Method to get rid of in-game bots

UFO Reality

UFO Reality
So it seems someone is cheating and using bots now.

Well the star-ports and docks could ask for a reply code to enable a pilot to dock.

Similar to Captcha or the codes that an anti bot program uses to verify that the user is a real person but instead of pictures FD could do a random symbol generator like triangles, squares, stars, cross etc.. that the pilot has to type what the shape is.

[alien]
 

Tosan James

T
The overall idea is sound, but I think this is a bad idea for game play mechanics. And, unless I am missing something here, it doesn't affect any ones game play, so why have all commanders typing in codes in order to dock. It would be punishing the players for something that they have no control over.
 

Arry

Arry
UFO Reality said:
So it seems someone is cheating and using bots now.

Well the star-ports and docks could ask for a reply code to enable a pilot to dock.

Similar to Captcha or the codes that an anti bot program uses to verify that the user is a real person but instead of pictures FD could do a random symbol generator like triangles, squares, stars, cross etc.. that the pilot has to type what the shape is.

[alien]
Click to expand...
Do you have proof this?

If report and they get sanctioned.
 

UFO Reality

UFO Reality
Tosan James said:
The overall idea is sound, but I think this is a bad idea for game play mechanics. And, unless I am missing something here, it doesn't affect any ones game play, so why have all commanders typing in codes in order to dock. It would be punishing the players for something that they have no control over.
Click to expand...

Probably a slight inconvenience for docking as a player needs to interact with what Fdev would use to ensure that the reply is from a real person. The bots are used for trading and missions ,I think from what I gathered in the Lave radio podcast I listened to and a post in the forum.

Arry said:
Do you have proof this?

If report and they get sanctioned.
Click to expand...

I heard about it from a LaveRAdio podcast. A Mahon player group was talking about it and how it could kill the game for a lot of players.
 

Mysturji

Mysturji
"Welcome Commander. Please submit the wiggly squiggly wibbly wobbly code on your screen to request docking permission."

No thanks.
I don't care if some redacted redacted writes an AI to play a game full of AIs for him. He's obviously an idiot who has completely missed the point.
 

Riverside

Riverside
Tosan James said:
The overall idea is sound, but I think this is a bad idea for game play mechanics. And, unless I am missing something here, it doesn't affect any ones game play, so why have all commanders typing in codes in order to dock. It would be punishing the players for something that they have no control over.
Click to expand...

I agree, it's a solution, but not one I'd want in practice.
 

InertFurry

I
The real solution would be to actually shadowban bots when they have been given sufficient evidence of botting rather than just tempbanning them and ignoring the issue further.
 

Whypay

W
Crime and punishment update: ppl using BOTS get WANTED.
Let the guys with the big guns handle this problem ; )
 

Auronio

Auronio
I don't know whether that his actually happening.

But if so it would be heavily skewing powerplay and BGS work.

Which would be very unfair.

Whether FDev would or can act on it is another question.
 

varonica

varonica
Yeah and just what I need in my unarmed explorer while I am racing into a station while being banged on by a PvP'er, "you must fill in this impossible to read code before you will be allowed to enter the station."
 

Lestat

Banned
Lestat
UFO Reality said:
Probably a slight inconvenience for docking as a player needs to interact with what Fdev would use to ensure that the reply is from a real person. The bots are used for trading and missions ,I think from what I gathered in the Lave radio podcast I listened to and a post in the forum.

I heard about it from a LaveRAdio podcast. A Mahon player group was talking about it and how it could kill the game for a lot of players.
Click to expand...
Can you post the Podcast date or name of Podcast so we can listen to it. Yes we know it on Lave Radeo but not everyone listen to it.

Never mind found it.
 
Last edited:

[VR] Merkir

[VR] Merkir
UFO Reality said:
Similar to Captcha or the codes that an anti bot program uses to verify that the user is a real person but instead of pictures FD could do a random symbol generator like triangles, squares, stars, cross etc.. that the pilot has to type what the shape is.
Click to expand...

Bots can be programmed very easily to solve these types of captchas. It's the primary function of bot software to match patterns/symbols/images. But there are other types of captchas that are very hard for bots to solve, so the general thinking is sound.
 

Lestat

Banned
Lestat
Well, I did bring up in programs that can solve captchas on Autopilot written by Egy Ace Fyke. Keep going it can't be done and such so I found a program that does it. Captchas would annoy players and make the game unplayable.

I think Frontier Need to rework the launcher. Basiclly Make it tied to the game that running at the time. So if you close the Launcher It shut down the game.
Or at least look for another game running before loading the game.

[video=youtube;5Qb7E-oV2vI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qb7E-oV2vI[/video]
 
Last edited:

PocketPsycho

P
UFO Reality said:
So it seems someone is cheating and using bots now.

Well the star-ports and docks could ask for a reply code to enable a pilot to dock.

Similar to Captcha or the codes that an anti bot program uses to verify that the user is a real person but instead of pictures FD could do a random symbol generator like triangles, squares, stars, cross etc.. that the pilot has to type what the shape is.

[alien]
Click to expand...

No, just no, don't punish 99% of the player base because of the actions of 1%.

Besides you can almost guarantee that within a week or two the bot makers will find a way around whatever system is put in place leaving the net result being an inconvenience to regular players.
 

Lucius-Darcia

Lucius-Darcia
UFO Reality said:
So it seems someone is cheating and using bots now.

Well the star-ports and docks could ask for a reply code to enable a pilot to dock.

Similar to Captcha or the codes that an anti bot program uses to verify that the user is a real person but instead of pictures FD could do a random symbol generator like triangles, squares, stars, cross etc.. that the pilot has to type what the shape is.

[alien]
Click to expand...

??? Bots? In Elite :S
Some time ago, i've read somewhere about that possibility but i don't think that it is a wide spread problem. Once people from a well known group have used bots against our minor faction, but even there we have count only 2. So i don't think that this problem is big enough to take actions that would impact gameplay. But that's just my experience.

132958_CaptchaTrolling_1.jpg
 
Last edited:

IndigoWyrd

IndigoWyrd
CRAPCHAs do nothing but annoy humans.

There was already an Official Statement about Long Running Macros quite some time ago to address this.

Relax, it's just the BGS anyways. It's not like it actually effects game play.
 

Dutch Foster

Dutch Foster
Bots are out there, and they do have an impact on player groups that they are used against as far as harming their BGS and also used in Power Play. Its not that widespread yet, but if it does become more widespread, then it will have serious negative consequences for the Community and the game. When these bots are running 24/7, they will have a huge impact on BGS, and it will take many more commanders than it normally would to offset this problem. Then you have to stack a great many commanders up against multiple bots. Large player groups can handle that, but smaller groups would not be able to stop it. Bots lower the quality of the game, and they have a very unfair advantage on the BGS and Power Play mechanics. Its outright cheating, and it does need to be detected and stopped.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom