TheLexinator
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Posts posted by TheLexinator
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Found today hacker
Got video as proof but dont know where to link it here or in CS subforum to get it acknowledged by Devs? Basically guy have about 5 identical chars following him and every char did same ability as him in same timing as him and their companions used same skill in same splitsecond Pretty common actually. I see it all the time. I thought multiboxing was legal in TOR. It's certainly not discouraged.
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Bioware has an office in Austin, Turbine does not have one in Tx.
Does Turbine tax TP in any state?
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Leveling up as a healer is a major pain unless you plan on running lots of flashpoints and PvP.
For general PvE...
Yeah, its bad lol. -
I like your ideas - all of them actually. Would really like to see at least some of them implemented.
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CC are neither a virtual good or currency but are merely tokens used to facilitate in game purchase of software unlocks as well as virtual goods. Credits are this games virtual currency but since they can not be turned into real cash, they will not be taxable.
While we see the clothing, mounts and other "fluff" as a virtual good, it is quite possible that because you can also get game enhancements like more character slots, increased GTN sales slots and a myriad of other unlocks that could be considered "program enhancements" that the CC transaction IS a taxable transaction.
In other words, if you could straight up pay 5 dollars USD for a virtual good it sounds like this is not a taxable transaction in MN. But if CC's are termed "game enhancements" by state law...much like buying an expansion or your monthly sub fee...then it is probably a taxed purchase. Again, EA has those wonderful tax pro's to figure all this out.
Aaah, that makes sense... Kind of... In an a $$ backwards way, but it does. I may not agree with it, but it doesn't look like EA is doing anything illegal. Immoral, but not illegal. As a subscriber, I won't buy anything but fluff pieces anyway.
EA Lawyer - "Heck with it, just tax em all."
(From orbit, only way to be safe)
Lol. Most likely.
Not sure if this has been mentioned...but I was not charged tax on my digital cartel coin purchase from amazon.It was a flat 19.99.
I just placed an order there and canceled. Same thing. No tax. 2400 CC for $19.99 with no tax.
As others have said, EA is just taxing because there is a very slight chance that as a subscriber I will buy some unlock, and not just fluff. Very lame, and very dumb - but not illegal.
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Sad to see EA making a lot of the same mistakes.
I still feel it is important to extend individual class stories, even if it is just small story arcs done over time for each individual class.+1 (00000000000000000)
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All of this is moot, however, as EA has a physical presence in Minneapolis which, by state law, requires them to collect taxes on online purchases.
Aha. That would explain it.
But once again, virtual goods and currencies are not taxable. This whole matter is very, very confusing.
Lex,I think it comes down to EA decision to declare CCs software, or at least not currency or virtual items, within the last 10 months. It's possible EA got a new Corporate lawyer who held a different view for the previous one, perhaps some new rulings came down that they felt created precedence and required a reclassification.
Another possibility. So what you are saying, is that we should just blame the lawyers/liars? I like that!
Still I think it would have been nice for them to let players know about the change in policy they had..
Yes, it would have. At least an e-mail, yeesh.
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How sure are you that EA doesn't have an office, distribution center or own a development studio anywhere in the state of Illinois?
NOT at ALL sure. However I live in MN.
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If you are going to claim that EA/Bioware collects taxes on behalf of your state and does NOT forward those revenues to your state... better lawyer up and prove it. Otherwise.. drop it. You are making an accusation of tax fraud.
I am simply wondering. Not accusing anyone, since I have conflicting facts from my state, WB, SOE, and EA.
And only EA is doing the collection. This doesn't seem odd to anyone?
Whether they are or not, no one here can say. Though you may want to call the MN CSR back and ask for info on the last payment EA sent to MN for state taxes collected for online software purchases.
That is privileged information
, but I did mention that I was charged, along with faxing in my receipt and pointing them to this thread. I was thanked and the matter is now closed as far as I am concerned. I just wanted to know why EA is the ONLY company that charges me taxes in my state among ALL the other MMO companies that do not. That is literally the ONLY reason for this thread.
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I think the EA lawyers are assuming CC's are not "in game currency." If they declare the SWTOR "in game currency" to be intergalactic credits, they can declare CC's something else, and therefore subject to taxes. Yes, I can use CCs to buy things I then sell on the GTN, but that second step is not required so... Yeah It's weasel-like, but probably strong enough to pass court review. As for why they just started this... yeah not touching that one...
THIS is EXACTLY what I think we are dealing with here.
I am also wondering where these taxes are going, since a state CSR clearly told me that they do not go to my state...
The USSC ruling you posted stated that state laws cannot *compel* companies to collect sales/use taxes when they have no in-state presence. It does not forbid the companies from doing so anyway, nor does it forbid states from requiring residents to *pay* said taxes.YES, very valid point - but once again, my state does NOT require this on non software virtual goods or currency.
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Truth be told, EA/BW may have simply decided to charge taxes across the board in order to simplify their collections procedures.
This is the case, since WB told me that "Very few places tax virtual currency, and your state is not one of them." Once again, the term Virtual Currency was used by the CSR.
So no other MMO charges tax for virtual currency or subscriptions other than EA/Bioware.
I would contact Cryptic as well, but I simply can't find their billing support number, and I am not writing an e-mail that will never get answered.
I assume that the Federal Bill on the subject currently winding its way through the halls of indecision will eventually become law and all retailers will be required to collect state and Federal taxes regardless of locations and all this will be moot.
Exactly, buy until it passes this is ILLEGAL and UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Why is this even being argued?
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Please do not site case law out of context. That was the ILLINOIS SUPREME Court. Does not apply for any other state or the federal government.
What about the US SUPREME Court ruling that I posted earlier? What about the Marketplace Fairness Act?
Also, according to MN state law - non software VIRTUAL items may not be taxed. How is in game currency not a virtual item?
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Glad to see the Class Story is crushing it so hard. Hopefully Bioware takes notice, although I highly doubt it.
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Wondering if there is a federal ruling on this sort of thing. That, of course, would trump any state ruling.
Yes, there is. In the link I provided earlier. US Supreme Court ruling.
Only taxable IF there is a presence in the state. IE, not anything purchased online, nor anything virtual. That is one of the reasons why the Marketplace Fairness Act has been created (but not yet passed). Until it does, this is unconstitutional.
Yeah, I think this is the difference between game time cards and CC cards from a taxation perspective. The CCs are considered purchase of software (because game currency is used to acquire in game content and that is software).Ughhh. If that's correct, it's iffy. How can CC's be software? Aren't they currency? Virtual currency to be more specific?
This whole thing is just mind bogglingly (yeah, that's a word
) confusing.Update: I contacted SOE support. I was told that "It is illegal to tax any form of virtual currency in your state".
Still waiting on hold with Turbine (Well, WB games actually).
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Constitutionality has nothing to do with it. Sales taxes are regulated currently under state law.That's debatable. We should let the lawyers handle that.
Not according to the Supreme Court...
"Illinois Supreme Court Finds State's 'Amazon tax' Unconstitutional
In a 6-1 ruling Friday, the Illinois Supreme Court said the state's so-called "Amazon tax", meant to make sure Internet retailers collect state sales tax, is unconstitutional. "
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While that was rather facetious I do wonder what makes you think it would be unconstitutional. Just because they don't have a store in your state doesn't change that they are conducting business there.
Actually it does.
Please take a look at this.
As The Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 did not yet pass, this action is unconstitutional. Simple as that.
For more reading, take a look at this as well.
Here is another nice snippet from a different article.
"Illinois Supreme Court Finds State's 'Amazon tax' Unconstitutional
In a 6-1 ruling Friday, the Illinois Supreme Court said the state's so-called "Amazon tax", meant to make sure Internet retailers collect state sales tax, is unconstitutional. "
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Still no response here. Still no response to in-game ticket. There are many different problems that people are having. The only response in the CS forums is that they will "look into it." I'd still like for them to acknowledge that there are known issues. They don't even have to post here. Just put it on the known issues list.
I got a response that says it is a known issue and is being looked into. But really, don't expect your ticket to be answered in less than 4 days.
I had a game breaking issue with a class quest not triggering. Took them 6 days to respond and two days to fix it. No time was credited to me for basically taking a week of progress from me.
Not a big deal, since I just rolled another alt - but it's the thought/service that counts.
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But look at it like this, if it helps. If you go to Target, Walmart, or Best Buy and purchase a CC card, do you think they will charge sales tax? Yes, of course they will. It is exactly the same thing.
Actually no. I called my local Walmart and Gamestop. They told me they do not charge tax on time/game/gift cards In MN. A few other states do, but they are in the minority.
I will not deal with Best Buy or Target. I simply won't shop there.
This he hasn't read THIS.EA is required by MN statute to collect taxes on online purchases.
The problem is how confusing it all is.
WOW - LONG and confusing read - but this says nothing about digital or virtual goods. Also - why are no other MMO companies doing this?
If you check with the MN Dept of Revenue and change, "in game currency" to "online purchase" in your question, you'll probably see a different answer.
You are correct again. I did as you suggested and was told that yes, online purchases must be taxed. Even though that is now unconstitutional (IMHO) unless there is a brick and mortar presence in the state. Why should I be taxed by the state on something that has nothing to do with said state.
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In a very real sense though, Operatives are a bit overpowered lol
Not in PvE
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I'd prefer to see them stay, they bring more variety to the table.
Now, if they were to add the ability to queue for specific WZs, I'd be all for that.
Aye. That is a good suggestion.
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Everyone knows when you have a group of say three in chat calling out smash's in unison can destroy groups within an area of a node unlike any other classes in the game.
While i do not want to see a large nerf some type of reduction or maybe only a few targets can be hit rather than an aoe,reason being with the gear out there and as said above a group of them working in unison can kick out over 30k damage in seconds to a large area overlapping each other even.
Only if you have terribad class balance. We have no issues with smash on my team
In fact, we love coming up against "OP" smash groups So my suggestion is this - roll a class with smash and join the fray. Since they are so OP and all.
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It is not the in-game currency that is being taxed. It is the real money that is being used to purchase a digital good. Very different things there.
I called in again. Spoke to a man this time. Was told that MN does not tax the purchase of "non software, digital goods".
Feel free to call the number. It's RIGHT there, and they pick up in a minute or two.
The man then told me that the only way he can see this happening is if EA has a presence in our state, and even then it would be a "grey area".
This actually seems illegal to me. Will EA be paying money to my state? Why are they the ONLY company that is doing this?
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No. Their engine is one of the most unoptimized piles of garbage in any MMO, although it has been improving - and greatly at that.
I bought a 760 for the Shield discount and so that I can stream games to it. Everything I have runs flawlessly at 2560 x 1440... Except TOR... Which is a game that is years old...
Do this. Disable everything and set everything else to low. notice a drastic FPS improvement? Yeah... Odd - don't you think?
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Possible conclusions:
- Bioware has singled you out as the one user who is going to fund the next expansion. Their plan was to add miniscule amounts to each of your CC purchases, hoping that you wouldn't notice. Now that you've noticed, the next expansion is cancelled.
Oh. That makes sense.
- Bioware has singled you out as the one user who is going to fund the next expansion. Their plan was to add miniscule amounts to each of your CC purchases, hoping that you wouldn't notice. Now that you've noticed, the next expansion is cancelled.
Got video as proof but dont know where to link it here or in CS subforum to get it acknowledged by Devs? 
Basically guy have about 5 identical chars following him and every char did same ability as him in same timing as him and their companions used same skill in same splitsecond 
Yeah, its bad lol.
, but I did mention that I was charged, along with faxing in my receipt and pointing them to this thread. I was thanked and the matter is now closed as far as I am concerned. 
''The other game'' steals another idea. Again. This time from us.
in General Discussion
Posted · Edited by TheLexinator
And LotRO as well as STO had it long before those two. I remember playing TOR and wishing it would copy LotRO in that regard.
STO had away teams long before that. Their DOFF system is amazing.
STO also has epic space combat. Much better than anything that EVE (yeah, I said it, and I still play EVE), or TOR have.
SWG had the best space combat of any MMO, and I cant wait until the new expansion pack lets us have real dogfights against other players. Really wish it was PvE as well, but oh well.