The ethics of cheating (in video games)

Cheating in video games is almost as old as video gaming itself. It's never long before someone decides that he wants to take the easy way out. This would seem unfair to others who choose play by the rules of the game, however.

As a gamer I have to admit that I did my fair share of cheating through a game. Most of the time, nothing major. If I get stuck in a level to the point that I feel a migraine building up, I'll consult a walkthrough.

Some people consider this cheating, while others won't. Some who consider this cheating will consider this fair and allowable, others won't. But what is cheating anyway? And when is it allowable, and when is it unfair?

So this piece may just be my way of rationalizing my own actions, or just to appease my own gamer friends, but a part of me really wants to know. As a gamer, am I breaking some unspoken, unwritten law when I cheat? Mind you, this is an opinion piece and should not be taken in any other way than as opinion.

To go to the farthest end of the spectrum on this question, I shall define cheating as "any action done or information gathered in or outside of the game that allows the player to progress through a game outside of his or her own capabilities in relation to the dynamics set by the game."

This includes walkthroughs and asking people what to do to get to the next level. It also includes hacking, trainers, taking advantage of bugs and even using the game's own built in cheat codes (remember "black sheep wall"?).

All of this could be typified as unfair, essentially because it gives an advantage over others who are playing the game under their own steam and skill. It cheapens the overall challenge the game presents and awards less (and in some situations totally cancels out) bragging rights. Gamer's honor, if you will.

With that in mind then, what are the situations where gamer's honor doesn't matter? For example, I've already finished the game. Many, many times before. Would it really hurt if I used god mode just for the fun of it?

Another situation would be if I got myself stuck in a level and have exhausted all my mental resources and I'm about to go insane (it's happened). It's either read a walkthrough or drop the game I paid good money for.

However, there comes a point where cheating is abused and becomes a tool to gain the upper hand over someone else. In the end a line has to be drawn where "cheating" can still be called "assisted gaming." One writer from the Washington Post describes it this way: it's one thing to cheat to explore all the the games has to offer, it's another thing to use it for dominance. I heartily concur.

Video games: He rocks, she rocks

"Rock Band" takes the "Guitar Hero" experience to a whole new level.

Randy: When I got an early copy of the highly anticipated "Rock Band," I called Leslie. She's a "Guitar Hero" fiend, and "Rock Band" is like "GH" cranked up to 11.
Unpacking and setting up all the gear took nearly an hour because of all the cardboard, wires and tape holding together all the stuff inside the heavy box. The biggest chore is assembling the drum set. There's also a guitar and microphone.

Since "Rock Band" was created by Harmonix, the same company behind "Guitar Hero," the new controller looks similar to the one in that older game. But there are some differences.

Leslie: The "Rock Band" guitar is much smoother in terms of strumming, and the fret buttons have a bit more control. You can also tap on a second set of fret buttons located higher up on the neck -- which comes in handy during faster metal solos. My only complaint is that the fret buttons are level with the neck, making it a bit more complicated to feel out for finger placement. Also, in "Guitar Hero," the middle fret has a ridge to give you an origination point, but "Rock Band" does not have this feature. This is not a problem if you are playing on the easy level, but it gets more complicated later.

But enough about the guitars, let's talk about the drums! What a fun new toy!

Randy: You're not kidding. This drum set is arguably the biggest controller in video games. It has four pads that sit on top of a rack and mimic the sounds of a snare, toms, cymbals and high hat. An adjustable foot pedal attaches to the bottom of the rack and connects to the pads to give the realistic feel of a bass drum. There are control buttons embedded in the center of the rack, but you'll mostly use the drum pads.

It's really fun getting into a groove on the drums, with your foot and both hands trying to keep up with the on-screen prompts. I'm no Neil Peart, but it's a lot of work! Whether sitting or standing, you'll get shin splints from stomping on the bass-drum pedal.

The best part is when you're given a prompt to do an improvised fills during a song. Here, you just bang away however you please. All of the instruments get such solo prompts. On vocals, you can just say or sing whatever you want. And the game adds reverb and presence to your vocals to make you sound like a real rock star. Even a non-singer like Leslie sounded totally fine on the Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop."

Leslie: Ahem, "non-singer" is putting it quite kindly. As someone who hates to even hum "Happy Birthday," even I wanted to sing in this game, because the song selection is fantastic! "Creep" by Radiohead and "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by the Clash are among the many classics. "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath is on both "Guitar Hero III" and "Rock Band," but is way more fun to hammer out on "Rock Band."

The only part of the game that I'm still not clear on is how you move through the levels.

Randy: Yeah, we played for a few hours and never unlocked some of the songs we heard in the intro, such as Rush's "Tom Sawyer," or in the solo mode of the game, such as Blue Öyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper" (in which you hit the mic with your hand to play cowbell!). But we still had a blast. It was a total party scene -- friends and family members crowding together in one room, trading instruments and cheering for one another.

So, Leslie, would you pay $170 for Rock Band?

Leslie: Yeah, I would. But I might have to save up for a bigger TV and surround sound. This game is so much more than your average shoot-'em-up that I might need a dedicated space to fully rock out.

Randy: I know what you mean. Even though I have the space and setup for "Rock Band," I have no idea where I'm going to stash that drum set between gigs.

PS3 continues Japanese sales success

But handhelds are still most popular hardware choice

Sony's PlayStation 3 has managed to outsell the Wii in Japan for a second week running, as Sony's console continues to gain solid footing in the crucial territory.

The PlayStation 3 sold 39,178 units for the week ended November 18, although this was down from almost 56,000 the previous week.

Nintendo's Wii sold 36,230 units, a slight improvement over last week's 34,546.

However, comparing lifetime-to-date sales from Media Create data, Nintendo is streets ahead of its Sony rival, with 3.8 million consoles sold compared to 1.3 million.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 still struggles in Japan, with only a further 6525 units sold, bringing the total number of sales since release to 459,943.

Nintendo is still winning the battle of the handhelds, with a further 76,084 DS Lite's sold, but Sony also enjoyed strong sales for the PSP as it shifted another 65,609 units.

Atari UK unaffected by US shake-up

Atari Inc stock drops further but UK reaffirms its own positive business position

The share price of US-based Atari Inc dropped further in the past 24 hours - another 5 per cent to USD 1.69, continuing the fall since the beginning of the week that's seen 15 per cent wiped off the value and a declaration of an uncertain future for the company.

That contrasts with Atari UK, who today stressed that the problems in the US do not affect it in any way.

Atari UK's head of PR Lee Kirton told GamesIndustry.biz that work on key titles, such as Alone in the Dark, was continuing as planned and that the company was pleased with the sales to date of The Witcher.

The action RPG based on the novels by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski has sold 11,000 copies and remains in the PC top ten four weeks since launch.

"We are pleased that the game has sold consistently, and feel that it has made good progress for a new IP and we continue to support and focus on the product brand.

"We have some very exciting titles being released with My Horse and Me and Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation which are released today - plus later there's Jenga and Legendary: The Box on Xbox 360, as well as some new titles to be announced soon."

Alone in the Dark is one of the company's highest-profile titles, set for release on multiple platforms, although a specific date has not yet been disclosed.

Dargor, Shadowlord of the Black Mountain

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Free Wii remote jackets

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Please note we will begin shipping Wii Remote Jackets from mid-October. Once your Wii Remote Jacket has shipped you will receive a confirmation message from Nintendo. After that we will send your Wii Remote Jacket(s) as soon as possible and in any event within six weeks. Please do not contact Nintendo regarding your Wii Remote Jacket until after that time has passed.

Authorised Guitar Hero Cover Too Perfect - so sue me!

The Romantics are suing Activision for including a near-perfect cover of their song with Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the ‘80s. Strangely, the cover was authorised, they received payment, and yet they're suing the publisher because the cover is too good:

The lawsuit admits that Activision did obtain the proper permissions for using the song in the game - but claims that the cover version was too close to the original recording, thereby infringing on the group’s rights to its own likeness.

The song appears in standalone expansion pack Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the ‘80s, originally released in North America for PlayStation 2 in July 2007. The band’s attorneys have indicated that they are seeking an injunction that would force the game to be withdrawn from sale.

First one I see on eBay! A PSP testing tool!

Christmas is approaching and the most incredible items pop up un eBay.

Fancy a PSP development kit?

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Video-game race reaches full gallop Home

With hardware price cuts, new models and dozens of fresh games debuting, it's clear the coming months will prove a bonanza for video-game buffs. Here's how we see this horse race developing:

Win

While Nintendo's entry was once seen as the dark horse, the Wii's unique, friendly appeal to noncore gamers has made it the new-generation game system to beat in sales this holiday season.

Wii arrived a whole year later than Xbox 360 but is already neck-and-neck in sales with the Microsoft system. Nintendo execs say only limitations in factory production will hold the Wii back.

As to any notions of cutting the price from $249 when stores can still barely keep them in stock? You've got to be kidding!

Some analysts predict Wii sales could top 19 million consoles this year.

A huge crop of games is coming out for the system, even from high-end makers that initially didn't dig it. Electronic Arts has introduced the microphone-equipped music-video creator Boogie, plus the fun-for-young 'uns My Sims, and multigame Playground, which applies the motion-activated Wii controller to help you play dodgeball and tetherball, to throw paper (airplane) racers and steer slot car racers.

Another unlikely product source is RockStar Games, getting into the Wii thing with a surprisingly fun, let's-get-physical version of table tennis.

And, of course, Nintendo is stepping up its game with the likes of Super Paper Mario, Carnival Games (more than 25 in all) and a console version of its very popular DS Portable brain-training franchise, Big Brain Academy Wii Degree.

Place

The arrival of super game Halo 3 pushed sales of Microsoft's Xbox 360 system into the lead in September.

Microsoft recently played another card, introducing the long-expected Xbox 360 Arcade console for $279.99, just $30 more than the Nintendo Wii. Microsoft previously sold the Core 360 at that price -- and there are still some floating around, so be careful which you buy.

Both old and new models hit the price point by doing without an internal hard drive, though you can always add an external drive later.

What's different? The Arcade is the first 360 to include a wireless controller, an HDMI connection, 256 MP of memory and five family-friendly games: Pac-Man Championship Edition, Uno, Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy and Luxor 2.

And although Microsoft doesn't like to talk about internal changes, we're guessing that Arcade runs on the smaller microprocessor also found in the new Elite 360. This chip runs cooler and at lower power to eliminate the overheating/unit breakdown problem that has plagued older 360s and cost Microsoft billions in repairs.

The Xbox 360 also will reach out to the family (i.e., Wii-ready) crowd with a significant crop of nongame video content available online, including Looney Tune cartoons and Nickelodeon shows such as Blue's Clues and The Backyardigans.

Show

Getting aggressive with a new 40GB PlayStation 3 priced at $399 and a price reduction of the 80GB model to $499, Sony is sure to persuade a goodly number of fence-sitters to jump, finally, for its third-generation game system.

Besides the smaller hard drive, the new PS3 model reduces the number of HDMI interfaces to just one and eliminates backward compatibility with PlayStation 2 titles (available in the 80GB version). But the bargain model still plays Blu-ray high-def movie discs -- a big advantage over Xbox 360 (which needs a $179 external drive to play HD-DVD movie titles). Underscoring the advantage, the new 40GB PS3 comes bundled with a Blu-ray copy of the blockbuster movie Spider-Man 3, which looks spectacular on a high-def TV.

But what about the games, dude?

While a lot of the early PS3 games were ports of titles also available on Xbox 360, some genuinely original content is starting to appear on the system, like the just-out The Eye of Judgment -- Biolith Rebellion developed with Hasbro.

A unique cross between a video game and a card-based board game, it uses the new, table-stand-situated PlayStation Eye camera/microphone to watch over how you play out your hand of collectible cards on a cloth map.

The PS3 processes the data and dramatizes the results with exciting characters and action. You can play against the machine -- but it's better if you're playing against another gamer locally or online.

The whole Eye of Judgment package goes for just $69. And through the PlayStation Network, you can also use the camera to chat with up to six people at a time.

Other exclusives cranking up PS3 enthusiasts: the recently debuted Heavenly Sword, the upcoming Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction and the top-rated unveiling at E3, Little Big Planet, a do-it-yourself game-building project due out in early 2008.

Even rival Nintendo executives have commended it.

And there's more.

A recent PS3 upgrade lets you move content to a PSP wirelessly. Near-future improvements include: picture-in-picture capability to run Blu-ray movie special features; and a force feedback enhancement for many PS3 games current and future (requiring a new, DualShock 3 controller).

Coincidentally, Sony may undercut PS3 with its own rival products.

To mark the seventh anniversary of PlayStation 2, "the best-selling gaming platform ever released" (that's 120 million consoles and 1 billion software units), Sony will soon offer a $149.99, "ceramic white" PS2 console bundled with the SingStar Pop game and two USB microphones.

'Guitar Hero III,' 'Rock Band' let you be a rock star

Charles Lang is an English teacher at Technical High School by day. By night, he dons a liberty-spike Mohawk, gothic garb and rocks out to screaming fans — in the virtual world of "Guitar Hero III."

"It's a little bit like I get to unleash and put forth my imaginary life as a rock star," said Lang, who also is the adviser for the school's gaming club.

In real life, Lang doesn't play guitar. The only instrument he has played is trombone — in high school.

A year ago, he picked up a "Guitar Hero" plastic guitar and was quickly jamming like a rock star in "Guitar Hero II." It was around the same time he started the school's gaming club.

He bought "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock" when it came out Oct. 28 and said he has already blown through most of that game, too.

"It's challenging yet relaxing," Lang said.

Rockin' out
During the weekly gaming club meeting on Nov. 14, about 40 students gathered in Technical High School's Learning Resource Center. There were stations where students competed in "Mortal Kombat" and other action games, and then there was "Guitar Hero III."

"You can get so many people playing 'Guitar Hero,' " said 18-year-old Ty Erickson.

There is no prerequisite for playing guitar in "Guitar Hero," and no lessons are required.

"People that haven't played instruments or video games can pick up on it right away," said Will Imholte, a local gamer and student at Tech High School. "And it gives you that feeling of letting your hair down and jamming out."

Cory Grabuski said he plays some guitar, but it doesn't really give him an advantage to playing the game. The only benefit is in regard to tempo and coordination.

Adoring fans

"Guitar Hero III" is the hot new game on the market that has instigated virtual rock-offs locally and around the world.

Game play involves pressing the colored buttons on the guitar's neck while strumming to match on-screen instructions. It's kind of like a rock-star version of the game "Simon" from the 1980s, only more complex and with better music.

The songs are originals and covers of classic and new songs by legendary artists such as Guns 'N Roses, Weezer, Living Colour, Led Zeppelin and the Sex Pistols.

"They do so much work to create the same sound," Grabuski said, whose main game personas are Lars or Axl Steele.

Jam sessions

Grabuski likes to play "Guitar Hero" alone and have the stage all to himself, but the game often turns into major jam sessions.

In St. Cloud, "Guitar Hero" competitions have been taking place at the Rox regularly and also have popped up at Bear Creek Tavern, area universities and other establishments. The next "Guitar Hero" competition at the Rox is scheduled for Wednesday.

Lang said "Guitar Hero" is a nice change in role-playing games from the likes of "Halo" because it is suitable for most ages. "Guitar Hero III" is rated "Teen."

The bandwagon

Although "Guitar Hero III" doesn't veer much from its original format, some of the new features include an extended playlist, wireless guitars, new guitar battle model and the ability to download songs, themes and picture packs.

In its first week of sales, "Guitar Hero III" raked in $115 million, which is modest in comparison to the release of the video game "Halo 3" earlier in October that netted $170 million.

Even real guitar companies are jumping on the virtual-rock-star bandwagon.

Gibson and Kramer guitar makers have models of "Guitar Hero" peripherals on the market — Les Paul and Striker models respectively. Gibson's peripherals feature interchangeable faceplates.

Fender is marketing a Stratocaster peripheral for the "Rock Band" video game, which was released Tuesday.

'Rock Band'

Similar to "Guitar Hero," "Rock Band" allows gamers to escape their everyday lives to become rock stars in a virtual world. Only this time, you can keep the beat on drums, sing and play guitar or bass.

Erickson has his copy of the game and peripherals reserved and said he's looking forward to playing it with friends — without having to leave his home. "Rock Band" features online game-play.

"You don't have to drive to a friend's house to hook up," Erickson said.

Each instrument — guitars, drums and microphone — is represented in real life by peripherals that resemble the real instruments. The guitar and drums operate similar to the color-matching sequence of "Guitar Hero" and the microphone registers the pitch of the singer.

The "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero" peripherals aren't interchangeable and starting your own band with "Rock Band" isn't cheap. The package price for the game, guitar, drums and microphone is $169.

"It bugs me, especially when (the makers of) 'Rock Band' said this summer that they were going to make them compatible," Erickson said.

Despite the lack of interactivity between the two formats, Erickson is ready to jam.