10 How to Cheat

1. 10 How to Cheat

2. What is Cheating? In your groups, briefly consider the question: “What is cheating?”  Consider all kinds of games (not just digital).

3. What is Cheating? “to break the rules intentionally”  “to gain advantage through lying” “to defeat someone through tricky” “to deprive somebody of something by deceit”  cheating seems straightforward: crossing the line beyond fair play perhaps not so clear cut  magic circle and lusory attitude…

4. Magic Circle play = an interlude from ordinary life magic circle = the context or frame of the game a temporary ‘space’ created by the players  e.g. football match: 90 mins, 100x65 metre pitch  in this magic circle different rules apply  e.g. dashing about shouting, kicking inflated animal skin

5. Lusory Attitude entering magic circle = adopting an attitude or mind-set players willingly adopt the arbitrary, inefficient rules this allows everyone to play the game  e.g. the rules of boxing  more efficient to use bare fists or an iron bar

6. Contract adopting lusory attitude = unspoken contract everyone agrees to abide by the rules this agreement maintains the magic circle without it, the game won’t work Any Questions?

7. Five Player Types Salen and Zimmerman’s 5 player types  standard player dedicated player unsportsmanlike player cheat spoilsport

8. The Standard Player respects the rules adheres to the magic circle possesses a lusory attitude

9. The Dedicated Player hardcore gamer respects the rules very keen to become an expert, to practice, to win  e.g. Blackjack Standard player: win some/lose some, have a bit of fun  dedicated player: counts card, tries systems, aims to win  has a deeper investment in lusory attitude takes game too seriously? difference is contextual and comparative  e.g. Solitaire, Freecell, Minesweeper

10. The Unsportsmanlike Player even stronger desire to win won’t break operational rules will break implicit (unwritten) rules  e.g. muttering wicket-keeper no rule against this, but unsporting  even keener to win than the dedicated player enters magic circle rejects the spirit of the lusory attitude: inefficiencies winning is more important than fun  thus, not (quite) a cheater

11. The Cheat breaks rules (operational and implicit) in order to win  e.g. hide-and-seek, Monopoly, board games  cheat pretends to be honest thus cheating doesn’t destroy the game (magic circle) the cheat has some lusory attitude the cheat still wants to win

12. The Spoilsport doesn’t acknowledge magic circle ignores rules and winning  e.g. Twister player, chess player  spoilsport breaks magic circle: “shatters the play-world” contract broken, the meanings of magic circle are lost

13. Summary 5 player types:  standard dedicated unsportsmanlike cheat spoilsport  S&Z: boundaries between types are blurred  continuum: acceptance of magic circle & lusory attitude Any Questions

14. Exercise: Are You A Cheat? What type of player are you? Where on this continuum do you come? Are you always the same type of player, or does it depend on the game? Or who you’re playing with? Have you been each of these types of player at different times, or is there a type of play you’ve not tried?  Try to think of an example of each type of play from your own experience (either yourself or someone you’ve played with).

15. How to Cheat what about cheating in digital games? same as cheating in traditional games?  S&Z: types of digital cheating:  cheating  hacking cheat codes guides & walkthroughs workarounds degenerate strategies

16. Cheating breaking the rules  e.g. Sissyfight 2000: backstory, objective, 2 cheats

17. Hacking breaking the code  hacks available online e.g. Counter-Strike: backstory, objective, cheats: wall-hack, speed- hack, aim-bot

18. Cheat Codes included by game designers for testing or for players  e.g. DOOM II: key combinations: weapons, health, invisible, invulnerable, et al. e.g. Civilization II: cheat menu: additional units, cash, tech, destroy civilization, et al…

20. Guides & Walkthroughs step-by-step instructions official or amateur  e.g. Tomb Raider: backstory, objective, cheat  is this cheating? violates spirit of game? implicit rules?

21. Workarounds creative use of unanticipated game elements  e.g. Deus Ex: backstory, objective, cheat  a workaround a cheat?

22. Degenerate Strategies e.g. Pac-man: http://www.thepcmanwebsite.com/media/pacman_flash/  backstory, objective, cheat a ‘degenerative strategy’: not intended by game designers  a cheat? Any Questions

23. Exercise: Do Digital Gamers Cheat?  Consider each of the different kinds of digital game ‘cheating’ in turn, and think of an example:  cheating  hacking cheat codes guides & walkthroughs workarounds degenerate strategies  Are these all examples of cheating? Why are they cheating (or not)?

24. A New Philosophy of Cheating can rule-breaking enhance play?  Bernard DeKoven,The Well-Played Game (1978) we should change our attitude toward game rules players should assume authority over the rules

25. Players or Designers? should feel free to break the rules or rather, don’t break but expand the magic circle  play with frame as well as within it  players as game ‘designers’? this already happens: different types of player (or play) ‘cheating’ is a way to play a game  For more, see Module Website Any Questions

26. The Essay: Titles Module Handbook, p. 11:  objective: explore a topic in greater depth 10 titles can design own title, but must be approved (in writing)

27. The Essay: Brief Brief: 1500 words (+/-10%) worth 50% Harvard word-processed numbered pages word count no plastic pages name, student number, module number on cover  Deadline: 12.30pm, Friday 27.04.07 (Week 11) Submission: B1/12 (SAE for feedback)

28. The Essay: Advice answer the question (don’t waffle) read some books/articles  fulfil the Assessment Criteria…

29. The Essay: Assessment Criteria Module Handbook, p. 13:  Reading & Research Writing Skills Academic Skills Any Questions?

30. The Essay: Support  several forms:  Upgrade (p. 14): for anyone, for all study skills  Dyslexia/Learning Difficulties Support: ssharcourt@brookes.ac.uk  International Centre for English Language Studies (ICELS): for English second language: personal tutor/me Any Questions? Next Week: FG/14

31. Further Reading  Cheating: Salen and Zimmerman (2004, pp. 266-85); Suits (1990, Ch4); Consalvo (2005a); Consalvo (2005b).  New Philosophy: DeKoven (1978, Ch2,3,5).