How to make a cheat system in a published game so friends don't see adverts, etc...

SinisterSoft

Here is a method I use to make a cheat system in a test or published game so friends don't see adverts, etc...

1) Use the facebook labs interface in your code.

2) Collect the facebook id numbers of your friends, put them into an array early in your main code

local cheat=false local cheaters={"1234567890","098765432","123456789","9876543",...and so on...}

3) Do a /me call for facebook, then in the request complete event...

if e.type=="\me" then local test=json.decode(e.response) for loop=1,#cheaters do if test.id==cheaters[loop] then cheat=true break end end end

now just check for cheat and if true then don't show adverts, allow free coins, extra lives, etc...

Your friends can give you their facebook id using :

http://findmyfacebookid.com/

ArtLeeApps

@SinisterSoft but that would mean hard coding the codes..

Couldnt you go back the old game methods, like at the main menu, hit a sequence of buttons, or enter a code by clicking on the tiny symbol at the bottom on the screen that looks like it shouldnt be there lol

But with the introduction of Gyro detectors, you could program things like:
- extra money - ( place phone flat, then spin it 3 times to the left, and 1 time to right)
- more lives - put the phone vertical in your right hand. shake 3 times and turn phone upside down for 3 secs, repeat for more lives.
- unlimited life - ( get the phone accelerator to detect as speed in excess of 200klm, near the AutoBahn. )


only a thought )

OZApps

@artleeapps, maybe you are on to something, make it like a personal dance step tutor, move your hands like in the Macarena dance, if you do the Macarena, you get the cheat mode unlocked.... nice one... ingenious

ArtLeeApps

incorporate an aerobic session ..networked to the class... and 1,2,3 and up... (dont throw your phone.) lol

OZApps

@artLeeApps, I think Apple does forward thinking, that’s why they introduced the strap in the new iPods which could become a feature in all models soon and with the A7 and the Motion Chip... Aerobic Sessions and lots of videos of smashed TVs like in the days of the early Wii controllers.

SinisterSoft

No, because this would quickly get public knowledge. Then you won't make any IAP. Hardcoding is the only way - unless you have a server somewhere. I personally would only let a few friends have it for free - maybe only the people who help test it in the first place.

phongtt

What I've used is some kind of trigger in main menu of the game, when you do something like: tap 2 times at the left-top corner, 2 times at middle right, etc. something like that

Btw, why not tell friends support some revenue by clicking ads )

ar2rsawseen

That reminds me the konami code, only with Gyro/Accelerometer, awesome idea

But you could also retrieve cheaters ids from a remote server (your own server that is)

Still, awesome idea

SinisterSoft

Even better now updated to use a secret facebook group, now I can add or remove cheaters at will from any of my games - I can also make it so admins have extras (debug screens, etc)!

At the start of the code:

sinisterFriends="1234546789" - the group id for my secret group sinisterFriend=false sinisterAdmin=false

Then I do a facebook get("/me") graph api call.

In the result of the call I save the users facebook ID in 'facebookID'...

I now start a call to get the members of 'sinisterFriends'...

facebook:get("/"..sinisterFriends.."/members")

Then in the completed event for that I go through the returned list:

. . elseif e.type=="/"..sinisterFriends.."/members" then if e.response and e.response~="" then local test=json.decode(e.response) if test.data~=nil then for i,line in pairs(test.data) do if line.id==facebookID then sinisterFriend=true if line.administrator==true then sinisterAdmin=true end end end end end elseif . . .

Easy.

SinisterSoft

I forgot to mention, you need to add "user_groups" to your list of permissions. If a user already has given permission then they should logout of facebook in your game then login again to see the new permissions screen.

OZApps

Facebook is now a web based Database... who would have thought

ar2rsawseen

@SinisterSoft Even more awesome idea

SinisterSoft

Thanks. I've tested it all out and it works great. I use the admin flag to enable extra test data to be displayed.

SinisterSoft

btw, you could add a break to kill the do loop once you have found yourself in the list....

if line.id==facebookID then sinisterFriend=true if line.administrator==true then sinisterAdmin=true end break end

ArtLeeApps

Its like enabling "God Mode"
brings back memories of Quake like games, unlimited ammo, no damage, the biggest gun ever made... (where did i put that cd...)

SinisterSoft

I've been testing it over the last couple of days and it works great. Basically a remote cheat enabler/disabler for specific users.

Harrison

...what if your facebook is hacked? :-?

john26

Nebula Retro actually has a cheat mode as well but much simpler. It just involves tapping in a certain sequence on one of the menu screens. Then, cheat mode is unlocked and you can edit the "config.txt" file which stores progress, setttings etc...

Simple but effective.

SinisterSoft

It is pretty simple to code though and works great.

There is only one (major) flaw with your method. Once it method becomes known then it will spread really quickly and everyone will be cheating/you will make no money from adverts.

SinisterSoft

@Harrison ??? What if your facebook is hacked?

I don't put any passwords or anything in the code. The group is secret, only members of the group know who the owner of the group is.

Harrison

@SinisterSoft what i mean is that on the off chance someone somehow gets your password, they could notice the group and send invites to a bunch of people, right? idk much about facebook, but it seems like it could happen...

SinisterSoft

If they did then I hope they do send invites to their friends...

It will allow me to figure out who they are, track them down and inact my revenge.

Harrison

true indeed. )