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The term banhammer is a satirical term for the power wielded by an administrator to ban or block users of internet forums, wikis, online games, or other internet media. The term is often used as a nickname for the actual anti-cheating software in video games that performs the banning action.

Overview

Punishment is usually a form of ban from the service, either by deleting the guilty party's account or suspending it for a period of time. In extreme cases, the person's IP address may be blocked from the server to prevent them from simply creating another account, sometimes indefinitely; however, this particular action is rarely taken, as most Internet Service Providers allocate dynamic IPs to their customers which can change from time to time. These actions are usually invoked for such offenses as violating the website's Terms of Service, trolling, promoting prejudice, disrespect of moderators, or promoting illegal acts.

Gaming usage

Its concept has since expanded into more mainstream venues, such as Bungie's Halo 2 and Halo 3 video game for the Xbox console. A patch released in July 2005 -- required for future online play -- scanned the user's hard drive and summarily restricted him or her from joining Xbox Live without possibility of appeal or leniency if it was determined that his or her copy had been modded. News site Slashdot began using the term at that point and has subsequently applied it to multiple instances of similar housecleaning occurring on World of Warcraft.

In other games such as Blizzard's StarCraft, the host has a hammer icon next to his or her name and is able to boot people from the chat along with the ability to ban people from the channel for a specified time period. The banhammer has even made an appearance in the RPG The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, where it can be found on the corpse of an NPC.

See also

References

  1. Lasky, Michael (2005-05-23). "AT&T's CallVantage: Excellent Phone Service on the Cheap". PC World. IDG. Retrieved 2007-06-07. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. "HALO 2 & CHEATING: How does the Bungie "Banhammer" actually work?", Bungie.net, 2005-06-10, URL retrieved 2006-12-29.
  3. "Halo 2 and Halo 3 Online Cheaters Get Smashed by Bungie's Banhammer" GamePro, 2006-01-13, URL retrieved 2006-12-29.
  4. "Searching For: banhammer", Slashdot.
  5. Velvin, Sinder, "Morrowind Easter Eggs", The Imperial Library fansite, URL retrieved 2006-12-29.
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