Harassment

Virtrium is committed to providing an equal and fair gaming opportunity for all members of our online community, without unlawful regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability.

Virtrium also is committed to maintaining an environment free of harassment based on any of those above-mentioned criteria. We expect all of our customers to conduct themselves in an appropriate and professional manner, with respect and concern for their fellow players.

Harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability or any other similar criteria, for any reason or in any form, is prohibited and will not be tolerated.

Virtrium will act to investigate all complaints of harassment, whether formal or informal, verbal or written, and we will take the appropriate actions against any community member who is verified to have harassed another player.

Harassment Defined

Game Mechanics: Game mechanics are intentional design functionalities that are a feature of the Game and govern how players act and react to the Game world environment around them. Some examples of using game mechanics are the ability to block parts of the game map with your body or the ability to “macro” a large amount of text quickly. Using these game mechanics is not an infraction in and of itself, but using them to harass another player would be considered a violation. The Customer Service team at Virtrium will review each instance of harassment through abuse of game mechanics and establish the player’s “intent.” Should it be determined that the player was deliberately using a game mechanic to harm others in the Game, Virtrium will take the appropriate action(s).

Unattended Game Play: Unattended game play that is detrimental to the experience of other players is not allowed and is considered harassment. If it is determined that a player engaged in unattended game play leading to the disruption of another players experience in game, Virtrium will take disciplinary action.

Verbal Harassment: Verbally related conduct that may or does unreasonably offend, denigrate, or belittle any individual because of any of the criteria described above constitutes verbal harassment. Such conduct includes, but is not limited to, unsolicited remarks, jokes, comments, innuendos, or gestures; or the display or circulation of written material derogatory to either gender or to the race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability of individuals or groups. Virtrium will not tolerate harassment, as explained in our Rules of Conduct, and violation of this policy may lead to immediate and permanent account suspension.

Harassment Reporting

To report a harassment issue, please contact Virtrium’ Customer Service department at http://support.istaria.com as soon as possible after the incident has occurred. We strongly suggest that, if you feel you are or have been the subject of harassment while online, you notify Virtrium immediately so that we may properly and promptly investigate the matter.  A screenshot (or screenshots) of the incident is preferred, but either a screenshot or logs of the harassment incident must be included with the report in order for us to review the incident.  Without specifics of the incident in the form of either a screenshot or chat log, we can not open an investigation into the incident.

When a harassment incident is reported to Virtrium’s Customer Service department, an investigation will begin as soon as practicable. Customer Service will observe and review the details surrounding the incident, and it will determine if the harassment report is valid. The parties involved in any harassment dispute will be informed of the decision Customer Service has made following its investigation. If the harassment report is deemed valid, disciplinary action(s) will be taken against the violator(s).

Harassment Penalties

Virtrium takes harassment issues very seriously, and we will not tolerate any form of harassment in ISTARIA: Chronicles of the Gifted. We will investigate claims of harassment fully and promptly. If Customer Service determines that a player is in violation of our Rules of Conduct or its ancillary gaming policies due to a harassment issue, the appropriate and necessary disciplinary action(s) will be taken. Virtrium will impose any disciplinary action(s) based upon both the severity of the harassment issue and the player’s past account history.

Responsibility for proving that a harassment violation has occurred rests solely with ISTARIA Customer Service. Any disciplinary actions Virtrium may impose are at its sole discretion. Certain violations of Virtrium’ Harassment Policy may result in the immediate termination of a player’s Account and/or a permanent ban from the Game; should circumstances warrant, such disciplinary actions may be taken without advance notice.