This past week was “Double Plumbob Points Week.” Of course suspected hackers should be reported, but it’s best for all if you do so accurately. Averaging 4512 points during double is what I would expect of a skilled and legit top score in megalopolis.
Cheating is definitely rampant in Megalopolis. But one shouldn't be too quick to call every high-scoring player a cheater.
During the Double Plumbob Points Week, averages of 4,000 - 4,500 points are reasonable. It's the same as scoring a 2,000 - 2,250 average during normal weeks when you're lucky and the task generator favours you.
I personally got 310,000 during that Double Points week for a 4,133 average. Had a good number of 6,000 pointers among the 60 allocated tasks, only to be let down by repeating 4,000 point task combinations once I got to golden tickets.
In the final week of the Mayor's Pass, I finally won Megalopolis again after months of futile efforts, with 163,000 for a 2,173 average. Got lucky with repeating 2,450 point tasks in golden tickets. I made sure to screenshot my progress frequently along the way, just in case some disgruntled player reported me for cheating.
So I would say up to 175,000 or 180,000 points is doable in Megalopolis during normal times. Perhaps up to 360,000 during Double Points weeks. Anything above that, you can start to be suspicious.
You would be right that you could average 4000 points in the double plum week if you got a lot of 4000 and 6000 point assignments. I understand how averages work. However I played that round in megapolis against the 2 players who in the closing hours suddenly came from nowhere and charged into first and second place averaging over 4000 points per assignment in a round when there were few 4000 point assignments and far less 6000 points assignments. There is no way that average was possible in that round. No one else came close to that. But you are the second player who has defended these 2 players. No wonder EA doesn't take the hacking and cheating serious.
Everyone gets different tasks worth different point values.
As to gaining a lot of points at the end when they’d be using gold tickets that’s not proof of hacking, actually it’s a credit to their knowledge and luck that week. The final tasks flip back and forth. If they happen to be quick and high points it’s a win. If they’re slow and low points forget it, better luck next week. Holding large gains until the final hours is a strategic advantage for several reasons, but I’ve said enough.
I am not defending hackers and cheaters. I want them gone as much as everyone else.
Am merely pointing out that not all high scores are the result of cheating. In the examples provided, 305,000 seems perfectly doable. The leader at 338,000 might raise an eyebrow, but I wouldn’t say beyond doubt that he cheated.
What many players don’t realise is the task points aren’t the same for everybody. So whilst you might be getting lots of 1,600 and 1,800-pointers thinking it’s a slow week, the random generator might lavish another player with lots of 2,000 and 3,000-pointers instead. Extrapolate that over 75 tasks and you can see how they might build what seems an unbelievable lead over you.
Myself, I got extremely lucky the past week with my Golden Tickets tasks, which repeat in an A-B-A-B pattern if you keep selecting the newly spawned task (and not touching the existing ones).
My first was Earn 2,450 Fin Simoleons for 2,450 points. Second came Earn 2,450 Leaf Simoleons also for 2,450 points. Rinse and repeat for 15 tasks and I breezed through it in about half a day.
I keep large numbers of Fish Sandwiches in Frosty Fjords and Yoga Mats in Green Valley (sometimes up to 50 of each), so it was only a matter of waiting for the City Advisor offers to pop up and claim the Simoleons. When they didn’t appear, I simply built and demolished Heating Plants and Organic Food Markets to earn the Simoleons (you lose half the original cost, but for me it was a worthwhile hit). And to make up smaller sums, I simply completed Regional Deliveries or upgraded residential zones.
I kept track of my nearest competitors and saw them adding to their totals in 2,000 point increments. So despite doing the same number of tasks as I did, they were handicapped to begin with and had no chance of catching me. It’s not fair, but that’s how the task generator works.
As I earned my points cleanly, it would be unfair to me if they had a kneejerk reaction and reported me for cheating, would it?
Trust me, I know where you’re coming from. Few months back I was sitting pretty atop Mega with 175,000 thinking I should win this. Out of nowhere comes two others in the final few hours, breezing past me with scores of 205,000 and 192,000. Now that, I can certainly say is highly dubious.
