unforum

[Nik_Doof]

Use of "hacking" within a ARG

[imbri]

It's an interesting concept and could probably be used well in the right game. We did something similar in Metacortechs, however after someone gained access to the server, we changed the way it was set up in order to increase our own security. It made sense with the hacking themes found in the Matrix and a number of the players were looking for something such as that. Though, honestly, I don't think that the game lost anything when we changed the format for those puzzles as more people were ultimately able to participate in those puzzle finds.

Bottom line for me, I wouldn't require such activity unless it really fits with the audience and also enhances the story and plot. I think it could be a mistake to do it just for a game device.

-b

[bill]

My issue with using hacking in a game is establishing clear boundaries. It's one thing to purposefully leave an ftp port open, it's quite another to expect players to continually port scan your server and pound it with scripted exploits because you hinted they need to break in.

Once you give them permission to try things, some will inevitably go for broke.

I'm not saying to completely avoid this, but make it clear in-game where the boundaries are. If you want them to find an ftp server, don't tell them to port scan, get them to look specifically for an ftp server.

Even if you think you're running a tight ship, I promise that even a moderately successful game will have players that know far more than you on how to secure a server and how to circumvent your security.

[GuyP]

Also, it might create the impression that hacking is an acceptable ARG tactic, something which might have a fairly dire impact on other games.

[jefftheworld]

The problem is people will start using that to solve everything...you would have to use multiple sites/servers so that they wouldn't get everything at once.

[Nik_Doof]

Now that is what i suspected....

I dont like the idea that players will adopt the "hack" angle against other ARGs, i'd be responsible for making brute-forcing the server acceptable

As for the port scanning, i guess boundries will be enforced in that, maybe a little script that gives the play a slap in the term of a firewall rule to drop traffic from there ip if they step out of line (of course mapped into the plot)

Also with regards of security, it would of been setup more as a server just for the purpose of that. Having a hacking angle and having your websites hosted on the same box would be silly, unless you want them to find and enable the website

I'm going to be playing more with this idea, as it might be a nice little nugget of gameplay to throw into the mix.

Thanks for the input guys!

[GuyP]

A site that might interest you is: http://try2hack.nl/ [/url]

[Alex Smith]

Re: Use of "hacking" within a ARG

[Nova Loop]

I am just starting to think about becoming a PM and I have thought about this too.
If a hacking angle were introduced into a game, would it be too "cheesy" to provide (via hints) access to a hacking "tool" (i.e.:.exe file, Flash, or ActiveX, local security aside) that I developed for the game? The "tool" could give the illusion of hacking without actually having the player perform any real hacking. It could be created in such a way that less techno-saavy people could perform the "hack" and participate in the game as well.
Just chewing on ideas and looking for feedback.
Thanks
-TJ

[MageSteff]

[EmmanuelGoldstein]

It's entirely possible, given enough time, it would be trivially easy to write a program that sits on some port that emulates any kind of service you want, you could make it as real as you wanted, or as fake as you wanted.

[Wandering Scribble]

[Ciaran_H]

[Wandering Scribble]

[MageSteff]