Guild Wars 2

Hi there

I’m creating a small application in C# that lets me control my character with my joystick. This applications sends keystrokes to the client to turn around and to use abilities, I was wondering if thi swas going to be an issue, since this is how many bots work, and I don’t want to loose my account on something like this?

So am I allowed to send keystrokes to the client, through another application?

Cheers
-Jazerix

7. OFFICIAL SERVICE

The Game(s) is designed for official play only as offered through the Service by NC Interactive at the Web Site and not through any other means. You further agree not to access, create or provide any other means through which Game(s) may be played by others, as through server emulators. You agree not to use any hardware or software, including but not limited to third party tools, or any other method of support which may in any way influence or advantage your use of the Service which is not authorized by NC Interactive, including but not limited to the use of ‘bots’ and/or any other method by which the Service may be played automatically without human input. You acknowledge that you do not have the right to create, publish, distribute, create derivative works from or use any software programs, utilities, applications, emulators or tools derived from or created for the Game(s), except that you may use the Software to the extent expressly permitted by this Agreement. You may not take any action which imposes an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on our infrastructure. You may not sell or auction any Game(s) accounts, characters, items, coin or copyrighted material, nor may you assist others in doing so. NC Interactive may from time to time in its sole discretion implement various forms of filtering, blocking or monitoring of IP addresses or proxies used to use, play or access the Game(s) or the Service, including without limitation blocking or filtering measures that restrict your ability to use, play or access the Game(s) or Service outside of the territories in which NC Interactive makes the Game(s) or Service available.

Looking at the user agreement, I see no problem except:

You acknowledge that you do not have the right to create, publish, distribute, create derivative works from or use any software programs, utilities, applications, emulators or tools derived from or created for the Game(s), except that you may use the Software to the extent expressly permitted by this Agreement

As long as you are not automating anything. I mean, you are essentially looking at creating a home-brew joystick input driver. Although I would be careful, because there is a fine line between creating an input device and making a button programmable to do X, Y, Z which could be a problem. But you are creating a program for use with the game, which does not look to be allowed. But I would get an official ArenaNet rep statement.

the fact is, anet has no hack detection client side, no macro detection.

if they want to get hard line about it, they could just start blocking the use of hardware that has programmable buttons…..

my mouse(naga2012, or my sidewinder x8), or my keyboard(ms ergo 4k) would be blocked because both have programmable buttons…..

but, if they start up that crap, they will just endup having people quit and not spend money on/in the game…..they dont want that….

some complain that not everybody can afford an mmo mouse…..i have seen them referb as low as 20bucks…..you just gotta keep an eye out…..

some say its not fair because some people cant afford hardware/software to automate/macro……the funny part is, there are dozens if not hundreds of apps that are designed to do just that, and they are free…..(have been around since the first mmo….UO….)

I personally am just to lazy to setup macros, but, I really think its silly that they even bother fighting macro’s theres no way to prove somebody is using macro’s or not without client side monitoring….and even then, there are also devices like the mouse a friend of mine has, that store their game profiles onboard and dont use a software layer for macro’s…..

in short, many people playing this game are using macros and anet has no clue who they are…..your not gonna get in trouble for that unless your bragging about it in game or on the forums.

anet shouldnt have an issue with a joystick/gamepad interface layer for gw2, im kinda shocked they didnt make one really……

I wouldnt play gw2 with a gamepad or joystick…..but im not a console gamer anymore so I prefer my board and mouse :P

Jazhara Knightmage.4389:

the fact is, anet has no hack detection client side, no macro detection.

….

in short, many people playing this game are using macros and anet has no clue who they are…..your not gonna get in trouble for that unless your bragging about it in game or on the forums.

Just because you can do something and get away with it does not make it acceptable with respect the the ToS you agree with to play the game! And while the rumors are that they do not have any detection client side yet, that doesn’t mean they aren’t going to add something in the future to detect at least obvious methods which can be used to automate the game (not going to mention those here!)

It’s that exact mentality that botters use – and because, as you mentioned, it is very easy to do things such as macroing and scripting and get away it with, it would seem to me they would outlaw without question, ANY software which interfaces with their game. Because honestly, why would they devote resources to investigating what does and does not constitute a violation of their ToS? It would be easier to just be able to firmly lay the ban hammer without question.

Also, there are some interesting papers published on Bot detection that don’t really require client side detection methods, see:

Philippe Golle , Nicolas Ducheneaut, Preventing bots from playing online games, Computers in Entertainment (CIE), v.3 n.3, July 2005 [doi>10.1145/1077246.1077255]

Ruck Thawonmas, Yokittenaka Kashifuji, and Kuan-Ta Chen. 2008. Detection of MMORPG bots based on behavior analysis. In Proceedings of the 2008 International Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment Technology (ACE ’08). ACM, New York, NY, USA, 91-94. DOI=10.1145/1501750.1501770 http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1501750.1501770

you think anet will manage to do better then blizzard or any other mmo at detecting bots or macro apps?

honestly, I have been admin/staff on private mmo servers, and its not that easy to detect a good bot, a basic one is very easy to spot, they just do the same circuit over and over(like most of the ones I still see in GW2 to this day)

but there are smarter bots, some even respond to auto bot inquiry systems in some games…..

bot detection and blocking is really hard, its why blizzard has spent so many years in a constant battle with botters/farmers/exct……hell even working hacks still excist for WoW they arent public but I have seen proof of them working on blizzard servers, and thats with warden running.

I personally have zero issue with people using “macros” because anybody can do it(its really not hard, my mother could do it and she still confuses windows and office versions up….)

I also wouldnt have a problem personally with a bot/automation system that required user interaction and an active user, I dont like AFK bots and the like tho, but thats after many many years in mmo’s as both player and staff.

In UO we allowed macroing even afk macroing for skills(Crafting and weapon skills) but only in area’s with very few people, like in their own home or guild house, this allowed people who where not able to play as many hours a day as some to still keep up with their friends and didnt really effect the gameplay or economy much if at all.

yes I get that such things are agains the TOS but, honestly so is having my naga2012 or any mother modern gamers mouse that allows you to program macros…….(same with keyboards with programmable buttons)

no other MMO i know of has anything in their TOS that keeps you from using mmo mice/keyboards…….if they do its not enforced at all……afk bots are always illegal tho(but some have wording that allows use of bots that require you to be at the computer….weather intentionally or due to poor wording in the tos)