Calling Out Cheaters

There has been a recent trend within the Eye of Judgment community– calling out cheaters on message boards. Let’s all agree on one thing, cheating in EoJ is terrible and cheaters should be reported so they can be dealt with… to the proper authorities in charge. To publicly tar and feather blatant cheaters is not a constructive way to rid ourselves of the problem. While some may think it is a way of warning others but the time it takes to “alert the internetz” that time could have been reporting the person to those who can actually ban the person.

Hopefully, there will be a patch that can close the holes currently open to cheating. If it continues, maybe something like what Warhawk is doing is in order. Incognito just implemented the Arbiter system where gamer “moderators” can ban people if they are reported or spotted doing naughty cheating. Perhaps that is what EoJ could use if it keeps growing in popularity. There is no easy answer to deal with cheaters but getting on a soap box and yelling with a megaphone on a forum is not the way to stop it because you give the villains what they want — attention.

The Current State of Cheating

Eye of Judgment has been well received by a number of groups. Gaming media outlets have given mostly favorable reviews of the game with a MetaCritic score of 77. Consumers of the game that have tried it are taking the game to new heights with a community that is organizing tournaments and playing online.

Even with game facing some supply shortages with the bundle pack as well as boosters, it is not even a question that a dedicated fan base has already sprung up in support of EoJ. What’s not to like? Filthy cheaters.

The Eye of Judgment is currently facing a unique cheating problem. It’s not the use of GameSharks or online modding, its the use of a scanner and printer. While the bar codes were thought to be specially printed on the official cards, it didn’t stop people from trying to make duplicates of cards. When it was discovered to work, news reports on gaming websites claimed that EoJ has been compromised. More daring people tried their hand at copying and so far, PSPs, iPhones and felt tip markers can make an image believable to “trick” the Eye into reading the card in the game.

Forum posters have been sounding off on the issue and seem not happy at the situation. The arguments range from “nobody will buy cards” to “EoJ is ruined.” However, how bad is the cheating? It is impossible to tell at this point. Even so, the effects on the enjoyment of the game is minimal.

That’s right, minimal. People will always cheat, it has been that way since the dawn of time but the gameplay mechanics in place almost make the card printing moot. Look at it this way, most of the amazing cards are allowed 1 per hand and they have steep mana costs. Add that to the fact that the low cost, starting round cards can be effective if used correctly. Really, the only parts cheating hurts are the card makers (who deserve the profits for their hard work on a cool game) and the legitimacy of users with amazing deck building skills and luck. It will not hurt the gameplay even if you print cards because you still have to play by the rules.

It’s not to say we should tolerate the cheating, to the contrary, it should absolutely be discouraged. If someone is found cheating, there should be some sort of reporting system to give them a chance to atone for their sins. Unfortunately, there is no solid way of proving cheaters are cheating and if there was a way, there still isn’t a report system to check up on it.

SonicKaos and I were talking and we think that it’s hilarious to read news stories by gaming outlets that have yet to really dive into the game. They would see that all their doom-saying is unjustified if they took time to learn the rules. The fad of trying to “trick” the Eye will die down and leave room for the serious players to take charge. Don’t worry too much, a game like EoJ really attracts the hardcore folks that have a natural addiction to collecting cards. For the time being, don’t tolerate cheating and do your best to win with honor. This will blow over soon.

-Groovester

The PlayStation Eye Reads PSPs

The big topic surrounding EoJ right now is people copying cards off printers and potentially using them in online duels, where they can get away with it and nobody is the wiser. One YouTube user posted a video that takes the shady online play to new heights… or lows depending on how you view it.

Instead of using expensive printer ink, or Crayola felt tip markers, one EoJ player wanted to see if he could get a reading off the PSP’s LCD screen. In the video, you see him with card pictures in his photo album, flipping through his cards. As soon as he places it under the Eye, voila! a Biolith appears from the Sony handheld. It’s a difficult task as you must have specific lighting for the PSP to be read by the Eye, but it can be done.

Of all the methods of cheating, this really doesn’t seem that flagrant. It’d be ultra expensive to have a PSP producing virtual images of cards, and getting the right lighting would be a nightmare while trying to get the official cards to read as well.

Check out the video for yourself and laugh/cry at the PSP EoJ card: