Article: The Perils of Single Player Games and Steam Bans

[Zer0Dark30]

drama free.

Always =VX9=.

Well...that isn't exactly true :P

[Tumblin]

Read and Understood!

One Team!

[sovelis025]

So that one time I got a 24 hour ban in SWTOR for calling someone "bantha poodoo" doesn't count right?

[Jayaymm]

Read and Understood! Glad you guys encourage members to not cheat!

[Kindbud]

We do not simply encourage fair play, it's our #1 rule. If any member is caught, they will be removed from the community, regardless of rank or tenure, no exceptions, ever.

[enlyghten]

Do you folks have a policy on trainers for strictly single player games? I have never and certainly intend to never use any sort of cheat or hack on multiplayer games, but I've been known to run a inf carry weight trainer in Fallout. I use Cheat Happens trainers, if anyone's interested, and they have a policy not to release trainers for multiplayer games. They also make trainers specifically for the steam version of games and I've never heard of one of their users being banned for using their trainer on a steam game that is single player only with no multiplayer functionality.

I suppose my question is, can I get a clarification on this specific issue? As I've used these trainers on single player only games on steam since steam came out (with no indication that steam frowns on it for single player only), is it against your rules to use them at all, or are you cautioning us that if we misuse cheats/mods/hacks/trainers and get banned from something, we'll get banned from here too?

Thanks
enlyghten

[Lothior]

Do you folks have a policy on trainers for strictly single player games? I have never and certainly intend to never use any sort of cheat or hack on multiplayer games, but I've been known to run a inf carry weight trainer in Fallout. I use Cheat Happens trainers, if anyone's interested, and they have a policy not to release trainers for multiplayer games. They also make trainers specifically for the steam version of games and I've never heard of one of their users being banned for using their trainer on a steam game that is single player only with no multiplayer functionality.

I suppose my question is, can I get a clarification on this specific issue? As I've used these trainers on single player only games on steam since steam came out (with no indication that steam frowns on it for single player only), is it against your rules to use them at all, or are you cautioning us that if we misuse cheats/mods/hacks/trainers and get banned from something, we'll get banned from here too?

Thanks
enlyghten

I'd encourage you to reread the original post as that has most of your answers. But here are a few insights. Let's say the original Doom (original!) you want to use the developer implemented cheat codes "idkfa" and "iddqd" (props for those that remember what those do), that's fine. But using a trainer, or any other type of application that will directly effect the way the software is run is not good. Anytime a third party application is used it can have unintended consequences. And yes, if you're banned for cheating in any game you're banned from the community as well.

So, please think about this anytime you look at a 3rd party program that promises rainbows and unicorns for your gameplay. Over that rainbow is usually a dismissal from our ranks, and if you truly enjoy the people that make this community great, you won't want to jeopardize that.

In short, it doesn't make sense to risk so much that you have here in the community over a few pixels of altered gameplay/extra money/whatever, does it?

[enlyghten]

I understand the OPs point, but I haven't found anything to back up the sentiment that using a trainer on a single-player-only game is against the Steam TOS. There's plenty of mention of using cheats on multiplayer games or games with multiplayer functionality and I agree and abide by those rules. Rule #1 says "No Cheating, but then it references bans. This is ambiguous. Do you get banned here if you get banned for cheating or do you get banned from here for playing a game in a way that has no chance of affecting any other person?

The hacks that you have to download to cheat at the single player version also have components for cheating on the multiplayer side.

I disagree. I use cheats from Cheat Happens which refuses to make cheats for multiplayer games. Additionally, in RTS games I never play with other people and even when I skirmish it’s only with the AI. I don’t now, nor have I ever, nor do I ever intend to use any form of cheat in any game I play that includes other people. Including games that have both single player and multiplayer that have functionality linking the two game types as mentioned by the OP

And yes, if you're banned for cheating in any game you're banned from the community as well.

Once again this is ambiguous. Do you get banned for being banned or do you get banned for using cheats period?

Frankly, and no offense, this sounds like an unsubstantiated scare tactic - especially your mention of the risk regarding this community when I'm yet a recruit and have invested only a couple hours and have limited knowledge of the benefits of this community. My point is, if there are official steam rules regarding single player only games and trainers and you folks can provide them, I'll abide by them, but I'm not going to change the way I play and enjoy single player games on hearsay. This will come off as blunt and possibly assholish, for which I apologize, I have invested about 3 days into this community. I have little idea of what I'm risking. I hope to find out. I hope to make this community my online home, but if it's the policy of this community to arbitrarily deny people the right to enjoy games in a way that have no possible effect on any other person in the entire world, then I may well have chosen the wrong community to apply to. If that's the case, it’s better that I find out now before I invest more time into this community.

Once again, I apologize if I have come off rude, but I find it's better to be unflinchingly blunt in cases like this.

Thanks for your time,
Enlighten

[Lothior]

I understand the OPs point, but I haven't found anything to back up the sentiment that using a trainer on a single-player-only game is against the Steam TOS. There's plenty of mention of using cheats on multiplayer games or games with multiplayer functionality and I agree and abide by those rules. Rule #1 says "No Cheating, but then it references bans. This is ambiguous. Do you get banned here if you get banned for cheating or do you get banned from here for playing a game in a way that has no chance of affecting any other person?

If you were to get VAC banned, BattlEye banned or PunkBuster ban. You'd be banned from =VX9=. I'm trying to keep things simple and to the point. I am not telling you that you can't play the game how you enjoy. This whole thread is about the danger of the "gray area" that may or may not be present when playing certain games. Steam does differentiate into Multiplayer/Online games and single player. But keep in mind that there are a lot of elements to a game that aren't seen which may make the "single" player game into a bit more.

Now, you may not ever have the inclination to give yourself an unfair advantage in online multiplayer matches, you just want to beat the single player game faster, increase your rank faster, unlock weapons faster, whatever. The anti-cheat programs do not differentiate between those two things.

This is a key piece of information for me. Specifically, "The anti-cheat programs do not differentiate..." This is one thing that the OP and this thread (and community) are trying to make people aware of. And before I go further I'm not accusing you of anything, I'm just trying to convey the information so we can understand each other. Let's assume this->. User downloaded trainer for X game. Only used it in single player. VAC didn't like that. For what reason? Who knows. Yes, the game had a multiplayer element but the anti-cheat system still said No for the "cheat" in single player. Now, I'm also not saying you have to alter your whole perception or attitude towards video gaming. I'm trying to present the case of "Is this worth it?" Will having 500 more gold and the shiny spandex armor make me happier? If it does and it's legal to obtain go for it. If you're dabbling into third-party programs then you may run into trouble.

I disagree. I use cheats from Cheat Happens which refuses to make cheats for multiplayer games. Additionally, in RTS games I never play with other people and even when I skirmish it’s only with the AI. I don’t now, nor have I ever, nor do I ever intend to use any form of cheat in any game I play that includes other people. Including games that have both single player and multiplayer that have functionality linking the two game types as mentioned by the OP

I went digging for some info. Usually software (a game, etc) is as simple as it can be. Therefore single player elements are used in multiplayer. This is what Cheat Happens says about their trainers:

Cheat Happens does not support or condone the use of trainers in an online or multiplayer environment. None of the trainers on this website are designed to be used online or in multiplayer modes.

If you read this you can take a few things into consideration. Cheat Happens would prefer that you don't use a trainer in a multiplayer setting. It cannot however promise that the trainers will not affect a game which might have a multiplayer mode or not, or an online element. It cannot guarantee that the trainer won't influence an online/multiplayer mode. This is the gray area that you hope won't trigger any anti-cheat software. Regardless of intentions.

Once again this is ambiguous. Do you get banned for being banned or do you get banned for using cheats period?

From the community standpoint you'll be removed for being banned (Steam, or other). Our Rules and Regs state simply "Cheating is not tolerated in =VX9=! This includes past bans for cheating. Violation results in immediate expulsion from =VX9=." This post and thread are designed to help guide our =VX9= members and others to play the games as they were meant to be played as well as advise about the potential dangers of using a third party application. We don't want to see people banned for something silly.

Frankly, and no offense, this sounds like an unsubstantiated scare tactic - especially your mention of the risk regarding this community when I'm yet a recruit and have invested only a couple hours and have limited knowledge of the benefits of this community. My point is, if there are official steam rules regarding single player only games and trainers and you folks can provide them, I'll abide by them, but I'm not going to change the way I play and enjoy single player games on hearsay. This will come off as blunt and possibly assholish, for which I apologize, I have invested about 3 days into this community. I have little idea of what I'm risking. I hope to find out. I hope to make this community my online home, but if it's the policy of this community to arbitrarily deny people the right to enjoy games in a way that have no possible effect on any other person in the entire world, then I may well have chosen the wrong community to apply to. If that's the case, it’s better that I find out now before I invest more time into this community.

Steam states in the Subscriber agreements that there is a difference between single player and multiplayer. You do have limited knowledge of the community being here so short of a time so the words here may not mean the same to you as they do to me or others. That being said we want you to be a member of the community and come to realize what it means. We don't use scare tactics. We just state a fact. Take this PSA how you want.

[enlyghten]

@Lothior
Thank you for taking the time to write this much less ambiguous reply and thanks for taking me seriously even as a brand new guy here.

To be absolutely clear - I don't intend to stop using trainers on games with no multiplayer functionality. I don't do it all the time, but it does add hours to my game-playing without having to purchase new games.
I understand that if doing so gets me banned anywhere I'll get banned here. To be honest, I'd be more worried about being banned from Steam and my hundreds of games - if I thought there were any risk for single player games, I wouldn't use them.

Thanks again for the response,
enlyghten