Cheat Engine

atom0s · Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 4:21 pm Post subject:

There are specific things that have to be kept in mind when altering a game. In most cases, what you do will not be something the game developers feel is harmful to their game or IP (intellectual property). But there are cases where it can become a legal issue that they pursue.

Editing memory for simple things like health, ammo, armor, god mode, etc. are not something game companies care about. And in turn, things like this actually help their games profit when people can do what they want while playing. Sales of a game will tend to be a lot better if modding support is there from the start, or the company is open to community edits.

If you are doing things that harm their profits, that is where they will start to care. Cracks / No-CD patches, bypassing DRM mechanisms, obtaining and/or distributing DLC content by not following proper means, etc. are all things that game companies will pursue in court. When you effect their profit, that is when they care.

In terms of hacks getting people sued, there have been two major cases with Blizzard in the past regarding reverse engineering and hacks.

1. Was the case when people reversed the original Battle.net protocol on Warcraft and such to make their own servers. Blizzard's profit was affected by this because people could effectively play online without paying. Blizzard got the project shut down in the mainstream.

2. Was the case with WoWGlider, a bot that would play the game for you. in 2006 Blizzard sued MYD Industries, the company that created WoWGlider. Because of how Glider worked, Blizzard was able to win the lawsuit on the premise that WoWGlider was modifying their copywritten work. Since WoWGlider launched a copy of WoW.exe into memory, modified it, and allowed it to run (similar to an injector) it was ruled that what Glider was doing was in fact making illegal alterations to the WoW client (even though it was all in memory). It effectively caused a stir on the internet about how you basically don't own your hardware when there are applications running within it.

There have been countless other court battles against game hackers in the past varying from different types of degrees. Some simple minor copyright protection claims, and some more serious like Blizzards.

Blizzard and EA are both 'sue-happy' type companies that will basically make editing of their games a living hell for anyone. You are best to avoid their brand if you are worried about getting in trouble.

In terms of legal advice, I have had a lawyer write out terms of use and user agreements for various sites of mine that I distribute game hacks on. There are things to avoid and things that can protect you in terms of profiting on your work (if that is something that interests you). One major thing being, do not directly sell your work. Instead, sell access to the site the work is on. It is not illegal to have a website that requires a subscription to access "premium" content. As long as that "premium" content is not what is directly being purchased.

Avoid altering files on disk. Everything you do should be done in memory.
- This can result in copyright infringement issues.
Avoid things that unlock content that otherwise costs money.
- This can result in copyright infringement issues.
- This can result in fraud issues.
Avoid things that bypass DRM mechanisms.
- This can result in copyright infringement issues.
- This can result in fraud issues.
Avoid things that deter people from buying the game or obtaining it legally.
- This can result in copyright infringement issues.
- This can result in fraud issues.

Basically, the safe bet is, look at your trainer from a game company point of view.
- Does your trainer hurt the game's profit margin?
- Does your trainer hurt the game's public image?
- Does your trainer effect the enjoyment and playability of the game for others? (In terms of multiplayer games, does your hacking effect others.)

If yes to any of those questions, than you should probably not release it.

++METHOS · Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 5:12 pm Post subject:

Arondai · Newbie cheater Reputation: 0 Joined: 20 Feb 2016 Posts: 12

Thank you atom0s,that was the kind of response I was waiting for.
It keeps on being quite an interesting topic.

atom0s · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2016 8:21 pm Post subject:

Zanzer · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2016 8:30 pm Post subject:

Cheats are a drug. Once you get started, there's no turning back.
They have ruined my life! I can no longer enjoy the game world without them.
After I use up all the injection sites I move on to the next game.

It's an endless cycle!

++METHOS · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2016 8:32 pm Post subject:

Cake-san · Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 9:10 am Post subject:

++METHOS · Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 1:04 pm Post subject:

Arondai · Newbie cheater Reputation: 0 Joined: 20 Feb 2016 Posts: 12

++METHOS · Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 7:56 pm Post subject:

Arondai · Newbie cheater Reputation: 0 Joined: 20 Feb 2016 Posts: 12

That I recognize, I have been reverse engineering for a long time now, loved to write tutorials for crackmes,writing keygens, help others out in forums etc. and I agree that's all positive. But I also know that I did this, because I needed appreciation I didn't get from people normally around me and I know alot of people I got to know throughout the years are quite the same. I needed challenges I normally didn't get in my daily life and it is/was kind of an escape into a world that understands me and vice-versa.
But, I know that not everybody is the same, sorry for trying to put people in boxes, that's not what I wanted.

The weird hobbies are extremely recognizable btw Wink

Ok, enough for the off-topicness from my side.

Thank you all for your time and effort to share your thoughts/experiences concerning this topic, it has changed and broadened my own view and that's what's important, learning from eachother.