Banned for over 8 years...now worried about DayZ VAC servers

[jm0neyz]

So I'm still using the same Steam account after 8 and half years. Almost 9 years. 9 years is a long time. I'm 24 years old now and received my "perma-ban"almost 9 years ago. I was 15 years old...I got banned for using a pirated copy of CS:Source and using a wallhack, thinking that I was somehow bypassing VAC. I had know idea what I was doing, and acquired these "hacks" from a buddy of mine who assured me nothing would happen. I was young, stupid, and I still hear comments about it when I add new friends on steam. "Ooo, you have 1 VAC ban on record" and I have to explain that it was a long, long, time ago. Friggin 9 years ago. Almost a whole decade of being banned. People still sometimes say "once a cheater, always a cheater, etc." From what I understand, I was literally one of *the first* players to ever be perma-banned. One ♥♥♥♥♥♥, stupid mistake that I will never make again.

I didn't hack because I wanted to ruin the experience for others. Like the curious little teenager I was, I have since piqued my interest in "hacking" (which was really just an innocent curiosity in understanding how computers and software worked) and earned my degree in computer science. I will admit that I was a dumb, naive kid who wanted to know what it was like. I wanted to see how easy the game would be if I was able to see where everyone was at any given time...manipulate the game files like some next level Game Shark.

I could probably have started a new steam account by now, but I never did for some reason. Not sure why...all of my games library is still on this account. I'm worried now because I'm very into the DayZ alpha right now and I don't want them to suddenly implement VAC secured servers, and have a game which I have been able to play an enjoy up until now, suddenly taken away from me or have me forced to purchase it again under a different steam account.

Personally, I have accepted the fact I was perma-banned and make no attempt to hide it by starting a new steam account or the like. I have considered starting a new steam account just to play VAC secured games again, but honestly I'm not sure I would waste the money now. I would just like to state, for the record, that perma-banning a 15 year old kid, and still holding the mentality that he's still a cheater almost 9 years later is a little bit insane.

Not sure if I have ever seen another ban that is 8+ years old, but here I am still here enjoying Steam and thankful for their stance on cheaters. Hell, it's pretty impressive that they haven't caved after this long.

Anyway, it's been a long time and I just wanted to vent.

[ReBoot]

VAC bans per game. Your old ban doesn't carry over to DayZ.

[Grumpers]

Only thing you might have to worry about is a server owner implementing a plug-in that auto-kicks anyone with a VAC.

After 9 years I'd personally remove the ban, but they do permabans for a reason (temp ones didn't work) and it's hard to make exceptions for just one person without having to do with everyone.

[jm0neyz]

@Reboot - I tried playing TF2 about a year ago, and was kicked from all of the servers due to the 8 year old VAC ban, so I don't think it is game independent.

@Bram - Yep, I think I've "done my time", but I agree about making exceptions since that would open Pandora's box. Maybe instead of a 5 year temporary ban, they could do 10 years. At least I would be un-banned by next year...even rapists and murders sometime don't serve sentences that long.

[ReBoot]

Originally posted by jm0ney:

@Reboot - I tried playing TF2 about a year ago, and was kicked from all of the servers due to the 8 year old VAC ban, so I don't think it is game independent.

Well, some games, actually games on the same engine, share bans. TF2, CS:S, HL²DM, DoD:S share a game pool. DayZ is an entirely different game by a different developer on a different engine. See?

[Morbo]

Here's the lists of games for which if you are banned in one, you are banned in all: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7849-RADZ-6869#vacgames
I believe those lists are up-to-date and accurate.

[Chara the Explorer]

As has been said, you should be fine jumping into DayZ servers. The only things you have to watch out for is 1. Servers that boot you because the admins don't want anyone with a ban in ANY game, and 2. The slim chance that your old hack gets you banned again (I know, I know, nine and a half years ago, you probably don't even use the same computer).

The thing with CS:S and TF2, as has been said, is that Valve used to have a policy where a ban on one of their games would be spread to other games with the same engine. They stopped that when they made L4D2.

[(SOGA) SouthernBoy]

I personally feel that everyone and any one deserves a second chance, but as stated no exception can be maded. But if you have a 9 year plus account you could have made a new account years ago and have an account that has years of service without the tilte of a ban..

As far as servers kicking you, this is the consequences of having a ban and it is their right to do so for what ever reasons they made have. GL and hope you did learn your lesson and proceed in a honorable fashion.

[ReBoot]

You can always play on official servers. They dont kick you for having a VAC ban.

[Hopper]

Originally posted by jm0ney:

@Reboot - I tried playing TF2 about a year ago, and was kicked from all of the servers due to the 8 year old VAC ban, so I don't think it is game independent.

@Bram - Yep, I think I've "done my time", but I agree about making exceptions since that would open Pandora's box. Maybe instead of a 5 year temporary ban, they could do 10 years. At least I would be un-banned by next year...even rapists and murders sometime don't serve sentences that long.

For the source engine bans carry over, but since Dayz is not a source game you should be fine.

[jm0neyz]

Originally posted by (SOGA) SouthernBoy:

I personally feel that everyone and any one deserves a second chance, but as stated no exception can be maded. But if you have a 9 year plus account you could have made a new account years ago and have an account that has years of service without the tilte of a ban..

As far as servers kicking you this is, it is the consequences of having a ban and it is their right to do so for what ever reasons they made have. GL and hope you did learn your lesson and proceed in a honorable fashion.

Wasn't asking for an exception. Clearly it's not that big of a deal for me because I have not switched accounts in 10 years and still manage just fine even with the ban on record. I could have created a new account years ago and yes I could have had all the titles and achievements etc. without the VAC ban, but honestly I was a dumb kid back then and have grown up in many ways since then.

It doesn't bother me, so long as a 10 year old ban doesn't get in the way of me playing new games like DayZ that have nothing to do with those circumstances. Even newer games based on source engine like Titanfall should not effect me, that is all I'm worried about. I hear lots of talk about VAC coming to DayZ and was just concerned, that's all.

[Satoru]

@jm0ney

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7849-RADZ-6869#vacgames

There are only a few Source and Gold Source games whre a VAC ban in one game translates to another.

Ever since L4D, VAC bans have been on a PER GAME basis. Ergo if you wish to play DayZ you can.

however note that some server administrators, will not allow anyone with ANY vac bans on their servers. This is not a VAC ban but a local ban by that administrator if the game allows for 3rd paty plugins to enforce taht.

[Ang3l]

This is the one situation where I struggle with VAC, I would like to see Valve use some sort of amnesty to players that have been VAC banned but are clean for 10 years or even make it 15 years, a 15 years old teenager and a 30 years old man have nothing in common.

[Chara the Explorer]

Originally posted by Angel:

This is the one situation where I struggle with VAC, I would like to see Valve use some sort of amnesty to players that have been VAC banned but are clean for 10 years or even make it 15 years, a 15 years old teenager and a 30 years old man have nothing in common.

I kind of agree, but at the end of the day, Valve tried giving amnesty to cheaters and it didn't work. Hell, maybe they should try a 10-year ban... It'll almost be like giving someone a jail sentence of 120 years. Good luck giving enough of a ♥♥♥♥ about the game when you're allowed back!

[Ang3l]

Maybe Valve could implement certain requirements regarding amnesty, being "clean" for 10 years or even 15 years could be the first requirement. If a 15 years old cheat and 15 years down the line his steam account is pretty much the same regarding number of games, regarding steam level, etc...that person doesn't qualify.

But on the other hand let's say a 15 years old cheated and at the time was level 10 and had 30 games, 15 years later that person has 1000 games and is level 150...that shows a certain commitment to the platform, to the company, I believe that should be taken into consideration.

The amnesty would not be a free pass, a second chance to every cheater, it would be a fresh start to gamers that made a mistake at a young age but who learned from it, regret it and supported the platform/company in a somewhat active way.

[(SOGA) SouthernBoy]

Originally posted by Angel:

Maybe Valve could implement certain requirements regarding amnesty, being "clean" for 10 years or even 15 years could be the first requirement. If a 15 years old cheat and 15 years down the line his steam account is pretty much the same regarding number of games, regarding steam level, etc...that person doesn't qualify.

But on the other hand let's say a 15 years old cheated and at the time was level 10 and had 30 games, 15 years later that person has 1000 games and is level 150...that shows a certain commitment to the platform, to the company, I believe that should be taken into consideration.

The amnesty would not be a free pass, a second chance to every cheater, it would be a fresh start to gamers that made a mistake at a young age but who learned from it, regret it and supported the platform/company in a somewhat active way.

Interesting idea !!! My only concern would be did they really learn their lesson or did they just buy all the cheapest games they could ? do not know but interesting anyways. IT knida like milkman stated tho after so long the game that was banned may have close down by then and etc, but what if it has survived and flourished ? Hum do not know ? just again interesting. !!!!

I would be more likely to agree to something like this; after 10 or 15 years and or a reasonable timeframe of no events/cheats/etc detected/used; to have them be able to play such game but retain a notice that they had been ban in such game but not active, in an effect it would be like they was not banned, but this would be a one time only thing period. ???