Question of the Day, Feb. 20, 2010

[Outlaw Torn]

I'd say that it depends entirely on the context of the bug and how it is used. Say there was a bug in a shooter that gave you infinite ammo, if you used said cheat in ranked games and just spammed a weapon that is normally restricted by the amount of ammo then I would say it isn't fair to use it. But if you play in a private, unranked game then by all means it is ok as you are just playing for fun. But it also depends on whether it is a well known, accessible to everyone type of bug. There is a bug/glitch/secret code in Burnout Revenge that gives you a boost start and can give people a ridiculous lead in a race, it's available in all races but can be difficult to pull off and probably isn't widely known (without scanning the interwebs for it and practising). So I always hate it when people used it online.

But if it is just something that can make private or unranked games a bit more fun or single player games fun (like infinite ammo cheats in GTA games, or invincibility in half life) then I wouldn't say it is cheating.

 

[Teh Ty]

Using a glitch or bug to be able to win with little effort, for example, ground walking and sky walking in TF2, but also using a outer device to inhance you playing, such as a hacked controller, Lag switch, or hacking device.

 

[fyrh56]

Using a third party application is cheating. Abusing a bug more often than not just becomes a part of the games experience.

 

[LTK_70]

There's two ways of exploiting a fault in a game. One is to use a glitch, making you invisible, spams rare items, or gives you a one-hit kill. The other is to exploit a balance issue where the game technically works properly, but a certain spell combination or move combo creates an unusually big advantage in certain situations. There's a different question here, because even though the game is not malfunctioning, you're not really playing it the way you're supposed to. Unless you think there is no way the game is 'supposed to be played'...

Anyway, I voted yes, but only when there are other people involved. The developers made a mistake, and it is in your favor, but why should other players suffer because of this? ('Suffering' to be interpreted broadly.)

 

[Steeveeo]

IDDQD

I'm a dirty, cheating bastard.

 

[Jared]

If you know its a bug, and you are explotiing it...then yeah, definetly cheating

 

[Lazy Kitty]

Yes, it's cheating.

 

[Dobrev]

As Blizzard says: It's clever use of game mechanics.

Though if a bug is breaking the game makeing it unplayable it is the developer's job to realease a patch to fix and balance. And because you can never balance vs clever players you'll always have plenty to do.

One of the great examples of bugs gone right is Starcraft. Gliching units, using workers and buildings to mess the AI, stacking of air units, patrol move attack, stop animation casting, etc etc. These are all problems of the engine and still because they are in the game and accesible to everyone they are not considered cheats. In fact because pulling them off requires a higher skill of play they are considered one of the gems in a pro turnement games.

 

[TheAmazingTGIF]

I voted yes, because the question seemed to lean towards competitive multiplayer in which case that is unfair. In single player, not so much.

 

[PrimoThePro]

most definetly. im tired of getting killed by people who sky-walk.

 

[Jabberwock xeno]

depends on what the glitch does.

 

[Twilight_guy]

Taking advantage of a bug is cheating. It wasn't meant to be in the code but some poor programmer missed it. Saying its fair to use is like saying that Windows was meant to have a BSoD and annoy people. It was a bug and thus unintended. (Shut up you Mr. Anti-Microsoft! its just an example!). The issue here is weather its alright for you to advantage of that bug if you so wish. In single player, sure why not. I see it as cutting out an intended portion off the game and thus depriving yourself of some part of the experience but that's your own problem. In mutiplayer, no. By using the bug you are not only deprive yourself but also depriving other people who may not want that. When your fun hurts other poep0le, then it is wrong.

 

[Sporky111]

I think it is cheating, because you aren't experiencing the game the way the developers intended. I think the "it's in the code" doesn't apply, because they wouldn't have left it there if they had found it.

It ruins the fun of the game and ultimately sells yourself short because your admitting that you're insufficient to play this game and not able to put in the time to get it right.

 

[The Last Nomad]

Yes it is. If it's a single-player part of the game, it's fine. If it's the multiplayer part of the game it is unacceptable. You have an unfair advantage towards others.

This,
but if its a well known bug, then your at a disadvantagge if you don't use it...
My Advice, stay clear of buggy games...

 

[Quiet Stranger]

If it pisses people off dont do it but if its something like paintball mode or big heads, then do it

 

[MrSnugglesworth]

Purposefully taking advantage of a bug is cheating. But not intending for a bug to happen, having it happen anyway, and enjoying the benefits can't be faulted.

I agree with this.


Finding a bug on accident, and having it play out for you without any intention on your own isn't cheating.


Going back and intentionally doing it again is.

 

[Macar]

Yes it is. but is cheating a big deal? No.

This is something that bothers me.... cheating isn't a big deal. Is that why students get upset when I kick them out of my class for blatant cheating on tests? I'm supposed to give you a grade for copying someone else's answers onto your paper? Ok... you still get an F, without option to repeat.
/rant

On topic: It's not exploitation if "using" the bug isn't intentional. Examples: during the boss fight you stumble on that small area where he can't see/hit you, or while button mashing just happen to hit the right sequence to immediately clear the level. It IS cheating if you find a bug that lets you walk through walls and then use it repeatedly...Example: to get a better time on your speed run.

First of all, I only meant games. I wouldnt say this about anything else.

And actualy, when I answered the question, I was only thinking about single player games (since I do next to no multiplayer gaming). It's no big deal to cheat when it's only your experience- but if you're cheating to win against others that's another matter entirely.

Yes, you're a jerk if you cheat in a multiplayer game. But at the same time, the people who allowed the exploitable bug to exist in the first place are more to blame. You cant just say, "Come on guys, play nice."

 

[Simply Simon]

If it's a multiplayer game, it's cheating if it grants an unfair advantage easily. If it's singleplayer then it's a legitimate strategy, or at the very least acceptable for whatever you are attempting to do.
It's the only way I've been able to beat Baldur's gate 1...

 

[tgcPheonix]

If it's a clear bug it is cheating, if you don't know it is a bug at the time then no

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Yes in multipalyer, No in single player.