One simple request, regarding Crossfire.
I am not about to request you stop hacking. I do not think you are idiots or dicks, like some do. I would hack Combat Arms too if I wanted to.
I'm going to tell you a story, which you can skip for the main point, if you like:
2002: I get into games. Trying Quake games, I start to play, a lot, and get really good. It's a hobby.
2003: I am very popular among Quake III players. People have a recognition for skill. When a hacker comes along, he makes it obvious, flying around, killing everyone with some shot. Most people just leave, I laugh and joke around with the hackers. It's a friendly amusing relationship, even bans are rare.
2004: Same
2005: I need to pay for College, eyes on a Political Science degree. I enroll in a Quake III Championship hosted by some guys from ID and a gaming magazine. Winner takes $100,000 Dollars and games for life, 2nd takes $50,000 and a few games, 3rd takes $5,000, 4th takes nothing.
I went to San Francisco, California, to this large room with preset computers.
I get 2nd place. I just nab a few games, give a short thank you speech, and finally start school with the money in early 2006 (Early start in school, I finished HS early).
2006: I start playing Unreal Tournament. A hobby while I go to classes, getting good grades. This is not about my school, though.
But it seems that the skill recognition has been lost. I am just as skilled, but I get banned from 4 servers, being accused of hacking.
What is this? I'm not flying around. I'm not shooting through walls.
Apparently, a clan that calls themselves "The Skull" has been going around with some under-sheet hacks, that are there, but nobody can prove are there. The admins are on edge, some kicking nobody, some kicking many.
I got banned in more then 3/4 of the servers, because the admins thought I was hacking.
2007: Another championship, this time Unreal 2004. Prize is only $25,000, but I have my eye on a new car. This one is a bring-your-computer one.
This time, it's nearby, so I load my decent machine up and head to another large building.
I am winning, first place so far, when a security guard picks me up and says "You are disqualified for using an aimbot."
I get a hold of one of the hosts, and he agrees this is rediculous. They strip down my computer, starting with hard drive, down to the lines. They come back, say they are extremely sorry.
No matter, I lost the championship because I looked like I could have been hacking, and was out for the last hour.
2008: I get VAC2 banned on Counter Strike: Source, my current favorite game. No reason, nothing, again, I looked like I was hacking. I finally got a hold of the GM who clicked the big red button, and he told me "I'm sorry, there are so many servers, so many players, we don't really get time to investigate. You had 72-0, I figured that there was a good enough chance. We can't re-investigate."
2009: Because of these rediculous bans, I only play free games now.
I decided to see the other, and was going to try a simple hack on Combat Arms from MPGH, but never completed the download.
Every game I play, except one, have been full of morons.
Crossfire is the exception. A free, CS:S similar game, more focused on Gameplay then Graphics. Many of the players are foreign, but the few who still play US/UK games think I am hacking, and I get kicked every once in a while.
It's not great, but at least there is SOME recognition for skill.
The point
When you use low-profile hacks on a game, you don't just make the current game a bit of a joke, you ruin recognition for the players who actually have skill.
It's not your fault, it can sort of be blamed on republican politics, but it is really just a problem that can't be fixed.
You can take down a gang, but if you wipe out every potential criminal, you wipe out everybody.
I want you guys to know I am a real person, with a true story, and hope you trust me enough to listen. This is why I came on with my real name, Reid Connor, my real birth date, even my real zip code in my profile.
Again, I am NOT ASKING YOU TO STOP HACKING, You are a community, and this is what you like doing. I probably know a few of you. My friend hacks with another website, but after talking with me only does the games that are already screwed.
I am merely asking that you do not hack CROSSFIRE, and possibly you can work in the message with other hacking communities.
This game has not yet been ruined. Let it be the exception, the game that nobody wants to hack, so that we skilled players can take a break and go on this game, without being worried of getting kicked from every single game because people think we hack.
You should come too, to show of your skill without players being lit up like an infrared christmas tree.
Even a high-profile "HEY LOOK I'M HACKING can get everyone worked up.".
Request:
I have a problem, I can't connect to a (Censor, D with an X and a T) Gaming on my computer for some reason. When (a game that sux) is back up, I will be asking there, too.
If anyone can get on, please send this message to them, they have already released a VIP Hack.
I can't even play Crossfire much, because a few people actually do hack, and are enough to scare everyone.
Bottom line, yet again: Please, just read this message through, and avoid only crossfire. I know you're not a bunch of dicks like some morons perceive you to be. Prove them wrong, MPGH.
Why start at MPGH? It is currently the largest hacking community out there.
Edit: Moderators: Apparently, we can't say the name of other hacking websites. Please do not delete this post because of the name references, as I am NOT trying to advertise other websites.