Autohotkey banned by Punkbuster

[imported_TheDragon]

Re: Autohotkey banned by Punkbuster

Hang on a minute here have you just admitted to using third party software to increase your view distance beyond 100% ???.

he may have said it
but of course that is impossible
yes - I DO tweak my monitor brightness/contrast/gamma on different maps
to aid in detecting targets in shadows or bright sky

but NO way can anyone tweak to increase gaming range
(except the hackers with no sky no fog)

[Harmor]

Re: Autohotkey banned by Punkbuster

A player cannot manually crouch and prone twenty times in a single second with a perfect 5 ms delay inbetween each action thus I consider any utility that would make such an action possible a cheat.

Exactly!!! So instead of changing the server code to only allow you to crouch prone say once a second they instead ban Autohotkey? To me this is lazy programming.

Any 3rd year Network Programmer knows how to set timers and ignore packets that come at a more frequent rate. Why don't they just limit the number of key/mouse commands accepted at the server end...this would solve the problem for ALL assist software/hardware out there, while at the same time twarting the real hackers who are modifying game files/memory.

[18Zulukiller]

Re: Autohotkey banned by Punkbuster

but of course that is impossible

Well ive had people tell me alot of things are impossible in this game including one shot killing a tank with another tank. I was adament on this forum that it was possible for a long time (around the 1.02 to 1.03 patch) and i got called a noob a liar and a load of other names thing is that turned out to be the truth in the end .

Think about it theres a type of unsupported graphics card that will run bf2 on low settings only problem is it dosnt draw the buildings. So you can see the enemy on the other side of the building as its not been drawn. Basically you dont always need software to cheat some times hardware can be manipulated to cheat.

[Bungalow_Bill]

Re: Autohotkey banned by Punkbuster

Exactly!!! So instead of changing the server code to only allow you to crouch prone say once a second they instead ban Autohotkey? To me this is lazy programming.

Any 3rd year Network Programmer knows how to set timers and ignore packets that come at a more frequent rate. Why don't they just limit the number of key/mouse commands accepted at the server end...this would solve the problem for ALL assist software/hardware out there, while at the same time twarting the real hackers who are modifying game files/memory.

You're absolutely right Harmor it's lazy programming but fact is DICE Canada left it up to Punkbuster to deal with the problem because DICE Canada can't code themselves out of a wet paper bag. The same DICE Canada that couldn't figure out how to balance the J-10 (because it's too hard!) so instead they decided to make it even more powerful. Honestly though Punkbuster is the biggest part of the solution because frankly some macros cannot be combated with server side delays though (again I don't want to mention exactly what kind of a macro I'm refering to) trust me when I say the worst macros are unstoppable through that sort of delay.

I created such a macro (again a macro which its function shall remain nameless) purely for curosity/testing purposes and tested it for myself in single player/local game and I noticed instantly my overall combat effectiveness went up a disturbing amount. I'd never use such an unfair cheat online so I couldn't test it in a "real" gaming enviroment but their is no doubt in my mind it'd be just as good as it was on my local network. It's not even funny what kind of a sosphisticated macro you can create with autohotkey as it really is a brilliant piece of software. If I was to ever release said macro to the general public I guarantee the usage would become nothing short of epidemic. I'm also certain that at least a few creative players (less my gaming moral standards) have created a macro similar to the macro I created with AHK and are now and have been privately using and enjoying the advantage it provides them in a competitive online enviorment with absolutely no means to detect or combat it (untill now that is but PB needs to get even more harsh/strict on what they detect or scan for).

It's a sad new era of gaming we've entered with cheating becoming quite common. As a result I find that completely banning certain programs from running is a perfectly acceptable approach to curbing this type of behavior. Assuming that Punkbuster moves to block *all* macroing programs. With a quick google search Punkbuster could collect up all of the most popular macroing programs and restrict the code. Even if you use these programs for legitimate purposes outside of Battlefield 2... is it really that difficult to close said program before you decide to go in for a quick game of Battlefield 2?

I'm just glad that PB is starting to crack down on the macro n00bs... as lackluster as their initial attempt may be.

[Sloi sauce]

Re: Autohotkey banned by Punkbuster

Well said.

[Absurdus]

Re: Autohotkey banned by Punkbuster

Re: Lazy Programming. Theres a line you draw when something comes up when maintaining code, it comes down to cost and stability of current code base (talking in general here, I dont want your opinion on the BF2 stability issue ) versus the impact of a change, case in point, hard coded delay .V. punkbuster.

Sure hard coded delays may be better but how long would it take to implement, test, probably 2/3 patches to get it right, *** loads of complaints from players about things not working that should be VERSUS a sanctioned 3PP that can detect a program which provides an advantage to the user of that program, over other players, and kick them (banning because of this is too harsh).

Techically Joy2Key should cause PB to kick but there is a valid arguement that it provides basic functionality that the core engine can not due to a lacking feature. PB & EA would have to agree too this. As for the G15 or macro enabled keyboards, there is no reason to get kicked if using a G15 but there is (or potentially could be) if using S/W that enables the macro functionality. How hard would it be to disable a profile before you play?

[some1one]

Re: Autohotkey banned by Punkbuster

Goodbye EA/DICE...I'm taking my money to the Quake Wars.

I thought i heard in an interview with the developers of quake that they would be implementing something to stop macros been used.

[imported_Squared]

Re: Autohotkey banned by Punkbuster

I'm in two minds here, I'm pretty sure that most users of autohotkey, joytokey, logitech profilers, nostoromo (me) etc, do so in a way that does no real harm, however I will acknowledge that there are plenty of abusers out there, although I'm not sure banning this for simple prone spamming is justified. On the other hand it did not take me too long to start to form a picture of what PW has been mentioning and that has a very sinister side that I'm definately against and would support the banning of such utils.

The question I have though is this, can Autohotkey do more then the other utils out there, such as JoyToKey, and the utils that come with zboard, Logitech and Nostromo? If it does then I'm at least comfortable that PB has a definative position, but if you can achive exactly the same end result (and I'm not talking simple prone spamming) with these other utils then I can not really see the point of banning that one without banning the others.

[Repent]

Re: Autohotkey banned by Punkbuster

Macros aren't needed. It's a program doing something FOR you. Using a macro requires 0 skill. The sooner macros are gone from the mainstream, the fairer the playing field will be.

Down with macros...use your fingers.

[Shepherd007]

Re: Autohotkey banned by Punkbuster

Has anyone experienced any issues with their n52 over the last week or so? I only have one macro (Q-left mouse click) for spotting on the commo rose that now works only occasionally. I didn't check to see if it works/doesn't work on PB-enabled servers, but that would explain why it didn't work during some games. My other regularly-mapped buttons work fine.

I can get over my one commo macro as long as it gets rid of the TV macro junkies...

[gwolb]

Re: Autohotkey banned by Punkbuster

I thought there had to be some reason I did not see as many smacktards in BF2 recently!!!!!

[ELI]

Re: Autohotkey banned by Punkbuster

So JTK is considered an unfair advantage?

[Envelo]

Re: Autohotkey banned by Punkbuster

I created such a macro (again a macro which its function shall remain nameless) purely for curosity/testing purposes and tested it for myself in single player/local game and I noticed instantly my overall combat effectiveness went up a disturbing amount. I'd never use such an unfair cheat online so I couldn't test it in a "real" gaming enviroment but their is no doubt in my mind it'd be just as good as it was on my local network.
...
It's a sad new era of gaming we've entered with cheating becoming quite common. As a result I find that completely banning certain programs from running is a perfectly acceptable approach to curbing this type of behavior.

Hmm I know much about macros but I cant imagine what you are talking about. There is really no macro that gives you this kind of advantage. Notice that you tested it in single player (!) so you were your own server - zero ping, no lags, no distorted hit boxes etc... of course you own against dumb bots.

Exploiting the bug movement with macros prior patch 1.4 was truly an unfair advantage, but this is gone now anyway.

And you always must distinguish between macroing, using minor bugs, stats padding or whatever and cheating. Cheating is using stuff like wallhack or aimbot. Cheating is crossing the line forever and you deserve to be hardware/guid banned for it. Dont get this mixed up with macros. They are against ROE and a kick is the right answer, thats it.

[Repent]

Re: Autohotkey banned by Punkbuster

You will violate the Terms of Service if you (or others using your Account) do any of the following:

Use or distribute “auto” software programs, “macro” software programs or other “cheat utility” software program or applications.

http://www.ea.com/global/legal/tos.jsp

It's very clear.

[lostinspace]

Re: Autohotkey banned by Punkbuster

So JTK is considered an unfair advantage?

That depends on who you ask...
Any user will say no, while people who do not know how to use it will most likely say yes...

But if it is not an advantage, then why would people use it..?
Wether or not is is unfair, I will leave to others...
I have no need for J2K and did not use autohotkey either...