Are macros and scripts cheating?

[Natsoup]

Any third-party modification to a game designed to give one player an advantage over another is classified as a cheat or hack and will trigger a VAC ban. This includes modifications to a game's core executable files and dynamic link libraries.

 

According to this definition, at least, then using a macro or script is not cheating. Also, if one were to say it objectively gives some players a distinct advantage, wouldn't the same go for mice? If everyone should be limited to doing things on a level playing field, we should all be forced to use the same mouse, sensitivity, mousepad, graphics card, etc. Macros and scripts, in my opinion, are not cheating.

[iRileyx]

Depends, if its a script to fast-buy loadouts on CS:GO then no.

If its a script to play/fight whatever for you(basically a bot), then yes.

[Guest]

Well because it's hard to tell if you are cheating or not. Using a bhop script to gain advantage is defo not fair, using scripts to auto shoot rekt9/duallies is also not fair. 

[tom_w141]

3 minutes ago, Natsoup said:

Any third-party modification to a game designed to give one player an advantage over another is classified as a cheat or hack and will trigger a VAC ban. This includes modifications to a game's core executable files and dynamic link libraries.

 

According to this definition, at least, then using a macro or script is not cheating. Also, if one were to say it objectively gives some players a distinct advantage, wouldn't the same go for mice? If everyone should be limited to doing things on a level playing field, we should all be forced to use the same mouse, sensitivity, mousepad, graphics card, etc. Macros and scripts, in my opinion, are not cheating.

 A macro can press as many buttons as I want instantly with 1 press. That's why it is deemed unfair because its inhuman. Completely different to mouse sensitivity you are being pedantic here.

[Natsoup]

1 minute ago, RKRiley said:

If its a script to play/fight whatever for you(basically a bot), then yes.

One that just clicks or one that reads the game and plays for you?

[Guest Kloaked]

It's not about creating a level playing field since that's impossible to do. There are specific rules you have to abide by such as not modifying core files of the game like that rule says. I personally think that some DLLs should be allowed, like SweetFX and such since that almost in no way gives anyone an advantage except for gamma settings in certain games; like in Rust if you were to use a "gamma hack" for night time, you can be banned and rightfully so in my opinion.

[ARikozuM]

It depends on use. Personally, all of my macros are for shortcuts like home base, throw grenade, switch to X group of units, etc. I don't see anything wrong with using functionality that is in the game, but I draw the line at complex movements, i.e. 360 quickscope via macro, vs a simple "go to Town Center and create X villagers".

[Natsoup]

10 minutes ago, Kloaked said:

It's not about creating a level playing field since that's impossible to do. There are specific rules you have to abide by such as not modifying core files of the game like that rule says. I personally think that some DLLs should be allowed, like SweetFX and such since that almost in no way gives anyone an advantage except for gamma settings in certain games; like in Rust if you were to use a "gamma hack" for night time, you can be banned and rightfully so in my opinion.

Might be irrelevant but same goes for minecraft in my memory - only thing is mc has ni anticheat so its filled to the brim with cheaters.

[XenosTech]

Depends on the game... in fps macros can be considered cheating depending on what the macro does as some one pointed out... fast buy in cs:go would not be cheating since you get no real benefit from it that would absolutely win you the round. A script that auto targets enemies or give you the ability to see and shoot through walls is cheating... Modding any game to give yourself an unfair advantage such as being able to do more damage, see in the dark or get better gear/items drops is cheating.

[Master Disaster]

11 minutes ago, Natsoup said:

Any third-party modification to a game designed to give one player an advantage over another is classified as a cheat or hack and will trigger a VAC ban. This includes modifications to a game's core executable files and dynamic link libraries.

 

According to this definition, at least, then using a macro or script is not cheating. Also, if one were to say it objectively gives some players a distinct advantage, wouldn't the same go for mice? If everyone should be limited to doing things on a level playing field, we should all be forced to use the same mouse, sensitivity, mousepad, graphics card, etc. Macros and scripts, in my opinion, are not cheating.

Scripts aren't cheating huh?

 

About 6 years ago while I was very bored one weekend I decided to see how far I could push AHK so using DOD:S as my target I started by opening up the textures for the soldiers then I used Photoshop to check the hex codes of all the different colours contained in the texture (I deliberately targeted the head region of the textures) until I found a colour which was only present in the head of the soldiers (importantly on both teams) and not anywhere else.

 

Next I fired up AHK and wrote a very quick script that when executed moved my mouse cursor to the exact point on my screen that this particular hex coded colour was present and once it reached the colour automatically clicked the left mouse button.

 

Essentially in less than an hour using nothing but scripting I created a very rudimentary aimbot. Of course it was useless on public servers as if there was more than one player visible on screen at a time it got confused and just jumped from player to player, my friend suggested that I edit it to make it fire on each player one at a time but at that point I decided enough was enough and deleted it.

 

It would never have worked anyway due to VAC banning players running AHK as was proven when my friend who was helping me test the script decided to test it out on his account on a public server in an effort to show off (I'd made sure to test it on a private dedicated server with VAC disabled),  not only did it not work for him but about 3 weeks later his Steam account was banned.

 

Scripts are very powerful things in the right hands.

[XenosTech]

22 minutes ago, Master Disaster said:

Scripts are very powerful things in the right hands.

This be true... I remember the first script I wrote was for a game called crossfire (no idea if this is still up) but my script made ann the guns I picked up do the same damage as the AK-47 but with the fire rate of a XM-8 rifle... Was pretty ridiculous seeing a revolver shoot off 6 rounds and reload lol

[LogicalDrm]

In SP games doesn't matter at all. You are only harming your own gaming experience. In MP, I don't think macros are cheating. It depends a bit, but I've used them in CoD4 (quick swap and quick class select). Scripts are another matter. Where macro is imitation of moves and actions you could (in theory) do, script is using software to do something you can't.

[corrado33]

A macro that directly affects other players of the game, whether that effect be they get shot or they can't shoot you: Cheating

A macro that allows you to do "super human" actions of the game (switch between weapons too quickly or do things like jump canceling actions or what not...) : Also cheating. 

 

A macro that makes your life easier between rounds or gives you more hotkeys to switch weapons or grenades (at a normal speed)?: Not cheating

 

I wrote a macro for Mass effect 2 (I think it was 2... maybe 3?) for the stupid "resource finding minigame" The one where you had to scroll around on a planet and shoot probes down to gather resources? Yeah I scripted the crap out of that because it was annoying as hell and I didn't want to do it. The script worked perfectly. It'd monitor the little graphs to the right of the planet for a color change (because when a resource was found the color would change) then automatically click the mouse button. Then it'd move the mouse around in a grid little by little until it searched the whole planet. It never missed a resource and I didn't have to do that stupid minigame. Unfortunately, it'd only work in windowed mode at a certain resolution, so it was a bit immersion breaking, but I didn't care. That minigame was awful. 

[Kilroy5150]

On 1/17/2017 at 7:47 AM, Natsoup said:

Any third-party modification to a game designed to give one player an advantage over another is classified as a cheat or hack and will trigger a VAC ban. This includes modifications to a game's core executable files and dynamic link libraries.

 

According to this definition, at least, then using a macro or script is not cheating. Also, if one were to say it objectively gives some players a distinct advantage, wouldn't the same go for mice? If everyone should be limited to doing things on a level playing field, we should all be forced to use the same mouse, sensitivity, mousepad, graphics card, etc. Macros and scripts, in my opinion, are not cheating.

 

Any device/script/macro that inputs "multiple" inputs at machine speed (which are faster than human reactions) that would give any player even a "slight" advantage IS cheating no matter what "definition" says. 

 

I've been gaming since the 70s and when it was implemented back in Quake, everyone playing could tell these players had faster than "human" reaction capabilities when combining controls into a macro. 

 

But, a lot of time, people don't take into account that they're high-end gaming equipment gives them an edge against run of the mill players (or maybe they do) and they get that "edge" to help them win. 

 

So cheating, by a degree of definition, has been coded into gamers DNA. "I want a faster (fill in the blank)" because it gives them an edge over other players. 

 

Everything depends on "intent". So there's level, obvious and possible unintentional advantages to consider. If your parents get you "business" class internet to play with and you've got tons of bandwidth vs a player who's using "shared" bandwidth, you really can't help that.

 

In order to level the playing field, everyone would have to play with the same hardware, the same grade of internet, ect.

 

Macros and scripts qualify as intentional, hence cheating because any player is going to know there's a slight advantage in it.