Today, Blizzard has recently posted on the online client for Diablo II a blatant charge against cheaters and hackers of all types and sizes, promising higher standards and a scrutiny to out-do what in years past has been nothing but a laughable, vague shell of enforcement:
Quote from Blizzard »
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Blizzard Entertainment feels very strongly about cheating over Battle.net. We Believe that multiplayer cheats and hacks undermine the basic rules of fair play and weaken ansy sense of true competition and online gaming enjoyment. We would like to remind everybody that the use of any third-party software in conjunction with the game to modify Battle.net and/or change game play may result in account closures and a possible suspension of access to Battle.net. Third-party software may include, but is not limited to any program that allows you to run multiple instances of the game at the same time, cheats, hacks, and/or bots. To continue our agressive stance on cheats/hacks, we will be monitoring Custom games as well as Ladder games on Battle.net.
Some important questions arise from this. In light of the recent announcement of patch 1.13 for Diablo II and the fact that one of the main focuses of the patch is player input, something on the top of every player's mind is Battle.net cheating, hacking, and security. For many years, most of us have done nothing but laugh at Battle.net and Blizzard's meager attempts at establishing any form of control over their free internet play client. Now, it seems, things may be taking a turn for the better.
Does anyone believe that this may, in fact, be something more than an announcement in light of current goings-on? Could something of value in this respect be coming with the impending patch 1.13?
It would make a lot of sense, seeing as Blizzard has announced also that the patch would be tested on a private testing realm:
Quote from "Bashiok »
Some exciting news - and it also may be some comfort - due to the types of changes we're making we will be offering the Diablo II 1.13 patch for testing and feedback on a [color=red]test realm[/color'] before its release. We'll have more information about how you'll be able to help test it in the coming weeks.
Something of this nature would be best done in such a way, especially if they are wanting to clean up players' acts on Diablo II and want to effectively cover as much ground as possible to stop hacking and cheating.
What are everyone else's thoughts on this? Could this really be Blizzard taking the first real stance in their fight against cheaters in nearly a decade or is this just another blast of hot air? Will this be something to be implemented in patch 1.13?
Unfortunatly this is a mere warning. they DO have a legacy team working on diablo 2, but you also have developers, QA, and somewhere in there fit in cheat/hack prevention. based on the speed of this patch I wouldn't say the Legacy team is no more than 12 people. and thats being generous. I could be very wrong though. Bashiok has been very vocal lately and this sounds like something he might answer.
The point im making though its a job thats way too big for 1-3 people but, even though blizzards treats their legacy games with the same tact as nintendo which is saying an unspeakable amount. Having a team big enough and bright enough(hate to say it but working on an upcoming/current releas title is very likely seen as a promotion. And when is the last time you saw. "entry level designer" anywhere on blizzards website?
**edited to respond to constructive critism**
link to my theorycrafting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism
Adding in orignal programmers, designers and the bnet team, and subtracting artists(I'll admit I have some reservations about not including this, mainly I don't want my hopes to get up too high as to just what content they are adding) the total number of people amounts to 18 on the orignal game from ground up. the nubers I came up with are pretty logical imo.
The link to these numbers can be found right next to the cinematics button on your d2 start screen entitled "credits"
Oh, do they have a listing of how many and who is on the legacy team posted somewhere officially by Blizzard? I must have missed that. Would you mind providing a link?
Edit~
Not to sound like an ass or anything! It would just help when I'm citing for arguments in the future.
fantastic news if they actually make good on their word. But I will continue to use maphack. If that gets me banned then so be it. I like the idea of random maps and look forward to it in d3 but after 10 years of d2 it's a dealbreaker.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Apparently freezing yourself is fatal. HOW ARE YOU PEOPLE COPING?!
i dont go on the blizz forums, so could some1 who does possibly ask bashiok if there could be a possibility of buying maps for different places as to deter people from using a maphack.
the greatest thing i want with 1.13 is a better warden (automated policing)
smarter and less resource intensive (so they can run it more than twice a year)
here's to hoping.
they would do well to crack down on the hacks for 1.13 to prove to us that they'll take care of d3 in respect to the cheats that have plagued the diablo games for over a decade.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
they'll never see me coming.. life is a sequence of tragedies, inconsistent only by fleeting, elusive moments of pleasure,
serving only to ensure absolute vulnerability to the pain of their inevitable absence.
Using 3rd party software and cheats like Maphack , bots, TP PK and so on ... make the life much colorfull.
Anyone saying the opposite just do not understand psychology and searches of players.
Yep cuz I play buttom mashing click fests for the psychology aspect.
As far as "searches of players" I really don't know what that even means so congradulations on proving your point, here is a cookie ^(0.0)
The thing about Blizzards cheating policy is that they shouldn't be banning anyone, because you shouldn't be able to cheat in the first place.
That barely makes any sence.....regardless of what they do ppl making hacks and exploits are going to be there regardless of how well the game is programmed or how much security they have....they have to try and stop it with bannings its really the only way at this point espically for a game as old as D2
Then what is it? It takes a program to send packets and to instantly teleport you to town and hit hostile, a program which would count as a third party program which also........is a CHEAT. Now some people have stated they can tppk without hacking, yes it is possible but not with all the spells TPPK hack holds, and its a hell of alot slower without the hack buddy.
Using 3rd party software and cheats like Maphack , bots, TP PK and so on ... make the life much colorfull.
Anyone saying the opposite just do not understand psychology and searches of players.
Maphacks, and bots don't really effect the game. People may say they do but you obviously haven't played d2 since it's really all about PvP and well bots don't hinder that at all. Maphack now as long as it doesn't show missles doesn't hinder anything at all either.
Now TPPK on the other hand is just completely pathetic. TPPK is a way for people who suck at the game to actually kill someone without the risk of getting killed themselves. It is like Auto TP or Auto Rejuv, all pathetic hacks that people who suck require to be anything on Diablo. Remove them and the realm will turn to horrible newbs because thats all you see. Same happened when .10 hit. Little to no hacks what plauged the realm? A shitton on newbs who thought they were good cause they hacked.
In my opinion there is nothing wrong with a reveal map (only the outline) program. In fact, Blizzard should just patch the game to where the outlines of the map are revealed to you anyway. With as old as the game is, and as much as everyone has played it, nobody wants to sit there searching for the door to go to the next level, they want to immediately get there (relatively) and get to the action.
Duping, bots, and other hacks like that are a serious problem ... but I really can't see a problem with something that reveals the map.
In my opinion there is nothing wrong with a reveal map (only the outline) program. In fact, Blizzard should just patch the game to where the outlines of the map are revealed to you anyway. With as old as the game is, and as much as everyone has played it, nobody wants to sit there searching for the door to go to the next level, they want to immediately get there (relatively) and get to the action.
Duping, bots, and other hacks like that are a serious problem ... but I really can't see a problem with something that reveals the map.
ye nothing wrong with that its just as long as monsters, treasure chests, lootable rocks arent all revealed too xD
the outline would be nice so in the beginning it would help nooberts out lol
but later it makes you find the caves and such =3 also would help with Act 3
the random generator for that act is kinda poor sometimes in the beginning of that act
it would make you running the wrong way for like 10 minutes then where your supposed to go is right at some random path instead "shouldn't of taken that left at albakirky xD"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Be my Buddy =^.^=
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Some important questions arise from this. In light of the recent announcement of patch 1.13 for Diablo II and the fact that one of the main focuses of the patch is player input, something on the top of every player's mind is Battle.net cheating, hacking, and security. For many years, most of us have done nothing but laugh at Battle.net and Blizzard's meager attempts at establishing any form of control over their free internet play client. Now, it seems, things may be taking a turn for the better.
Does anyone believe that this may, in fact, be something more than an announcement in light of current goings-on? Could something of value in this respect be coming with the impending patch 1.13?
It would make a lot of sense, seeing as Blizzard has announced also that the patch would be tested on a private testing realm:
(Source: http://www.diablofans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18744.)
Something of this nature would be best done in such a way, especially if they are wanting to clean up players' acts on Diablo II and want to effectively cover as much ground as possible to stop hacking and cheating.
What are everyone else's thoughts on this? Could this really be Blizzard taking the first real stance in their fight against cheaters in nearly a decade or is this just another blast of hot air? Will this be something to be implemented in patch 1.13?
The point im making though its a job thats way too big for 1-3 people but, even though blizzards treats their legacy games with the same tact as nintendo which is saying an unspeakable amount. Having a team big enough and bright enough(hate to say it but working on an upcoming/current releas title is very likely seen as a promotion. And when is the last time you saw. "entry level designer" anywhere on blizzards website?
**edited to respond to constructive critism**
link to my theorycrafting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism
Adding in orignal programmers, designers and the bnet team, and subtracting artists(I'll admit I have some reservations about not including this, mainly I don't want my hopes to get up too high as to just what content they are adding) the total number of people amounts to 18 on the orignal game from ground up. the nubers I came up with are pretty logical imo.
The link to these numbers can be found right next to the cinematics button on your d2 start screen entitled "credits"
Edit~
Not to sound like an ass or anything! It would just help when I'm citing for arguments in the future.
smarter and less resource intensive (so they can run it more than twice a year)
here's to hoping.
they would do well to crack down on the hacks for 1.13 to prove to us that they'll take care of d3 in respect to the cheats that have plagued the diablo games for over a decade.
they'll never see me coming..
life is a sequence of tragedies, inconsistent only by fleeting, elusive moments of pleasure,
serving only to ensure absolute vulnerability to the pain of their inevitable absence.
CyberPunk RP Nexus
I really doubt thats all its going to be why hype a security only patch XD
Yep cuz I play buttom mashing click fests for the psychology aspect.
As far as "searches of players" I really don't know what that even means so congradulations on proving your point, here is a cookie ^(0.0)
That barely makes any sence.....regardless of what they do ppl making hacks and exploits are going to be there regardless of how well the game is programmed or how much security they have....they have to try and stop it with bannings its really the only way at this point espically for a game as old as D2
Then what is it? It takes a program to send packets and to instantly teleport you to town and hit hostile, a program which would count as a third party program which also........is a CHEAT. Now some people have stated they can tppk without hacking, yes it is possible but not with all the spells TPPK hack holds, and its a hell of alot slower without the hack buddy.
Maphacks, and bots don't really effect the game. People may say they do but you obviously haven't played d2 since it's really all about PvP and well bots don't hinder that at all. Maphack now as long as it doesn't show missles doesn't hinder anything at all either.
Now TPPK on the other hand is just completely pathetic. TPPK is a way for people who suck at the game to actually kill someone without the risk of getting killed themselves. It is like Auto TP or Auto Rejuv, all pathetic hacks that people who suck require to be anything on Diablo. Remove them and the realm will turn to horrible newbs because thats all you see. Same happened when .10 hit. Little to no hacks what plauged the realm? A shitton on newbs who thought they were good cause they hacked.
I used to use maphack, now I enjoy the randomness more.
All those idiots ruin battle net.
Please blizz pwn the bots
In my opinion there is nothing wrong with a reveal map (only the outline) program. In fact, Blizzard should just patch the game to where the outlines of the map are revealed to you anyway. With as old as the game is, and as much as everyone has played it, nobody wants to sit there searching for the door to go to the next level, they want to immediately get there (relatively) and get to the action.
Duping, bots, and other hacks like that are a serious problem ... but I really can't see a problem with something that reveals the map.
CyberPunk RP Nexus
ye nothing wrong with that its just as long as monsters, treasure chests, lootable rocks arent all revealed too xD
the outline would be nice so in the beginning it would help nooberts out lol
but later it makes you find the caves and such =3 also would help with Act 3
the random generator for that act is kinda poor sometimes in the beginning of that act
it would make you running the wrong way for like 10 minutes then where your supposed to go is right at some random path instead "shouldn't of taken that left at albakirky xD"
Be my Buddy =^.^=