How to Defeat the Cheat
It is my hope, this thread will be both positive and knowledgeable in assisting future programmers and developers to make better clients for their games. This topic came to mind after I replied to y...
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@Xubunnytwo Had to grant you kudos for imagination.
But let's be realistic. Coding applications that surveil the networks and users hardware is more tedious then modeling skins and maps or even some game mechanics. Besides, there are laws (privacy) involved, which differ per country. I'm also pretty sure, that some services to the game are provided by other software companies and cost a lot of money. You also might start calling EA as CIEA (Central Intelligence Electronic Arts).
- @Wolferato before I got too old, I worked computer security for some major companies. As a contractor, I set foot in some sensitive areas I still can't talk about today. Over the +40 years, I saw some very weak security that makes one stare at the ceiling at night wondering how the sun rises each day. So yes, since I don't expect high security systems from them, I expect it even less in online games.
One of the worst security situations I ran into was a place where the building air-conditioning was turn off on the hottest days in the summer to save money. The employees then used random object to prop open security doors to allow air to flow through. Anyone on these hot days could just walk in without a security card. While I refuse name the company publicly, I will say tampering with their internal workings would have life threatening effects on several major metropolitan cities.
I think many people take gaming more serious than public safety. I do tend to fall back on my old days as a contractor for support. I think the more reasonable solution is something like reconzero stated above making the shooting backseat to the strategy. Currently I get more XP for survival than I do kills. The format might never apply to this game, but what about the games to come on the horizon?Concerning future games:
Currenly, the relationship between the client and the server is pretty weak. The client performs all the actions, and passes the data to the server. The server is incapable of detecing anomalies, like rapid fire, super speed, and other (client) hacks. I understand, that if the server had to check everything, it would cost a lot of processing and bandwidth and serving thousands of players at the same time would make the game very laggy, not to mention very expansive. That's why the client requires EAC. In the future, as the processing power and bandwidth increases, software engineering gets more advanced and the costs go down, servers will be capable of processing the incoming data and detecting if there's anything out of the ordinary. Long story short, if the cheat detection becomes server-side, then it's all over for cheaters. It's just too much effort to hack the server for long time for just a few headshots. This will remove the need for EAC and client-side hardware or network hacking becomes pointless.
Concerning cheaters:
So far, there are two types of cheaters, I'm aware of.
1. Those who suffer serious emotional issues.
2. Very smart and aware people.
For the first group, I won't go into detail for obvious reasons, only good parenting and/or intensive psychological assistance is recommended.For the second group, well that would require a new world paradigm.
I don't support cheating, but let me provide you with a certain and maybe a bit controversial perspective:
- Cheating is considered as doing something that puts other players in a disadvantage.
- The current MM, in their view, could be considered as a cheat. For it purposely puts you in a disadvantage to make you lose and crave for a win afterwards, instead of matching you in a honest way and with equal level players. Engagement-based MM it's called.
- This group of cheaters is well aware of this and doesn't agree. In their eyes it's manipulation for the purpose of greedy cash grabs and asserting a certain control by these media/entertainment corporations.
- Thus, their reason to cheat is to rebel against the big guy. Beat the system, so to speak. Their fight is not against you, but "them".By the way, if you've ever been on 4chan, and read the topics on game cheating, the difference between those two groups would become clear. Their bias is pretty prevailing in their responses.
Concerning where to go from here:
As I mentioned in another post, https://answers.ea.com/t5/General-Discussion/Respawn-s-solution-for-cheaters-and-smurfs-in-S16/td-p/12286762, the S16 MM changes, might decrease the problem to a certain extend. If it works, but it remains to be seen. But if it does, then perhaps it's the salvation we have been looking for. I've already come to some other conclusions, but that's for another topic.
And if someone wonders what I'm babbeling on about, don't mind me. It's late in the night over here, and just finished my 3rd bottle of beer. Cheers!
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