Planetarion Forums

XelNaga · 25 Apr 2006, 17:25

It was one or two days ago, looking at sandmans, when I realized that the Cathaar average score, size and value had suffered significant drops. I thought "hey, finally they start taking hits". But then the graph of the planet numbers caught my eye.

http://sandmans.co.uk/graph-race.php...ets&large=true

Do you see that anomaly? Where the planet number of Cathaars suddenly rises a lot, just to come back to its normal growth after some ticks?

For me this cries "abuse". Is it some kind of multi? A bot army? Or maybe an alliance where everyone created a second fake account? For me, it doesn't look legitimate at all, and I can't believe this is just coincidence.

An alliance just starting late, all as Cathaar? Very unlikely and improbable. But the number of new Cathaar that don't overlap with the normal growth is about 50. What does this suggest to you? Someone trying to win the game unlegitimately?

What do you think? I, for once, am sure there is something not right and breaking the EULA involved.

Synthetic_Sid · 25 Apr 2006, 17:40

Either the dump data is wrong or a bunch of planets signed up and ALL went cath in a period of a few ticks. Very wierd either way.

Willzzz · 25 Apr 2006, 17:50

I personaly think your looking to much into it. But thats just me. I would think perhaps the dumps were wrong.

-TPM- · 25 Apr 2006, 18:06

I'd also point out that if people joining looked at the top 10, which race do you think they'd choose?

XelNaga · 25 Apr 2006, 18:11

That still wouldn't explain why suddenly so much people more than usual sign up over a period of some ticks. I have a new theory, someone created a lot of accounts to stop other galaxies from getting good exilers. But it's all just theories...it's very weird either way, as Sid said.

Sandman · 25 Apr 2006, 18:46

I looked at this yesterday, here's a page I knocked up showing the current status of all those new signups, which were spread over about 6 ticks. There's a bit of leeway to show the norm.

http://www.sandmans.co.uk/?p=catsignups

Banned · 25 Apr 2006, 18:47

The dumps were not wrong.

Code:

 tick | count
------+-------
  220 |   425
  221 |   426
  222 |   431
  223 |   441
  224 |   449
  225 |   458
  226 |   469
  227 |   474
  228 |   474

In the space of 6 ticks, ~50 signups went Cath.

-TPM- · 25 Apr 2006, 19:00

Well if it is someone trying to cheat I'd think it'd be easy for the PA team to spot.

XelNaga · 25 Apr 2006, 19:10

To be honnest, you don't even want to know how easy it would be to multi. Botting is another thing, I have no clue about that. It would be easy to read all sorts of stuff into that list, sandman, but quite frankly, you can't tell anything from it. What strikes me a little is the names, but as I said, you can read all kinds of stuff into it if you want to.

JonnyBGood · 25 Apr 2006, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by XelNaga

What strikes me a little is the names, but as I said, you can read all kinds of stuff into it if you want to.

This struck me too. It's almost too shoddy for an actual cheating attempt!

Heartless · 25 Apr 2006, 19:22

Just compare the names to these .txt files that were shipped with that one version of the offline pa clone.

Stifler · 25 Apr 2006, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heartless

Just compare the names to these .txt files that were shipped with that one version of the offline pa clone.

got a link to a upload one? or a sample?

Jonas · 25 Apr 2006, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banned

In the space of 6 ticks, ~50 signups went Cath.

50 planets signing up within 6 ticks is worrying itself

Them all going cath really seems weird, I like the explanation with the top ten though, might be the reason.

This should be looked into though. Could be free galaxy spies, as we've encountered that before.

-Jonas-

Robsch · 25 Apr 2006, 21:18

Incidently I read this thread now while our gal is about to exile one of exactly these planets. I might add to the odd things about these planets: this planet didnt do even one construction or one research since he started what would have been about 40 ticks ago...

and that although hes online sometimes - so might be spy planets prolly...

Appocomaster · 25 Apr 2006, 21:37

mass closed, culprit found, issue solved.

Proxi · 25 Apr 2006, 21:56

name and shame?

General1 · 25 Apr 2006, 22:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proxi

name and shame?

Killmark

XelNaga · 25 Apr 2006, 22:36

I'd rather be interested into what was the motivation behind it?

Wishmaster · 25 Apr 2006, 22:46

The most important is that it was detected and handled upon b4 it affected anything of the round.

New players going cath though..understandable. Very

Stifler · 25 Apr 2006, 23:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proxi

name and shame?

yea, name and shame them

The Real Arfy · 25 Apr 2006, 23:35

I admit, it was Stif.

xtothez · 25 Apr 2006, 23:45

Sorry guys I went to signup and pressed enter too many times :(

Ultimate Newbie · 26 Apr 2006, 01:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtothez

Sorry guys I went to signup and pressed enter too many times

o_O

Marv · 26 Apr 2006, 07:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtothez

Sorry guys I went to signup and pressed enter too many times

If only it was that simple.

Cannon_Fodder · 26 Apr 2006, 07:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wishmaster

The most important is that it was detected and handled upon b4 it affected anything of the round.

New players going cath though..understandable. Very

You really don't help yourself here.

Shyne · 26 Apr 2006, 23:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonas

50 planets signing up within 6 ticks is worrying itself

According to my records approx 4people signup per tick as the current tick stands.

So the signup rate doubled temporarily.