[Gaiboi]

Hi everyone, I am new here. I would like to address an issue which you all seem too touchy about, using a GAMESHARK. I would like to know why you all consider it a crime against humanity because I dupe and cheated to get to level 100. If you don't like it, too bad. I bought this game to play it how I see fit and to make it as fun for myself as possible, just as you have. I have duped twin-brands, egg blasters, soul eaters, and more, and ths doen't affect any of you. I do not trade the items I dupe, although if someone asks fo one, most of the time I will give it to them. If you do not want my items I have the best solution ever, DON'T TAKE them, bu do not whine about how I have unleashed a pandoras box unto you by joining the same game you are in. I do no cheat online, and I do not trade my rares that I have duped, so I am not affecting you in any possible way, so why do yo complain about my actions? I have used my character online since the 2nd week this game came out, and have yet to experience a server crash. stop blaming SEGA's incompetence on my character. Face it, SEGA makes mistakes, if they didn't the Dreamcast wouldn't be dying.

Anyway, next time you see somone online with duped items, don't go screaming that I'm worse than Hitler, because I have't done anything to you. If anything I'm only cheating myself.

[Kerek]

Is anyone going to reply to him?

[Socrates]

Oh, I will tomorrow (heading out again right now). After all, it was at my invitation that he try and defend his Gamesharking/duping/cheating activities, since he stated that none of the opposing arguments had any weight behind them.

In the meantime if anyone else wishes to discuss the issue, please, by all means, go ahead.

[Chaos]

Boy am I gonna get flames for this. But, oh well, here goes....

Man, i say more power to ya. Personally I dont dupe or cheat or anything or i wouldnt be level 59, but if thats the reason you got the game to gameshark it and u still have fun, go for it. I mean, If I was gonna buy this game just to sit and read the instruction manual, thats what I would have done. But thats not why i bought it. I bought it to have fun, and thats what i intend to do. People of Pso World, dont turn against me, but I know u guys didnt buy it just to beat it, you bought it to have fun. Heh.

[Spy]

Its because of assholes like you that my stag cutlery is absolutley worthless in the trading market, now if you are looking for understanding I suggest that you head on outta here and don't let the door hit you in your head on the way out. Your point of view is in the minority here, and you and your kind make good scapegoats. Take that as some friendly advice because that's all I'm giving you. BTW, feel free to dupe my words and give them to all your other "super-duper" friends, free of charge.

[Socrates]

Okay, I actually did have some time tonight. I apologize in advance for the length of this post.

First off, Gai, I want to make it clear that I am not referring to you specifically, but rather the cheaters, dupers and 'sharkers as a collective whole and the effect they have on the game. By participating in those actions, you (or anyone else) is simply contributing to the situation. So in this post, when I say 'you' I am referring to the aforementioned group as a whole, and not you as an individual.

You say that you have no effect on other people, on other gamers, or on the game itself as a result of your actions. Well, unfortunately, you are incorrect. Your activities impact the game on many different levels.

First off, there is the game/server level. Now, I will readily admit that there is probably not a great likelihood of someone's duped item on their VMU causing problems with another person's game. However, all those item's stats have to be read and stored on the server at some point in time, however temporarily, and there is always a chance that when the server sees a "9" when it is supposed to see a "5", there will be a problem.

But I'll understandably set that argument aside, because neither of us knows exactly how touchy that sort of data is. But as SEGA works and modifies the servers further (see below), there is the possibility that it will become more important.

The biggest impact cheating has on the game is socially. PSO, by design, is a very social game. It's the interaction between yourself and other players that gives PSO it's (current) uniqueness in the console world.

Now, part of the draw of the game is the idea that there are the exceptionally rare items that one can find. Part of the attraction of the game is the thrill of the search, the excitement of the discovery, and the sense of satisfaction at a job well done.

The much-lamented Spread Needle is an excellent example. Initially, the people that found it were the rare and lucky few. There was a great sense of pride and satisfaction in obtaining such an item, and for many people, it provided a goal -- something to work for.

Now, however, as a result of the duping and such, Spread Needles are (relatively) common. I've seen three in the last five games online I went into. Like a counterfeiter flooding the local economy with fake twenties, the proliferation of duped rares has caused them all -- real and duped -- to lose their value.

What's the point of searching for that elusive rare when everybody and their brother has one? A part of the game -- the acquisition of rare items -- has been lessened now due to the actions of cheaters, and that affects every legit player as well. Because people are duping them left and right, the sense of accomplishment, and one of the main elements of repeat playability in the game, is dramatically curtailed.

And you still think your actions have no effect on anyone else?

Furthermore, rare items like that were designed to be, well, rare. Their power is such that they need that rarity to balance them out in an online setting. Where's the fun or interest in playing the game if you are the only one in your team that doesn't have a Spread Needle? Every creature is wiped from the face of the earth within seconds, leaving nothing for you to do, or to earn. Where once a good party needed a balanced mix of skills and abilities to be optimum, now it only needs two or three people with duped Spread Needles to completely destroy the game balance for the remaining players.

And you still think your actions have no effect on anyone else?

But that isn't all. As you may or may have noticed, Gai, SEGA recently implemented new server protocals in an effort to reduce and/or eliminate cheating online, and have said they will continue to do so. Aside from the fact that if SEGA themselves have a propblem with cheating online, it should tell you something, think about the fact that SEGA now has employees working to keep one step ahead (or one step behind, so far) the cheaters.

As many have said here on this board, the recent server upgrades, while presumably doing as they were intended, also had unfortunate side effects on legit players, such as wiping their items, or worse. Some players here have said that they will not get online with the game until the servers are changed, because they are afraid their legit characters may succumb to whatever oddball side-effects are there as a result of the attempted anti-cheat upgrades to the server.

A whole subset of the PSO gamers are too worried about their characters to bring them online, and a smaller group have apparently lost data through no fault or action of their own. Why? Because SEGA is trying to stop cheating. More specifically, trying to stop you.

And you still think your actions have no effect on anyone else?

Many people also now are worried about trading. Are they sure that that item they are going to get is legit? If not, what if that bad data (and let's face it, all 'sharked items are in fact by definition 'bad data') comes back to haunt them later on, uknowingly. An entire group of gamers no longer wish to trade with others because they are unsure of the origins of items anymore.

And you still think your actions have no effect on anyone else?

Lastly, think about those programmers trying to keep up with the hackers and cheaters and dupers. Personally, I'd much rather there was no need to have an antihacker squad for the PSO server. That would free up that manpower to work on better, more important projects. Like the rumored expansion disk, or PSO2. But instead, valuable time is taken away from their other work to try and figure a way to keep you from disrupting the experience for everyone else.

And you still think your actions have no effect on anyone else?

Now, you may in fact feel that these reasons are of no consequence to you. You paid for the game, you paid for the gameshark, and damned be anyone else who may feel robbed of an accomplishement or have their hard-earned character wiped in the ensuing anti-cheater modifications. You may simply not care about the other players. I can accept that position (certainly not agree nor condone it, but accept it).

But I cannot see how you may think that your actions have no impact on anyone else.


Chaos: I agree, and I have no problem with Gai or other cheaters doing so in the privacy of their own offline game. It's only when they bring it and the ensuing consequences online does it become a matter of import to everyone.

[Socrates]

Oh, also, while I'm thinking of it: the actions of other cheaters/dupers/etc. have had an impact on you as well, Gaiboi. I know of at least two instances and about four or five people that will not play with you because of the fact that you are a cheater/sharker (and there may well be a lot).

Maybe you specifically wouldn't steal a dead characters items, or sell duped item, or whatever. But the fact that you use a GS automatically puts you in the 'suspect' category, because a lot of cheaters out there don't play fair even beyond their own characters.

There's an example of other cheaters having a direct impact on your game.