear vendor by accident, just like the free gear. Would everyone open a ticket and ask WTF? or would those same thousands including myself get banned for taking and using it when they put it in there?
The fact that blizz gave the item - No mater what reminds me of that day. They screwed up. They came took the gear and that was it. I know it had a KILL EVERYTHING on it but still. It was given for the taking.
I will tell you right now I would take it and use it. ITS A GAME in my opinion I would have used up my 100 charges Running through HORDE towns at the time.
I have already canceled my sub last month, it ran out 1 day before S6 started. Im happy that I realized that paying for a game that can essentially be TAKEN/BANNED or whatever from me just because blizz wants too is just not right. I think BLIZZ really does not care about the average player and will Purma ban anyone at will. Why play/pay for a game that you cannot even kepp no matter what.
One day you decide to complain and BAMM - BANNED..
Blizz says Sorry we said so! you ask Why? Blizz says - GENERIC its in our TOS you signed. You have no rights for that 3 years and hundreds of dollars invested. You can't sell or transfer or do anything with your character.
I say thanks for nothing & wasting my time.
I left my 80 pally(alliance) and 80 dk(Horde) with 2 guilds/banks(5 tabs each) 2k gold each fully geared too ROT in never never land. I might as well do it now because working on them is just a waste of time after realizing Blizz just does not care about their player base.
I will NOT ever sign my MONEY or TIME over to them after noticing they ban thousands of accounts but yet I see glitchers in WG all the time day after day even when reporting with screen shot. I will not get banned from a game I pay for Just because they screwed up or SUCK at making a good game decisions.
This article proves i made the right choice. After very POOR PR I will pay close attention to what their parent company's have their fingers in. "The customer is always right" and blizz needs to get off their high horse before their player base grows up a bit and finds out everything they wasted their life for years on can and will be taken away at anytime without blizz being able to be held accountable.
Glad I'm Gone that's all I can say.