Introduction
In December 2002 a new player
stepped up into the anti-cheat arena - the International Gaming
Syndicate (IGS). The public release of the IGS Cheat Detector
Beta was the first major step since the first phase of Beta
testing back in April 2002. This week the owner of IGS, Mr.Smith,
granted GhostRecon.net an interview explaining their objectives
and aims towards cheat free gaming communities, starting with
Ghost Recon and Rogue Spear.
The Interview
SOTOMac: This is an Interview conducted
with Mr. Smith for the IGS Gaming League by SOTO Mac from
GR.net ( Staff Member )
SOTOMac: Hello Mr. Smith - How are you tonight
Mr. Smith: I am well thank you SOTOMac...
or may I refer to you as Mac?
SOTOMac: Mac Please
Mr. Smith: ty ty
SOTOMac: It’s been posted on Our Forums that
you and Your Staff have come up with an Anti Cheat application
for "GR". Could you tell the Community about this
Latest Effort at combating Cheaters and Hackers?
Mr. Smith: may I assert something before
we get into the thick of it?
SOTOMac: Please do
Mr. Smith: The International Gaming Syndicate
or the IGS is not a Gaming league
SOTOMac: Ahhh My apologies
SOTOMac: Could you correct me then and detail what IGS is
to the TACSIM Community
Mr. Smith: We currently have two ladders:
Ghost Recon and Rogue Spear. However the IGS is an organization
in development focused on building and supporting the online
gaming community. We will be providing several features, functions,
and services to players
SOTOMac: Could you detail a few of them say 3 to keep
it short for you and Interesting for those who wish to Inquire
further
Mr. Smith: okay - well for example we are
talking about the AC, so the anti cheat application is one
SOTOMac: Roger that and TY BTW
Mr. Smith: it will function on any operating
system, and will be able to support other games another will
be a game GUI or player interface players are able to find
each other and host join games through the application a third
will be our IRC server and life game and technical support,
and of course there are many more but that’s 3.
SOTOMac: Excellent - So the Scalability of a Viable
Cheat Detector is about to be a reality?
SOTOMac: Finally the Anti Cheat will be an App that can be
played across other games than GR?
Mr. Smith: Yes, our application was designed
with goal of supporting other games as well
SOTOMac: which Games so far have You decided to place
into the First Release of the AC | 1,2,3 Games or just GR
for now?
Mr. Smith: We anticipate that Rogue Spear
may be the next game supported
SOTOMac: ahhhhhhhh
Mr. Smith: For the purpose of the beta test
we are 100% focused on GR Island Thunder, we are waiting to
see what UBI does to support the multiplayer element of Raven
Shield, but so far they seem to be much more supportive of
the gamer and the cheating issue. I am a die hard GR player
BTW
SOTOMac: In saying "Wait to see what they do
for MP Support" - What do you mean?
Mr. Smith: well according to the development
logs and what we know about the unreal engine, the game engine
is much more difficult for cheat makers to "compromise",
and UBI seems to be taking online cheating more seriously.
SOTOMac: This is a good thing I'd imagine
Mr. Smith: I would say yes, very good
SOTOMac: How long have you been into TACSIMS and where
did you get Your FPS Shooter start?
Mr. Smith: I have been into TACSIMS for
about two years now. I started with Rogue Spear and never
played online until last year when I finally got DSL
SOTOMac: Roger that
Mr. Smith: Then I got hooked, I went out
and bought every Tom Clancy game I could find and every other
respectable FPS
SOTOMac: LOL - I’m sure that many a TACSIM'er
can echo that sentiment
SOTOMac: May I ask you a couple of more questions about the
AC?
Mr. Smith: certainly
SOTOMac: How large is the DL for Our 56K users?
Mr. Smith: Well after we package and zip
in a self extracting file... it will be approximately 200kb
SOTOMac: Excellent news for our 56K'ers including
myself
Mr. Smith: Yes, understand it is no frills,
no real graphical content, a bare bones app for testing and
data collection
SOTOMac: Will the AC work with Mods enabled such as
IDF / Navy Seals / Black Sun / SPV4 ?
Mr. Smith: we have the ability to adjust
the AC to accommodate any MODS and even a no CD exe. However
the no CD exe would have to be standardized
SOTOMac: A No-CD exe - Don’t You think that
that could be a little controversial?
Mr. Smith: We do not support warez, but
that exe does allow for faster loading of the game, we are
undecided there - even UBI supports no CD exe
SOTOMac: but as the Cheats are basically a Hacked
exe I was wondering if this may be a Potential Misgiving or
cause for Apprehension on the Part of Potential Users of the
AC
Mr. Smith: That is not accurate, we will
be able to detect any changes in game configuration
SOTOMac: Ahhhhhhhh - Copy that
Mr. Smith: Many common cheats are actually
small applications used in the background or in memory manipulation
SOTOMac: so you’ll have a File parser so to
speak that will look for Coding Changes on already established
exes? Or processes running in the back
Mr. Smith: let’s just say that the
configuration of each will be scrutinized
SOTOMac: rgr that
Mr. Smith: the app should not compromise
the computers resources
SOTOMac: one last question then for now and we’ll
wrap up the Interview
SOTOMac: Why do you go through all of the Long Hours the Frustration
and the Loss of Personal Time ( Even Gaming ), to provide
this AC for the GR and ultimately the whole TACSIM Community?
Mr. Smith: Well first let me say that it
was not most of my time that went into the AC, the team and
lead developer will be acknowledged publicly for their efforts.
As far as why I am involved...
I love the games, the challenge, the experience, and even
more so the social element, meeting people making friends,
"ggz"... I believe that with the right approach,
we can build a tremendous community that can.. infact impact
what game developers do in the future and ultimately shape
the future of the online gaming community and experience.
It needs a new approach,
as the former business development manager for the World Trade
Center, I understand what the leagues/ ladders have been missing
to evolve into something larger and more legitimate - it does
take time, but we are building a team and staff that is very
committed to doing what it takes to get the job done right.
We want to build gaming communities - not cliques. Sorry for
the long answer
SOTOMac: Well - Id like to say for Myself, GR.net,
and the rest of the TACSIM Community ( If I may ) - That this
attempt even though in its Initial Stages is Noble in Origin,
and, even though It may not produce all that it attempts -
If It even comes close / The whole TACSIM Community will be
able to TY for an even Playing Field again. TY Mr. Smith for
Your time and the Opportunity to Interview You RE: THE AC.
May we Interview You again as Updates with the AC come up,
and the AC progresses?
Mr. Smith: My pleasure, I am really appreciative
that Ghost Recon.net was interested in what we're doing and
glad for your support, I would like to keep you updated and
maybe even arrange for an interview with the Lead Developer.
SOTOMac: That would be excellent
Mr. Smith: I want to thank Ghost Recon.net
for the great presence you have established for the player
SOTOMac: TY, and Gnite Mr Smith
For
more information visit the IGS here.
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