SSTwinrova
05-29-2003, 11:28 PM
Here's my way, although fairly long, that (theoretically) dupes could be prevented from reaching other players online. This couldn't really work in the current versions of the game, so I created this theory with PSO Ep.3 in mind.
To start off, every time an item/card is "spawned" (purchased, dropped by enemy, etc.), a set of 3 completely random ID numbers are assigned to it in the range of like 1 - 9999999999 (10 9's). Combined with the other special features (stars, percentages, etc.) the chance that two items exactly the same are ever created is so small that it's not an issue that needs to be worried about. When items are traded however, these ID numbers remain the same. This results in any dupes being created being exactly identical.
Just as a side note, IMO, people can have as many dupes offline as they want. Whenever someone logs online for the first time, their character is added to a database with name, character ID, and a listing of their entire inventory and bank including these ID numbers. When a new weapon is gained in the online session, the database is automatically updated. The next time they log on, the database is updated with any new items they have gained offline, and any items they no longer have (i.e. have traded, dropped, etc.) get removed from the database.
Every time they log on, the server will perform a "quick scan" - checking all the ID numbers of the items against each other currently with the player in the inventory or the bank. In the case that any dupes are found, the items information is added to a separate database, all identical items are deleted, and the player is banned for a certain duration of time. The quick scan also compares a player's inventory to the list of known dupes, deleting items and banning players as necessary.
Then during scheduled maintenance each week at times when few people are on, a more in depth scan is done. This compares all the players' databases against each other and the dupe database and adds new dupes as necessary. Any characters that are found with dupes are flagged, and the next time they log on, the items are removed (if they still have them) and they are banned for an amount of time also.
*****
Well, that was long enough, no?? Anyway, I know that it has its issues, but overall I see this as being a way that, if tweaked a little, eliminates duping online at least.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: SSTwinrova on 2003-05-29 21:35 ]</font>
To start off, every time an item/card is "spawned" (purchased, dropped by enemy, etc.), a set of 3 completely random ID numbers are assigned to it in the range of like 1 - 9999999999 (10 9's). Combined with the other special features (stars, percentages, etc.) the chance that two items exactly the same are ever created is so small that it's not an issue that needs to be worried about. When items are traded however, these ID numbers remain the same. This results in any dupes being created being exactly identical.
Just as a side note, IMO, people can have as many dupes offline as they want. Whenever someone logs online for the first time, their character is added to a database with name, character ID, and a listing of their entire inventory and bank including these ID numbers. When a new weapon is gained in the online session, the database is automatically updated. The next time they log on, the database is updated with any new items they have gained offline, and any items they no longer have (i.e. have traded, dropped, etc.) get removed from the database.
Every time they log on, the server will perform a "quick scan" - checking all the ID numbers of the items against each other currently with the player in the inventory or the bank. In the case that any dupes are found, the items information is added to a separate database, all identical items are deleted, and the player is banned for a certain duration of time. The quick scan also compares a player's inventory to the list of known dupes, deleting items and banning players as necessary.
Then during scheduled maintenance each week at times when few people are on, a more in depth scan is done. This compares all the players' databases against each other and the dupe database and adds new dupes as necessary. Any characters that are found with dupes are flagged, and the next time they log on, the items are removed (if they still have them) and they are banned for an amount of time also.
*****
Well, that was long enough, no?? Anyway, I know that it has its issues, but overall I see this as being a way that, if tweaked a little, eliminates duping online at least.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: SSTwinrova on 2003-05-29 21:35 ]</font>