Cheating: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:37, August 15, 2009

There is more information available on this subject at Cheating on the English Wikipedia.

Cheating is when a player exploits a game using various methods, thus giving them an unfair advantage over other players. There are many methods of cheating that players use, including Modding, Bridging, Dummying, Standbying, Super Bouncing, and Button Combos. Any use of these cheating methods can get a player banned from Xbox Live entirely.

Cheating has been a common problem in the Halo community; it began almost immediately after the release of Halo PC, and continued in Halo 2 and Halo 3. Users exploited bugs within the game or network to win ranked games, thus increasing their Matchmaking rank. Though Bungie has released anti-cheat patches and protections for both Halo 2 and Halo 3, cheating is still common in Halo 2.

Forms of Cheating

Standbying

Cable Modem with Standby Button and LED status lights.

Standbying was one of the first forms of cheating used in Halo 2. This cheat, which could only be performed by the connection host, involved players intentionally pressing the standby button on their modem, freezing the game for other players and giving the cheater(s) time to accomplish their objective. Some cheaters also unplugged their Ethernet cables.

Standbying was heavily exploited by many players, and was quickly noticed by Bungie. Players that standby too often can be detected and banned from Matchmaking.

In the majority of cases from Xbox Live, players would often use this cheat to change the outcome of a game that was previously not in their favor, in order to pad their ranked matchmaking stats.Template:Fact Some cheaters went to great lengths to standby; numerous walkthroughs for the cheat exist on the Internet, including one that involves wiring an Ethernet cable into a lightswitch.^[1]

Boosting

Main article: Boosting

Boosting refers to the cooperation of Halo players to earn Matchmaking EXP or Achievements. Such players dishonestly earn EXP through various means; a common technique is to have most of the players intentionally lose or quit out, allowing the "victor" to gain EXP without any actual effort. Some boosters also sign several dummy profiles or guests into Xbox Live, play Matchmaking, and kill the inactive guests repeatedly for points and EXP.

In some cases, players may also form game parties larger than a given playlist's team size; when the party enters that playlist, some of the party members will inevitably be separated onto a different team. These party members may then facilitate boosting by remaining inactive, while their "enemies" kill them for free points. Such separated players may also teamkill or use suicide insurance to help control the outcome of the match.

EXP boosting, if detected, will earn a Matchmaking ban. The Banhammer is able to recognize completely inactive players (as in, dummy players) in matches. Achievement boosting isn't against the rules, but it is often mistaken for EXP boosting and in such cases results in the same ban.

Modding

Main article: Modding

Soft Mod

Xbox Action Replay Kit.

"Soft mod" refers to instances of cheating where players use external programs in their console or computer to give themselves an unfair advantage, or to accomplish tasks not normally possible in the game. Such programs include Action Replay, which allows players to input hexadecimal codes to manipulate variables (such as a player's remaining ammo) and settings in the game. Action Replay use can result in a ban.

Soft modding also refers to the modification of game data in general. In Halo 3, this includes the modification of map variants, game variants, screenshots, films, and film clips. Creating modded content will result in a console ban; uploading any modded content to a File Share will result in a File Share ban.

Soft mods can grant a player:

Enhanced health or shields.
Enhanced weapons.
Unlimited ammo and grenades.
"Clones" -- player models that don't do anything -- in map variants.

There have been many debates about whether soft mods should be permitted in Forge and Custom Games.

Hard Mod

A Mod Chip for the Xbox.

A hard mod is the modification of a console. Hard mods, which are widely considered to be hacking, require the modification of an Xbox or Xbox 360's internal components. By modifying the BIOS, a hacker can enable the Xbox to play copied or downloaded games, or run unsigned code.

Hard mods allow a console to run illegally downloaded games; they can also allow players to hack into a downloadable map and alter their properties and tags; hard mods allowed players to mod Halo 2 maps almost as well as they could in Halo Custom Edition.

The most common form of hard mod is the mod chip: a computer chip that must be soldered to a console's motherboard.

Bungie has resolved the Hard Mod issue by removing certain maps from matchmaking, and permanently banning any players detected. Console modifications can result in a console ban. Hard mods allow players to:

Change a map entirely (textures, layout, etc).
Place Warthog turrets on the ground.
Hack into the game, revealing holes.
Alter a map in nearly any way possible.

Bridging

Bridging allows players to connect two different packet-switched network types on a single data link layer; this makes the bridging player the connection host for the match.

The connection host of a game can disconnect other players, disconnect themselves, or in some cases destroy the connections of all players. The host can also use their Internet router and PC to monitor network connections and detect the IP addresses of other players.

Players found using this exploit and cheat will be banned from Matchmaking by Bungie and/or Xbox Live by Microsoft.

Super Bouncing

Main article: Super Bouncing

File:Outside-headlong.JPG

Players on top of Headlong's buildings.

Super Bouncing is a glitch that, when used in Matchmaking, is considered a cheat. The glitch involves a player traveling a certain path, and then jumping onto a certain part of a map's geometry, causing the player to bounce to areas of the map that are normally inaccessible. The glitch is not allowed in Matchmaking due to its relatively unfair nature, as it allows players to obtain superior sniping points or escape from combat.

In a forum response on Super Jumps, Jeremiah (or more commonly known as Ninja 0n Fire) stated to Bungie.net members that, "Whether it's superbouncing or interrupting weapon animations, just because we don't personally ban you for it doesn't mean it isn't cheating and extremely poor sportsmanship."^[2]

Button Combos

Main article: Button Combos

The Bungie Waaaaambulance.

Another group of glitches involve the use of button combinations to interrupt animations and delays, often allowing for rapid maneuvers and and sequences of attacks. Such button combos are considered cheats by both fans and Bungie staff members.

Not Cheating

These techniques are not cheating, though they are widely considered underhanded and unfair. These methods will not result in a ban, but they are likely to annoy other players.

Suicide insurance

Suicide insurance is considered poor sportsmanship by the majority of players. During a slayer game, when one team takes the lead, one or more players on that team will commit suicide, reducing the teams' score and ensuring the victory of the opposing team. This is commonly used when EXP boosting or when cooperating with the enemy team.

References

^ http://www.hackmypcs.com/halo3.htm#250741688 (Warning: the page has a dark, high-contrast color scheme and may be difficult to read.)
^ Bungie.net: Halo 2 Forum: How to BXR, BXB and everything else

[1] ttp://www.hackmypcs.com/halo3.htm#250741688 (Warning: the page has a dark, high-contrast color scheme and may be difficult to read.)

[2] Bungie.net: Halo 2 Forum: How to BXR, BXB and everything else

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 [[Image:Nocheating.gif|right|150px|thumb|No Cheating!|]]
-'''Cheating''' is when a player exploits a game using various methods, thus giving them an unfair advantage over other players. There are many methods of cheating that players use, including Modding, Bridging, Dummying, Standbying, Super bouncing and Button Combos. Any use of these cheating methods can get a player banned from Xbox Live entirely.
+'''Cheating''' is when a player exploits a game using various methods, thus giving them an unfair advantage over other players. There are many methods of cheating that players use, including [[Modding]], Bridging, Dummying, Standbying, [[Super Bouncing]], and [[Button Combos]]. Any use of these cheating methods can get a player banned from [[Xbox Live]] entirely.
-Cheating is a common complaint within [[Halo]]'s online play, which occurred almost immediately after the game's release of ''[[Halo PC]]'', ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''[[Halo 3]]''. Users exploited bugs within the Game or Network to win Ranked games, thus increasing their matchmaking rank. Though Bungie has put patches in place to restore and protect gamming experiences from cheating, it is still common within Halo 2's online multiplayer. It is less prevalent in Halo 3, but 'cheap' tactics, along with poor sportsmanship are still interfered with online multiplayer.
+Cheating has been a common problem in the ''[[Halo]]'' community; it began almost immediately after the release of ''[[Halo PC]]'', and continued in ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''[[Halo 3]]''. Users exploited bugs within the game or network to win ranked games, thus increasing their [[Matchmaking]] rank. Though [[Bungie]] has released anti-cheat patches and protections for both ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'', cheating is still common in ''Halo 2''.
-==Forms of Cheating==
+== Forms of Cheating ==
-=== StandBying ===
+=== Standbying ===
 [[Image:MotorolaCableModem.jpg|left|thumb|150px|right|Cable Modem with Standby Button and LED status lights.]]
-One of the first forms of cheating that took place in ''Halo 2'' was the Standby Cheat. This cheat involved players intentionally pressing the standby button on their modem, freezing the game for other players, giving the cheater time to accomplish their objective. This cheat was heavily exploited by many players, and was quickly realized by Bungie. Players that standby too often would be detected and banned from any and all matchmaking. In the majority of cases from Xbox Live, players would often use this cheat to change the outcome of a game that was previously not in their favor, in order to pad their ranked matchmaking stats.
+'''Standbying''' was one of the first forms of cheating used in ''Halo 2''. This cheat, which could only be performed by the [[connection host]], involved players intentionally pressing the standby button on their [[Wikipedia:modem|modem]], freezing the game for other players and giving the cheater(s) time to accomplish their objective. Some cheaters also unplugged their Ethernet cables.
-=== Suicide Insurance ===
+Standbying was heavily exploited by many players, and was quickly noticed by Bungie. Players that standby too often can be detected and [[ban]]ned from Matchmaking.
-This form of "cheating" is not technically cheating and is not recognized by Bungie as such, meaning you cannot be banned for it. Suicide insurance is considered poor sportsmanship by the majority of players. During a slayer game, when one team takes the lead, one or more players on that team will commit suicide, reducing the teams' score and ensuring the victory of the opposing team.
+In the majority of cases from Xbox Live, players would often use this cheat to change the outcome of a game that was previously not in their favor, in order to pad their ranked matchmaking stats.{{fact}} Some cheaters went to great lengths to standby; numerous walkthroughs for the cheat exist on the Internet, including one that involves wiring an Ethernet cable into a lightswitch.<ref>http://www.hackmypcs.com/halo3.htm#250741688 ''(Warning: the page has a dark, high-contrast color scheme and may be difficult to read.)''</ref>
 === Boosting ===
 {{Main|Boosting}}
-Boosting is a form of cheating that allows Halo players to gain experience points or Achievements through the cooperation of other players in Matchmaking or to gain experience points by leaving a number of profiles or guests signed into Xbox Live without anyone actually using them to play. Boosting is most often conducted on free for all playlists or double EXP weekend playlists. Players may boost by either asking for the co-operation of players in the pre-game lobby in helping them earn Achievements or deliberately letting them score points, or it may involve taking parties larger than the size of a single team into a game. When exceeding team size players may use any party members on the opposing team by leaving that party member without anyone playing them, leaving the other team essentially one man down (or that player acting as an easy target to gain points in slayer games), or the player may use betrayals and suicide insurance to hinder the other team, ensuring the victory of the boosting player's team or on a free for all playlists (e.g. [[Rumble Pit]]), if a large enough number of players is brought in one of them will always be in the top three ensuring that experience is always earned.
+'''Boosting''' refers to the cooperation of ''Halo'' players to earn Matchmaking EXP or [[Achievements]]. Such players dishonestly earn EXP through various means; a common technique is to have most of the players intentionally lose or quit out, allowing the "victor" to gain EXP without any actual effort. Some boosters also sign several dummy profiles or guests into Xbox Live, play Matchmaking, and kill the inactive guests repeatedly for points and EXP.
+In some cases, players may also form game parties larger than a given playlist's team size; when the party enters that playlist, some of the party members will inevitably be separated onto a different team. These party members may then facilitate boosting by remaining inactive, while their "enemies" kill them for free points. Such separated players may also [[betrayal|teamkill]] or use [[#Suicide insurance|suicide insurance]] to help control the outcome of the match.
+EXP boosting, if detected, will earn a Matchmaking ban. [[Ban#The Banhammer|The Banhammer]] is able to recognize completely inactive players (as in, dummy players) in matches. Achievement boosting isn't against the rules, but it is often mistaken for EXP boosting and in such cases results in the same ban.
-===Modding===
+=== Modding ===
-====Soft Mod====
+{{Main|Modding}}
+==== Soft Mod ====
 [[Image:Action_replay_xbox.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Xbox Action Replay Kit.]]
-A Soft mod refers to when players use external programs in the game console or their computer to give themselves the unfair advantage in the game. Such programs include [[Action Replay]]s, where players can edit gaming codes to enhance their weapons, or give them unlimited health, grenades, etc... By default, the Action Replay is a fun tool where players can manipulate game data and access options that are normally reserved for developers. Upon the addition of online [[multiplayer]] in ''Halo 2'', however, these features of Action Replay have had devastating effects on ranked or unranked play. Therefore, Bungie and Microsoft have permanently banned users who use Action Replay, or other external programs to modify game data. This type of modding is very popular with the gaming community as it is a cheap, and often easier way to modify game data without opening the system. There are many modifications using soft mod such as:
+"'''Soft mod'''" refers to instances of cheating where players use external programs in their console or computer to give themselves an unfair advantage, or to accomplish tasks not normally possible in the game. Such programs include [[Action Replay]], which allows players to input hexadecimal codes to manipulate variables (such as a player's remaining ammo) and settings in the game. Action Replay use can result in a ban.
-*Enhanced Health
-*Enhanced Weapons
+Soft modding also refers to the modification of game data in general. In ''Halo 3'', this includes the modification of [[Forge|map variants]], [[Custom Games|game variants]], [[Theater|screenshots, films, and film clips]]. Creating modded content will result in a console ban; uploading any modded content to a [[File Share]] will result in a File Share ban.
-*Unlimited Ammo (and grenades)
-*Zombies of Elites.
-*In matchmaking, making your team have the advantage.
-*Even escaping the map.
-There have been many debates whether or not to use soft mods in Forge and custom games.
+Soft mods can grant a player:
+*Enhanced [[health]] or shields.
+*Enhanced [[weapons]].
+*Unlimited ammo and [[grenades]].
+*"Clones" -- player models that don't do anything -- in map variants.
-====Hard Mod====
+There have been many debates about whether soft mods should be permitted in [[Forge]] and [[Custom Games]].
+==== Hard Mod ====
 [[Image:Aladdin-xt-xbox-mod-chip_x3.gif|right|thumb|150px|A Mod Chip for the Xbox.]]
-A Hard Mod is the exact opposite of a Soft Mod. Rather that use software to modify the effects and/or outcome of a game, players exploit the hardware of the console through the BIOS, allowing the console to play copied or downloaded games, or run an unsigned code. This type of mod is more commonly referred to as hacking, as it requires the player to open the system and modify the internal components. The most common use of a hard mod or hardware hack is to play illegal copies of games that players can download from special sites on the Internet. Mod Chips fall under the category of a Hard Mod, as players must open the case, and solder the chip to the console's motherboard. However, in ''Halo 2'', this type of mod allows players to hack into the downloadable maps and modify their properties providing them with new abilities and powers to give them an advantage over normal game players. Bungie has resolved the Hard Mod issue by removing certain maps from matchmaking, and permanently banning any players detected. Below are some features you can use hard mod for:
+A '''hard mod''' is the modification of a console. Hard mods, which are widely considered to be hacking, require the modification of an Xbox or Xbox 360's internal components. By modifying the BIOS, a hacker can enable the Xbox to play copied or downloaded games, or run unsigned code.
+Hard mods allow a console to run illegally downloaded games; they can also allow players to hack into a downloadable map and alter their properties and [[tag]]s; hard mods allowed players to mod ''Halo 2'' maps almost as well as they could in ''[[Halo Custom Edition]]''.
+The most common form of hard mod is the mod chip: a computer chip that must be soldered to a console's motherboard.
+Bungie has resolved the Hard Mod issue by removing certain maps from matchmaking, and permanently banning any players detected. Console modifications can result in a console ban. Hard mods allow players to:
+*Change a map entirely (textures, layout, etc).
+*Place [[Warthog]] turrets on the ground.
+*Hack into the game, revealing holes.
+*Alter a map in nearly any way possible.
+=== Bridging ===
+'''Bridging''' allows players to connect two different [[wikipedia:Packet_switching|packet-switched]] network types on a single data link layer; this makes the bridging player the connection host for the match.
-*Changing a map entirely (textures, layout, etc).
+The connection host of a game can disconnect other players, disconnect themselves, or in some cases destroy the connections of all players. The host can also use their Internet router and PC to monitor network connections and detect the IP addresses of other players.
-*Being able to put [[Warthog]] turrets on the ground.
-*Able to hack into the game, revealing holes.
-===Bridging===
+Players found using this exploit and cheat will be banned from Matchmaking by Bungie and/or Xbox Live by Microsoft.
-Bridging is a network related term that is commonly used in [[wikipedia:Packet_switching|packet-switched]] networks. Bridging allows players to connect two different network types on a single data link layer, in turn granting that player ''host'' status and the ability to disconnect other players from the game session. Players make use of their Internet router and their PC to monitor network connections, detect IP addresses, and in turn gain the advantage. When a player performs this cheat, they have the ability to also boot themselves by losing network connectivity, and in some cases destroying the connections of all players. Players found using this exploit and cheat will be banned from matchmaking by Bungie and/or Xbox Live by Microsoft.
 === Super Bouncing ===
 {{Main|Super Bouncing}}
 [[Image:Outside-headlong.JPG|left|thumb|150px|Players on top of Headlong's buildings.]]
-An in-game exploitation known to players and gamers everywhere as [[Super Bouncing]] or Super Jumping has been naturally labeled as cheating by many of the Xbox LIVE community. This flawed deed has also been described as cheating by Bungie employees when it is used in Matchmaking, although not everyone is banned for this act. Also, Bungie has not made a patch to fix the cheat, and many players claim that a patch would not be able to fix this exploitation because the game engine would require a complete re-design. The glitch involves a player traveling a certain path, and then jumping onto a specific area of the map, causing the player to bounce to areas of the map that are usually unreachable. This exploit can give players the unfair advantage of sniping points, and could also be used to escape combat forcing a loss for the other team.
+[[Super Bouncing]] is a [[glitch]] that, when used in Matchmaking, is considered a cheat. The glitch involves a player traveling a certain path, and then jumping onto a certain part of a map's geometry, causing the player to bounce to areas of the map that are normally inaccessible. The glitch is not allowed in Matchmaking due to its relatively unfair nature, as it allows players to obtain superior sniping points or escape from combat.
-In a forum response on Super Jumps, Jeremiah (or more commonly known as [[Ninja 0n Fire]]) stated to Bungie.net members that, "Whether it's superbouncing or interrupting [[weapon]] animations, just because we don't personally ban you for it doesn't mean it isn't cheating and extremely poor sportsmanship." [http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=7068597&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=2#end <sup>Source</sup>]
+In a forum response on Super Jumps, Jeremiah (or more commonly known as [[Ninja 0n Fire]]) stated to Bungie.net members that, "Whether it's superbouncing or interrupting [[weapon]] animations, just because we don't personally ban you for it doesn't mean it isn't cheating and extremely poor sportsmanship."<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=7068597&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=2#7079417 '''Bungie.net: Halo 2 Forum:''' How to BXR, BXB and everything else]</ref>
 === Button Combos ===
 {{main|Button Combos}}
 [[Image:Halo2-waahmbulance.jpg|right|thumb|150px|The Bungie Waaaaambulance.]]
-Another group of glitches, which involve the use of certain button combinations to get the upper hand have similarly been described as cheating by both fans and Bungie employees. Terms such as "BxR," "RRx," and "LLx" have been applied to specific exploits relative to the button sequence a player must press. The "BxR" glitch is perhaps the easiest and most common glitch to perform. It is done with the [[Battle Rifle]], [[Shotgun]], or [[sniper rifle]], and allows players to have an "instant kill" on an opponent by executing a sequence of events; melee an opponent (B), cancel the melee (X), fire a shot (R). This method of cheating cannot be detected and therefore cannot get you banned.
+Another group of glitches involve the use of button combinations to interrupt animations and delays, often allowing for rapid maneuvers and and sequences of attacks. Such button combos are considered cheats by both fans and Bungie staff members.
+== Not Cheating ==
+These techniques are not cheating, though they are widely considered underhanded and unfair. These methods will not result in a ban, but they are likely to annoy other players.
+=== Suicide insurance ===
+Suicide insurance is considered poor sportsmanship by the majority of players. During a slayer game, when one team takes the lead, one or more players on that team will commit suicide, reducing the teams' score and ensuring the victory of the opposing team. This is commonly used when EXP [[#Boosting|boosting]] or when cooperating with the enemy team.
 == See Also ==
 *[[Modding]]
 *[[Ban]]
+== References ==
+<references/>
 [[Category:Terms and Phrases]]
 [[Category:Multiplayer Lexicon]]