What to do if you discover a really serious multiplayer bug/exploit

And what not to do

from Sins Forums
Here are some of good options for what to do under these circumstances:

PM a dev or mod using these forums
Log into IRC and PM a dev
Email a dev (if you can find an email address)

One thing that's not such a good idea (just in my opinion) is to post it in the public forums and flag it up in the title for everyone to see, because there are plenty of people out there that won't hesitate to use the bug/exploit when they're being outplayed, or even just don't feel like trying too hard for a few games, and we end up with a lot of multiplayer games that get ruined.

Since the last exploit was posted I've had it used against me in multiplayer games several times, which is a bit annoying because it makes a mockery of any skill to the game until the the exploit is fixed. Luckily the exploit in question was caught by the devs early enough to be fixed in 1.03, but in future we might not be so fortunate.


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Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

Thanks ConanBloodbane,

Those actions are ideal.  We don't want to ruin the fun for everyone if an exploit is made public :)

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
Can someone make this a sticky thread since we never know when the next exploit will be found. People not adhering to these rules has made multiplayer unplayable until the next patch

Can someone also delete / lock the thread that is openly showing people how to perform current exploits?
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

Stop shooting the messenger.

I understand developers desire to keep exploits secret, but blaming people reporting bugs to the customers is misguided. Publishing a fix right a way is a solution, banning exploiters is another. Blaming people for informing the community is not.
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
Stop shooting the messenger.I understand developers desire to keep exploits secret, but blaming people reporting bugs to the customers is misguided. Publishing a fix right a way is a solution, banning exploiters is another. Blaming people for informing the community is not.


The problem is that there's a better way to get the exploit fixed than telling everyone in the community how to do it.
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top

Telling everyone right away puts everyone on equal footing. Instead of just assuming I lost a game because someone could econ 10x faster, I can now check and look for abuses. If it is a secret, only people spending time digging around would know, everyone else is worse off.

I also know not to use the black market now. I've had games before where I sold surplus resources, and probably gained an advantage via selling, without knowing there was a bug. Would you prefer to still keep it a secret, so people still use it and unintentionally mess up the game? I prefer otherwise.
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
I was one of the posters who helped bring to light JUST HOW SERIOUS the exploit was.
In the thread in question, I ASKED for a way to contact the devs. Go...look.....I'll wait....

I waited 2 days, and didn't get a response. I looked on the site...no "Contact Us" button...no dev or troubleshooter e-mail addresses.....even the OP pointed out that they may be difficult to find.

The PM feature I just wasn't aware of, and being new here, I wouldn't have known the id of a dev or mod anyway (Actually...I still don't..seriously...who should I PM if this happens again?)

And there's an IRC? really?
edit: (okay, I backed out and see it pinned...my bad)

Just saying, if you don't want this happening, how about something more obvious for us simple folk...if not an in-game way to submit bugs, make it a LITTLE easier to find someone to contact.

Anyway, sorry for making the problem worse, but I honestly had no idea how to contact the appropriate people. And maybe I was just being a busybody, but I wanted to ensure that SOMEONE knew about such a game breaking bug, so that it would be fixed ASAP (I was honestly afraid 1.03 would roll out and this bug not be fixed.....)

I was just trying to help....I.love....LOVE this game....played it nonstop since I got it, and you know those big matches can take awhile. Wife's mad at me and everything....
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
Don't worry about it gygelly, that's why I've created a separate thread: so that folk will know what to do in future. Rokkit and I discovered the bug a day or so before the smaller exploit was posted in the forum, and emailed the devs right away, but if it's fixed in 1.03 I assume someone had discovered and reported it even earlier.
Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
What to do if you discover a really serious multiplayer bug/exploit

Sit in the corner with your thumb in your mouth with tears running down your cheeks hoping not too many people know about it.
Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top
Galaxy forge doesnt work with the latest update 1.03!!! All maps created wont load in to the updated game!!! Are you gonna remove Galaxy forge and or update it?
Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top
Know your situation brother my wife hates it too. Pissed as hell.
Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top
One thing that's not such a good idea (just in my opinion) is to post it in the public forums and flag it up in the title for everyone to see, because there are plenty of people out there that won't hesitate to use the bug/exploit when they're being outplayed, or even just don't feel like trying too hard for a few games, and we end up with a lot of multiplayer games that get ruined.


Just my view of what was said , which doesnt make it correct but the point is follow the above advice and its a minority using the exploits , put it on a public forum and its the majority and who wants to be on an equal footing if it ruins the whole game.........if we dont follow this advice promptly but quietly reporting exploits then the whole game will be ruined. Everyone playing the game through exploit the way it wasnt meant to be played is champoining the cause for extreme future nerfs, seen this happen so many times. Games are for enjoyment not for using extreme exploits as a method to stat pad/only care about wins .

The last post is a few weeks back , trying to watch how far back I post in threads but although Im no great player I am enjoying the game the more I play and I think if people played for enjoyment and kind of thought in the context of everyone having a good game rather than just winning and using exploits the whole system would be better and the games greatness wont get eroded.

I dont think the OP is deserved getting blamed for trying to limit people who surf for exploits but doesnt want to see their prized investment ruined by nubs (I hate that word with a passion but its needed for people whos actions are 100% for the win at the expense of ruining a game for all - really short sited)

(Im not saying wanting to win is bad now :) only when its at the potential expense of the game as a whole , just to finally say if we do as suggested and it is a very small bunch using a really really blatent exploit numerous times and are recorded then that puts the admins in a good position for weeding these people out)
Reply #14 from Sins Forums Top
Only thing I have to say is this: Anyone that posts an exploit to the public is a ****ing bastard.
Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top

just foudn something myself really   good thing someone showed me this sticky afterwards, removed topic  straight away, 

 

then again  what would you do when u find an exploit?  i'd report it,   public or not (i dunno any mail where i can mail it to)

 

Reply #17 from Sins Forums Top

Thanks for the e-mails everyone :)

Reply #18 from Sins Forums Top

Yes, but the question is, when can we expect it to be fixed?

Reply #19 from Sins Forums Top

It's already fixed. Just need to put it on Impulse.

Reply #20 from Sins Forums Top

Great!:grin:

Reply #21 from Sins Forums Top

I'll tell you what you do when you find an exploit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You win...

 

 

 

 

 

lol..... :-P

Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top

Hrm...

1)Keep your mouth shut.

2)Rack up the wins.

3)Pray that the good times last.

4)Mourn it's loss when it's patched.

 

Nah, seriously...  I don't see what the big deal is.  Just report it to the devs how it's outlined in the OP and wait patiently for a patch.  In the mean time, do try to resist the urge to utilize it, cause no matter how bad you want it to be...using exploits isn't "creative strategy".

Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top

yeah honestly an exploit in a new patch is less an exploit, and more a strategy for winning. would you consider it an exploit that you can spam carriers and pretty much wipe out ANY fleet.

Do what it takes to win, and if you think it is particularly unfair then let an admin know....

scuttle-bugs from 1.1 for example...

Reply #25 from Sins Forums Top

Could I suggest that a list of said dev's be listed in this thread so we know who to contact?

Its not overly obvious on how/where someone should report bugs to. I came in wanting to report the assailant moving/ability bug, and didn't really know where to go. Instead I found another thread that I just jumped onto instead.

There should probably be a bug reporting subsection to the forums to be honest. Having it cluttered amongst the general chat isn't the best way for it to get noticed. :)