3 ms·
Putting the lawsuit under "Copyright infringement" is a strange choice, but I have to agree that fighting cheaters in video games is a good fight. In one hand,
by Nican 8y ago
Putting the lawsuit under "Copyright infringement" is a strange choice, but I have to agree that fighting cheaters in video games is a good fight.
In one hand, the user should have ownership of their computer, and what happens in it. The user should not be prevented from testing and modifying whatever occurs in their memory, in the same way, I can load Adblock, or Reddit Enhancement Suit, to make my experience on a website better.
On the other hand, online gaming has become a sport. Having cheaters in-game is almost like bicycle racers using enchantment drugs for a competition. I would hate to lose a bicycle race for having another athlete using illegal unhealthy drugs, as I would have to lose an online game for other players paying hundreds of dollars for a significant unfair advantage.
For me, there should be a new kind of law that would cover gaming cheating behavior under unfair gameplay. Users are detracting from the experience from the other players, who are playing the game on an even playing ground.
I find GTV 5's strategy particular interesting, that instead of banning cheaters in online servers from playing, they just moved players to a "cheaters pool," in which cheaters can play with other cheaters. It still allows everyone to play the game, but now they are put up against other players who also have an unfair advantage, and have to compete for a better strategy.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- oliwarner 8y agoIndeed, this should be "computer misuse" as they're using Epic's servers against their TOS, without permission. Similar category to hacking. Stricter penalties.
- marak830 8y agoThe problem with that is, where would you law draw the line? My main software is a digital copilot for starcitizen. It does voice control, screen verlay and eventual screen grabs to load states. It perfrms nothing a skilled pilot cannot do, but makes it so almost anyone can match with those skilled pilots. Is it considered cheating when it makes me a much better pilot, faster reaction speeds and easily performing difficult movements? What about my testers why are physically challenged in some way? There's no way they could keep up without my software, but I can understand the arguments that a pilot of equal skill vs one with my software will be at a large disadvantage. It's a difficult thing to codify into law I believe.
- Nican 8y agoWould you be alright if the game publishers can publish guidelines for what is acceptable? Much like StarCraft, I think there would be interesting competitions and challenges for people to develop AI for the game. There could also be challenges for games in developing better interfaces, helpers, and plugins.
- marak830 8y agoHell yeah, i have written so many emails to CIG (who run star citizen) trying to find out whats acceptable and what isnt (eg: i can let a pilot lock up 3-4 missiles by saying 'lock 3' but i cant let them lock up all missiles by just saying 'lock missiles'), is such a pain in the arse. Most of the time i end up speaking to someone who doesnt really know and just chooses the safest option. Which honestly is what probably would happen from guidelines (sigh) - which will put me and my users back to where we were :P
- wilsonnb3 8y agoAre you really suggesting that cheating in an online video game should be illegal? I’m having hard time thinking of a justification for the government fining you or throwing you in jail for cheating at a video game.