Doing something to free the unjustly banned

[R3CON]

A lot of people here championed ending character transfers and aggressive money wipes, deletions and bans of all kinds for those who glitched or modded cash into the game. So many self-righteous, holier-than thou folks who would flippantly and mercilessly throw their fellow man under the bus for not following the rules.

 

Many of those same people are here in this thread complaining about suffering the very treatment they wish upon others. The big difference is that they played "legit" so they're suddenly worthy of the sympathy and support they refused to give "cheaters". They'll cry until they're blue in the face about how players should take their bans, wipes and other asset siezures with a smile. "Serves them right" they'll say, laughing at the support comments while they justify Rockstar's banhammer at every turn. But not today! Today the good fish got caught in the net too and now it's such a big controversy.

 

Sorry if this isn't what you want to hear, but I can't feel any sympathy for y'all. Yes, I do agree that the anti-cheat must be seriously malfunctioning for it to go after legit players. But put away the violins and the sob stories. Can't respect the cause if "playing legit" is literally all it takes to to be worthy of support and communal outrage over player bans. Let them eat cake.

Edited March 25, 2018 by R3CON

[elfoam]

"-Minor update 03/25/18: It appears that even with the latest tunables update, Rockstar anticheat is still flagging almost everyone as a modder - (thank you to /u/moocowmaniak for this information)"

from:

https://www.reddit.com/r/gtaonline/comments/86q5lj/032318_gta_online_ban_wave_what_we_know_so_far/

Very interesting research going on there, especially the part that shows the latest tunables update removed the new hotring anti cheat detection that was added a few days ago. That shows you right there that rockstar know they screwed something and they are trying to fix it. Also interesting how this new mod menu that uses rockstars very own cheater detection may have played a role.

[Gaffa]

Very interesting research going on there, especially the part that shows the latest tunables update removed the new hotring anti cheat detection that was added a few days ago. That shows you right there that rockstar know they screwed something and they are trying to fix it. Also interesting how this new mod menu that uses rockstars very own cheater detection may have played a role.

 

 

I'm still yet to see where the research was conducted to conclude that AC actually did mean Anti-Cheat. Furthermore, I'd be VERY surprised if Rockstar's "modder detection" worked the same as the menus.

[Jimbatron]

Sorry if this isn't what you want to hear, but I can't feel any sympathy for y'all. Yes, I do agree that the anti-cheat must be seriously malfunctioning for it to go after legit players. But put away the violins and the sob stories.

 

I don't think many of the affected are looking for sympathy here, more looking for a way to get their characters back, trying to figure out collectively what's happened and what the best response is. And I say that as someone who's played today and so far not been hit by the ban-wave. But let's put it this way, if you lost say, 3-4 years worth of character build from a faulty cheat detection algorithm, I think you'd be a trifle miffed. Or am I wrong?

 

 

 

"-Minor update 03/25/18: It appears that even with the latest tunables update, Rockstar anticheat is still flagging almost everyone as a modder - (thank you to /u/moocowmaniak for this information)"

from:

https://www.reddit.com/r/gtaonline/comments/86q5lj/032318_gta_online_ban_wave_what_we_know_so_far/

 

 

The source "moocowmaniak" says the built an unreleased mod menu that supposedly accesses R*'s cheat detection. I don't think that can be regarded as reliable.

Edited March 25, 2018 by Jimbatron

[R3CON]

 

Sorry if this isn't what you want to hear, but I can't feel any sympathy for y'all. Yes, I do agree that the anti-cheat must be seriously malfunctioning for it to go after legit players. But put away the violins and the sob stories.

I don't think anyone here is looking for sympathy here, more looking for a way to get their characters back, trying to figure out collectively what's happened and what the best response is. And I say that as someone who's played today and so far not been hit by the ban-wave. But let's put it this way, if you lost say, 3-4 years worth of character build from a faulty cheat detection algorithm, I think you'd be a trifle miffed. Or am I wrong?

 

 

Everyone in this predicament would be looking for a solution, trying to figure out what happened and what the best response is. Everyone would be a "trifle miffed". But those who have gotten their hands dirty with cheats, mods, glitches or any other unsanctioned activity would not get the same level of respect or yes, sympathy for their concerns. It's facetious to say that those complaining on Reddit, Youtube, Rockstar Support and here on GTAForums in multiple topics with hundreds of replies - are NOT attempting to gain sympathy from fellow players - while simultaneously requesting folks to sign petitions, giving personal testimonies and spreading the word as far and wide as they can.

 

There's several players who do not play legit who have also lost 3-4 years of their progress and character building at the hands of Rockstar's anti-cheat. This happens constantly and regularly to multiple players. It happens so often most just accept it as just the way it is. None of that causes any of this outcry or cause for concern or petitions, etc. Their concerns are not taken seriously or given any attention at all. I'm sure those derided as cheaters put their time in too, you know. They too sought a solutions to get their characters back, only to be laughed away or outright rebuked. When they take the loss on the chin, that's the anti-cheat working as intended. Their misery and their plight is intentional and accepted. But now that legit players are victims too, the anti-cheat is "faulty". Bans, money wipes, deletions, and the loss of player progress was totally fine before. Why is it such a big deal now?

Edited March 25, 2018 by R3CON

[Jimbatron]

^ not sure what you're trying to say here.

 

Sure there have been other players wrongfully banned in the past. You don't seem to be questioning the fact that legit players just got banned. Are you trying to say that people who actually cheat deserve the community to stick up for them in this manner? I'm not sure if someone downloads a mod menu that injects code into the game they can complain if they get banned. I'm fully capable of doing so in GTA IV, I've modded scripts and created my own altered ped models. But I leave GTA V's online well alone for this reason.

[wehweh01]

 

Naw, could care less about this until it happens to me or some of my friends. Probably won't. FAKE NEWS!

 

You're the fakest news out there

 

Where my Trump Supporters at? MAGA! MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGA!

[TheN7evn]

Signing this now. I can imagine that if this happened to me id be shattered. A game that I can keep coming back to or even play non-stop and just log in one day and banned. Im sure other people would be feeling this way as well. Hopefully R* get the finger out of adversary modes and listen.!!

[SkylineGTRFreak]

Sorry if this isn't what you want to hear, but I can't feel any sympathy for y'all. Yes, I do agree that the anti-cheat must be seriously malfunctioning for it to go after legit players. But put away the violins and the sob stories. Can't respect the cause if "playing legit" is literally all it takes to to be worthy of support and communal outrage over player bans. Let them eat cake.

 

To be honest I see nothing wrong with the attitude you described. Why should people who deliberately destroy the game for others just get a slap on their wrist and get going?

I myself was very much an advocate for harder measures regarding cheaters in GTA Online. Problem is that Rockstar does have ideas which look good on paper and then get implemented in the worst ways possible.

 

For example:

You get a simple notification that you're banned. No reason, no timeframe where you apparently have broken the EULA and no way at all to appeal the ban.

Everyone gets the same treatment now, which is a complete character wipe. While I do agree that people who willingly use cheat menus in Online should get their access revoked indefinitely, I certainly can't say the same about people who glitched/duped/did whatever to gain illegitimate money.

Don't get me wrong, it's as much Cheating as conducting wallbreaks and the like, but it's simply not gamebreaking for the other players.

 

So TL:DR: There is nothing wrong with wanting cheaters to be punished as hard as possible while being severely upset when YOU get that punishment yourself for no reason, while obvious cheaters still run around freely.

What's wrong with that?

Edited March 25, 2018 by SkylineGTRFreak

[Zicko666]

The incompetence of Rockstar is mind boggling sometimes. It's the one thing that can't happen in a game like this. It is crazy your account is in danger of being wiped a couple of times a year due to mistakes, especially when you have played for nearly 5 years. They really got to pull their sh*t together

[flexcreator]

There's several players who do not play legit who have also lost 3-4 years of their progress and character building at the hands of Rockstar's anti-cheat. This happens constantly and regularly to multiple players. It happens so often most just accept it as just the way it is. None of that causes any of this outcry or cause for concern or petitions, etc. Their concerns are not taken seriously or given any attention at all. I'm sure those derided as cheaters put their time in too, you know. They too sought a solutions to get their characters back, only to be laughed away or outright rebuked. When they take the loss on the chin, that's the anti-cheat working as intended. Their misery and their plight is intentional and accepted. But now that legit players are victims too, the anti-cheat is "faulty". Bans, money wipes, deletions, and the loss of player progress was totally fine before. Why is it such a big deal now?

 

Huh? That's the very purpose of anti-cheat - to separate those who play legit from those who use exploits, glitches and mods.

You can't treat these two groups equally. Again, there could be no honor without a shame.

 

Those who used cheats and glitches knew the risk of being banned. The ban is deserved in their case.

Also, you can't seriously compare the 3-4 years of glitching to 3-4 years of making money legit. That's the whole different experience.

 

Some legit players could also buy Sharkcards. They are loyal customers and Rockstar is banning them. It's a big deal.

a friend just bought a shark card 8M yesterday and today he is banned WTH

 

PS

Zero tolerance for the mod menu scum.

[Jimbatron]

The incompetence of Rockstar is mind boggling sometimes. It's the one thing that can't happen in a game like this. It is crazy your account is in danger of being wiped a couple of times a year due to mistakes, especially when you have played for nearly 5 years. They really got to pull their sh*t together

 

Agreed. It's the character wipe that's the most ill-thought through. If you get it wrong you deprive a long term fan of years worth of character build. A month ban gives time to review and correct the mistake (hopefully, sooner rather than later). And who cares about cheater's stats anyway? What's the point of wiping them? Just get them out of the game If people are detected using a mod menu, just re-ban them, for progressively longer periods. The character reset seems to serve no purpose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Naw, could care less about this until it happens to me or some of my friends. Probably won't. FAKE NEWS!

 

You're the fakest news out there

 

Where my Trump Supporters at? MAGA! MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGA!

 

 

Mostly on other social networks I would guess. Hence firms originating from Cambridge didn't bother to nick personal data from users of GTA Forums.

 

 

 

[Zicko666]

And if you a going to do the resets, there is no room for mistakes like this and not giving specific reasons. I haven't been banned myself, but i'm not going online the next week or so just to make sure. I played many hours yesterday before I read about it, so i'm probably not in danger, but not worth the risk

[SkylineGTRFreak]

What bugs me most is that they have shown during the last false ban wave that the data is indeed not lost and can be restored. so why-oh-why does this company, which made billions with this game alone not have a proper department for anti-cheat related appeals. I mean sure, you WILL get a ton of "I did nothing wrong plz unban" requests, but with a dedicated team and access to user stats, it shouldn't be hard to check up on it.

[Quinn_flower]

^^ lazy and not cost efficient to take 2

[Jimbatron]

What bugs me most is that they have shown during the last false ban wave that the data is indeed not lost and can be restored. so why-oh-why does this company, which made billions with this game alone not have a proper department for anti-cheat related appeals. I mean sure, you WILL get a ton of "I did nothing wrong plz unban" requests, but with a dedicated team and access to user stats, it shouldn't be hard to check up on it.

 

Moreover, a dedicated team would probably do a better job of identifying the real trouble makers and keeping them off the system. If they are better at their jobs, it might work out more cost efficient in the long term. If you take a cheap sticky plaster approach you'll have another leak to fix in a months time.

[fatdog]

Welp, they gonna revert bans, I just hope not all of them.

Edited March 26, 2018 by fatdog

[Guest]

PC Gamer just published this article https://www.pcgamer.com/gta-online-players-report-multiple-unfair-bans-following-latest-update/

[SkylineGTRFreak]

Surprised there weren't any "yea of course, unjusitifed, maybe play legit blablabla" comments under the PC Gamer article.

[elfoam]

Surprised there weren't any "yea of course, unjusitifed, maybe play legit blablabla" comments under the PC Gamer article.

You see that on rockstar support, little kids hang out on there and think they have a job working for rockstar or some sh*t.. I don't know why they are even there but that's a toxic site. The comments are far worse than Rockstar auto banning everyone. I only hope some of those kids were on the end of the ban stick.. that would be justice

[30mething...]

Welp, they gonna revert bans, I just hope not all of them.

 

The best way R* should do now is to unban EVERYONE during that span, find another better way to tackle the cheater issue.

 

Let's face it, their anti-cheat system is clearly flawed and there's just too weak of an argument now for R* to suggest that the banned ones are actually hackers/ cheaters/ modders/ whatevers..

 

Sucks to be them but it's their fault to shove such idiotic system into production...

[Jimbatron]

PC Gamer just published this article https://www.pcgamer.com/gta-online-players-report-multiple-unfair-bans-following-latest-update/

Great news. Not mission accomplished quite yet but the publicity will make it harder for R* to ignore.

 

It's a shame they spoilt an otherwise good article by referencing one of the most infamous click bait artists out there, but bringing the problem to a spotlight is the most important thing.

Edited March 26, 2018 by Jimbatron

[DaGhostQc]

It's nice seeing people being assholes about the whole situation. I never touched a mod menu and got caught in that stupid ban wave... if I was cheating, I wouldn't even bother trying to get my sh*t back.

 

If I don't get my characters back the way they were, I'll just give up on this game. It's simply not worth putting another 2000 hours into a game where a dev can wrongfully ban people and just get away with it without having to justify themselves.

 

Their attitude is no better than getting arrested and thrown in jail, while the authorities refuse to tell you why. "You broke the law! Which law? We're not allowed to tell you!"... What kind of screwed up thing is that? If you accuse someone of something, the very minimum thing to do is to tell them exactly what they've done. I've only played on my main character in solo-public lobbies as of lately (minus helping 2-3 people on Reddit get rare cars and let them win races for paint unlocks) and the only cars I've sold recently are my own PVs to make room for new ones. I've been playing and grinding in solo-public lobbies ever since I was rank reset by a modder about a year ago (between Gunrunning and Smuggler's run) and I have zero interest in risking my account over a stupid mod menu.

Edited March 26, 2018 by DaGhostQc

[nmk111]

Edited March 26, 2018 by nmk111

[elfoam]

CEO probably says... do you think we can get away with randomly banning 25% of all PC players and would 10% re buy the same on 50% discount??? if so do it!

Edited March 26, 2018 by elfoam

[SkylineGTRFreak]

German gaming news website "gamestar" also posted an article regarding that issue.

[APB]

Polygon is on it:

 

https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/25/17161890/grand-theft-auto-online-tunables-update-banning-banned

[RetardOfTheYear]

It's nice seeing people being assholes about the whole situation. I never touched a mod menu and got caught in that stupid ban wave... if I was cheating, I wouldn't even bother trying to get my sh*t back.

 

If I don't get my characters back the way they were, I'll just give up on this game. It's simply not worth putting another 2000 hours into a game where a dev can wrongfully ban people and just get away with it without having to justify themselves.

 

Their attitude is no better than getting arrested and thrown in jail, while the authorities refuse to tell you why. "You broke the law! Which law? We're not allowed to tell you!"... What kind of screwed up thing is that? If you accuse someone of something, the very minimum thing to do is to tell them exactly what they've done. I've only played on my main character in solo-public lobbies as of lately (minus helping 2-3 people on Reddit get rare cars and let them win races for paint unlocks) and the only cars I've sold recently are my own PVs to make room for new ones. I've been playing and grinding in solo-public lobbies ever since I was rank reset by a modder about a year ago (between Gunrunning and Smuggler's run) and I have zero interest in risking my account over a stupid mod menu.

 

I was banned in the mess few months ago for no reason, when they restored my char back I lost all my legit money, and they only gave me 200k back (which was more insulting than anything, even though I only had 2.7M lost at the time) they don't care much.

[TheGuyBehindYou]

If they restore my account but don't return my money I'll probably stop playing anyway. Maybe I'll grind the last few levels to get to 1000 and then be done with the game. Even the money I still have on me from buying shark cards which is around 19 mil is only what I would get without bonuses. The actual shark card money I got is over 40 mil from buying cards at 150% bonuses so they even screwed me in this regard.

Edited March 26, 2018 by TheGuyBehindYou

[Jimbatron]

^ it's particularly laughable they ban people who bought shark cards. If there's any evidence that the swept up the wrong people that's it. I don't believe anyone at R* is that commercially dumb to intentionally alienate those funding their microtransactions gravy train.