Purchasing pixels

[DyingFaerie]

What is the name of your state? Oregon

Hello.. I've never been to this site before, so I'm sorry if I'm posting in the wrong section, or if my issue doesn't belong here at all.

I've played a certain online avatar game for the past 4 years, it is called Gaiaonline(.com), (grounded in California) and they are currently investigating my account for possible purchasing of pixels illegally from another website source. If their investigation leads them to ban me, I'm wondering if it's something that I could get legal help with.

Since I have been a member for a few years, this past year (starting July 2007), I began purchasing limited pixels through Gaiaonline, a few months later, they came out with a Cash Shop, that specifically sells other limited (and some permanent) pixels for Cash only, which is an in-game credit currency that can only be gained from real money, through Paypal and other methods. In the past year, I have purchased (I know it's extensive..) $242.50 worth of pixels that I assumed I would be able to enjoy until the site perhaps plummeted into failure. On top of that, I don't know if there's a record on their site, but I have redeemed 3 $25 giftcards (that I don't have receipts for ), bringing my grand total to $317.50. If they find reason to ban me, I feel that they will be robbing me of this invested money. Beyond the dollar amount, certain pixels that were limited edition are far more valuable now than when they were initially sold, so I feel that the net value would be even high than the aforementioned $317. Plus, of course I would be deeply saddened by the loss of my account, and pixels that I've spent time and energy earning up for.

I hope someone can give me feedback, I have no idea where to start, or if I can even pursue it (should they ban me, which hasn't happened yet).

Thanks.What is the name of your state?

 

[Zigner]

All of your answers will be contained in their Terms of Service.
(I'm sure it says you are SOL though)

 

[DyingFaerie]

I did look at the Terms of Services, most of it has to do with not harassing other people or botting. The Cash Shop part of it is still new, I don't think that they've taken into account that items are being purchased with real money, and a way to protect themselves from that. It's probably in there somewhere, I just wondered if anyone has attempted to get there money back before.. if nothing else.

 

[OneFineDay]

Tos

You know very well that the TOS or forum posts from the admins state something to the effect that if you exploit glitches, create multiple accounts and trade between them or do anything else outside the normal realm of play in order to better your character it's a bannable offense. If you did indeed purchase pixels "illegally", the admins have every right to ban you.

 

[nrobi]

Sorry to disappoint but from my experience (reading the TOU) with two MMOG's.... using real money to purchase in-game items/money is against the TOU. I did come across one site where the opposite was true..... in fact it's the only way to get in-game items.... but it's more like "The Sims" then an actual game.

 

[DyingFaerie]

I'm surprised they'd want to lose my business over something so minor. Thanks for the feedback, I suppose I already knew the answer.