AMD to Smack Down Game Cheaters

Yesterday we reported on AMD's Fusion cloud computing system, where AMD will develop a super computer able to handle rendering, compression, and streaming of video game graphic server side and push out to gamers on any device. The concept behind the technology is nothing short of exciting.

Naturally, delivery of that technology is something of another topic. However, one interesting side effect of AMD's Fusion concept, is that it will inherently thwart gamers from cheating. Just exactly how is this done? Simply put, gamers will be unable to use cheat hacks or software to influence game play because everything is processed and rendered server side--on the cloud.

When a gamer uses cheat tools to cheat in a game, the tool modifies memory address locations and changes values. For example, a small cheat tool can locate the memory address location where a game stores ammo data, modify the value stored there, giving the user infinite ammo. Other more sophisticated cheats like bots, will also be thwarted. Bots perform a very similar action, reading memory and feedback from the game on the local side, and responding accordingly to automate tasks such as gold farming in World of Warcraft.

Because of the way the Fusion super computer will work, all game data is processed server side, and the only thing being sent to the user is streaming video. There's no actual data value in the local system's memory, since there's no real local client. In essence, a gamer will be controlling the game through a remote-control like interface.

Could this be the end of cheaters? We think not. But, will AMD's Fusion super computer cloud be the target of endless hack attacks? Time will tell. Do you cheat in games when you play? Or do you play by the rules?

  • Why do I get the feeling that these wow gold would still find a way to beat the super computer thingy... I have to admit that I do buy my gold from time to time but thats just because I have that much time to spend grinding for my wow gold. And I make sure that I buy from sites who could guarantee that they don't do spam. You know what would be nice? Thats if that super computer would be able to speed up the grinding process! Now THAT I'm sure would be something that everyone would really appreciate.
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  • jaragon13
    Use this for free to play first person shooters : blackshot,combat arms,warrock,and what's that sucky browser one?
    _ALL_ of them contain cheaters
    No I'm not kidding.
    Reply
  • knightmike
    Just another reason why Fusion Cloud is a great idea.
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  • Blessedman
    I remember some of the old aim bots that used a specific color from a characters skin. As soon as that color came onto the screen a local bot would track that color and move your mouse pointer with that color. I also think that this idea will not work well with certain games like WoW. Where streaming video will also have to have regions of mobs/characters/chest blah blah blah doing all this at what 30fps? lol so if i click on a mob (on nothing more then streaming video, it has to decipher what I intended to click on send that data back to the server, highlight in scene and re-render then resend video stream with updated data. I don't see this tech coming to fruition, not as they are making it out to be anyways.
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  • Joe_The_Dragon
    Keep the build in cheat codes for games but turn if off for multilayer play.

    Also let us have user mods and maps
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  • falchard
    I don't really think the 30fps issue is of as much concern as latency. You can compress an image down to 33KB, you can also cheat and do render updates only when needed. At 1MB/s thats 360MB/hour, 8GB/Day, 240GB/Month. This is running 24/7. It will most likely be at maximum half this value. Thats well within the download caps of most ISPs.
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  • yoda8232
    Great idea from the AMD boys. :)
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  • seboj
    I don't cheat while I play, it ruins the fun. But I do crack weak servers for admin powers. :)

    Anyways, there's one thing you can be sure of - there will never be an end to cheaters. Hackers / crackers will always find a way. Trust me.
    Reply
  • Blessedman
    HD Gaming experience though, that to me says 1900x1080 with I assume HD audio as well. Any Action game is going to have constant manipulation of enviroment which means lots of updates. I can see how it might be possible on 64mbit connections. This seems aimed at a near future where instead of selling you a video card that might last you 5 years and only cost you 300$ we sell you a service for 10$ a month (+cost of games they support) for the rest of your life.
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  • WR
    A bot can just automate keystrokes and mouse clicks. This concept does little to thwart that. None of this protection is new - cloud computing is used in many online games for other computers to confirm your computer's consistency - but this system is integrated and easier to enforce.
    Reply