Thread by @swardley

X : Do people use maps in security?
Me : Yes.
X : Could it be used to stop people cheating in games?
Me : Video games?
X : Yes
Me : That was solved decades ago. You give everyone command line access to instant god mode commands.

X : No, I mean for games like Apex Legends.
Me : Hmmm .. I assume this is a fps?
X : Yes
Me : And, people are cheating to get higher up some leaderboards?
X : Yes
Me : So, give everyone god mode and stop being sad bastards. More important things to do in life.

X : No, I think you misunderstand ...
Me : Oh, I think I understand. This is an online game creating status for people through imaginary leaderboards where you have to pay to play, pay to get better gear and we keep you addicted with random big drops and rapid turnover? Roughly?

In my day, games were about having fun and not creating addicts piling actual cash into virtual bucks to buy virtual gear but mostly to keep executives happy on actual golf courses. What do I think about cheating ... good on them. Crash the systems, go for it, cheat like hell.

X : This is a big industry, where ...
Me : Big industry? It needs regulation then and lots of it. I'd like to see some studies on the psychological harm they cause through addiction. Somehow I suspect that user needs is probably secondary to a profit motive.

X : Have you ever played it?
Me : Apex Legends? No. Why would I? Especially if it discourages people from cheating. What's the point of a game if you can't give yourself god mode every now and then. Games should be about fun and fantasy.

X : It's more a team sport.
Me : You mean if I sign up, I get assigned to some random team that gets its arse kicked ... learning a valuable lesson of ... "I need to spend more time playing this game and spending my money on it in order to join a proper team" and ... yada yada.

... honestly, I'd rather just get some friends together and go play paintball or play chess or ... just sit on the bank of a river drinking coffee and chatting. I don't mind video games but if I can't go instant god mode when I feel like it then what's the point of them.

X : How would that work for multi player games?
Me : Oh come on. Let's say its an fps, someone gets hacked off at being beaten they go instant god mode. Now everyone else is playing a game of runaway and hide, except other instant gods just standing there and shooting each other.

... you could make it fun for everyone if you wanted to, without requiring collection of points or coins or armour or whatever and without this constant idea of being beaten. I find all that leadership board, competition stuff to be very sad.