Confessions of a Gamerscore Cheater

[Queasy]

Link

After Microsoft revealed their new approach, I wanted to chat with a cheater. Xbox Cheater Watch, an unofficial website tracking possible gamerscore cheaters, pointed me in the right direction. I sent requests to more than 10 cheaters, but Mesec was the only one to respond.

?I started cheating, I guess, because I got addicted to gamer score completion,? Mesec said over e-mail. ?This means that I must finish the game 1000 [out of 1000 achievement points]. I would play through the game and get the basic Achievements, then do some saves or glitches to get the rest. I started because I wanted more and more gamerscore.?

He?s not alone. 1UP editorial director Dan Hsu told me he spent more than five hours playing through the epilogue mission in ?Call of Duty 4? on the veteran difficulty to unlock the last Achievement. Five hours! He eventually gave up.

Mesec would download game saves from community websites that unlocked all of a game?s achievements in seconds. While Shoe?s addiction lead him to spend countless hours tackling extreme achievements, Mesec exploited game saves simply because it was ?a piece of cake to cheat.? It didn?t start that way, though. When Mesec purchased his Xbox 360, he was a legit player for achievements.

?It?s when they started coming out with hard games with HARD achievements is when I started,? he said. While he can?t remember the first game he used cheats on, ?Lost Planet? was one of them. He couldn?t complete the game on the extreme difficulty level. The last game he cheated on? ?Dynasty Warriors 6.? Since his gamerscore was wiped, however, he hasn?t played a game over Xbox Live.

Microsoft?s gamerscore reset prevents cheaters from going back and legitimately unlock ?cheated? achievements on a second playthrough. But because Mesec?s gamerscore is now near zero, he wouldn?t mind going through some of those games again.

Mesec said the experience has made him a ?reformed? gamer and actually thanks Microsoft for the push. ?I would have probably kept cheating if Microsoft hadn?t reset my score cause it seemed so easy and it got way to addicting,? he told me.

Mesec said he can?t afford to purchase another gamertag with an XBL gold subscription and he?s received ?millions of [XBL] messages from friends and people I don?t know laughing on how I cheat.?

He told us he?s excited to read this article, though, so either he?s a glutton for punishment or really on the road to gamerscore legitimacy.

There's very few games where I have all 1000 achievement points. I can probably count them on one hand. It's a fun meta-game but something that has never had that addictive quality to me.

 

[ajskydiver]

The only game I got all 1000 on was FNR3...those were too easy.

Edit: I got all the ones from Track n' Field too -- loved that game; couldn't even count how many quarters I dropped into that one back in the day.

 

[CPA]

I don't understand the desire to cheat for a higher gamerscore nor the policing of the cheaters. the gamerscore means absolutely nothing.

 

[raystorm]

Originally posted by: CPA
I don't understand the desire to cheat for a higher gamerscore nor the policing of the cheaters. the gamerscore means absolutely nothing.

Me either. High scores on a leaderboard if you have friends with the same game is nice but gamerscores are just worthless.


I have 1000 points on two games, Enchanted Arms and Fight Night, which you'll get if you simply finish the game. I was close to 1000 on other rpg games like Lost Odyssey, Two Worlds and I was in the 800's with Tomb Raider Legends. Everything else isn't so high and I barely play mp myself so I don't have many mp achievements.


Good for MS to crack down on those losers who cheat.

 

[purbeast0]

I only have 1000/200 on games i really REALLY like.

Halo 3
Call of DUty 2
NBA 2K6 (didnt really like this, it was just easy)
Geometry Wars
NFS:MW

I have over 900 on both burnout games too but I don't have a visicion camera so can't get a few on paradise.

 

[skace]

I think it is absolutely ridiculous that these people think they deserve every achievement regardless how hard a game is. So an achievement is hard, realize you can't get it and move on, don't cheat for the sake of cheating, it ruins the entire point of that achievement being hard. You've, in effect, nullified the entire purpose of even having gamerscores.

See, Dan Hsu's experience is actually preferable. Sure he tried for 5 hours and ended up failing and that might even result in a bad experience in his mind. But he could have given up sooner, and someone else might have gotten it quicker. When he looks at someone else's achievements he might see that one and be like, wow that guy pulled off that insanely hard achievement. Maybe even have a conversation with the guy and find out how he did it. Maybe there's a story other than "yea I downloaded a save".

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Queasy
There's very few games where I have all 1000 achievement points. I can probably count them on one hand. It's a fun meta-game but something that has never had that addictive quality to me.

I can count the number of games I have 1000/1000 on zero hands. I go for the ones that are worth the effort. I won't spend hours playing a game just for the sake of finishing an achievement.

 

[Kev]

He?s not alone. 1UP editorial director Dan Hsu told me he spent more than five hours playing through the epilogue mission in ?Call of Duty 4? on the veteran difficulty to unlock the last Achievement. Five hours! He eventually gave up.

pfft. n00b

 

[Gooberlx2]

I don't have any games where I've made 1000 of 1000. It's fun when I unexpectedly get achievements, but otherwise I usually don't even pay attention.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Kev

He?s not alone. 1UP editorial director Dan Hsu told me he spent more than five hours playing through the epilogue mission in ?Call of Duty 4? on the veteran difficulty to unlock the last Achievement. Five hours! He eventually gave up.

pfft. n00b

5 hours is impressive. I gave up after 2. Theres challenging, there's frustrating, and then there's pointless. That achievement should basically be the test to determine who has an addiction to achievement whoring.

 

[bearxor]

I've got a few. King Kong, COD 2 and Crackdown.

If you really enjoy a game, there's no problem in going after the achievements. It took me quite a while to beat COD 2 on veteran.

 

[Kev]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: Kev

He?s not alone. 1UP editorial director Dan Hsu told me he spent more than five hours playing through the epilogue mission in ?Call of Duty 4? on the veteran difficulty to unlock the last Achievement. Five hours! He eventually gave up.

pfft. n00b

5 hours is impressive. I gave up after 2. Theres challenging, there's frustrating, and then there's pointless. That achievement should basically be the test to determine who has an addiction to achievement whoring.

It actually didnt take me that long.. once I figured out a pattern to follow it was actually fun trying to perfect it. There were parts in the main game that were more frustrating on veteran.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: CPA
I don't understand the desire to cheat for a higher gamerscore nor the policing of the cheaters. the gamerscore means absolutely nothing.

What I was going to say...it seems like a waste of time to do as a player, and an even bigger waste of time and resources to bother to police. Is iD going kick me out of Quake 4 multiplayer because I used god mode in single player? Am I missing something?

 

[Crafty35a]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Is iD going kick me out of Quake 4 multiplayer because I used god mode in single player? Am I missing something?

Yes, the fact that noone is being kicked out of multiplayer.

 

[Regs]

I just want them to bring back the gamebreaker and action replay cheat devices...

I miss being able to give my artifical baseball and foot ball players super stats with low salaries =(

The developers of the devices did not make or support codes for online cheating...but of course a few free lance jerks had to go ruin that for us.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: skace
I think it is absolutely ridiculous that these people think they deserve every achievement regardless how hard a game is. So an achievement is hard, realize you can't get it and move on, don't cheat for the sake of cheating, it ruins the entire point of that achievement being hard. You've, in effect, nullified the entire purpose of even having gamerscores.

See, Dan Hsu's experience is actually preferable. Sure he tried for 5 hours and ended up failing and that might even result in a bad experience in his mind. But he could have given up sooner, and someone else might have gotten it quicker. When he looks at someone else's achievements he might see that one and be like, wow that guy pulled off that insanely hard achievement. Maybe even have a conversation with the guy and find out how he did it. Maybe there's a story other than "yea I downloaded a save".

I think it's absolutely ridiculous that anyone gives two shits about these people who want all of the achievements 😵 WHO CARES? Yippee, your point counter is higher than that other guy's!

However, I disagree with this line.

You've, in effect, nullified the entire purpose of even having gamerscores.

The gamerscore has one point: To tell me whether you're a complete and utter shut-in. That point has been preserved regardless of whether people are cheating to increase their scores. Higher score = more of a shut-in

You have to live a pretty sad, lonely existence to be at the top of the leaderboard. You either play way too many video games or you cheat at video games just to get a high point count. Either way, you lose.

 

[JJChicken]

This reminds of getting gold licenses on GT3. If anyone has tried, they'll know how hard and frustrating it can get😛 I got all gold licenses except rally i think (got 2 golds in rally but i suck in rally)

 

[Xavier434]

I like the idea of the gamer score because it gives me fun reasons to play games beyond just finishing them and the multiplayer. I also like how there are always a couple really hard achievements to get. I never bother comparing my score to others although I can understand why someone would be inclined to do so. Competition can be really fun if you approach it correctly. I am glad MS is policing these people in order to maintain that fun experience for the people who enjoy it and do not cheat.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
I don't have any games where I've made 1000 of 1000. It's fun when I unexpectedly get achievements, but otherwise I usually don't even pay attention.

same here. its a nice bonus, and worth it. eg mass effect i just restarted cuz i saw that doing a little more work will get mea couple of achievements , but i never go out of my way to get achivement.s its just that mass effet is so awesome in any case.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Originally posted by: Eeezee

Originally posted by: skace
I think it is absolutely ridiculous that these people think they deserve every achievement regardless how hard a game is. So an achievement is hard, realize you can't get it and move on, don't cheat for the sake of cheating, it ruins the entire point of that achievement being hard. You've, in effect, nullified the entire purpose of even having gamerscores.

See, Dan Hsu's experience is actually preferable. Sure he tried for 5 hours and ended up failing and that might even result in a bad experience in his mind. But he could have given up sooner, and someone else might have gotten it quicker. When he looks at someone else's achievements he might see that one and be like, wow that guy pulled off that insanely hard achievement. Maybe even have a conversation with the guy and find out how he did it. Maybe there's a story other than "yea I downloaded a save".

I think it's absolutely ridiculous that anyone gives two shits about these people who want all of the achievements 😵 WHO CARES? Yippee, your point counter is higher than that other guy's!

However, I disagree with this line.

You've, in effect, nullified the entire purpose of even having gamerscores.

The gamerscore has one point: To tell me whether you're a complete and utter shut-in. That point has been preserved regardless of whether people are cheating to increase their scores. Higher score = more of a shut-in

You have to live a pretty sad, lonely existence to be at the top of the leaderboard. You either play way too many video games or you cheat at video games just to get a high point count. Either way, you lose.

moron.
fully finishing a game isn't being a shut in.
but thinking the way you do means your brain is certainly "shut-in"

 

[Nishua]

Pointless! Achievements serve no purpose on Xbox live besides bragging rights. My question is where is teh moral value in cheating to gain an achievement that you don't rightfully deserve. its different if you earned it fairly there is some since of accomplishment.

 

[Kabob]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: Kev

He?s not alone. 1UP editorial director Dan Hsu told me he spent more than five hours playing through the epilogue mission in ?Call of Duty 4? on the veteran difficulty to unlock the last Achievement. Five hours! He eventually gave up.

pfft. n00b

5 hours is impressive. I gave up after 2. Theres challenging, there's frustrating, and then there's pointless. That achievement should basically be the test to determine who has an addiction to achievement whoring.

What achievement is it? Just the "beat the epilogue on the hardest difficulty" or something? I thought that was one of the easier levels on veteran, maybe there's a different one...

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: kabob983

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: Kev

He?s not alone. 1UP editorial director Dan Hsu told me he spent more than five hours playing through the epilogue mission in ?Call of Duty 4? on the veteran difficulty to unlock the last Achievement. Five hours! He eventually gave up.

pfft. n00b

5 hours is impressive. I gave up after 2. Theres challenging, there's frustrating, and then there's pointless. That achievement should basically be the test to determine who has an addiction to achievement whoring.

What achievement is it? Just the "beat the epilogue on the hardest difficulty" or something? I thought that was one of the easier levels on veteran, maybe there's a different one...

Yeah... the one where you have to complete the plane mission in 60 seconds. Calling it one of the easier levels is a bit of a stretch... the time limit forces you to play very aggressively, you can't grind through it like most of the other levels.