Quote:Original post by slayemin
My take is that "Life just isn't fair".

While true, it doesn't mean one should make life more unfair when it is possible to avoid it. Games with strict rules are actually designed to hamper the rampant cheating that would otherwise take place in the domains the game emulates.

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If you created a game and were able to cheat in a subtle way where you gain an undetectable advantage, more power to you.

It depends on the context of the "cheat" though. Some things are considered despicable, but are not actually forbidden, such as spawn camping.

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If it still bothers you, just think of it as another rule to playing the game. "If player X logs in, they get bonus resources!"

That isn't a very good rule. No one wants to play such a game, especially when this rule is hidden.

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Here's an interesting question: Would you consider discovering and using exploits to be cheating or a sign of mastering the game?

You are not mastering the "game" (as the designer created it), you are exploiting implementation details. It isn't the same as mastering the ruleset. If there is a weakness in the rules themselves (e.g. strategy games with unreasonably powerful combination effects, or other balance issues), then fair enough. Everyone agrees to play by the rules.

You might argue that the implementation defines the ruleset, even if it differs from it. I wouldn't agree.

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Quote:Here's an interesting question: Would you consider discovering and using exploits to be cheating or a sign of mastering the game?

You are not mastering the "game" (as the designer created it), you are exploiting implementation details. It isn't the same as mastering the ruleset. If there is a weakness in the rules themselves (e.g. strategy games with unreasonably powerful combination effects, or other balance issues), then fair enough. Everyone agrees to play by the rules.

You might argue that the implementation defines the ruleset, even if it differs from it. I wouldn't agree.

Maybe we have a slight disagreement on the definition of an "exploit". Here are a few videos which demonstrate some examples of what I would call in-game exploits.

Starcraft 2 - Spine Crawler Trick


C&C Renegade tricks


Starcraft 2 - Harvest Minerals 7% Faster (recently patched)


These exploits are small ways a person could increase their competitive advantage over someone else in a game. These may seem minor (7% more efficient mineral harvesting? who cares!) but it does go to show that there is a gradient between legit game play and blatant cheating. Exploiting map design, game mechanics, ect. may be the small but vital difference between winning and losing in an evenly matched game. So, do you praise players who find and utilize these strategies for their ingenuity or do you flame/ban them for using exploits?

(I realize this is a bit of a tangent from blatant cheating)

Whoa, if the Hitler is a measurement of human deaths caused, then how many Hitlers is The Death?

[Edited by - phresnel on October 12, 2010 4:40:01 AM]