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Blizzard bans pro Hearthstone player a year for his support of Hong Kong protesters
- Thread starter ZeroGravity
- Start date
- E-Sports
Portugeezer
Member
They like billions of dollars it seems.
KorbinDallas
Member
They're in it to run profit for their owners. So they're now 1) in mobile 'gaming' and 2) valuing Chinese money (population) over smaller population. In one way this scenario played out like running water.
So now we assign our compass to their actions. I've uninstalled all my Blizz stuff. Including Classic which I'm paid for time until February. I championed that game for the past 2 years. Wish this would've happened before I bought all that time lol.
Anyway, one thing which should be of note is can this firm, based in USA, act to the unwritten standard of the CCP? Which is so obvious. IMO, foreign entities, especially with ties to governmental bodies, should not own any property (real or digital) outside of their borders.
Ol'Scratch
Member
Seems a rather racist take there.
Trojita
Rapid Response Threadmaker
During last nights stream of the American Collegiate Hearthstone Championship, the American University team held up a sign saying FREE HONG KONG, BOYCOTT BLIZZ on camera
https://kotaku.com/college-hearthstone-players-hold-up-free-hong-kong-bo-1838896492
Blizzard anytime a player starts raising a sign
https://kotaku.com/college-hearthstone-players-hold-up-free-hong-kong-bo-1838896492
Blizzard anytime a player starts raising a sign
I understand that companies are just in it for profit and normally I don't get too upset over a distasteful business practice. This however is such an utter and blatent "fuck you" that even I had to do a double take. Nothing subtle about this. This was swatting a fly with a Buick. Blizzard made it very clear that they'll do pretty much anything to continue to stay in the Chinese market.
I uninstalled Hearthstone last night. I doubt I'll be missed. I rarely spent more than about $5 a month, but every little bit helps make a statement I suppose.
I uninstalled Hearthstone last night. I doubt I'll be missed. I rarely spent more than about $5 a month, but every little bit helps make a statement I suppose.
ROMhack
Member
Blizzard are an awful company to begin with. All the crappy strategies applied by gaming companies largely originated with them. Many studies were conducted by behavioural psychologists to understand the design choices attributed to World of Warcraft to make it addictive. Much of the theory was applied to tons of modern day software development.
So yeah. Fuck them on this political decision but it's par for the course in my book.
So yeah. Fuck them on this political decision but it's par for the course in my book.
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iconmaster
Banned
It's easy for me to say this since I don't play their games, but this seems truly worth a boycott.
Western companies need to learn that if they pursue China's money to the detriment of Westerners' free speech, they lose Western money.
I know the argument that privately-owned networks are not bound by things like the Bill of Rights. But all online speech is mediated through privately-owned networks. Increasingly, speech will equal online speech and our rights need to translate or we don't have rights.
Western companies need to learn that if they pursue China's money to the detriment of Westerners' free speech, they lose Western money.
I know the argument that privately-owned networks are not bound by things like the Bill of Rights. But all online speech is mediated through privately-owned networks. Increasingly, speech will equal online speech and our rights need to translate or we don't have rights.
Javthusiast
Banned
Even more hilarious because of the timing right after South Parks recent episode. After which South Park was basically canceled by all of China, lmao.
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Cybrwzrd
Banned
Anyone know any Blizzard support email addresses? All I could find was tours@blizzard.com- which obviously wasn't related. I wanted to send them a copy of the email I got back from cancelling my WoW sub and the reason why.
Trojita
Rapid Response Threadmaker
A Regular Guy
Banned
Cybrwzrd
Banned
Thank you.
mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
And now with the NBA, China is REALLY trying to change the way American companies operate.
Stuchinoko
Member
What gets me are the people defending Blizzard saying that they had a strict "no politics" rule for tournaments and that's why he was banned. You know for a fact that's complete horse shit. If Blitz had said something like "I support the Communist Party of China!" he wouldn't have been banned with his winnings revoked. Fuck Blizzard for supporting these absolute scumbags, fuck any company that seeks out cash at the expense of people's freedom.
The CPC is the true face of evil on this planet right now, the atrocities they commit are the stuff of nightmares. People snatched from their homes and never seen again because they said something critical of the government online. CPC cars roaming the streets of millionaires to remind them who's in charge if they step out of line. Black market organ harvesting, most of which are from children snatched off the streets. Their planned social credit score system that will track every aspect of your life to make sure you're a good puppet. The stories that come from people who escaped mainland China are horrifying. Not a single corporation or entity on this planet should be in support of them. Imagine if Nike said they were in support of Saddam Hussein during his reign? That's pretty much what it sounds like when you say you support mainland China's government.
The CPC is the true face of evil on this planet right now, the atrocities they commit are the stuff of nightmares. People snatched from their homes and never seen again because they said something critical of the government online. CPC cars roaming the streets of millionaires to remind them who's in charge if they step out of line. Black market organ harvesting, most of which are from children snatched off the streets. Their planned social credit score system that will track every aspect of your life to make sure you're a good puppet. The stories that come from people who escaped mainland China are horrifying. Not a single corporation or entity on this planet should be in support of them. Imagine if Nike said they were in support of Saddam Hussein during his reign? That's pretty much what it sounds like when you say you support mainland China's government.
Starlight Lotice
Member
How many loyal Blizzard fans will boycott this to actually take affect of how they operate in the future?
I think China reaaaaaaaaaaly need to reconsider what they are willing to lose out of this, as well as Blizzard/Activision.
The Hong Kong protests are only getting stronger the longer they try and control that territory and the businesses WILL move elsewhere as they will not bend to the Chinese Government's demands. Tencent and Huawei are dangerous companies that should never be allowed to buy into foreign companies without a thorough investigation by every country involved. As soon as they are connected to the Chinese Government, drop them like a stone and send a message to China that the World will NOT accept your ways of political chess.
I honestly wish the people could overthrow the Government as there are more people to fight than the Government have Police/Army. The people need to wake up and realise where the Government crosses the line on Free Speech and Privacy.
I think China reaaaaaaaaaaly need to reconsider what they are willing to lose out of this, as well as Blizzard/Activision.
The Hong Kong protests are only getting stronger the longer they try and control that territory and the businesses WILL move elsewhere as they will not bend to the Chinese Government's demands. Tencent and Huawei are dangerous companies that should never be allowed to buy into foreign companies without a thorough investigation by every country involved. As soon as they are connected to the Chinese Government, drop them like a stone and send a message to China that the World will NOT accept your ways of political chess.
I honestly wish the people could overthrow the Government as there are more people to fight than the Government have Police/Army. The people need to wake up and realise where the Government crosses the line on Free Speech and Privacy.
brian0057
Banned
"...We will always respect and defend the pride of our country."
As someone from a totalitarian shithole, this is an extremely familiar statement.
Then again, all communist regimes are indistinguishable from one another apart from the mustache of the man on top.
adversarial
Member
Imagine a corporation acting in its best interest$.
Shocking.
Corporations are not your friend.
Shocking.
Corporations are not your friend.
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Javthusiast
Banned
Dontspeakforme
Banned
I got a 6 month sub for classic and am filing a charge-back. I have a platinum-level credit card and no-questions-asked charge-backs under $1,000 are a feature.
The consequence of doing this is likely that blizzard will ban my account forever - but fuck them.
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Terce
Member
Make sure to mention the reason for the charge back - Company indicated they directly support genocide and suppression of basic human rights
Platinumstorm
Member
I'm quite libertarian, but I think we need to take away any sort of tax breaks to companies who prop up China's political agenda. This isn't the first time this has happened, nor will it be the last, not even in gaming, but it's just dangerous for companies to make these kinds of decisions at the influence of foreign governments.
US is a plutocracy, which makes us weak for being able to defend ourselves from foreign governmental ideals.
US is a plutocracy, which makes us weak for being able to defend ourselves from foreign governmental ideals.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
Sadly, first world western gamers are so spoiled by their comforts, they will make bigger noise for MTX than basic human rights suppression in other parts of the world.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
People have been warning others for years in political threads and social media, and kept getting hand-waving, "stop fear mongering" ,"slipper slope fallacy", etc..
Yet, here we are.
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KorbinDallas
Member
Why are foreign state-run firms, or NGOs able to purchase any property in the USA? Real estate, businesses etc. Especially ones we know are 'foreign actors.' Might be the same answer as to why elected legislators can have dual-citizenship. Insane.
Silent Viper
Banned
I support Trumps Anti China policies and all.. Cut all trades with them and punish American companies who manufacture their product in China. America companies keep dumping billions in China for its communist government to flourish.
And Gaf, Boycotting Blizz not enough. If you truly serious and not just showing fake outrage like those Era members then Boycott every product manufactured in China including PS consoles, IPhones, Xbox nd all. Basically everything you own and use are manufactured in China by those workers who work in most inhumane condition possible with very little pay and no medical insurance nd all.. So be consistent with your boycott..
And Gaf, Boycotting Blizz not enough. If you truly serious and not just showing fake outrage like those Era members then Boycott every product manufactured in China including PS consoles, IPhones, Xbox nd all. Basically everything you own and use are manufactured in China by those workers who work in most inhumane condition possible with very little pay and no medical insurance nd all.. So be consistent with your boycott..
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Ol'Scratch
Member
I personally want to know where all of this zealous action was the day before this kid had his moment. I sure did not see a rash of BOO CHINA BOYCOTT CHINA threads flying around, I did not see my twitter burning with it other than the occasional blurb.
Explosive Zombie
Banned
We're boycotting Blizzard for their actions, there were reasons to prior to this but not reasons related to China/Hong Kong.
Silent Viper
Banned
Chinese government do all kind of atrocities in their country from brutually suppressing Muslims to silencing protestors in HK. UN knows, US knows it, basically whole world knows it but no one will say anything coz it's one of the biggest Economy in the world now thanks to USA. I blame US for all this coz they single handedly made China one of the strongest economy in the world by dumping billions there and now China will soon become US biggest threat in future.
Silent Viper
Banned
Your boycott wont do shit. Era and Gaf combine represent 0.1 % of world gaming market
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KorbinDallas
Member
Basically any modern city in China is what Detriot should look like. Your point is spot on.
Explosive Zombie
Banned
You're assuming only people here and on Era re boycotting this.
Digity
Member
Plus it’s gotta start somewhere.
Fuz
Banned
And changing how American companies operate means changing how American people live and eventually changing American people's rights.
Whitesnake
Banned
If he was just disqualified because he was using the stream as his personal political platform, I would be fine with it, if a bit dubious.
But the fact that they went through every possible avenue at their disposal to penalize him (almost as if they're trying to appease someone
) and the recent official statement by Blizzard's chinese twitter, it's been made very clear that they don't care that he made a political statement, they care that he made a political statement in favor of Hong-Kong.
But the fact that they went through every possible avenue at their disposal to penalize him (almost as if they're trying to appease someone
) and the recent official statement by Blizzard's chinese twitter, it's been made very clear that they don't care that he made a political statement, they care that he made a political statement in favor of Hong-Kong.
Nymphae
Banned
Wow what a joke. On a related note, Blizzard has this plaque in front of their HQ:
Glad I don't support these clowns.
LOL, someone fixed their plaque for them
The prankster should have written "Every unit of currency matters"
Ol'Scratch
Member
The US is in dept to China somewhere in the numbers around 1.3 Trillion. The US has allowed companies to ship business after business to China with no repercussions while a vast number of things we use daily come from sweat shops in China. I am more irritated right now by the fact everyone is bitching and raging on this blizzard horse shit acting like Blizzard is deeply invested and powering the Chinese government while today countless other shit should be getting the attention even more but it is not as appealing of a cause I guess.
Silent Viper
Banned
This boycott wont anything. Comments of boycott made by gamers on internet make me roll my eyes, lets see if anything happens.
Explosive Zombie
Banned
A lot of boycotts do nothing but some matter, some work. The thing is I wouldn't go back on it just because I won't get my desired outcome, it's a boycott partially because I couldn't be okay with myself not doing so.
Silent Viper
Banned
Watch this how smartly China attracted American companies into their country...
And do u know China spends billions to promote their propaganda in Western media?. I also heard there is a dedicated page in New York times which promotes China culture and voice of their government
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Stuchinoko
Member
I've said for a long time that giving China this much manufacturing power was a colossal mistake. It's the biggest case of "putting all your eggs in one basket" that humanity has ever committed. The worst part is that even if these corporations were to somehow magically pull out they'd just move to India and repeat the process. All because they can pay people in poorer conditions pennies for the same work that would cost an actual living in the Americas or Europe.
manfestival
Member
Never forget MW2 boycott