A cheat method?

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A cheat method?

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Gary Grigsby's War in the East Series >> A cheat method?

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A cheat method? - 10/30/2012 1:11:33 AM

Michael T

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Joined: 10/22/2006
From: Queensland, Australia.
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It seems it is possible to open pbem game files in any version of the game. So in theory a player could load a pbem file in to a version of the game that allowed for example unlimited HQBU. Do his move and save it, then move the file to the latest version, reopen and then end his turn.

My question is, is this possible?
If so can we put in place a safeguard against this, like not allowing a save game of a later version to be opened in a older version.

Also is this cheating technique possible on the server?

I admit this is not my idea, it was raised by another to me. I got thinking and here I am posting it.

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RE: A cheat method? - 10/30/2012 1:57:03 AM

Bletchley_Geek

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Michael T

It seems it is possible to open pbem game files in any version of the game. So in theory a player could load a pbem file in to a version of the game that allowed for example unlimited HQBU. Do his move and save it, then move the file to the latest version, reopen and then end his turn.

My question is, is this possible?
If so can we put in place a safeguard against this, like not allowing a save game of a later version to be opened in a older version.

Also is this cheating technique possible on the server?

I admit this is not my idea, it was raised by another to me. I got thinking and here I am posting it.

Yes, that is indeed possible. If the cheater was painstaking enough, he could wave through patch changes by loading the game with 1.06.06, and then ending the turn - and triggering the logistics phase, which leaves note of the version number in the logistics report - with 1.06.19.

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RE: A cheat method? - 10/30/2012 2:03:36 AM

Pelton

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I am just guessing but

No you can't open it in any version, the first time.

Say we are playing a game PBeM.

1.06.19

You need some extra fuel and longer range to railhead. I am dreaming I am kicking your butt.

1. You open game do recon then save.
2. Close game completely.
3. Patch in 1.04.16
4. Open game do your moves HQB ect. One patch I forget # you could move then HQB 40 MPs from railhead. 2by3 hot patched that out withen a few days

JK by the way.
5. Save and close out game.
6. Load in 1.06.16
7. Open game do a move or 2 then save.
8. Repeat 7
9. Open again move 1 unit then end turn.
10. I open game and get a 1.06.19 read out.

If you have 2 computers and 2 accounts or a friend you can test the PBeM version out for yourself.

As far as server goes I beleive the same thing can be done, plus a recon reload on the server. Not 100% sure, but I would love to get OK from 2by3 to test it out.

I beleive it would be easy to nerf on the server, but next to impossible to protect the PBeM games.

I am sure as with many other PBeM games opening the data and screwing with it is not that hard for a computer nerd.

I like MT would like to see much tighter security over all when witw comes out.

Yes, I played with some very bad poeple back in my MMO days.

As can be seen by my posts I am not overly smart and generally learn from other poeple. So no I am not a computer nerd.

I could be 100% wrong about this, but I like MT would like to know for sure about both issues.

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RE: A cheat method? - 10/30/2012 2:09:23 AM

Pelton

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if I was a nerd I be 21-0 and not 15-3-3 , plus the current MT game hehehe

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RE: A cheat method? - 10/30/2012 2:23:43 AM

Bletchley_Geek

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You could have two copies of WitE sitting in your computer: one patched up to 1.06.06 and another patched up to 1.06.19. You could even keep both open at the same time, to minimize the "drudgery" of firing each copy in turn.

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RE: A cheat method? - 10/30/2012 2:29:10 AM

Pelton

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Bletchley_Geek

You could have two copies of WitE sitting in your computer: one patched up to 1.06.06 and another patched up to 1.06.19. You could even keep both open at the same time, to minimize the "drudgery" of firing each copy in turn.

Never thought of that one, you are kinda lazy. PBeM only or on server?

< Message edited by Pelton -- 10/30/2012 2:31:15 AM >

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GHC
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10 games ended in 41 (10-0-0)
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3 games ended in 43 (1-2-3)
1 game ended in 44 (0-1-2)

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Post #: 6

RE: A cheat method? - 10/30/2012 2:30:55 AM

Helpless

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Technically it is possible to load the same save using various exe. In some cases it may damage the game down to unplayable state though.

There were several extra protection features added to the WITW, which I hope to port back to WITE with some major update.

Unfortunately, there is no way to make it totally cheat free unless game execution is moved completely from client to the server (which also doesn't guarantee 100% of cheat protection, just makes it much more "expensive"). So trust is no the last thing to consider playing other human.

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RE: A cheat method? - 10/30/2012 2:38:02 AM

Pelton

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If its that hard then no one in this gaming community is that hard up to win.

Its not like anyone is poor and needs to farm exploit ect ect to make a living selling items for real money playing WoW and other MMO's.

I don't see anyway for anyone to make any money playing this game so hard core peeps have better things to do with there time.

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GHC
15 - 3 - 7

10 games ended in 41 (10-0-0)
4 games ended in 42 (4-0-2)
3 games ended in 43 (1-2-3)
1 game ended in 44 (0-1-2)

(in reply to Helpless)

Post #: 8

RE: A cheat method? - 10/30/2012 2:39:06 AM

Pelton

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Helpless

Technically it is possible to load the same save using various exe. In some cases it may damage the game down to unplayable state though.

There were several extra protection features added to the WITW, which I hope to port back to WITE with some major update.

Unfortunately, there is no way to make it totally cheat free unless game execution is moved completely from client to the server (which also doesn't guarantee 100% of cheat protection, just makes it much more "expensive"). So trust is no the last thing to consider playing other human.

Sounds like the fix you speak of is more then enough to close any loop holes.

The sooner the better its patched in.

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GHC
15 - 3 - 7

10 games ended in 41 (10-0-0)
4 games ended in 42 (4-0-2)
3 games ended in 43 (1-2-3)
1 game ended in 44 (0-1-2)

(in reply to Helpless)

Post #: 9

RE: A cheat method? - 10/30/2012 3:21:01 AM

Bletchley_Geek

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Pelton

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bletchley_Geek

You could have two copies of WitE sitting in your computer: one patched up to 1.06.06 and another patched up to 1.06.19. You could even keep both open at the same time, to minimize the "drudgery" of firing each copy in turn.

Never thought of that one, you are kinda lazy. PBeM only or on server?

Either case, that should work. But as Helpless says, it might cause crashes. I discovered once that my opponent was using a different version than I did when I checked a combat report and the game crashed. In this case, my opponent had just missed the big update where we got the more detailed combat results :)

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RE: A cheat method? - 10/30/2012 3:23:37 AM

Bletchley_Geek

Posts: 2114
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From: Living in the fair city of Melbourne, Australia
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Helpless
Unfortunately, there is no way to make it totally cheat free unless game execution is moved completely from client to the server (which also doesn't guarantee 100% of cheat protection, just makes it much more "expensive"). So trust is no the last thing to consider playing other human.

That's the bottom line, indeed.

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Post #: 11

RE: A cheat method? - 10/30/2012 10:10:04 AM

janh

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Given the version number is already in the save file, why not have a check like WitP-AE that only allows opening files with an .exe version >= save version? I never tried with AE, but I think there is no going back once a save was opened with a new exe. Should be possible with WitE as well as long as both use the same version, no?

(in reply to Helpless)

Post #: 12

RE: A cheat method? - 10/30/2012 10:23:41 AM

76mm

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Hard to believe that anyone would go to these lengths to cheat, but I guess you never know...

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RE: A cheat method? - 10/30/2012 4:02:48 PM

Pelton

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quote:

ORIGINAL: 76mm

Hard to believe that anyone would go to these lengths to cheat, but I guess you never know...

Like I said the only poeple that would go to those lengths once Hapless installs the new safeguards are poeple that play games for a living.

This game is not an internet cash cow like WoW and the larger MMO's.

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GHC
15 - 3 - 7

10 games ended in 41 (10-0-0)
4 games ended in 42 (4-0-2)
3 games ended in 43 (1-2-3)
1 game ended in 44 (0-1-2)

(in reply to 76mm)

Post #: 14