Cheaters the why and what

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So after seeing @DieGrootHammer news you might have missed thread , I got thinking about cheating in games.

I don’t know how I feel about people going to jail for creating video game cheats, to make it clear I’m not condoning this behavior , what do you guys think should happen to people who create and people who use cheats ?

Historically cheats in single players games have not been a bad thing per-say, but now with the advent of online games its a different dynamic since its not just about you.

Also why do you think people would want to cheat except to troll , I suppose it makes them feel good to win but it makes no sense to me since its an empty victory, the moral aspect of this also leads me to believe that people who use them might be tending toward being sociopaths, would be interesting to see a study done on this.

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So cheating has been historically built into some games. Every gamer knows the Atari code. I remember using that cheatbook database program for a lot of games I played. The Sims I’ve literally never played without cheats. But cheating can come in many different shapes and sizes.

When cheating is done in singleplayer only games it should be acceptable. I mean it’s only your own enjoyment of the game that you are influencing. And sometimes people just are not good enough to complete certain games without cheats. Especially kids. I certainly remember playing many games with cheats on just because I didn’t want to struggle, or didn’t have the skill to actually complete the game.

Now in online multiplayer games, cheating should be completely banned. it obviously gives people an unfair advantage that shouldn’t be allowed. But also, these days multiplayer games are much more serious than previously. With the rise of esports and leagues, it’s absolutely understandable that people creating these cheats to let other players potentially monetarily benefit above others due to lootboxes, win streaks, videos or competitions. So while I wouldn’t blanket lock up all cheaters, the cheat makers are definitely the problem. And it’s better to make an example of them that to tolerate the behaviour.

Now there are some definitely interesting phycological observations to make about the mind of a cheater. But I would go so far as to say that these people are leading to the sociopathic. I think its more a lack of validation and insecurity many gamers have. There is a stigma for a reason, and many gamers are not what you would call “socially astute”. Many look for validation and meaning in arbitrary numbers like winning streaks, KD ratios and the like. Many find comfort and validation of their time spent playing games in their ability to win, not in actually enjoying the game.

Then there is the fact that most of the time, exposing the average person to a competitive environment, their natural instinct to complete will come out stronger than normal. It is perfectly normal to be competitive by nature, I mean it is, in fact, a fundamental factor that makes us the species we are. Some people may lack the moral compass to gain ascendancy over others through hard work, and would much rather cheat their way to the top.

Which bring me to another point, the fact that the world is fast-paced, and we are ever-striving for the quicker options. “Get rich quick” schemes, shortcuts to success and stuff like that. Cheating may seem like the best and easiest way to obtaining goals without putting in the hard yards.

Okay, so that is a wall of text, I hope that makes somewhat sense…

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You make some very interesting points, I did not think about loot boxes and potential monetary gain, as for esports think if a professional gamer uses cheats they should be perma banned from esports.

Those are some of the actual tendencies of a sociopath, while they might not be I still think it would be fascinating to do a study on weather people who cheat in Online games have stronger antisocial personality disorders than others.

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I remember cheating in many single player games when I was growing up. I never had a console, only a PC, so I reverted to trainers and cheats to eek out enjoyment of the games when I was bored. I remember using the money cheat in The Sims to build mansions and purchase the best furniture and appliances for my Sim. I also used a Red Alert trainer / editor to make rocket infantry shoot like mammoth tanks and normal infantry to have one-shot kills like Tanya (the female commando).

In later years I started gravitating away from any form of cheating in games, as I feel it actually takes away from the enjoyment. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I manage to make it through a difficult level, build up a huge, sprawling city or beat a lap time that felt impossible to even match.

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Cheating in sp is totally fine, none is effected but you and none cares if you do cheat.

Cheating online should be completely banned, not so sure of the whole arresting thing, maybe when it is doen in a competition or something, but otherwise i would just smack them with the ban hammer.

Also people tend to be assholes, they can end up cheating just to make other peoples day worse, or just for the plain fact that, because they can cheat, they do.