Let’s Try Something Different
Albert Einstein is widely credited with saying, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results." Whether he actually uttered those words is often debated but the important fact is the definition is correct. Obviously what’s happening today in the attempt to address the cheating and hacking situation is not working...so here is a suggestion.
As related to CoM and focused on the Megalopolis level an individual receives 60 assignments + 15 assignments acquired by gold keys in a given week that carry a specific value (ie: 3k points) and each assignment takes “X” time to complete. Based on the information EA has readily available each assignment can be defined by points awarded (3k, 2k, etc.) and the amount of time required to complete the task. It should be simple to determine the maximum points a mayor can earn (if they follow the correct path/logic) and the amount of time required to accomplish those tasks. I understand this is burdensome to track by individual so my suggestion is to take the best case scenario (time and points) and set that as the baseline...periodically throughout each day (every 2 hours or so) run a simple report for each contest (it’s only complex if you design it that way) and identify anyone that exceeds the maximum points in that specific window. Once identified they should immediately be tagged internally for suspect behavior but no action taken as it simply could be a timing issue - if this pattern continues (especially completing tasks in unreasonable time frames) the player should be removed from the contest and sent to Cheaters Island.
This simple exercise will address many significant concerns related to cheaters in real time...it is clearly evident that nothing is being done during the contest (I have reported blatant cheaters with creditable documentation 2 days or more prior to the conclusion of the contest with no action taken). The perception is simple, people are simply fed up with no credible evidence that any action has taken place and the simple complacency that tends to appear often accompanied by the phrase “naming & shaming” - time to own the problem you allowed to occur and do something that shows tangible results. It’s simple economics, adjust the perception or run the risk of profit erosion. I’m confident someone in the organization understands that simple fact.
