Post by StrodoGames in Cheaters and fake raters

Brackeys Jam 2020.2 » Community

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I said this in another thread before, the problem with pretty much any voting system is that it relies on fair ratings and human decency, I don't think I've seen so much concentrated dishonesty in one place before and it puts a damper on the game jam.

As you said, I've noticed plenty of 1 minute ratings, copy paste spamming every rate thread, comments that make no sense to the game I've just played and people lying about reviewing a game just to try and trick as many people as possible into playing their game.

This is my first game jam and I've quickly learned that I'd rather have 20 people rate and get some good feedback about how I can improve as a developer as oppose to 40 rates that just say 'rated'

Voidsay4 years ago

I'd like to imagine that this is only the case here because of the jam's target audience. It's Brackeys jam and it attracts mostly young first time jammers that have completed their first game ever (since that is sort of the target audience of the YouTube channel). They are exited for people to play their game, but don't yet understand what the rating period is supposed to achieve.

They only see the strategy of rate4rate as a viable option to get peoples attention, but the only way to even notify the other jammer of your rating is to write them a comment. Usually something vague and nice (we don't want to piss 'em off after all and reduce the chance of them playing your game), to lull you into clicking on their link.

Honestly I can't be too mad at them, they are kids after all and kids are known to do stupid things. They will grow out of it by the next jam or two.

Personally I prefer the Ludumdare jam. Bigger numbers quash theses outliers and their karma system encourages you to write long and detailed reviews. I also like to look at the source code of novice and pro alike. One I like to help and from the other I like to learn.

Glad you have the right goals for the jam. In fact I'll have a look at your entry right now ;)

Ishaan Bahl4 years ago(+1)

Yeah im 14 and this is my first jam, but I just want everybody to know im not one of the people going around, messing with rewiews.

Ishaan Bahl4 years ago

I do have a question tho, whats the point of them doing this?

Voidsay4 years ago

Hello 14, I am dad (couldn't resist the urge sorry)

Attention is the end goal. They want everyone to see what they created. They want it easy and they want it fast and what is easier and faster than copy pasting generic comments and abusing the good nature of the jammers. This one is sucky, because it robs others of valuable criticism, but is not too bad in the greater scheme.

The problem I see here is that if such obvious human spammers aren't spotted and reprimanded in a timely manner, what happens with actual bots? Those beasts have a completely different and sinister goal. Get people to download malicious software ranging from bitcoin miners and spam ads to keyloggers and data encryption ransom ware. If you get the attention of enough kids one will certainly allow the program they just downloaded to run as administrator, when it so nicely asks and an hour later all the data on the family computer is encrypted with the nice offer to decrypt it for a fee.

Ishaan Bahl4 years ago

lol hi dad im 14

itch.io

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