Avoid cheats in games. Is possible?

[falken]

Is there a reliable system to avoid cheats in Amiga games, aimed at avoiding cheating in a competition?

[lesta_smsc]

One way might be to have some clever programmers remove the cheat codes and and overlay on screen that proves the said version is being played?

[falken]

Originally Posted by lesta_smsc

One way might be to have some clever programmers remove the cheat codes and and overlay on screen that proves the said version is being played?

Unfortunately we do not have a programmer capable of doing that.

[dreadnought]

You can require a video recording, that's how the "serious" arcade rankings are made.

[malko]

Originally Posted by dreadnought

You can require a video recording, that's how the "serious" arcade rankings are made.

+1 This is the way to go.

[roondar]

In addition, as I understand it in the PC speed running world, it's often required that you show which version you are running. Sometimes this goes as far as requiring you to show SHA2 or similar checksums for the files being used and proving this is the actual files you're using.

[dreadnought]

Originally Posted by roondar

Sometimes this goes as far as requiring you to show SHA2 or similar checksums for the files being used and proving this is the actual files you're using.

I was thinking about that too. Aren't those possible to be falsified as well though? (I don't know much about them). I mean, in theory, you could try to manipulate the videos somehow, wasn't that the case with that disgraced Kong dude?

The meta question is, how serious do you want your competition to be? And where is the point where one gets too paranoid about cheating? I mean, if it's the Amiga world then it's probably not gonna make the front pages (or whatever the kids are using for news these days). I believe that too much rules = less fun = more stress. I ran a season-long High Score compo on a Spectrum forum last year and the only rule was to provide screenshot, but even that was quite lenient. It was based strictly on trust, and the idea was to have fun playing games, not be extremely competitive. It was quite popular actually, but I believe that if I had introduced super strict score submission rules, attendance would shrink next to nothing.

[roondar]

I don't think cheating can be completely avoided, so yeah - it does become about how serious you want it to be. Considering some of the rather high-profile speedrun cheating incidents I've seen lately, it seems there are people who take their speedrunning and their cheating quite seriously.

For fun, look at the minecraft speedrun scandal... It's... It's... Just wow.

[dreadnought]

Sigh...I don't follow this scene, so just typed in "speedrun cheaters" and the first hit was some high drama featuring a shirtless utuber "exposing" another speedrunner

Then I read about that Minecraf foolery and now had enough of this kinda info to last me a long time. That's what happens when people get too serious about what's supposed to be a fun hobby.

[roondar]

Truthfully, I got into watching speedruns because someone finished Super Mario in somewhat under 5 minutes (don't let him catch me being this imprecise though lol!) and that was quite fun to watch. But yeah, there's drama there and I don't much care for it.

[lesta_smsc]

One way would be for the games to be played in real time... the server can keep track of progress. A bit like when we play netplay on FS-UAE and others can be in spectator mode.

No pre-recorded games.

[falken]

Originally Posted by lesta_smsc

One way would be for the games to be played in real time... the server can keep track of progress. A bit like when we play netplay on FS-UAE and others can be in spectator mode.

No pre-recorded games.

I am referring to Amiga games. What do you think is the most feasible option? Record a video...?

There is no other possibility?

[jotd]

a video is a good option. but check the only magic pockets longrun yt video and it is obvious that the player uses whdoad slave cheatkey to get the proper bonus. and it is not even a contest... sigh...

[lesta_smsc]

Originally Posted by falken

I am referring to Amiga games. What do you think is the most feasible option? Record a video...?



There is no other possibility?

Yes Amiga games can be streamed live. I believe AmigaLive which runs off FS-UAE provides this.

[falken]

Originally Posted by jotd

a video is a good option. but check the only magic pockets longrun yt video and it is obvious that the player uses whdoad slave cheatkey to get the proper bonus. and it is not even a contest... sigh...

Maybe starting the recording before starting the game to check that it does not use a whdload parameter?

[falken]

Originally Posted by lesta_smsc

Yes Amiga games can be streamed live. I believe AmigaLive which runs off FS-UAE provides this.

But the lag is terrible, right?

[lesta_smsc]

Originally Posted by falken

But the lag is terrible, right?

Not really... its the same as playing on emulation just that your game is being broadcast

[dreadnought]

Where there is a will there's a way. You could probably mess with a live stream method too, somewhow.

Why this urgency anyway? Are the stakes really that high?

[falken]

Originally Posted by dreadnought

Where there is a will there's a way. You could probably mess with a live stream method too, somewhow.

Why this urgency anyway? Are the stakes really that high?

So high xDDDD

P.D: My 100th message is: So high xDDDD

[lesta_smsc]

Originally Posted by dreadnought

Where there is a will there's a way. You could probably mess with a live stream method too, somewhow.

Why this urgency anyway? Are the stakes really that high?

Possibly but since FS-UAE requires both computers to be synced the server side could keep a lookout for abnormal behaviour which may disqualify the contestant.

If the stakes are high... zero tolerance policy lol.