DazzerG
09-29-2008, 10:14 PM
Just wondering what people think ref the following;
PAM4 was initially being released in IWD files, which could be called 'open source' since it is easy to unzip the files, see the scripting, change it, and zip it back up. A novice modder with just a hint of computer savy could do it.
However, not even weeks after the first releases started being used in matches, there was a big bust where two teams were caught using modified versions of PAM4. One version gave his team additional health and increased the damage they did, the other gave specific players automatic headshots on a certain percentage of hits (no matter where he actually hit). These are both fairly easy to script into the gametype scripting and would be completely undetectable by PB or anything else. In fact, the ONLY reason the teams were busted was because of disgruntled teammates turning their respective teams in, and it just so happened that the league and game server provider had a relationship such that the game server provider got the modified PAM4 files from the servers to actually see what was in them......
It then goes on to say the PAM was then changed to closed source to prevent this.....
Getting back to the point, if promod is 'open source' then it is subject to just about anyone making malicious (and simple) changes and giving themselves one hell of a home-field advantage. Of course, that doesn't really matter if you are only running LANs on it, as the LAN is in complete control over the server (and thus the server side mod). It is when you are running an online competition where teams maintain their own server that this simply will not work. Unfortunately, most big Leagues and Ladders are online competitons.
I'm just curious :afraid
PAM4 was initially being released in IWD files, which could be called 'open source' since it is easy to unzip the files, see the scripting, change it, and zip it back up. A novice modder with just a hint of computer savy could do it.
However, not even weeks after the first releases started being used in matches, there was a big bust where two teams were caught using modified versions of PAM4. One version gave his team additional health and increased the damage they did, the other gave specific players automatic headshots on a certain percentage of hits (no matter where he actually hit). These are both fairly easy to script into the gametype scripting and would be completely undetectable by PB or anything else. In fact, the ONLY reason the teams were busted was because of disgruntled teammates turning their respective teams in, and it just so happened that the league and game server provider had a relationship such that the game server provider got the modified PAM4 files from the servers to actually see what was in them......
It then goes on to say the PAM was then changed to closed source to prevent this.....
Getting back to the point, if promod is 'open source' then it is subject to just about anyone making malicious (and simple) changes and giving themselves one hell of a home-field advantage. Of course, that doesn't really matter if you are only running LANs on it, as the LAN is in complete control over the server (and thus the server side mod). It is when you are running an online competition where teams maintain their own server that this simply will not work. Unfortunately, most big Leagues and Ladders are online competitons.
I'm just curious :afraid