Today's report will outline our actions conducted from July 25, 2007 to August 27, 2007 in dealing with players violating the user agreement, as well as details on the activities, results, and goals of the Special Task Force.

Click here for details on the Special Task Force's activities in dealing with players violating the FINAL FANTASY XI user agreement.

Special Task Force activities and future plans

There have been a few major changes in the reports received through the "Report to Special Task Force" mail form since last month.
As one can see in the graph below, the percentage of "Announcing the sale of valuable items through shouts" reports has significantly decreased, while, in its place, the percentage of "Use of cheats to automatically repeat particular actions" reports has increased.

The reason these results can be perceived so clearly in-game is due to the strengthening of our efforts against hunters (*1) and in finding connections between certain characters announcing the sale of valuable items through shouts with organizations involved in illegal activities.
On the other hand, the increase in the percentage of cheats being used to automatically repeat particular actions is most likely due to organizations involved in RMT (*2) moving to methods of collecting gil with lower-level characters.

Based on these results, while we plan to continue dealing with hunters, we will also be strengthening our activities in dealing with the use of cheats to automatically repeat particular actions and the use of synthesis or auction houses for RMT (*3). We will, of course, also put measures into effect when necessary to deal with issues caused by any remaining problems.

With the number of hunters having drastically decreased, the FINAL FANTASY XI community is steadily heading in a healthy direction.
The Special Task Force relies on everyone's information to help keep FINAL FANTASY XI an enjoyable environment, and we appreciate your continuing support and cooperation.

Report to Special Task Force

Matters of concern within the community

In the following section, we will be explaining the Special Task Force's direction and plans in dealing with matters of concern within the community.

The number of suspicious groups engaged in leveling up has increased. Are they being dealt with?
According to the information we have been receiving from players, it seems that the actions of these suspicious groups is on the rise. However, since leveling up itself is not a violation of the user agreement, we currently have no plans to act against these groups.
In the same way we deal with other problems, we investigate all reports and information provided and, if any violations of the user agreement are found, we deal with the problem.

Are you seeing results in dealing with players using synthesis and auction houses for RMT? Will there be any relief from deflation?
Since last month, we have been strengthening our focus on dealing with players using synthesis and auction houses for RMT, and a total of 1000 accounts have been banned as a result. We are continuing these measures and believe that actions thought to be involved with RMT will gradually decline.
However, simply solving the problem of players using synthesis and auction houses for RMT will not necessarily fix deflation or inflation.
The Special Task Force considers this problem to be one of the main influences negatively effecting Vana'diel's economy, and we are working with the development team to help make a better gaming environment.

The number of characters fishing with machine-like movements in areas such as Talacca Cove where Goblin Bounty Hunters haven't been introduced has drastically increased. Please strengthen your activities in dealing with this issue.
As was previously mentioned, due to our efforts in dealing with hunters last month, many players engaged in actions violating the user agreement have moved to methods of collecting gil with lower-level characters. As a result, the number of characters engaged in the use of cheats to automatically repeat particular actions has temporarily increased.
The Special Task Force is currently strengthening activities in response to these movements and a total of 2380 accounts have been banned as a result.

Additionally, in the August 28 (Tuesday) version update, we will be expanding the Goblin Bounty Hunter's presence into new areas.
As for the measures of introducing Goblin Bounty Hunters to difficult locations such as the inside of towns and in areas besides the ones mentioned above, we are currently considering drastic measures, but even if these measures were temporarily introduced, we are worried about the effect they would have on regular players enjoying the game.
We will be strengthening our activities and planning new measures to deal with the problem. If it is decided at that time that the problem has not been dealt with, we plan on introducing some new system countermeasures.

*1. Hunters
Characters who kill Notorious Monsters, clear quests, and obtain items over and over again with the sole purpose of gathering gil, which is then handed off to RMT groups.

*2. RMT
"Real Money Trading." Selling game data for real money.

*3. Use of synthesis or auction houses for RMT
Actions involving selling large quantities of in-game items for gil, which is then traded for real money.