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Guardians of the Game: How Online Gaming Developers Continue to Combat Trolls and Hackersby@0xjoel
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Guardians of the Game: How Online Gaming Developers Continue to Combat Trolls and Hackers

by Joel MascarenhasJune 6th, 2023
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MIKROS' Reputation Score assigns a numerical value to each player based on their past actions, interactions with others, and how well they follow the rules. The higher the reputation score, the more trustworthy the player. The M2M (mobile-to-mobile) technology can sniff out potential trolls and hackers faster than you can say "game over." Which significantly reduce the risk of toxic behavior and security breaches.
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Welcome to the thrilling realm of online gaming, where developers like us face an ongoing battle against those pesky trolls and hackers who just can't resist wreaking havoc on the gaming experience. It's a real pain in the joystick!


Gamer angry at the trolls


So, in this article, let's dive into the juicy details about what this reputation score thingy is all about, how trolls and hackers are like the bad guys in a video game plot, and most importantly, why it's absolutely crucial to arm ourselves with preventive measures. Ready to level up your game? Let's go!

The Notorious Trolls and Hackers - The villains we love to hate

Ah, trolls and hackers, the infamous villains of the gaming world. These troublemakers have the uncanny ability to ruin our gaming experience and cause all sorts of headaches for us developers. Let's take a closer look at why they're the bane of our existence:


Trolls, the stubborn 3 year old in the body of an adult.


Online trolls



First up, we have the trolls. These mischievous creatures thrive on disrupting gameplay. They'll grief, harass, and spam like there's no tomorrow, leaving genuine players frustrated and contemplating rage-quitting. We can't let them run amok in our games, can we?


Hackers, the digital ninjas with their bag of dirty tricks.


Hacker cheating in games


They exploit vulnerabilities in our games, cheat their way to victory, and even steal precious in-game assets. Talk about playing dirty! Not only does this damage the game's reputation, but it also hurts our bottom line. We work hard to create amazing experiences, and these troublemakers are out to spoil the fun for everyone.


Understanding Reputation Score - It's like having your own gaming detective

Picture this: Reputation Score is like having a gaming detective who assesses the behavior and trustworthiness of players in your gaming community. It assigns a numerical value to each player based on their past actions, interactions with others, and how well they follow the rules. The higher the reputation score, the more trustworthy the player.


Reputation Score for past actions


That's where MIKROS steps in with its groundbreaking M2M (mobile-to-mobile) technology, offering a solution to curb this toxic behavior. It can sniff out potential trolls and hackers faster than you can say, "Game Over." Which significantly reduces the risk of toxic behavior and security breaches. Talk about a game-changer!



Connecting the dots





The MIKROS M2M Tech

At present, offenders often escape real consequences, as prevention efforts are limited to a product-by-product basis. This means that once a punishment, such as a ban, is imposed, the offender simply moves on to the next game to repeat their misconduct.


MIKROS's M2M (mobile to mobile) technology, however, stands as a game-changer, providing the world's only system capable of maintaining a history of toxic behaviors across different products.


List of toxic behaviour



It securely tracks users from one app to another, granting developers the power to prevent offenders from joining their games based on their past actions. Whether it's issuing warnings, triggering monitoring flags, or enforcing adherence to gaming etiquette guidelines.


The Power of Preventive Measures - Protecting the Sanctity of Gaming

Now, my fellow devs, let's talk about why it's absolutely crucial to slap some preventive measures in place. Trust me; it's like putting on a digital suit of armor to protect your game's integrity.


Here's why:


First and foremost, we want our players to have a blast.


Gamer having fun




By keeping trolls and hackers out of our games, we create a safe and enjoyable environment where genuine players can immerse themselves in epic adventures. Happy players mean more engagement, loyalty, and positive word-of-mouth. It's a win-win situation!


And let's not forget about game integrity. We spend countless hours fine-tuning mechanics, balancing gameplay, and creating a fair playing field. Hackers can throw all that hard work out the window by injecting cheats, manipulating game code, and ruining the competitive spirit.



How Does MIKROS Work?


Most of the stuff mentioned on their website seems to be very proprietary and under wraps, but this is what I could gather.


The heart of this system lies in the Reputation Score. This unique algorithm enables developers to gauge the toxicity level of users, even if it's their first time playing a particular game or they haven't yet engaged in any wrongful activities.


The Reputation Score takes into account various factors, including social interactions, sportsmanship, teammate feedback, trolling tendencies, AFK (away from keyboard) instances, offensive language usage, hacking attempts, and more.


Imagine a user with a Reputation Score of 10 – they epitomize the ideal player. They seamlessly blend with the community, refrain from cheating or hacking, and radiate remarkable sportsmanship.


On the flip side, a user with a Reputation Score of 1 is undeniably a cheater, hacker, troll, and a constant source of offensive behavior. As a general rule, caution should be exercised when dealing with users whose Reputation Score falls below 7.


Troll-free gaming future - fiction or reality?


By implementing the MIKROS Reputation Score, developers fortify their games against trolls and hackers, shielding their community from toxicity and preserving the integrity of their creations. This powerful tool not only holds offenders accountable for their actions but also fosters a fair and enjoyable environment where genuine players can thrive. Let's leverage the innovative capabilities of MIKROS and embark on a journey toward a brighter, troll-free gaming future.