Games Cheats
Games cheats are a significant and ongoing problem that can compromise fair competition and damage player experiences. This article explores five of the most common gaming hacks – aimbots, wallhacks, scripting, ghosting and speed hacks – to examine their mechanics, impacts and the ongoing fight against them.
Traditionally, video game cheats were created by hackers to exploit bugs in a game’s code. This was particularly common in older console systems that used a cheat cartridge to modify game files prior to launch. The cartridge contained a small program that allowed the player to input “POKE” codes that altered various aspects of gameplay. During the ’80s and ’90s, these cheat programs became extremely popular with players who wanted an advantage over other gamers. They also created a subculture of exclusivity whereby being able to input the codes was seen as a badge of honour. There were even magazines, websites and a television show dedicated to listing cheats for consoles and computer systems.
Today, it is generally accepted that most game cheats are actually created by game developers and placed into games on purpose. They can be used to replenish ammunition, change a character into another, elevate a level or even jump forward to a different point in the game. While they may technically be considered cheating, there are arguments to be made that if the developers put them into the game themselves and the player opts-in then it should be considered acceptable.
The rise of online multiplayer games and the global professional gaming industry – often known as esports – has caused a shift in how many people view games cheats. In esports, the games are played for huge prize money and the winning team has to prove their prowess in both skill and technique. This has incentivized game developers to create controllable environments that cannot be exploited. This has resulted in a move away from the more open, user-friendly coding that was once welcomed by alterations to gameplay.
When it comes to the world of casual gaming, however, it is still very much up to the individual player as to how they choose to play. Some enjoy a more casual and relaxed experience while others like to challenge themselves with tougher, Ironman-style play styles. Cheating isn’t always a problem in these cases, as players are usually good at challenging themselves without the aid of external tools.
The most effective way to combat cheating is at the very beginning of the process, when the game’s code is being written. It is important that developers use a combination of tools to ensure that the game can resist offline tampering by encrypting critical variables, using integrity verification and preventing man-in-the-middle attacks. These are all essential steps to ensuring that the cheating problems don’t escalate into major issues for the whole of the game’s lifecycle. This is especially true for esports, where a few cheating incidents can be enough to put fans off the series completely.