Punkbuster
Radix
Join Date: 2005-01-10 Member: 34654Members, Constellation
Join Date: 2005-01-10 Member: 34654Members, Constellation
<div class="IPBDescription">An extension of Anti-Cheat at TerraGamerX's request</div>Feel free to discuss pros and cons of Punkbuster. My thoughts can be found below. As always, please keep it concise, clean and factual.
<!--quoteo(post=1684363:date=Jul 24 2008, 12:13 PM:name=Max)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Max @ Jul 24 2008, 12:13 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1684363"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I'm interested in hearing more about why people dislike Punk Buster. I don't know too much about it, although I can't say I've had any problems with the games I've played that integrate it (namely Wolfenstein Enemy Territory and the Battlefield games).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm no expert on Punkbuster, but here are a few:
First, Punkbuster is incredibly invasive - perhaps moreso than the Warden. Such features are:
- Scans hardware and assigns bans based on it.
- Scans all processes launched after game execution <b>and sends them to the server</b>.
- Scans graphics libraries and other game-critical files (not so bad by itself)
- Scans <b>entire contents of memory</b>
Punkbuster also contributes to system instability for many users in mild to moderate form:
- Updates in the background causing latency and processor usage
- Creates an additional layer between the client and server, potentially causing fps and ping spikes. Can randomly drop clients due to minor connection problems that would otherwise not drop the player.
- Due to a failure in the detection system, running any other program (such as antivirus) while playing has the potential to create a hardware ban against all servers in all games that run Punkbuster. The proposed solution is to disable all background processes.
- Punkbuster has a history of problems with 64 bit systems, such as completely locking players out of servers if they run on a 64 bit platform.
- Punkbuster has a history of problems allowing user-level accounts from connecting to servers, and requires an additional process to run plus the pb client, and in some cases may still block users from connecting, depending on what game they're playing.
The EULA even states that Even Balance has final say in banning a client, not the server operator. If you get onto one of their global lists, it can be impossible to get removed, and can <strike>require a full re-purchase of the game</strike> prevent the user from connecting from their home PC <b>ever again</b> without altering their hardware to change the detection algorithm. In extreme cases, this can result in an innocent player being permanently banned from an entire game forever.
I'm one of the most legit players I know, and an implementation of a system this invasive would make me want to crack it, which could result in my being permanently banned from NS2.
The system is far too obtrusive for a simple internet game. Its implementation, despite how much I like NS2, and despite the fact that I would likely still play it, would actually cause me to hesitate to purchase the game.
Again, I'm no expert.
<!--quoteo(post=1684363:date=Jul 24 2008, 12:13 PM:name=Max)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Max @ Jul 24 2008, 12:13 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1684363"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I'm interested in hearing more about why people dislike Punk Buster. I don't know too much about it, although I can't say I've had any problems with the games I've played that integrate it (namely Wolfenstein Enemy Territory and the Battlefield games).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm no expert on Punkbuster, but here are a few:
First, Punkbuster is incredibly invasive - perhaps moreso than the Warden. Such features are:
- Scans hardware and assigns bans based on it.
- Scans all processes launched after game execution <b>and sends them to the server</b>.
- Scans graphics libraries and other game-critical files (not so bad by itself)
- Scans <b>entire contents of memory</b>
Punkbuster also contributes to system instability for many users in mild to moderate form:
- Updates in the background causing latency and processor usage
- Creates an additional layer between the client and server, potentially causing fps and ping spikes. Can randomly drop clients due to minor connection problems that would otherwise not drop the player.
- Due to a failure in the detection system, running any other program (such as antivirus) while playing has the potential to create a hardware ban against all servers in all games that run Punkbuster. The proposed solution is to disable all background processes.
- Punkbuster has a history of problems with 64 bit systems, such as completely locking players out of servers if they run on a 64 bit platform.
- Punkbuster has a history of problems allowing user-level accounts from connecting to servers, and requires an additional process to run plus the pb client, and in some cases may still block users from connecting, depending on what game they're playing.
The EULA even states that Even Balance has final say in banning a client, not the server operator. If you get onto one of their global lists, it can be impossible to get removed, and can <strike>require a full re-purchase of the game</strike> prevent the user from connecting from their home PC <b>ever again</b> without altering their hardware to change the detection algorithm. In extreme cases, this can result in an innocent player being permanently banned from an entire game forever.
I'm one of the most legit players I know, and an implementation of a system this invasive would make me want to crack it, which could result in my being permanently banned from NS2.
The system is far too obtrusive for a simple internet game. Its implementation, despite how much I like NS2, and despite the fact that I would likely still play it, would actually cause me to hesitate to purchase the game.
Again, I'm no expert.
Comments
I'd be glad if anti-cheat protection in NS2 could be done without Punkbuster.
I'd be glad if anti-cheat protection in NS2 could be done without Punkbuster.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
seconded. I dont see why not use Steamworks, and then you could take advantage of VAC, amongst a variety of other things such as matchmaking, accounts, auto updating, antipiracy, easy distribution, and a huge variety of statistics.
I'd be glad if anti-cheat protection in NS2 could be done without Punkbuster.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo(post=1684473:date=Jul 26 2008, 12:46 AM:name=6john)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(6john @ Jul 26 2008, 12:46 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1684473"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->seconded. I dont see why not use Steamworks, and then you could take advantage of VAC, amongst a variety of other things such as matchmaking, accounts, auto updating, antipiracy, easy distribution, and a huge variety of statistics.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
thirded. Punkbuster did work but not anymore as you can edit punkbuster dll file's making it useless allso there is lot's of programmes that you can download that can edit PnkBstrA and PnkBstrB making them a empty shell