Frustrated Elite Dangerous players are trying to get Frontier to fix cheating • Eurogamer.net

[Cosmo]

Frustrated Elite Dangerous players are trying to get Frontier to fix cheating • Eurogamer.net

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 23/11/2016

Frustrated players of Elite Dangerous are trying to get its developer to fix cheating within the game.

The problem revolves around "combat logging". Combat logging is the name given to ungracefully exiting the game (for example, using ALT + F4 to shut down the game process) to avoid defeat, destruction and damage.

Elite Dangerous employs an "interdiction" system, where players can be "pulled" into combat by others in open space. It's here that combat logging comes into play.

The video, below, shows what combat logging looks like in-game. (Skip to the 1 minute 30 second mark to see a ship disappear.)

[video=youtube;hsSXw7MgGzQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsSXw7MgGzQ[/video]

Frontier has always considered combat logging an "undesirable exploit" - that is, it's not deemed "part of the game".

But it has so far relied on the reports of affected players to help weed combat logging out of Elite Dangerous - and it's this reporting process that recently came under fire.

In a post on Reddit titled "An investigation into Frontier's actions on Combat Logging" by Jonticles, or Commander Rinzler o7o7o7, Frontier was accused of lying about its efforts to take reports seriously.

Commander Rinzler o7o7o7 decided to test his theory that combat logging was being "swept under the rug". He recorded combat loggers in the game, uploaded the footage to YouTube in an "unlisted" state, which meant only those with the direct URL link could access the video, and recorded the viewcount with a timestamp prior to submission.

After a week, Commander Rinzler o7o7o7 followed up with Frontier support. After confirmation from Frontier that the investigation had been completed, he reviewed the view counts on YouTube.

The results are a bad look for Frontier. Effectively, its support team said it had investigated the case, but the zero video view count proved it hadn't.

Commander Rinzler o7o7o7 tested his theory in the same way with several different cases, each with the same outcome.

 

[iFred]

Hopefully Frontier will react fast....

... and implement a Open-PvE-Mode. It´s ridiculous that a handful of people are able to ruin the games and the developers reputation by spreading those news. And yes, they are the minority of all players. But making the biggest noise and they cause big damage to all of us, including the devs. Ridiculous.

 

[Crusina Luachra]

When I was younger I hates Eurogamer because I thought they were "biased".

Then I grew up and realized everyone is biased, objectivity is reserved for robots. Thank you eurogamer for continual coverage on this game.

Hopefully Frontier will react fast....

... and implement a Open-PvE-Mode. It´s ridiculous that a handful of people are able to ruin the games and the developers reputation by spreading those news. And yes, they are the minority of all players. But making the biggest noise and they cause big damage to all of us, including the devs. Ridiculous.

Don't lie and your reputation won't be ruined then.

Sounds a lot like "well she was drunk. Why ruin the schools reputation by filing a lawsuit?"

 

[Duedy]

Frustrated Elite Dangerous players are trying to get Frontier to fix cheating • Eurogamer.net

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 23/11/2016

Frustrated players of Elite Dangerous are trying to get its developer to fix cheating within the game.


The problem revolves around "combat logging". Combat logging is the name given to ungracefully exiting the game (for example, using ALT + F4 to shut down the game process) to avoid defeat, destruction and damage.

Elite Dangerous employs an "interdiction" system, where players can be "pulled" into combat by others in open space. It's here that combat logging comes into play.

The video, below, shows what combat logging looks like in-game. (Skip to the 1 minute 30 second mark to see a ship disappear.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsSXw7MgGzQ

Frontier has always considered combat logging an "undesirable exploit" - that is, it's not deemed "part of the game".

But it has so far relied on the reports of affected players to help weed combat logging out of Elite Dangerous - and it's this reporting process that recently came under fire.

In a post on Reddit titled "An investigation into Frontier's actions on Combat Logging" by Jonticles, or Commander Rinzler o7o7o7, Frontier was accused of lying about its efforts to take reports seriously.

Commander Rinzler o7o7o7 decided to test his theory that combat logging was being "swept under the rug". He recorded combat loggers in the game, uploaded the footage to YouTube in an "unlisted" state, which meant only those with the direct URL link could access the video, and recorded the viewcount with a timestamp prior to submission.

After a week, Commander Rinzler o7o7o7 followed up with Frontier support. After confirmation from Frontier that the investigation had been completed, he reviewed the view counts on YouTube.

The results are a bad look for Frontier. Effectively, its support team said it had investigated the case, but the zero video view count proved it hadn't.

Commander Rinzler o7o7o7 tested his theory in the same way with several different cases, each with the same outcome.

I see no combat log there, I see someone floating immobilized for more than 20 seconds before logging out with the 15 second timer.

I see from about 1:05 mins the ships thrusters out. The ship disappears at 1:38 mins. That is more than 30 seconds to try to reboot and realise they will lose anyway and then exit to menu. ( not Combat logging)

 

[Cosmo]

Hopefully Frontier will react fast.... ... and implement a Open-PvE-Mode.

An Open-PvE-Mode splits the player base into even smaller groups and further decreases the need for teamwork such as escorts and wings. Chances of encountering another live player would also be much smaller.

What's needed is a method to punish combat loggers with a hefty fine and count it as being killed. If possible show on the player's in-game profile (if we get those with update 2.3) that he or she combat logged as a mark of shame.

 

[ianw]

Strewth - is this national combat log awareness week or something?

 

[Kubicide]

Hopefully Frontier will react fast....

... and implement a Open-PvE-Mode. It´s ridiculous that a handful of people are able to ruin the games and the developers reputation by spreading those news. And yes, they are the minority of all players. But making the biggest noise and they cause big damage to all of us, including the devs. Ridiculous.

Have to agree. This certainly wasn't helpful nor necessary. Only thing it did was satisfy someone's ego I guess. Fact is FDev can't solve this problem - no developer can. It's a problem plaguing every single PC and console based, online multiplayer game today, and it's been a problem since the beginning of online MP gaming. Games that don't have this problem are typically "well made" and keep player interest from wanting to do this. That's the magical solution FDev needs to craft.

- - - Updated - - -

An Open-PvE-Mode splits the player base into even smaller groups and further decreases the need for teamwork such as escorts and wings. Chances of encountering another live player would also be much smaller.

What's needed is a method to punish combat loggers with a hefty fine and count it as a being killed. If possible show on the player's in-game profile (when we get those), that he or she combat logged as a mark of shame.

Yeah, great solution there. Glad you don't develop games as a career - you wouldn't have popular titles with ideas like this.

 

[MadDogMurdock]

 

[Duedy]

Watch the video again, look at the times . there is 33 seconds from thrusters out and targeting of PP to disappearance. the close to menu timer is 15 seconds and thus as FDEV said is not Combat Logging.

 

[Theodrid]

Christ's sake.......

Combat logging wrong? = yes
If Frontier can monitor and punish should they? = yes
Legitimate gripe by bounty hunters and pirates? = yes

This crap storm over having 2-3 minutes of your time wasted by a combat logger? = no

 

[Duedy]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BhranSbCMAAwlQU.png

You need a new computer your ship and planet textures are set to Ultra LOW

 

[iFred]

Strewth - is this national combat log awareness week or something?

*marked as best answer in all CL-Threads this week*

+++

 

[Spookyy]

Open-PVE-Mode would save the "multiplayer" thingy in ED for sure. Keep PVP where it belongs, in Arena mode.

 

[Duedy]

Strewth - is this national combat log awareness week or something?

No Combat logging here. National Combat log awareness week is needs to educate those on what combat logging is.

 

[Oztig]

Cmdr MadDogMurdock

was going to rep you - made me chuckle - but apparently I must spread my love around a bit more first.

 

[Tall_Toot]

Oh, that's what they mean by combat logging.

I thought it was when your ship is so tough you could go for a crap while puny spaceships try to get your shields down, wash your hands , then come back and kill them all.........

 

[iFred]

An Open-PvE-Mode splits the player base into even smaller groups and further decreases the need for teamwork such as escorts and wings. Chances of encountering another live player would also be much smaller.

I disagree with all respect. It will enhance the coop-work (see Cannonn or other groups), and it will surely bring more people into the open galaxy.

Let´s see - I remember the days when we found the Alien-Ruins. I flew in Cannon-Group and pretty fast I had 10 new ppl on my friendslist, we were exploring the ruins, talking trash - just having fun. Next day I accidentally started the game in Open and was shot by a Cutter 5 seconds after I joined the game, for obviously no reasons and just for teh lulz. By the way, I had my unbelievable unfitted and nearly unengineered explorer-ASP with me, so I think I scared the guy a little bit.

This and 100s of those experiences will keep me away from playing in Open, because there will always, anywhere and at anytime 1 idiot blewing you out of space, even if 999 others are playing ok. And I just don´t want to fly to Maia or whatever the next POI/CG will be in a mega-outfitted-12-ly-corvette, just to survive - I want to enjoy the game. That´s it.

And an open PVE would help a lot. Let´s try this in a BETA, FD - prettyplease

 

[shadragon]

Anyone truly offended by this should contact Frontier for an immediate refund.

The rest of us will muddle through.

 

[Duedy]

Anyone truly offended by this should contact Frontier for an immediate refund.

The rest of us will muddle through.

Highly offended by someone watching someone spend 15 seconds to close to main menu? I'm offended they called it Combat logging

 

[[VR]tailgunner30uk]

Strewth - is this national combat log awareness week or something?

I think, rather that there is currently a Fermented Dairy Comestible surplus that is being tackled with these combat log threads.