Thread: Blizzard Bans Single Player Cheaters

Going to drop this off here. I haven't played the game, nor do I use Cheathappens, but it seems a bit unfair to me. I am against online cheating, but apparently the game has an offline mode which the trainer was intended for. I haven't gamed much in the last few years, but when I did, it was fun being able to use trainers or even console commands to make the experience more enjoyable.

Anyhow, just a heads up for you all. I'm not sure if they(Blizzard) are after all the people who use various trainers or if they are just targeting the linked site. from what I understand, cheathappens charge for their work. Could that possibly cause a scrape? I don't know, but it just may.



Blizzard Bans Single Player Cheaters - Cheat Happens Article

"Users found to be using cheats in SINGLE PLAYER CAMPAIGN MODE and AI SKIRMISH mode were treated the same as if they had cheated in a multiplayer online match. For some, their accounts were suspended and for others their CD keys were disabled and they were completely locked out of playing even campaign mode in their legally purchased game."

That sounds extremely overboard and unethical to me. Why the hell would they care if players cheated in single player mode? Wtf? I mean I know you agree to a EULA when you install the game but that's just ridiculous...

I feel the same way. Single player, is single player..

link from PC gamer.
Blizzard bans Starcraft 2 single player cheaters | PC Gamer

I guess it's time to grab the popcorn and watch the show. -I mean that in the best way possible.

/edit removed old link.

while I agree on a personal level (I would be pissed off if I ever got banned for using a trainer in a singleplayer game), I can think of, and will hereby post, some valid arguments (allow me to play the devil's advocate).

1. serverside vs. client side checking of valid game data (as in "original .exe, filesizes, the game "as intended by blizzard""). Allowing clientside checking creates a situation where cheating becomes incredibly easy, simply adjusting the program/script that checks for "authentic" allows one to cheat in laddergames/non-rated/singleplayer (i.e. cheats allowed troughout the whole game).
to circumvent this problem, blizzard (also)checks serverside data (example: diablo 2 maphack requests for mapdata can be detected and can/will result in a ban).
seeing that you have to login to play starcraft 2 (sorry if this is incorrect, i have only played the closed beta phase, and it was the case in that situation) there is the opportunity for blizzard to check if everybody is playing fair. This might result in a ban for cheating in a singleplayer game, being it hard (and/or unwanted by Blizzard) to distinguish between online/offline cheating.

2. Users Agreement (EULA). while this doesnt have much legal ground in Europe as far as I'm aware, you do Agree to, and are given the chance to read, all Blizzard terms of usage, that include not using hacks/custom adjustments and point out explicitly that using third party software in combination with any Blizzard game is "at own risk".
(example -qouted from WoW eula, see source below post) : B. use cheats, automation software (bots), hacks, mods or any other unauthorized third-party software designed to modify the World of Warcraft experience).
I would like to point out that they refer to the WoW experience, and do not restrict themselves to usage in online games explicitly (running your own server and cheating on it is in violation with this rule (apart from hosting your own server, which is another offense)).

3. Not making exceptions to rules. Assume that some players would accept maphacks, while others dont. creating seperate ladders for maphacks/nonhacks is ridiculous, splitting up the scene (and getting a slippery slope, what will be the next dividing thing, speedhacks/unlimited resources etc.) and giving a "i must exploit else i can't join player B's games, since he exploits". By stating there will not ever be a exploit allowed that isn't implemented by blizzard itself (and thus gets renamed to gamemechanic) they ensure themselves of a homogenous non divided playerbase.


Hoping I have convinced some of you that the agressive stand Blizzard takes against cheating isn't purposedly aimed at singleplayergames, but a sideproduct of the above mentioned points that can't (will not) be changed by Blizzard

(and some apologies for the wall of text, I'm aware that some people do not appreciate them)

Source for point 2.
WoW -> Legal -> End User License Agreement

This honestly just gives me reasons to NOT purchase their games and instead pirate. I do occasionally use trainers on single player games because its fun to have limitless resources, etc sometimes.

Blizzard sues group selling StarCraft 2 hacks

Blizzard Sues StarCraft II Hackers

Is anyone surprised?