GreenBean-HH-
05-24-2008, 04:02 PM
CONCEPT:
The creation of a Universal Anti-Cheat Server Browser (UAC-SB).
BACKGROUND:
PunksBusted (http://www.punksbusted.com) has a great game browser the ordinary gamer can download and use right away to find servers that are streaming PunksBusted called PSB (PunksBusted Server Browser) (http://www.punksbusted.com/forums/index.php?showforum=92). It is great, it is free and it is available now. But, it is also not enough. Let me explain. The PSB only tells you what is streaming PunksBusted. Now considering the effort it took to create this beautiful server browser it still is a beautiful thing, but there are many other services that also stream and we a HackHunters thinks that every gamer should have an easy way to look for servers streaming other AC software.
WHY?
Almost all gamers are under the impression that if the game server they're playing on has PunkBuster enabled and streaming that it will stop cheaters. This is not totally the case. EvenBalance's PunkBuster (http://www.evenbalance.com/) will kick for infractions and even sometimes ban cheaters, but not always. The real protection comes when servers are streaming one or more other AC software products as offered by PsB (http://www.punksbusted.com), ACI (http://www.anticheatinc.net/forums/portal.php), DMW (http://www.dmwworld.com/), PBBans (http://www.pbbans.com/), AON (http://www.airdaleops.com/) and others.
SO WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Ultimately the gamer should be given the choice as to which servers they would like to play on as protected by which AC service. It's quite simple (though more complicated to impliment), have a list of AC protected servers next to radio buttons that, when selected and the list refreshed, shows all the servers that have AC protection streaming. In other words, if one clicks on PsB, AON and ACI, only those servers would appear in the server list.
WHAT WOULD THIS DO?
First it would make both Admins and players more aware of what it means to be protected. Second it would encourage Admins to use multiple AC streaming packages to get more players to their servers (this is good for all Anti-Cheat services). Third, it would make cheat servers fall off the radar to the honest gamer.
It should cover all games (or as many popular games) as XFire does. It should be focused on the most popular games first to have the greatest impact.
HOW COULD IT REALLY BE IMPLEMENTED?
I think someone or group would have to take a lead to create a Universal AC Server Browser (UAC-SB) for all existing AC services. Every AC service already knows who they're streaming to. At DMW (http://www.dmwworld.com/) you can actually do a search for clans that are streaming (although my impression was that the tool didn't really show a list of streaming servers, you have to know who you're looking for). Once this UAC-SB is created, designed (yes, graphics play an important part in a browsers popularity... ) and tested, give it to game manufacturers to include with their game when sold.
Also, make sure that it is distributed to all clans (we'll help here at HH) so that as many people have access to it as possible. Make video's on its undoubtedly 'ease of use' and simple included instructions (We'll help here too... the PsB instructions need help btw). Make it automatically launch when a computer is turned on like XFire (http://www.xfire.com/). Make it available for all OS's and other platforms.
Once this happens, others, like XFire (http://www.xfire.com/) will undoubtedly install these features (in the blink of an eye) into their game browser and they will further promote the concept as they do not want to loose their market.
IT'S IMPACT:
Once a UAC-SB (Universal Anti-Cheat Sever Browser) becomes a standard tool, the gaming world will change as it will be more difficult for cheats to gain an upper hand with servers streaming multiple Anti-Cheat programs, when gamers are 'clicking on' in their search for protected servers, and when Admins are installing more AC software than every before to attract more players. This is a solution that is a win for everyone, except for the cheater and the cheat developer. The message will be clear and in the for-front of the gamers experience (when searching for a server), that one should search for protected servers only.
With such an overwhelming impact this might have on the gaming community, the cheater just might find it more fun to play clean than to not play at all.
_________________________________________________
Can we start a coalition? What are your thoughts? Do you think it is a good idea?
The creation of a Universal Anti-Cheat Server Browser (UAC-SB).
BACKGROUND:
PunksBusted (http://www.punksbusted.com) has a great game browser the ordinary gamer can download and use right away to find servers that are streaming PunksBusted called PSB (PunksBusted Server Browser) (http://www.punksbusted.com/forums/index.php?showforum=92). It is great, it is free and it is available now. But, it is also not enough. Let me explain. The PSB only tells you what is streaming PunksBusted. Now considering the effort it took to create this beautiful server browser it still is a beautiful thing, but there are many other services that also stream and we a HackHunters thinks that every gamer should have an easy way to look for servers streaming other AC software.
WHY?
Almost all gamers are under the impression that if the game server they're playing on has PunkBuster enabled and streaming that it will stop cheaters. This is not totally the case. EvenBalance's PunkBuster (http://www.evenbalance.com/) will kick for infractions and even sometimes ban cheaters, but not always. The real protection comes when servers are streaming one or more other AC software products as offered by PsB (http://www.punksbusted.com), ACI (http://www.anticheatinc.net/forums/portal.php), DMW (http://www.dmwworld.com/), PBBans (http://www.pbbans.com/), AON (http://www.airdaleops.com/) and others.
SO WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Ultimately the gamer should be given the choice as to which servers they would like to play on as protected by which AC service. It's quite simple (though more complicated to impliment), have a list of AC protected servers next to radio buttons that, when selected and the list refreshed, shows all the servers that have AC protection streaming. In other words, if one clicks on PsB, AON and ACI, only those servers would appear in the server list.
WHAT WOULD THIS DO?
First it would make both Admins and players more aware of what it means to be protected. Second it would encourage Admins to use multiple AC streaming packages to get more players to their servers (this is good for all Anti-Cheat services). Third, it would make cheat servers fall off the radar to the honest gamer.
It should cover all games (or as many popular games) as XFire does. It should be focused on the most popular games first to have the greatest impact.
HOW COULD IT REALLY BE IMPLEMENTED?
I think someone or group would have to take a lead to create a Universal AC Server Browser (UAC-SB) for all existing AC services. Every AC service already knows who they're streaming to. At DMW (http://www.dmwworld.com/) you can actually do a search for clans that are streaming (although my impression was that the tool didn't really show a list of streaming servers, you have to know who you're looking for). Once this UAC-SB is created, designed (yes, graphics play an important part in a browsers popularity... ) and tested, give it to game manufacturers to include with their game when sold.
Also, make sure that it is distributed to all clans (we'll help here at HH) so that as many people have access to it as possible. Make video's on its undoubtedly 'ease of use' and simple included instructions (We'll help here too... the PsB instructions need help btw). Make it automatically launch when a computer is turned on like XFire (http://www.xfire.com/). Make it available for all OS's and other platforms.
Once this happens, others, like XFire (http://www.xfire.com/) will undoubtedly install these features (in the blink of an eye) into their game browser and they will further promote the concept as they do not want to loose their market.
IT'S IMPACT:
Once a UAC-SB (Universal Anti-Cheat Sever Browser) becomes a standard tool, the gaming world will change as it will be more difficult for cheats to gain an upper hand with servers streaming multiple Anti-Cheat programs, when gamers are 'clicking on' in their search for protected servers, and when Admins are installing more AC software than every before to attract more players. This is a solution that is a win for everyone, except for the cheater and the cheat developer. The message will be clear and in the for-front of the gamers experience (when searching for a server), that one should search for protected servers only.
With such an overwhelming impact this might have on the gaming community, the cheater just might find it more fun to play clean than to not play at all.
_________________________________________________
Can we start a coalition? What are your thoughts? Do you think it is a good idea?