Punk Busted...Forever
Wednesday June 30th, 2004
This is news that everyone should take a deep breath after reading and seriouly think about all it's "BIG BROTHER" consequences.
I completely agree that there needs to be a means to eliminate HACKs while online gaming...I think we all can agree to that. However, I think I would draw the line a little more narrow then what EvenBalance has done. Any Cheat Detection software should detect cheaters...and kick them from a game. Should it go so far as to ban them permanently from ever playing again... NO
Why?
1) I have no problems with players that have onced used a cheat...but are clean.
2) What if you sell your computer...can the new owner play any games? NO
3) How will game developers react knowing that they now have thousands of customers that have no reason to buy their product...because of someone elses software?
PB has really gone way to far with HARDWARE GUID Bans. And I personally think that GLOBAL banning across all games that use PunkBusters to detect cheating is a little far as well...maybe a 10 day timeout is in order, but if someone cheats in Call of Duty, but doesn't in America's Army, should they be banned PERMANENTLY from both..as well as FarCry, Battlefield Vietnam, and any other future game that may be released? This is ludicris IMHO.
I can rant about this all day, but it's simply like getting you Driver's Liscense Permanently REVOKED for a speeding ticket.
There is NO support thru Evenbalance except thru email. There needs to be a Forum and/or maybe ticket support. Most webmasters shy away from webhost that don't have good support....ESPECIALLY if their only support is EMAIL! My opinion is the Game Developers need to Dictate to PB...not the other way around.
Expect this topic to heat up over the next days, months, and into 2005....I think you'll see some changes...at least I hope.