Arrrgh. You Cheat!!!

[Darth Sensei]

I apologize in advance if someone has already brought this up. I searched the archives and couldn't find this topic.

It really irritates me when games cheat. For example, I've been playing Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2 lately and the game cheats. In the Hot Pursuit section the cops mainly focus on you, especially when you're about to win the race. The freaking copters don't ever seem to bother the other drivers. I'm finally about to win a very important race and a helicopter shows up about 100 meters from the finish and hits me with a missile! Since when would a police helicopter take you out with a missile? :angry:

Anyway, cheating games over the years have really irriated me. Another example is the Civilization Series. That series blatantly cheats.

I suppose that the programmers feel that the computer has to cheat because it's simpler than actually programming better AI.

Can anybody else think of games which blatantly cheat?

Dave

[Sotenga]

The bosses of almost every fighting game out there are flagrant cheaters. I dread to fight Mizuki in Samurai Shodown 2. :eek 2:

[digitalpress]

These computer-generated cheats are nothing compared to my legendary "sneeze/power cord pull" or the nearly-perfected "is your controller plugged all the way in?" dweomer.

[sisko]

Mario Kart 64 does this pretty badly too.

If you are playing on 150cc, it doesn't matter if second place is half a lap behind you, he will always catch up, and FAST. Even if you drive flawlessly.

[Dobie]

Ugh. Yes, there is one game I can think of that cheats, big time. Starcraft--especially online. When you play the comp online, it always knows EXACTLY where your bases are, and attacks them before you can find the comp. But the AI is predictable, so this can be overcome by building lots of defense. Still, the cheating computer ticks me off all of the time.

[Sotenga]

Try the enemies of Rygar: The Legendary Adventure. The Cyclopses and Minotaurs are unholy. :grumble:

[Ikari Warrior]

I'll second Mario Kart 64. It drove me crazy, and it was the reason I sold it.
Madden also has a long history of the computer making unbelieveable plays when you're ahead at the end.

[Mr Mort]

No, the undisputed king of cheating AI would have the be the yellow car in R.C Pro-Am. You could be miles ahead of the other cars, and then you would hear the dreaded, noise, followed by the yellow car passing you at an impossible speed, that cannot be attained. Damn, that yellow bastard!

Street Fighter 2: Why is it Guile can walk up to you and throw a sonic boom at the same time? Aren't you supposed to hold BACK for 2 seconds before being able to throw the move?

And don't get me started on Anal-Retentismo, aka Gran Tourismo. The other cars are riding on rails it seems, hardly ever slowing down to take a turn.

Bite me.

[scooterb23]

Any baseball game that startes with "Ken Griffey Jr."

My God, I could be up 27-0 in the 9th, and still lose...

[Darth Sensei]

Ugh. Yes, there is one game I can think of that cheats, big time. Starcraft--especially online. When you play the comp online, it always knows EXACTLY where your bases are, and attacks them before you can find the comp. But the AI is predictable, so this can be overcome by building lots of defense. Still, the cheating computer ticks me off all of the time.

Civilization is the same way. I'm a pretty good player, but the computer doesn't follow it's own rules. I've seen the computer cranking out units from cities in disorder, I've had my tanks destroyed by dudes with sharpened sticks, etc.

Also, it's no fun when you run across another civilization that is like 10 times larger than it possibly could be. :roll:

Midnight Club 2 has a "catch up" thing too. If you're way ahead, the computer magically speeds up. Very annoying.

Dave

[maxlords]

One of these days, games will be designed so that the AI gets smarter, instead of using these shortcuts to make gameplay "more challenging". It's like the programmers are sitting at home going "I'm sure glad I made it so no one can beat this game....cause that would mean they're better than my AI! I'm the king! BWAHAHAHAHHA!"

Maybe the programmers have badly overdeveloped god complexes?

[brandver3]

Street Fighter is pretty bad about that, especially Ryu.


Fireball, fireball, fireball, fireball, uppercut.

[tynstar]

I second the RC Pro Am yellow car. The only way so stop it is if you got luck enough to hit it with a missle.

Also most new hockey games. I do a great point blank one timer and it is saved. The the computer skates down with the puck takes a week shot and scores. :angry: :angry: DAMN THAT ESPN 2004!!!

[Sotenga]

Hmm... Metal Slug's AI can be brutal on higher levels. There are many instances where you can't evade the cold hand of Death. The final bosses drive me to the edge of insanity, but that's why they are the final bosses. They need to give you a difficult climax.

Oh, to anyone who's played Gradius: Have you noticed that the more power-ups you have, the more vicious the enemy forces are? The bullets can rival that of Mars Matrix... okay, that could be an overstatement. Let's just say that if you've got four options, you've got four times the bullets.... to dodge.

[digitalpress]

Don't forget that the arcade NBA Jam series actually lists this as a FEATURE. If you're up by 2 points with a few seconds left, prepare to lose by a full-court three-point swish.

Fortunately the home versions allowed you to turn this "AI" off.

[punkoffgirl]

These computer-generated cheats are nothing compared to my legendary "sneeze/power cord pull" or the nearly-perfected "is your controller plugged all the way in?" dweomer.

What's a dweomer? :hmm:

[scooterb23]

What's a dweomer?

http://www.gregorpurdy.com/gregor/wow/000438.html

[stack99]

I will add that any fighter, cheats, almost always, and MARIO KART 64... man that fuckin game pissed me off more times, than I care to remember... ooooooooooooooh.... bastards

[weasel2htm]

I'll second, third and fourth Street Fighter II turbo

Those special moves barly executable practicing (playing a two player game but you're the only player) and then while playing the computer (esp Ryu) would do a big kick and then take a step back and as easy as pressing a button does a fireball in less time than even superman could do that crazy button combo and of course I can't find the Manual to look up that combo right now :angry:. I need to lose my cable box remote so I can find the manual while looking for the Remote.

--END of exterme release of emotion. :angry: @_@ :angry:

Off Topic question: Sotenga, is your avatar scratching it's head or it's butt.

[zmweasel]

Maybe the programmers have badly overdeveloped god complexes?

Most programmers come with factory-installed God complexes, as theirs is a highly skilled profession in which the goals are manipulation and control. There are a few humble programmers out there, of course, but not many.

-- Z.