Anti-cheat / APB Update Status

[MattScott 15242]

Hi all,

 

Here is a quick update of where we are with the last update released on Friday:

 

1) Installation issues

There are some ongoing installation issues with the latest patch. These issues seem to be centered around the following three scenarios:

(a) Steam installer not correctly writing registry entries. We are working with Valve on this. It was a problem a long time ago. Hopefully we can get a fix from them soon. We are also starting a work around just in case that doesn't happen quickly.

(b) Players who copied files or didn't use an installer to add the game to their system. This can sometimes happen when players back up one system to another. Again, it appears certain registry entries aren't getting made (despite installing BE over and over). The fix for this is to delete your APB install, and install it from scratch off the download link on our website.

 

2) Lag / freezing issues

There have been some players reporting an increase in lag after the patch. We are looking into possible negative performance impacts related to the BattlEye implementation.

 

3) Bans and detection

We are not broadcasting bans, and to be crystal clear - no bans have been implemented.

 

We took a very conservative approach this weekend. We didn't want a scenario where BE started mass autobanning players for incorrect reasons. We never want to have to mass unban again for some anti-cheat problem. Instead we chose to record and analyze the data, and then we will be processing players accordingly. Moving forward we are also adding extra detections one at a time till we feel the system is running smoothly. 

Anti-cheat will never be perfect. It takes iteration and constant tuning. Little Orbit is firm in our commitment to leverage solid client-side and server-side systems to help us identify and eliminate as many players using unfair advantages as possible, so the rest of us can enjoy the game. We have put our money where our mouth is, and this process will be ongoing.

 

Having said that, there are some amazing players in the game who have spent years to master very difficult skills. They know the guns and their various parameters. They know the maps and where people tend to go. They know how to use APB's 3rd person camera to attack behind them which can look like a snap. My point is that to the average FPS player, these players can look like cheating. But APB is not an FPS. We need to make sure we don't punish good players.

 

We appreciate your support.

Thanks,
Matt

[Nite 261]

2 minutes ago, MattScott said:

Having said that, there are some amazing players in the game who have spent years to master very difficult skills. They know the guns and their various parameters. They know the maps and where people tend to go. They know how to use APB's 3rd person camera to attack behind them which can look like a snap. My point is that to the average FPS player, these players can look like cheating. But APB is not an FPS. We need to make sure we don't punish good players.

 

 

The Real-est dev post I have ever seen since maybe 2015.

[Sadira 292]

Bless you. Thanks for the constant updates!

[SkittyM 287]

Any clues on when the next APB patch will roll out?  Hoping the spawn icons get fixed.

[BrandonBranderson 672]

Thanks for the update Matt!

[vsb 6171]

still can’t get used to this

[Similarities 226]

Love you a whole bunch Matt, and your approach is definitely one that I appreciate, it'll take time to build up the anti-cheat but it's absolutely worth it.

[Kommaranda 44]

Many true things were said here!

[Kiida 455]

Thanks again, Matt. I don't think you know how much we appreciate all you're doing for a game we love so much. Already doubled its population within a month, and the highest it's been for almost two years.  

[SpeedyCat 106]

@MattScott Thank you for the update! And all the work your Team has done and will do in the future....

[Kbee 4]

Little off topic Scott but you think you will allow us to use Crosshair shaders or not since other games allow custom crosshairs?

[BeArFuCkEr69 0]

 

[Clandestine 390]

Thanks for the update :) I hope you all from LO slept well during the weekend :)

[Nymphi-DoubleDee 37]

It took a new owner to truely revive this rotting corpse of a game.

 

Is... Is Matt Scott a God?

 

I am going to say yes.

[BlakeEclipse 15]

16 minutes ago, Kyr'am said:

Little off topic Scott but you think you will allow us to use Crosshair shaders or not since other games allow custom crosshairs?

He has already said no Repeatedly on other posts and even on the QnA Stream.

[CookiePuss 5377]

Ahh cool, at least I wasnt going crazy seeing the Shaw-copters.

[Fubukigata 14]

Finally a CEO with more than 30 iq, seriously thank you @MattScott

 

How about implenting a CRISP staff to apply sanctions about trash talking and hackusating ? It's been toxic over 8 years :x

 

"quoting the whole thing"

 

Quote

CRISP Community Moderation

Whether in missions or hanging around the Social District, APB is at its core driven by constant and positive social interaction between each of the players. Each day our team strives to create an inviting atmosphere so you will not only feel welcomed among other APB players, but also invite your friends to join you here. Still, we realize that our small GM staff is not always able to properly address all the harassment, scamming, and offensive language that takes place and much more needs to be done. So over the next couple months, we are introducing two major initiatives that will both tackle this toxic behavior head on while bringing the next generation of players into APB.

First, we are nearing completion on integrating a sophisticated community moderation solution called CRISP Thinking into APB. CRISP works seamlessly in the background to automatically detect and moderate toxic players anywhere in the game, then take instant action as necessary. Unlike conventional filtering systems, CRISP is able to look beyond 'bad' word usage and examine the context of entire phrases. Harassment, hateful speech, and even scam attempts can be detected and acted upon in real-time while keeping positive players protected. We are aiming to introduce CRISP this Summer.

 

Edited June 11, 2018 by Fubukigata
more details

[Kewlin 692]

45 minutes ago, MattScott said:

Having said that, there are some amazing players in the game who have spent years to master very difficult skills. They know the guns and their various parameters. They know the maps and where people tend to go. They know how to use APB's 3rd person camera to attack behind them which can look like a snap. My point is that to the average FPS player, these players can look like cheating. But APB is not an FPS. We need to make sure we don't punish good players.

*Cough* and let's not forget that APB has built in wall hacks and will occasionally show player names through entire buildings.

[Guest]

20 minutes ago, Fubukigata said:

Finally a CEO with more than 30 iq, seriously thank you @MattScott

 

How about implenting a CRISP staff to apply sanctions about trash talking and hackusating ? It's been toxic over 8 years :x

 

no let me hackusate please

[Sayori 311]

23 minutes ago, Fubukigata said:

Finally a CEO with more than 30 iq, seriously thank you @MattScott

 

How about implenting a CRISP staff to apply sanctions about trash talking and hackusating ? It's been toxic over 8 years :x

 

Yeah, and would you like to move to North Korea also? CRISP today, tomorrow thought police.

Use the ignore button if someone is trash talking you.

[KyoukiDotExe 231]

1 hour ago, MattScott said:

Hi all,

 

Here is a quick update of where we are with the last update released on Friday:

 

1) Installation issues

There are some ongoing installation issues with the latest patch. These issues seem to be centered around the following three scenarios:

(a) Steam installer not correctly writing registry entries. We are working with Valve on this. It was a problem a long time ago. Hopefully we can get a fix from them soon. We are also starting a work around just in case that doesn't happen quickly.

(b) Players who copied files or didn't use an installer to add the game to their system. This can sometimes happen when players back up one system to another. Again, it appears certain registry entries aren't getting made (despite installing BE over and over). The fix for this is to delete your APB install, and install it from scratch off the download link on our website.

 

2) Lag / freezing issues

There have been some players reporting an increase in lag after the patch. We are looking into possible negative performance impacts related to the BattlEye implementation.

 

3) Bans and detection

We are not broadcasting bans, and to be crystal clear - no bans have been implemented.

 

We took a very conservative approach this weekend. We didn't want a scenario where BE started mass autobanning players for incorrect reasons. We never want to have to mass unban again for some anti-cheat problem. Instead we chose to record and analyze the data, and then we will be processing players accordingly. Moving forward we are also adding extra detections one at a time till we feel the system is running smoothly. 

Anti-cheat will never be perfect. It takes iteration and constant tuning. Little Orbit is firm in our commitment to leverage solid client-side and server-side systems to help us identify and eliminate as many players using unfair advantages as possible, so the rest of us can enjoy the game. We have put our money where our mouth is, and this process will be ongoing.

 

Having said that, there are some amazing players in the game who have spent years to master very difficult skills. They know the guns and their various parameters. They know the maps and where people tend to go. They know how to use APB's 3rd person camera to attack behind them which can look like a snap. My point is that to the average FPS player, these players can look like cheating. But APB is not an FPS. We need to make sure we don't punish good players. 

 

We appreciate your support.

Thanks,
Matt

 

Thank you for the great hard work and the dedication.

[Glubbable 41]

6 minutes ago, Kewlin said:

*Cough* and let's not forget that APB has built in wall hacks and will occasionally show player names through entire buildings.

Like your cross hair turning red for a brief second when someone stands behind the corner of a closed door.

[Kino 1]

This is genuinely amazing. Keep up the awesome work, you definitely got a player back in me!

[Fortune Runner 796]

8 minutes ago, Glubbable said:

Like your cross hair turning red for a brief second when someone stands behind the corner of a closed door.

ugh that door.... someone tried using it on me with grenades  so i was forced to shoot at ti hoping to get them (that time i did) hope that gets fixed sometime soon

 

thanks for the update Matt appreciate it

[PGAW67 11]

Thank you for the update and the effort Little Orbit is doing to improve the game. Highly appreciated.