Editing files, Multiplayer games and fairness ??

[unmerged(1248)]

I don't have the game as of yet but I am seriously considering buying it.
Because I have little faith in computer AI in general, I generally look at the Multiplayer capabilities of a game before spending my money on it.

From what I have read so far it seems that EU is a fine game but one thing bugs me.
I have read that it is reasonably easy to edit files to alter starting stats either to play as minor Countries or to have 'beefed-up' leaders and so on.

Now, does the games' code have any check in place in order to ENSURE that in Multiplayer games this file editing does not happen and all players have the same files with the same content (i.e. stats' values and so on) ?
It would be rather annoying to play against someone who has edited his files to get an unfair advantage.......

I know an easy answer could be 'don't play against who you don't trust'......, but 99% of times one playes against total strangers (hey, it's the internet...) so if one would wanna play only against well known friends this would mean almost never playing EU multiplayer or no other game over the internet.......

So, is there any code check for files and their content in multiplayer games ?

Doge

 

[unmerged(703)]

First of all....

In a game on most maps the starting positions are not equal nor fair. The countries in the European landscape was different.....

Second is the fact that this game is more about strategy and less about competition. Why cheat in a game of 20 hours ? Most of the people in this community are not here to win, they are here to have fun....

Third is the fact that the save games are only with the host. The only one that can cheat with them is him.......

So don't worry, just have fun... ;-)

 

[unmerged(1248)]

Thanks bmolsson for your reply.

I understand your point but still, when one faces totally unknown competitors, everything can happen, even that someone in a multiplayer game alters the files to gain a personal advantage.
Just look around the Internet and you'll see zillions of 'cheats', 'trainers' and so on.
I am not saying that everyone likes to cheat in games but there is definately a whole lot of people who seem to have a problem winning a game 'fair and square'.....

And I know, that I would not want to find out after playing for tens of hours that one in the group is winning all battles or started with more gold because he altered some files...... The game and fun would be ruined for me and I guess also fotr the others in the group who were playing fairly. So it does is important that some sort of a check gets put in to ensure that no file is edited by noone in a multyplayer game.

I know that this checkind code has been done in other games before, specifically to ensure fairness in multiplayer games as well as in play-by-email ones.

Therefore, it can surely be done for Europa Universalis as well. It is only a matter of being willing to implement this security check to ensure a fair multiplayer game to all participants.

I am holding back from buying this game because of this and I would love to hear something from Johan or anyone else from Paradox saying that they acknowledge the problem and that they will indeed do something in next patch to prevent altered/edited files in multiplayer games for sake of fairness.

Doge

 

[unmerged(703)]

I promise...

Not to cheat if we play.....

Don't worry and play people you trust...

Also note that with the victory points you fairly fast see if someone is a little bit too good......

 

[hjarg]

I don't have much experience with multiplayer games, but don't you notice if someone is cheating? They are developing a bit too fast, have armies their economy couldn't support etc? Disapointig as it may be, there is a sloution: stop playing with cheater and get another partner. And maybe tell others in this forum as well that there is a cheater moving around?

 

[Johan]

Well, my code checks that most databases are the same, else you can't even join a MP game.

Also, almost all critical data is calculated at server and sent out.

 

[unmerged(1248)]

Thanks Johan for stepping in, truly appreciated.

Are you saying that cheating in Multiplayer games is NOT possible because of the checks that code does on (most) databases ?

I hope that your line means this, as it is the only thing so far preventing me to buy the game.....

What do you mean by 'most' ?

To my opinion, the most important checks would be that all players have the gold pertaining to the Nation of choice as well as the other pertaining stats (and not 'beefed up' values...), and that also the Leaders' stats are those set by default and that no player can adjust his leader's by editing the pertaining files.

Does the code check that these values are the default ones for all players ?
Are there any other checks valuable to be performed for the sake of fairness in multiplayer games ?

I also run into these 'cheat' infos for EU at :
http://www.cdmag.com/Sponsors/click...1&url=/articles/032/004/europauniv-01-ch.html

Can you please ensure everyone that these cheats do NOT work in Multiplayer games ??
I am freaking out thinking how anyone could easily cheat in any multiplayer game if these cheats would work.....

Doge

 

[unmerged(703)]

Did not work for me....

It doesn't seem to work for me with F12 so I guess that's it....

By the way 'oranje gives +3 stability'..... Hmmmm...