[TERA PC & Console] En Masse is closing, but TERA lives on! We will continue to support TERA PC (NA) and TERA Console until service is transferred. Stay tuned for more information.
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Comments
The problem isn't so much an anti-cheat measure as its forcing the players to get their systems owned. Rootkits are not a valid approach to combat cheaters. Luckily, it looks like this kind of thing isn't nearly as common in the west as in Korea. May be why it is going over so poorly on TERA NA. Well, that and all the problems it wound up causing on top of the whole rootkit issue. Also, just because something may technically be allowed does not necessarily mean it is ethical behavior.
On the other hand, xigncode removes you from play from the simplest of issues when you are playing legitimately, to the point that it is actually better to hack a bypass than to worry about gameplay when playing properly.
You know a software is garbage, when it gives more issues than benefits. Cheaters in general are absolutely unaffected, and the normal players suffer.
I personally think that xigncode should just be removed at this point. Of course there is no intention of EME to fish data by using this, but even then, you are using the wrong solution to a problem that didn't exist.
id kinda be surprised if this is the case and if it is its only a matter of time before they introduce it as gameforge use's it on others of their games
like S.K.I.L.L. - Special Force 2
https://board.skill.gameforge.com/index.php/Thread/15532-XIGNCODE-doesn-t-work/
https://en.skill.gameforge.com/
I think I saw a topic in the TERA EU forums with some foolish players asking to get their systems owned by xigncode. Players that knew better were also taking part in that topic. I'm pretty sure that TERA EU is xigncode-free for now. I also haven't seen any credible evidence that there are any plans to add xigncode to TERA EU.
Interesting that GameForge does have one game with xigncode, though. Did not know that till you mentioned it. Having one game with xigncode doesn't necessarily mean that GameForge is going to go crazy and add it to all their games.
Personally, I find requiring installing a rootkit just to play a game to be highly unethical. For something like xigncode to be accepted by the player base, I suspect it would require having it from close to the beginning. That way the player base would be self selected to those who just don't care. I'd still consider it to be unethical, though. I don't believe TERA NA or TERA EU are what one would call new. I suspect that is why there has been so much fallout from EME deciding to push out xigncode even though the player base solidified long ago. I suspect GameForge may be smart enough to realise this.
It's actually already a known that it is driving some players away. The question is, how many will it drive away. Based upon reports I've seen, it sounds like TERA NA really isn't in that great of a state after xigncode. As such, it sounds like you are underestimating the effect. Just because someone can bypass xigncode in a manner that may very well ultimately get them banned does not mean that it is the approach they will choose. Especially when there are still xigncode-free tera servers like the TERA EU servers. Furthermore, it looks like the TERA EU servers will stay xigncode-free. If you are not a "cheater", there isn't really much incentive to bypass xigncode, stay, and maybe get banned when you could instead just go to TERA EU. After all, its not like EME has code out and endorsed bypassing xigncode.
I meant its not like EME has come out and endorsed bypassing xigncode.
You are correct in saying that Tera NA is not in a good shape, population wise. Though in terms of a mass exodus, a few hundred players (and i`m being very generous about that estimated number) are simply not enough. I mean, yeah, some threads have even began looking like a "who has a cooler desktop competition", its quite fantastic how many well placed arguments people have shown without getting any official response from EME. But be that as it may, i`m afraid that you would need at least a couple of thousands of deserters to start making a real dent in their profits, enough to put the game at a real position of risk and force BHS`s hand into removing this malware. This is not about underestimating what can be done in theory, this is about pure statistics combating an issue practically. I have seen many controversies come and go in this place, but only a handful of changes have actually been done by BHS. And most of those changes didn't happen because the community as a whole "made" them happen, or even wanted these changes in the first place. Which is why i`m saying that sheep mentality is op, and BHS/EME knows it. Think about it, if I was wrong about this, then BHS/EME would be WAY more transparent. Not because they would want too, but because they would have no choice. You don`t have to take my word for any of this, just look around and read the replies posted even by the EME staff members themselves. Read those and you tell me if these people sound concerned about the well being of the game itself, or even concerned about the community itself. Some replies are even so blatantly offensive and smug, they make as much sense as a [filtered] kid swallowing a fork. I can`t even believe someone actually hired some of these people.
Yeah I heard about how things are in Tera EU. However that option is simply not appealing enough. Or, not for me at least. Apart from having to start from scratch, which would be quite the hassle, I don`t think that Tera EU is some magical place without any problems of its own. If push came to shove, id rather just quit Tera altogether. As for them banning everyone that bypass this malware, id like to see them make the mistake of terminating every single account that chooses to use a bypass. That`s like saying that they will get rid of every single person that uses side clients or meters. see now THAT scenario would be a REAL self inflicted exodus.
What replies to the xigncode fallout are you refering to that were made by EME employees? I mean replies from after all chaos started breaking lose after xigncode was pushed out. I haven't seen one. Its almost like EME has become missing in action since the fallout started. I only recall one post by an EME employee in this time frame and it was about loading screens, was short, and appeared rushed. It makes me wonder if something is going on behind the scenes on this. I really don't know what is up with EME, though.
I was talking in general about their overall attitude in all manner of things, not just this incident. But sure i`ll be specific. See i`m not going to link you every single reply they ever made in the entire forum because just to further prove a point, because that would take me hours and I don`t care enough about this to do something like that. That would be insane. But here is a good example to what i`m talking about. That comment was posted after they closed the original thread about XIGNCODE.
Read that and tell me if you feel like you`re in capable hands in here lol
That is not a good example of what you are talking about. I don't believe there is one comment from an EME employee in that thread so far.
The other was from before the fallout had really picked up. That is what I'm referring to. Since the fallout had really kicked into full gear, EME seems to have effectively vanished (save for that one short, rushed looking post that had nothing to do with the fallout) as far as these forums are concerned. I find it had to believe that they are afraid to show their face on the forums. Just what is EME doing?
My theory is that EME was pressured into adding xigncode.