Poll: Using In-Game XP boosters; is that cheating?

[Alorxico]

REMINDER: We are talking about IN-GAME items. Items the programmers and designers of the game put in the game when it or an expansion was released; these items can be hidden items, quest rewards or Good Sumerian gifts from NPCs. We are NOT talking about cheat-codes, modded items or exploitable glitches in the game that help you earn more experience points.

In the Pokemon series there are two items, Exp. Share and Lucky Egg, that alter how your Pokemon earn experience points (the first splits XP earned by one between it and another while the other doubles what can be earned in a fight).

There are other games that feature items like these, items that boost how much experience your character earns over the course of the game and I was wondering; how do you, as a player, feel about using such items. Are you OK with it or do you consider it "cheating"?

 

[Rule Britannia]

If it's programmed into the game then it's not cheating. If a person were to decide (keeping pokemon as the example) "I won't use exp share or lucky egg this playthrough" that is a deciion they make to make the game more difficult.

In a call of duty perspective cheating to me is ruining another person's fun i.e. (mw2) nuke boosting. I'm perfectly alright with cage match boosting because that's not affecting me and not directly ruining my enjoyment.

Interesting topic by the way

 

[The Shade]

If it was a conscious design choice by the developers, it isn't cheating.

Cheating is exploiting a mistake, introducing your own modification to the game, or gaining an advantage by means not intended by the designers.

Then again, if it's a single-player game, is there really such a thing as cheating? Cheating yourself, maybe...

 

[Twilight_guy]

No. If the programmer put it in then it is part of the game. Its only cheating if you alter the game to boost your XP.

 

[Fanta Grape]

If it was a conscious design choice by the developers, it isn't cheating.

Cheating is exploiting a mistake, introducing your own modification to the game, or gaining an advantage by means not intended by the designers.

Then again, if it's a single-player game, is there really such a thing as cheating? Cheating yourself, maybe...

What about classic cheats like the GTA ones with the phone or bigdaddy from Age of Empire? Totally intentional, but still considered cheating.

I've never really experienced this kind of thing outside of Pokemon, as to my memory, but I'd say it is kind of cheating. Not by any technical definition, but purely because of how it works. Want a Gyaridos but don't want to spend hours looking for one with a fishing rod? Use exp share! It's not really part of the game and you're not playing the pokemon how it was intended, but...

 

[HassEsser]

I cheat to get Lucky Egg's and I don't consider it cheating. It's just saving me time anyway, and its better than pokesaving my way through the game (which I could totally do but I actually like playing the game)

 

[madwarper]

No, it's not cheating.

Either using Pokemon's Lucky Egg, Tales of Symphonia's Demon's Seal, Dungeon & Dragon Online's Voice of the Master, etc. The items were meant to be used.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

If it's a regular part of gameplay then it's not cheating. Of course you're talking about cheating in a single player game so even if it was cheating the only one effected is you.

 

[Jordi]

Who cares? I don't get these "is it cheating if I do X?" threads. In a single player game you should do whatever the hell you want. The only person who's judgement matters in this case is you, and whether you can live with making certain choices.

I'd say that if the developers put things in the game that they intended to be used in a regular playthrough that is most definitely not cheating.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Obviously not cheating if it's an intended mechanic.
But alot of times you find a certain set of XP earning things will put you completely over the top of the level you were suppose to be at certain areas, and it starts to feel like you are cheating.

 

[Rabish Bini]

If it was a conscious design choice by the developers, it isn't cheating.

Cheating is exploiting a mistake, introducing your own modification to the game, or gaining an advantage by means not intended by the designers.

Then again, if it's a single-player game, is there really such a thing as cheating? Cheating yourself, maybe...

What about classic cheats like the GTA ones with the phone or bigdaddy from Age of Empire? Totally intentional, but still considered cheating.

I've never really experienced this kind of thing outside of Pokemon, as to my memory, but I'd say it is kind of cheating. Not by any technical definition, but purely because of how it works. Want a Gyaridos but don't want to spend hours looking for one with a fishing rod? Use exp share! It's not really part of the game and you're not playing the pokemon how it was intended, but...

But if the games not intended to be played that way, it wouldn't be put in as a legit and easily attainable item. It is a part of the game, and the designers intended for it to be used that way.

For me, no, it isn't cheating. Perfectly legit.

 

[Wintermoot]

nope if it,s in the game it,s not cheating (unless you used cheat,s to obtain the item)

 

[2xDouble]

Lucky Egg- or XPShare-like item? not cheating in the slightest, so long as they are earned legitimately. They are perfectly obtainable items, though often with difficulty (and sometimes placed so late in the game that earning them is pointless).

In-game items purchased separately with real money? technically no, but poor game design.

Anything else? yeah, that's pretty much cheating.

 

[xdom125x]

No it isn't cheating. They put those things in there specifically because they wanted you to use them.

If it was a conscious design choice by the developers, it isn't cheating.

Cheating is exploiting a mistake, introducing your own modification to the game, or gaining an advantage by means not intended by the designers.

Then again, if it's a single-player game, is there really such a thing as cheating? Cheating yourself, maybe...

What about classic cheats like the GTA ones with the phone or bigdaddy from Age of Empire? Totally intentional, but still considered cheating.

I know I'm not the guy you quoted but I think I have a decent response. If you use those to advance story mode, it is cheating. If you do it to just screw around outside of story mode, it is fine.

I've never really experienced this kind of thing outside of Pokemon, as to my memory, but I'd say it is kind of cheating. Not by any technical definition, but purely because of how it works. Want a Gyaridos but don't want to spend hours looking for one with a fishing rod? Use exp share! It's not really part of the game and you're not playing the pokemon how it was intended, but...

I always figured that 'mons like Magikarp were the reason for exp. share even existing. You can catch Magikarp relatively easily but they have no moves that do anything when they are first caught, so having him at the top of your party just to immediately switch him out would be the obvious only way to level him up (barring Rare Candy). But the people behind the game realized "hey that's really annoying and will only be tedious for the player, so let's throw something in there to help the player out a bit".