Cheating - A Research Thread

[adamtm]

This thread is about cheating in video games and not about cheating on your spouse

I will be writing an article about difficulty and cheating in video games soon and wanted to see what exactly people think constitutes cheating.
I will not give any examples on what I consider cheating as I don't want to prime the discussion.

The question:

What do you think constitutes cheating in a video game and why?

Please be as short but also as elaborate as possible.

I am not here to argue with people so if I will ask inquisitive questions about your definition, it's to clarify context and precisely work out your reasoning for your description not to second guess your ideas or have an argument.

Let the answering commence.

IMPORTANT: Please answer the question of -what- cheating is first, not how it makes you feel or if/when its ok to cheat.

 

[piinyouri]

Circumventing the games natural limitations for your personal gain.

For the record, I have no qualms with folks who do this in any incarnation offline.
Online with other players however, you are scum.

Both are cheating though.
Using an exploit is cheating as well.

 

[DanteLives]

Nothing wrong with it in GTA for example.

But if it's for Battlefield/other shooters, then you're the lowest form of the low.

 

[adamtm]

Circumventing the games natural limitations for your personal gain.

For the record, I have no qualms with folks who do this in any incarnation offline.
Online with other players however, you are scum.

Both are cheating though.
Using an exploit is cheating as well.

I'd like a bit more precision here.
What are the games natural limitations? How do you define what is the natural limitation?
Example: How about the jankyness of Dark Souls? Some enemies can be lured to fall off ledges and avoided by glitching them into spots.
Is this what you are talking about? I.e. Does bad AI count as cheating or part of the experience?

 

[adamtm]

I have no issues with cheating in single player games as you are playing the game as you want with rules that are enjoyable to you. Once other people become involved with online play its dishonest

Yes, but what is cheating to you?
Not how makes you feel or how ethical is it.

 

[DoPo]

This thread is about cheating in video games and not about cheating on your spouse

Aww, and for a second there I thought that being in Gaming Discussion, it would be for cheating when playing with our significant others.

Spoiler: Don't worry, honey, I'll never cheat

OT: Cheating is the act of giving yourself an unfair advantage in a game through means that normally should not be available in a normal course of play. This includes cheat codes, third party tools (e.g., Cheat Engine, trainers) and bugs/exploits present in the game.

I would cheat in single player games for either curiosity or if I don't want to deal with some obstacle, in order to enjoy the game.

 

[adamtm]

OT: Cheating is the act of giving yourself an unfair advantage in a game through means that normally should not be available in a normal course of play. This includes cheat codes, third party tools (e.g., Cheat Engine, trainers) and bugs/exploits present in the game.

I would cheat in single player games for either curiosity or if I don't want to deal with some obstacle, in order to enjoy the game.

Would you consider a strategy-guide to be an unfair advantage not available in a normal course of play?

 

[DoPo]

OT: Cheating is the act of giving yourself an unfair advantage in a game through means that normally should not be available in a normal course of play. This includes cheat codes, third party tools (e.g., Cheat Engine, trainers) and bugs/exploits present in the game.

I would cheat in single player games for either curiosity or if I don't want to deal with some obstacle, in order to enjoy the game.

Would you consider a strategy-guide to be an unfair advantage not available in a normal course of play?

No, I don't think so. Well, it depends whether it gives you a direct way to shot-circuit a given obstacle or not, I suppose. Say, "you should go here" is fine, if you are supposed to go there but didn't catch on for some reason, but it's not if you had to do some legwork of your own (do a puzzle to find out, for example). That sort of think is the distinction.

 

[adamtm]

OT: Cheating is the act of giving yourself an unfair advantage in a game through means that normally should not be available in a normal course of play. This includes cheat codes, third party tools (e.g., Cheat Engine, trainers) and bugs/exploits present in the game.

I would cheat in single player games for either curiosity or if I don't want to deal with some obstacle, in order to enjoy the game.

Would you consider a strategy-guide to be an unfair advantage not available in a normal course of play?

No, I don't think so. Well, it depends whether it gives you a direct way to shot-circuit a given obstacle or not, I suppose. Say, "you should go here" is fine, if you are supposed to go there but didn't catch on for some reason, but it's not if you had to do some legwork of your own (do a puzzle to find out, for example). That sort of think is the distinction.

So would reading a guide for the famed Simons Quest tornado-puzzle be cheating?

 

[TehCookie]

Using cheatcodes or exploiting errors. Such as the item/pokemon duplication glitch or Skyrims alchemy/enchanting things into the 1000s. Things like outsmarting game A.I isn't cheating.

 

[DoPo]

OT: Cheating is the act of giving yourself an unfair advantage in a game through means that normally should not be available in a normal course of play. This includes cheat codes, third party tools (e.g., Cheat Engine, trainers) and bugs/exploits present in the game.

I would cheat in single player games for either curiosity or if I don't want to deal with some obstacle, in order to enjoy the game.

Would you consider a strategy-guide to be an unfair advantage not available in a normal course of play?

No, I don't think so. Well, it depends whether it gives you a direct way to shot-circuit a given obstacle or not, I suppose. Say, "you should go here" is fine, if you are supposed to go there but didn't catch on for some reason, but it's not if you had to do some legwork of your own (do a puzzle to find out, for example). That sort of think is the distinction.

So would reading a guide for the famed Simons Quest tornado-puzzle be cheating?

I have no idea what that is. Can you elaborate?

 

[Jimmy T. Malice]

Cheats and exploits are somewhat hard to define. For instance, exploiting bad AI to make enemies fall off ledges and such is fine, since it's part of the game and doesn't affect it that much. Using glitches to duplicate items and such is cheating, since it upsets the balance of the game.

 

[adamtm]

OT: Cheating is the act of giving yourself an unfair advantage in a game through means that normally should not be available in a normal course of play. This includes cheat codes, third party tools (e.g., Cheat Engine, trainers) and bugs/exploits present in the game.

I would cheat in single player games for either curiosity or if I don't want to deal with some obstacle, in order to enjoy the game.

Would you consider a strategy-guide to be an unfair advantage not available in a normal course of play?

No, I don't think so. Well, it depends whether it gives you a direct way to shot-circuit a given obstacle or not, I suppose. Say, "you should go here" is fine, if you are supposed to go there but didn't catch on for some reason, but it's not if you had to do some legwork of your own (do a puzzle to find out, for example). That sort of think is the distinction.

So would reading a guide for the famed Simons Quest tornado-puzzle be cheating?

I have no idea what that is. Can you elaborate?

The clues offered by the NPCs in the game were criticised for being too cryptic and poorly translated.[25] Producer of several Castlevania titles, Koji Igarashi, revealed in an interview that all the NPCs in the Japanese version were deliberate liars.[35] GameSpot said that the subtle hints from the Japanese version were lost in translation. An infamous line of dialogue they gave as an example was "hit Deborah Cliff with your head to make a hole".[28] Active Gaming Media went further describing where and how the Japanese hint was lost.[36] Further criticism also stemmed from some of the game's puzzles, which reviewers have noted for not having any clues at all.[16] Complaints were made towards a scenario from the game where Simon must summon a tornado in a graveyard.[28] 1UP.com mentioned the game required a walkthrough because of its non-explanatory nature.[33]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlevania_II:_Simon's_Quest

 

[DoPo]

OT: Cheating is the act of giving yourself an unfair advantage in a game through means that normally should not be available in a normal course of play. This includes cheat codes, third party tools (e.g., Cheat Engine, trainers) and bugs/exploits present in the game.

I would cheat in single player games for either curiosity or if I don't want to deal with some obstacle, in order to enjoy the game.

Would you consider a strategy-guide to be an unfair advantage not available in a normal course of play?

No, I don't think so. Well, it depends whether it gives you a direct way to shot-circuit a given obstacle or not, I suppose. Say, "you should go here" is fine, if you are supposed to go there but didn't catch on for some reason, but it's not if you had to do some legwork of your own (do a puzzle to find out, for example). That sort of think is the distinction.

So would reading a guide for the famed Simons Quest tornado-puzzle be cheating?

I have no idea what that is. Can you elaborate?

The clues offered by the NPCs in the game were criticised for being too cryptic and poorly translated.[25] Producer of several Castlevania titles, Koji Igarashi, revealed in an interview that all the NPCs in the Japanese version were deliberate liars.[35] GameSpot said that the subtle hints from the Japanese version were lost in translation. An infamous line of dialogue they gave as an example was "hit Deborah Cliff with your head to make a hole".[28] Active Gaming Media went further describing where and how the Japanese hint was lost.[36] Further criticism also stemmed from some of the game's puzzles, which reviewers have noted for not having any clues at all.[16] Complaints were made towards a scenario from the game where Simon must summon a tornado in a graveyard.[28] 1UP.com mentioned the game required a walkthrough because of its non-explanatory nature.[33]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlevania_II:_Simon's_Quest

In that case, yes, it is cheating, however it's the only (or almost) way to progress. It's inherent to some games - normal gameplay is sometimes limiting, so cheating must occur. It is the same when it comes to a game crashing at a particular spot - it's still cheating but it's the one way to go on playing.

 

[adamtm]

Cheats and exploits are somewhat hard to define. For instance, exploiting bad AI to make enemies fall off ledges and such is fine, since it's part of the game and doesn't affect it that much. Using glitches to duplicate items and such is cheating, since it upsets the balance of the game.

So circumventing tough bosses by AI stupidity would not be considered cheating.
Example: You can exploit the Dragon in Dark Souls from range with a bow or just cut off its tail to get a very good sword (for the beginning of the game).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5JqQeEasdw&feature=player_detailpage#t=110s

 

[CannibalCorpses]

Using anything outside the normal game rules to beat the game so...walkthroughs, guides, bought overpowered weapons as DLC(burnout paradise f1 car). Then we have codes that allow you to circumnavigate the challenge so the more traditional god mode and infinite ammo. This is fine if the game allows it normally(saints row 3) but not fine if you cheat to get it(jetpack in san andreas).

Basically anything that removes the challenge so i guess by that reasoning there would also be exploits(finding a way to level up without being in any danger...finding a safe spot where a boss can't get to you but you can still damage etc). I also add playing a game through on easy first because it makes the hard playthrough far easier if you know what to expect in advance. Not technically cheating but shares enough of the traits for me to consider it as such.

Just for the record i never cheat but do use exploits, i find myself, to speed certain things up like levelling or item aquisition in RPGs. The second playthrough is always with a guide to mop up sny remaining achievements aswell but i feel thats ok as long as i've beaten the game properly at least once.

 

[krazykidd]

Cheating is breaking any of the established rules in the game . Be it due to a bug or a cheat doing something that you weren't meant to do/have . Example : using a bug or a code to have infinite ammo in a game is cheating. But unlocking infinte ammo by completing the game first is not cheating.

Then you have things like exploiting something in the game to make things easier on you / give you an advantage . Example : going through a game on normal , then lowering the difficulty to beat a boss and raising it back up again is cheating . But going through the game on normal , then lowering the difficulty for the rest of the game is not cheating . Starting a game on normal and raising it to hard and lowering it back down is not cheating .

 

[adamtm]

Using anything outside the normal game rules to beat the game so...walkthroughs, guides, bought overpowered weapons as DLC(burnout paradise f1 car). Then we have codes that allow you to circumnavigate the challenge so the more traditional god mode and infinite ammo. This is fine if the game allows it normally(saints row 3) but not fine if you cheat to get it(jetpack in san andreas).

Basically anything that removes the challenge so i guess by that reasoning there would also be exploits(finding a way to level up without being in any danger...finding a safe spot where a boss can't get to you but you can still damage etc). I also add playing a game through on easy first because it makes the hard playthrough far easier if you know what to expect in advance. Not technically cheating but shares enough of the traits for me to consider it as such.

Just for the record i never cheat but do use exploits, i find myself, to speed certain things up like levelling or item aquisition in RPGs. The second playthrough is always with a guide to mop up sny remaining achievements aswell but i feel thats ok as long as i've beaten the game properly at least once.

Would you consider using consumables in a fight to be cheating as it would decrease the difficulty.
Example: The combat in KoA (or most hns games actually) can be often a bit challenging especially on Hard and with enemies that play against your resistances, however you can HP-pot instantly and just outlast most fights with the use of excessive potting.

Would you consider having watched someone play a game and then play it themselves to be cheating?
Example: Watching someone playing Dark Souls in your household and then playing the game yourself.