Cheats

[Zhong Ping (钟平)]

Cheats were essential in my Theme Hospital experience. I know cheats are out of style these days, but please keep them in this one. What do ya'll think?

[Chris Solomon]

cheat codes are not cheating. cheating is doing something outside of the rules set down for the game by the devs. cheat codes are at some level allowed by the devs. otherwise they would not exist or work in the first place. codes should not be used liberally and should only be used to mess around, and not as a substitute for lack of skill.

[Jonathan J. O'Neill]

Originally posted by Chris Solomon:

cheat codes are not cheating. cheating is doing something outside of the rules set down for the game by the devs. cheat codes are at some level allowed by the devs. otherwise they would not exist or work in the first place. codes should not be used liberally and should only be used to mess around, and not as a substitute for lack of skill.

The word "Cheat" is in the phrase itself. Cheat Codes. It is cheating, regardless, as you're playing the game outside of it's normal parameters.

The Konami code gives you 30 lives when you only start with three in most Contra games. Even though it's built in, it's still cheating to get an advantage in the game as many people are incapable of beating Contra with just three lives.

The only reason you don't see cheats these days, very often, is because devs expect players to use trainers, cheat engine, etc if they really want to cheat. The sandbox mode we have is pretty much TPH's cheat code. Unlimited Money, unlimited Kudosh, no emergencies, untrained staff, whatever you want to use or not use.

The last game I've played with true built in cheats was Saints Row IV. There may be more since then but it's definitely not the norm these days.

[Chris Solomon]

to me there is acceptable cheating and there is not acceptable cheating.
At the very least i believe there is definite difference between cheating in a single player game (which i believe to be be acceptable) and cheating in a game that has any type of multi-player or even Co-Op features or leader board (which is not acceptable) cheat codes used any type of multiplayer environment can only be used to gain an unfair advantage over other players. it also imho cheapens the play cheapens the play experience. games are meant to be challenging. If you cant handle the challenge, just don't play. it is a game. not getting the highest score will definitely not be the end of the world.

If there were to be cheat codes in TPH, it should cause the superbug stuff, and the steam achievments to be disabled for that save game. only using new game would re-enable that stuff. that is what the other games on steam usually do when a code is used.

also, cheat codes are not always cheat codes.

in SimCity 2000's SCURK Kit, If you type a certain code, a launch arcology dances across the screen vaudville style. in LucasArts 'Rebel Assualt II', if you use certain codes, depending on the codes used, you can get altenate lines of speech shown for the text on the cut-scenes or even a MST3K (Mystery Sciience Theater 3000) like overlay for the cut-scenes. I don't know if Theme hosptial even had 'gag' type cheat codes (i have never even looked up or used any theme hospital cheats). but using those type of codea are certainly acceptable and I don't consider using those as cheating.

[momodave]

Originally posted by Chris Solomon:

to me there is acceptable cheating and there is not acceptable cheating.
At the very least i believe there is definite difference between cheating in a single player game (which i believe to be be acceptable) and cheating in a game that has any type of multi-player or even Co-Op features or leader board (which is not acceptable) cheat codes used any type of multiplayer environment can only be used to gain an unfair advantage over other players. it also imho cheapens the play cheapens the play experience. games are meant to be challenging. If you cant handle the challenge, just don't play. it is a game. not getting the highest score will definitely not be the end of the world.

If there were to be cheat codes in TPH, it should cause the superbug stuff, and the steam achievments to be disabled for that save game. only using new game would re-enable that stuff. that is what the other games on steam usually do when a code is used.

also, cheat codes are not always cheat codes.

in SimCity 2000's SCURK Kit, If you type a certain code, a launch arcology dances across the screen vaudville style. in LucasArts 'Rebel Assualt II', if you use certain codes, depending on the codes used, you can get altenate lines of speech shown for the text on the cut-scenes or even a MST3K (Mystery Sciience Theater 3000) like overlay for the cut-scenes. I don't know if Theme hosptial even had 'gag' type cheat codes (i have never even looked up or used any theme hospital cheats). but using those type of codea are certainly acceptable and I don't consider using those as cheating.

That's because people like you need to convince themselves. You know that cheating has has a negative connotation, so you try to convince yourself that you're not doing something wrong. People do not like to believe themselves as cheaters, inept, or to be bad players, so the more dishonest people try to convince themselves of everything you're trying to claim.

But do you know what reality is? Cheating is cheating. There no levels of cheating. You either cheat or you don't. Grats. You're a cheater.

[Abel_Mayfair]

There's no reason to for cheats in this game lol. Git gud if you think you need them.

[Chris Solomon]

Originally posted by momodave:

Originally posted by Chris Solomon:

to me there is acceptable cheating and there is not acceptable cheating.
At the very least i believe there is definite difference between cheating in a single player game (which i believe to be be acceptable) and cheating in a game that has any type of multi-player or even Co-Op features or leader board (which is not acceptable) cheat codes used any type of multiplayer environment can only be used to gain an unfair advantage over other players. it also imho cheapens the play cheapens the play experience. games are meant to be challenging. If you cant handle the challenge, just don't play. it is a game. not getting the highest score will definitely not be the end of the world.

If there were to be cheat codes in TPH, it should cause the superbug stuff, and the steam achievments to be disabled for that save game. only using new game would re-enable that stuff. that is what the other games on steam usually do when a code is used.

also, cheat codes are not always cheat codes.

in SimCity 2000's SCURK Kit, If you type a certain code, a launch arcology dances across the screen vaudville style. in LucasArts 'Rebel Assualt II', if you use certain codes, depending on the codes used, you can get altenate lines of speech shown for the text on the cut-scenes or even a MST3K (Mystery Sciience Theater 3000) like overlay for the cut-scenes. I don't know if Theme hosptial even had 'gag' type cheat codes (i have never even looked up or used any theme hospital cheats). but using those type of codea are certainly acceptable and I don't consider using those as cheating.

That's because people like you need to convince themselves. You know that cheating has has a negative connotation, so you try to convince yourself that you're not doing something wrong. People do not like to believe themselves as cheaters, inept, or to be bad players, so the more dishonest people try to convince themselves of everything you're trying to claim.

But do you know what reality is? Cheating is cheating. There no levels of cheating. You either cheat or you don't. Grats. You're a cheater.

i don't need to be convinced of anything. multiplayer cheating hurts other gamers experiences. single player cheating hurts no one else gaming experience. using cheat codes for a single player game is not the same as cheating at something like team fortress 2 or countersrtike. saying it is, is like saying anybody who diddles themselves is a molester. there is a difference between someone that molests themselves, and someone who molests others.

[bjohnson2312]

I still don't understand how people seem to think it's okay to dictate how someone else should play single player games. How one chooses to play has zero to do with anothers personal gameplay. They don't pay your bills nor have they chipped in on purchasing any of your games. So what makes them think they can dictate how you should play?

Multiplayer or online is the only place where using cheats is wrong and should be forbidden without question since you're effecting other people play experience.

However, you should always be able to use cheats, Console commands, sandbox or whatever else you damn well please in a single player game. If that's how someone enjoys playing their games, then they should have the option to. Last time I checked game were meant to be fun and enjoyable. Everyone obiviously has their own perception if what that is.

Personally, many titles are far more fun without the limitations and countless hoops to jump through and will get far game play time if any with cheats than without.

I love using cheats in my single player games and always will. Feel free to call me a cheater or whatever the hell else you please. It makes no difference to how I choose to play games I pay for.

[Chris Solomon]

I agree 100% with the firs two paragraphs. I am not a heavy cheat code user. I myself only use them to mess around, after i have beaten the game already. i use them for extended game play value. like in Dark Forces, there are a couple of secrets that can only be accessed when using some of the codes. the secrets don't affect the game progress or anything, but they are in hard to reach locations. at least one can't be gotten to with out the use of the height check cheat.

[Jonathan J. O'Neill]

Originally posted by bjohnson2312:

I still don't understand how people seem to think it's okay to dictate how someone else should play single player games. How one chooses to play has zero to do with anothers personal gameplay. They don't pay your bills nor have they chipped in on purchasing any of your games. So what makes them think they can dictate how you should play?

Multiplayer or online is the only place where using cheats is wrong and should be forbidden without question since you're effecting other people play experience.

However, you should always be able to use cheats, Console commands, sandbox or whatever else you damn well please in a single player game. If that's how someone enjoys playing their games, then they should have the option to. Last time I checked game were meant to be fun and enjoyable. Everyone obiviously has their own perception if what that is.

Personally, many titles are far more fun without the limitations and countless hoops to jump through and will get far game play time if any with cheats than without.

I love using cheats in my single player games and always will. Feel free to call me a cheater or whatever the hell else you please. It makes no difference to how I choose to play games I pay for.

Yeah. This is how I feel about it. As long as my actions aren't hurting anyone, I will cheat if I feel like doing it. Sadly, some devs don't allow it in single player. I was perma full banned from single-player, co-op and open modes in Elite Dangerous for cheating in Single Player mode. 80 bucks lost because they don't want cheating at all. Didn't hurt my feelings though because the game wasn't any good without them in the first place.

[Chris Solomon]

Originally posted by Jonathan J. O'Neill:

Originally posted by bjohnson2312:

I still don't understand how people seem to think it's okay to dictate how someone else should play single player games. How one chooses to play has zero to do with anothers personal gameplay. They don't pay your bills nor have they chipped in on purchasing any of your games. So what makes them think they can dictate how you should play?

Multiplayer or online is the only place where using cheats is wrong and should be forbidden without question since you're effecting other people play experience.

However, you should always be able to use cheats, Console commands, sandbox or whatever else you damn well please in a single player game. If that's how someone enjoys playing their games, then they should have the option to. Last time I checked game were meant to be fun and enjoyable. Everyone obiviously has their own perception if what that is.

Personally, many titles are far more fun without the limitations and countless hoops to jump through and will get far game play time if any with cheats than without.

I love using cheats in my single player games and always will. Feel free to call me a cheater or whatever the hell else you please. It makes no difference to how I choose to play games I pay for.

Yeah. This is how I feel about it. As long as my actions aren't hurting anyone, I will cheat if I feel like doing it. Sadly, some devs don't allow it in single player. I was perma full banned from single-player, co-op and open modes in Elite Dangerous for cheating in Single Player mode. 80 bucks lost because they don't want cheating at all. Didn't hurt my feelings though because the game wasn't any good without them in the first place.

games like elite dangerous that have single player experiences blended with multiplayer are still classified as multiplayer, even if you are doing single player content. this is why you got banned. if it has MMO features, don't cheat.

[Jonathan J. O'Neill]

Originally posted by Chris Solomon:

Originally posted by Jonathan J. O'Neill:

Yeah. This is how I feel about it. As long as my actions aren't hurting anyone, I will cheat if I feel like doing it. Sadly, some devs don't allow it in single player. I was perma full banned from single-player, co-op and open modes in Elite Dangerous for cheating in Single Player mode. 80 bucks lost because they don't want cheating at all. Didn't hurt my feelings though because the game wasn't any good without them in the first place.

games like elite dangerous that have single player experiences blended with multiplayer are still classified as multiplayer, even if you are doing single player content. this is why you got banned. if it has MMO features, don't cheat.

Yeah, I didn't know that at the time. Solo mode, to me, means, solo/alone/single-player. I never touched the Multiplayer aspect. Nothing in game really tells you that Solo Mode is more than playing alone. but, like I said, I own up to my mistakes and the game wasn't that good anyways without the cheats so it was no big deal.

[Chris Solomon]

that was one expensive lesson....

[ClearSkyEternal]

Nothing wrong with cheating in a game as long it does not affect other players. Therefore cheating in a true single player (which has no effect on the community whatsoever) is totally fine, and yes achievements should be disabled when cheats are used.

Right now using cheat engine to get a credits is really easy to do in the superbug initiative and even to get achievements or kudosh, it takes like 30 seconds. There are ways developers can make variables harder to scan down for the average cheat engine user.

In the end cheating was implemented in older games to make games easier to test for developers, remove frustration for players, increase the fun people could have and allow them to play however they like to play. If you don't like cheats in true single player simply don't use them, but let others play how they like to play.

[Chris Solomon]

umm cheating in the super bug thing is a nono because it is a community thing....

[momodave]

Originally posted by Chris Solomon:

Originally posted by momodave:

That's because people like you need to convince themselves. You know that cheating has has a negative connotation, so you try to convince yourself that you're not doing something wrong. People do not like to believe themselves as cheaters, inept, or to be bad players, so the more dishonest people try to convince themselves of everything you're trying to claim.

But do you know what reality is? Cheating is cheating. There no levels of cheating. You either cheat or you don't. Grats. You're a cheater.

i don't need to be convinced of anything. multiplayer cheating hurts other gamers experiences. single player cheating hurts no one else gaming experience. using cheat codes for a single player game is not the same as cheating at something like team fortress 2 or countersrtike. saying it is, is like saying anybody who diddles themselves is a molester. there is a difference between someone that molests themselves, and someone who molests others.

There you go again. You follow the same pattern as all the cheaters I've ever met. NOBODY said you cannot cheat. You can cheat, but simply admit that you're a cheater. Do not try to sugarcoat it by saying there are different levels of cheating. You're a cheater and that's all there is to it. Do you hurt less people when you cheat in your single player game? Absolutely! But, in the end, you are still a cheater who needed a leg up to play an easy game.