Banhammer concerns with frequent disconnects

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

So, before I start, I should state that my network performance runs at an average of 6mbps down and 1mbps up with ~100ms ping for latency, fully-wired, and I have no alternative options to change that because it’s the best that my ISP offers in my area and said ISP is the ONLY ISP in my area that’s available - so don’t go telling me that I need better Internet; doing so will only cause me to ignore you. Besides, according to the official Xbox website, this is enough to be able to play games online over Xbox Live. I have also been a member of XBL in good standing for over the past 9 years and an XBL Community Ambassador and United Enforcer as well - all of this can be verified via my profile on xbox.com and its forums as well as their enforcement site there.

Now to get to the point - just yesterday I was playing Halo 5: Guardians in the multiplayer arena space. Within the span of over 6 hours of play time I accrued 2 teamkills (via dumb teammates who don’t know what a promethean grenade after-affect looks like - they ran into it and died) as well as 2 disconnects that simply just happened out of the blue (I had not control over it). I almost never quit early either (my record shows this across multiple Halo titles).

So, naturally, I was surprised when, after the 2nd disconnect, I received a message saying that I was banned. At first, I thought it meant I was banned until nearly 4 p.m. that day (which would’ve lasted well over 5 hours if that were the case), but was lucky when I found out that it only meant that I would be temporarily banned for about 4 minutes.

This may not seem like such a big deal, and it really isn’t in the larger scheme of things. However, the reason I’m upset about this happening at all is because I worry about what this means for those of us that are completely innocent, but are still getting punished over not having Internet that’s “not as good” as the devs want it to be. So, let me ask you this - if my Internet connection is good enough for XBL, then why am I getting punished for it (even a little bit)? This is a smack in the face for thousands, if not millions of Halo players who may not have good Internet due to their geographical location and what’s available to them.

Even worse is what I found on this very site’s forums regarding how the banhammer system works. The quote, found below, says that you will NOT be banned for having lag, poor network performance, or occasional disconnects. It also says that you will NOT get banned for an accidental disconnect or 2. I already know that both of these claims are absolutely 100% false lies, as it has already happened to me, and that’s all it takes. The fact that the devs are also putting their faith into a 100% automated system genuinely scares me as well. Now, I’m not saying the system doesn’t work - it does; I’m merely suggesting that it can, and will, make mistakes from time to time. 343, fix this, and fix it quickly or you will end up alienating a bunch of your own fans.

> Will lag (poor or intermittent network performance) or occasional disconnects due to inconsistent network conditions result in a ban?
>
> Lag, poor network performance, or occasional disconnects will not result in a ban. Please note that while this process is automated, it is accurate. Bans are certainly legitimate, and will stay in force for their stated duration. To keep your matchmaking privileges in good standing, immediately cease any unsociable behavior and wait out the ban.
>
> I didn’t do anything wrong, and you can’t prove it. Will you please reverse my ban?
>
> Our automated system builds up a digital case of wrongdoing before any ban is enacted. If you accidentally disconnect a time or two, you won’t get banned. Instead the system looks for patterns that can’t happen accidentally. If the banhammer detects enough wrongdoing, you were doing wrong.

2

So, have you been unfairly temporarily banned due to accidental disconnects? If so, please explain your experience here.
Do you agree with me? Disagree with me? Why?

Also, on a side note, I couldn’t figure out how to continue posting after the quote in my opening post - how do I go about doing that?

3

ayyy you’re not alone same problem

4

Lag is pretty bad. I got disconnected from a few Slayer and Warzone matches that way. Luckily I wasn’t banned.

5

The game is actually pretty good network-wise for me overall. I only suffer from temporary lag every 4 or 5 matches or so, and only usually for a few seconds (although I will sadly admit, it has gotten me killed on more than 1 occasion. Thankfully, most of the time, I can attribute this to my brother doing things on his PC in the next room (watching Netflix or Hulu, opening up numerous pictures he wants to save, or uploading files for his hobby or for work for example) - that means that the networking for the game is actually better I even think it is, which is good.

That being said, if my brother uploads something, it automatically lags my network, and can result in a disconnect. It doesn’t happen often, since he’s pretty good at warning me in advance, but every so often he forgets to do so. I don’t mind a temporary ban in this case, I really don’t, I just don’t think it should steadily get worse over time or that I should get temporarily banned after so few disconnects. Still, I ask again - why should I be punished for something that a) I’m not doing on purpose and b) that I have no real control over? It’s simply not fair - there are no ins, ands, or buts about it.

In the event of a disconnect, I think it should temporarily ban me for a short duration (not more than 5 minutes) with no further repercussions even if it happens again, unless it happens again frequently, like 3 to 5x over the course, of say, an hour - in which case, further action would be taken. I think that’s fair.

Banning me for only 2 disconnects though? That’s bad policing, and is, for lack of a better phrase, “use of excessive force” IMO. Granted in the particular situation that occurred to me above, I’m sure the 2 teamkills were also a factor (even though they were, again, not my fault), which is why I mentioned it in the 1st place.

6

I was banned for idling in a match of free for all when I had just won with 25 -13, don’t believe that could happen while A.F.K., 16 hours and 9 minutes definitely a joke. First ban and 16 hours under false pretense, I have paid enough through reqs and this game. Bans should be few and far between for everyone not a common problem within this community.

7

I am very worried about this. I have been playing Halo since the first day the first title was released and NEVER quit games. I bought the Xbox one and subscribe to xbl for the sole purpose of playing Halo 5 guardians. My Internet connection is a 5Mb up and 12 Mb down, business class connection. I generally have no issues…HOWEVER, last night I was disconnected about 1minute into a Fiesta match. “that was weird”, tried another match and it disconnected again a few minutes in (which is odd, as I have only experienced a few times generally at the end of a match) At that point I went through settings to confirm connection to xbl, matchmaking etc.(you’re good to go it tells me), and restarted for good measure. Went back into a Fiesta match and it drops me again!! Then I see the banhammer screen for 1hr. For me, this is insult to injury… I just want to play the game that I have $600 wrapped up in. I don’t have a lot of time to play and I questioned whether I should continue with Halo5 and the xboxone to begin with; now some unknown connection issue is ruining my multi-title reputation and possibly prevent me from playing at all. The worst part is that there appears to be noone to contact at 343 to look into dubious banhammer action, or connection issues that I believe are probably on their end… Needless to say if this happens regularly or I get banned, I’ll most likely end up canceling xbl and selling my system, with a lot of bad noise directed at 343.
If anyone knows how to contact 343 to dispute banhammer action, please post here.

8

> 2645194602573229;7:
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Please don’t revive old threads.

We have an Official Halo 5 “Why was I banned?” thread, which you can discuss any ban related feedback, issues, concerns, etc.

Thank you!