EA Data Logging - Ambitions & Patch

[IAmTheRad]

I was flipping through the options to see if there was anything odd, or new. There was something I did not expect.

There's an option titled 'data logging'.

I have only one opinion of this. EA is logging our activities. Thankfully you can disable the Data Logging, but I don't want EA to log my data. I recommend you disable it.

[Claeric]

Anyone not using a program like Comodo to block any and all internet access to and from their installed non-online games is insane anyway.

[Menaceman]

I guess I'm insane then. I've never attempted to block internet access to a program before. I'll certainly be looking into it though if they choose to activate this in-game advertising. Oddly that bothers me more than the data logging.

[FireDrake]

Where does one find the Data Logging option? I looked through the EA folder in the Documents folder and found an "Options" text document, but no Data Logging anything.

[Anach]

Where does one find the Data Logging option? I looked through the EA folder in the Documents folder and found an "Options" text document, but no Data Logging anything.

In the game options....

[Roobs]

Ah, I recall reading about this in some of the previews. Yeah, they want to harvest data on player's gameplay habits now.

[Sigmund]

Ah, I recall reading about this in some of the previews. Yeah, they want to harvest data on player's gameplay habits now.

Wait, what? Do you have a link to this? Because although I block internet connection for TS3, that is still way fucking creepy.

[Roobs]

Well I'll go through and see which one it was, but one of them definitely mentioned about "Data Logging" and how it can be toggled through the Options menu. It's definitely very creepy. Not surprising though.

[BriarRosethorn]

That is a gross invasion of privacy as far as I'm concerned, especially since they didn't warn us about that and ask our permission to log our data, first. They just did it. Most people wouldn't even realize their data was being logged and sent to EA if they didn't visit the Options panel in their game.

Will definitely be switching that off as soon as I get Ambitions.

[uknortherner]

I don't see the fuss. I've just applied the patch to my base game (no EPs yet), and Data Logging is disabled by default. You have to actually enable it yourself and the tooltip clearly states it sends anonymous data to EA.

[saraswati]

It's extremely creepy.

I also note the following with interest in the patch information.

   *Players who play The Sims 3 with game modifications can now create a folder in which to place their game modifications. The folder should be located here:

C:\Documents and Settings\YourComputer\My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods

    *When Mods are placed in the official Mod folder, a notification will appear to remind players that Mods are installed.
    *Placing Mod packages into the Mod folder is an officially sanctioned way to bypass assembly signing verification. The Resource.cfg file must be placed in this folder in order for the modifications to work correctly.
    *When Mods are installed that are incompatible, the player will receive a message notifying them of the error.
    *Additional bug fixes to existing features

I wonder if they'll try to make AM incompatible?

[brownlustgirl]

May be a tinfoil hat moment, but I am suspicious of anything that requires phoning home through my game. I cut off all internet activity while playing, and this data logging sounds like a way for EA to see what we have in our games and how we installed them.

Guess they are just protecting their investment since they got rid of SecuRom.

[markjs]

I don't see the fuss. I've just applied the patch to my base game (no EPs yet), and Data Logging is disabled by default. You have to actually enable it yourself and the tooltip clearly states it sends anonymous data to EA.

That doesn't prove that it's still collecting data.

Any way or another, I already blocked the game from acessing the network in my firewall.
I am too lazy right now to smonitor my TCP/UDP data.

[uknortherner]

The thing is, this isn't actually new. I've just reinstalled the game for testing purposes, and during installation (pre-patch), I am asked if I want to share anonymous usage data with EA. Of course I clicked 'no', just as I've always done when I've reinstalled this game. The fact is, it's always been there. The difference now is, if you had inadvertently said yes, you now have a second chance on the option screen to opt out again. That option was never there before.

EDIT: I don't know if this option was ever there for the arred versions though. I've always used a legal copy.

[jezzer]

That is a gross invasion of privacy as far as I'm concerned, especially since they didn't warn us about that and ask our permission to log our data, first.

It's probably in the EULA.  You agree to all sorts of fun things when you install a program.  Ask all the people with modified XBoxes who lost their consoles when Microsoft pushed the remote destruct button.

[Claeric]

This won't turn off for me. It doesnt save the setting when I accept.

[IAmTheRad]

I wouldn't mind data logging if they told us what they actually logged.

It's not like Steam's hardware surveys, which are completely optional to participate in. Some games do log your activity (not counting MMOs. Those log you no matter what), but it's just like how long you've been playing or your computer specs.

If EA logs your content, what expansions you have installed, mods, or other computer settings, that's an invasion of privacy. However due to their EULA we can't do anything about it, except opt out (better opting out/in than making it mandatory)

[J. M. Pescado]

EA has been installing spyware into Sims games for ages. Never allow it access to the Interwebs. Simple as that.

[BriarRosethorn]

I knew it wouldn't be long before I asked a stupid question on here, and here it is: how do you stop the game from accessing the Internet without stopping it from letting you know when you need to download a patch or whatnot?

[Claeric]

0 is false and 1 is true, right? I checked my options config file and it says 0 for EnableTelemetry, but hte game has it checkmarked anyway.

[radiophonic]

I have tinfoil hats for sale.

[Elvie]

I knew it wouldn't be long before I asked a stupid question on here, and here it is: how do you stop the game from accessing the Internet without stopping it from letting you know when you need to download a patch or whatnot?

You'll know you need to download a patch when you see a thread here about a new patch. These threads always contain a direct link to the patch. Keeping your launcher off the interwebs won't stop you from having a fully patched game.

[missbonbon]

E.  IGA Worldwide Technology. This game incorporates dynamic advertisement serving technology offered by IGA Worldwide Inc. ("IGA Technology"), which enables advertising to be temporarily uploaded into the game on your PC or console, and replaced while you are online. IGA Technology only logs information that is needed to measure presentation of advertising, and to serve advertising to the appropriate geographic region and to the right location within the game. Logged data may include Internet Protocol Address ("IP Address"), in game location, length of time an advertisement was visible, size of the advertisements, and angle of view. The IP Address is deleted when the online game session ends.  Your game may be assigned an id number, which is stored on your PC or console, and used by IGA Technology to calculate the number of unique and repeat views of dynamic in game advertising. The id number is not associated with any personal data.  No logged information is used to personally identify you. This ad serving technology is integrated into the game; if you do not want to use this technology, do not play the game while connected to the Internet. For more information see our privacy policy at privacy.ea.com.

4.  Consent to Collection and Use of Data.  To facilitate the provision of software updates; dynamically served content including advertising; product support; and online services to you, you agree that EA and its affiliates may collect, use, store and transmit technical and related information that identifies your computer (such as Internet Protocol Address and hardware identification), operating system, and application software and peripheral hardware, and non-personally identifiable game play and software usage statistics, without further notice to you.  EA and its affiliates may also use this information in the aggregate, in a form which does not personally identify you, to improve our products and services and we may share anonymous aggregate data with our third party service providers.

From the EULA. So they are pretty much not only collecting data, but will willingly share it with their partners.

[Simius]

I don't see the fuss. I've just applied the patch to my base game (no EPs yet), and Data Logging is disabled by default. You have to actually enable it yourself and the tooltip clearly states it sends anonymous data to EA.

When I applied the ambitions expansion pack it was enabled by default.

Don't what it does or what it logs, but I turned it off.

[Tingeling]

So, it is basically Securom only semi-visible?