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QUOTE (rascal @ Mar 18 2009, 11:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It’s time for me to chime in. First off, I think that you all have great ideas. I would love to say that they are all do-able, and I guess they are (never say never). The problem is the dedication needed to make it all happen. I know for me, it's getting harder and harder to find the time to setup the tables. My job and life keeps getting in the way. To develop the system into an art form, it would take dedication, not just a lone table converter and a couple of guy’s server side communicating through email or PMs.
There needs to be a team of table converters to build up a stock of tables to play. There needs to be more quality non-VPM tables that everybody enjoys playing. There needs to be dedicated server side developers proficient in PHP and SQL to implement the new features and tournament styles you all are talking about. This takes people with time to dedicate to the project.
Let me explain what goes into converting a table so far. It’s all done in Visual Pinball using VBScript. The most important fact that gives this project any hope of working is the Locking of the table script and table layout. I copy and paste functions that do the MD5 hash (used to confirm that the data sent has not been altered, sending routine, VP version check, and player input routines (name and password for submitting). I then add a score hook timer and text boxes to display the name of the tournament player and the score that will be sent. Then I have to add the keycode script that allows the player to press F12. It relies on knowing when the game is over and the score is larger then zero. So I have to search through the author’s script to find their “end of game” method and score keeping method. This can vary considerably as every author is different. Reel style scores are even harder to hook into sometimes as the table doesn’t have a set variable holding the score. The reels are just advanced as the points are added. Then I have to look for rollover limitations (does the table roll back to zero when the display rolls over). If so, I have to fix that so that the sent score continues to accumulate past rollover. Then I have to search through the script for any highscore saving and disable it. If the table displays a highscore that it reads from an external file, that score can be altered and submitted, so it has to be disabled. So time varies and many times something is overlooked… we haven’t had too many tournaments work flawlessly on first release yet. This is due to not having time to beta test the tables properly with a working server side.
We’ve dealt with as many methods of cheating as we could so far. The data is submitted in some form of encryption, and then MD5 hash checked. The questions… is there a way to cheat and is this system secure enough for cash prizes? The answer is yes there is a way to cheat which I dare not explain openly, and no it is not secure enough for cash or material prizes. As long as the tournaments rely on running anything not on the server side, there is opportunity to cheat. Plain and simple.
CF1 or Noah, if you want to know the method I have found to cheat, PM me and I will explain. Noah, include your email address.
Well that is what I have to say so far, because “busy life” is knocking on my door now and I have to answer.
There needs to be a team of table converters to build up a stock of tables to play. There needs to be more quality non-VPM tables that everybody enjoys playing. There needs to be dedicated server side developers proficient in PHP and SQL to implement the new features and tournament styles you all are talking about. This takes people with time to dedicate to the project.
Let me explain what goes into converting a table so far. It’s all done in Visual Pinball using VBScript. The most important fact that gives this project any hope of working is the Locking of the table script and table layout. I copy and paste functions that do the MD5 hash (used to confirm that the data sent has not been altered, sending routine, VP version check, and player input routines (name and password for submitting). I then add a score hook timer and text boxes to display the name of the tournament player and the score that will be sent. Then I have to add the keycode script that allows the player to press F12. It relies on knowing when the game is over and the score is larger then zero. So I have to search through the author’s script to find their “end of game” method and score keeping method. This can vary considerably as every author is different. Reel style scores are even harder to hook into sometimes as the table doesn’t have a set variable holding the score. The reels are just advanced as the points are added. Then I have to look for rollover limitations (does the table roll back to zero when the display rolls over). If so, I have to fix that so that the sent score continues to accumulate past rollover. Then I have to search through the script for any highscore saving and disable it. If the table displays a highscore that it reads from an external file, that score can be altered and submitted, so it has to be disabled. So time varies and many times something is overlooked… we haven’t had too many tournaments work flawlessly on first release yet. This is due to not having time to beta test the tables properly with a working server side.
We’ve dealt with as many methods of cheating as we could so far. The data is submitted in some form of encryption, and then MD5 hash checked. The questions… is there a way to cheat and is this system secure enough for cash prizes? The answer is yes there is a way to cheat which I dare not explain openly, and no it is not secure enough for cash or material prizes. As long as the tournaments rely on running anything not on the server side, there is opportunity to cheat. Plain and simple.
CF1 or Noah, if you want to know the method I have found to cheat, PM me and I will explain. Noah, include your email address.
Well that is what I have to say so far, because “busy life” is knocking on my door now and I have to answer.
So far the ideas are great keep 'em coming
Thanks rascal for explaining everything however I am trying to find at least 2 or 3 people who can code tables so you don't have to be the only one.
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