What's the current situation on cheating?
The question is in the title. And let's stick to the topic and verifiable information. But the reason why I'm asking this, is that there's some suspicious activity to be seen in-game. And I've heard ...
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@ArmoredBurbot
Yes, the question is in the title. The problem is there as well. There are no numbers, there is no communication from the developer except the rare acknowledgement that they've done a "mass ban." The entire phenomena is shrouded in secrecy because as soon as anyone talks officially and openly about it then two things happen. Thing one, it makes it impossible for the casual player to pretend that there isn't a problem, making it easier to leave the game. And two, it establishes a psychological space where normal players are more willing to seek out cheats to level the playing field - cheats they now know for certain exist and are available because the developer publicly acknowledged them.
As @Airish85 said, people will cheat at anything if they think they can. If the game is free to play, so much the better.
So anything you see and hear on the subject is strictly anecdotal, but here's what I watch for when I'm playing. I don't watch for crazy feats of movement or even high-accuracy aiming. Those things are possible without cheating and prove nothing in and of themselves. What I look for, is a player with a launch skin and no badges or trackers, or very low number trackers, who looks like a new player... and who then goes on to mop up the lobby. One solo squad wipe after another. Of course, you can't know that's going on unless it's your own teammate. And that's how you know beyond a reasonable doubt. I don't see a lot of this in my lobbies, but I see it once in a while. Smurf or cheat, take your pick. They're evil either way. If I believed in a higher power then I could at least take comfort in the idea that they'll get what they have coming to them someday. But I don't. And they probably won't. And if they do, in the form of a ban, then they'll just start a new account and the wheels on the bus...
Yes, the question is in the title. The problem is there as well. There are no numbers, there is no communication from the developer except the rare acknowledgement that they've done a "mass ban." The entire phenomena is shrouded in secrecy because as soon as anyone talks officially and openly about it then two things happen. Thing one, it makes it impossible for the casual player to pretend that there isn't a problem, making it easier to leave the game. And two, it establishes a psychological space where normal players are more willing to seek out cheats to level the playing field - cheats they now know for certain exist and are available because the developer publicly acknowledged them.
As @Airish85 said, people will cheat at anything if they think they can. If the game is free to play, so much the better.
So anything you see and hear on the subject is strictly anecdotal, but here's what I watch for when I'm playing. I don't watch for crazy feats of movement or even high-accuracy aiming. Those things are possible without cheating and prove nothing in and of themselves. What I look for, is a player with a launch skin and no badges or trackers, or very low number trackers, who looks like a new player... and who then goes on to mop up the lobby. One solo squad wipe after another. Of course, you can't know that's going on unless it's your own teammate. And that's how you know beyond a reasonable doubt. I don't see a lot of this in my lobbies, but I see it once in a while. Smurf or cheat, take your pick. They're evil either way. If I believed in a higher power then I could at least take comfort in the idea that they'll get what they have coming to them someday. But I don't. And they probably won't. And if they do, in the form of a ban, then they'll just start a new account and the wheels on the bus...
