Regarding PB screenshots Options

[MonkeyFiend]

Just to clarify things regarding PB screenshots, our server automatically collects screenshots from all players. This is a config option in the server and can be turned on/off so not all servers may do this.. to my knowledge most do.

Our screenshots are non-standard size (actually the TWL recommended sizes) - basically standard PB screenshots are tiny (about 3 square inches) and centered in the screen. Our screenshots are larger and vary between two types - dead centre of the screen and centre of the screen up to top right edge of screen (so that the map is visible)

It is fairly standard to expect 50-75% screenshot return rate.

Some funny graphics setups return black screenshots - a known issue with 8800gtx on Vista (although I have tried this myself and returned screenshots without issue) another issue is screenshot transfer failing/corrupted - again no screenshots are returned.

further a screenshot will be blacked if out of the game e.g. sign into the server then alt-tab out of the game.

Technically if screenshots are repeatedly failing or corrupt the standard practice is to place a temporary ban on any players until the issue can be resolved. If screenshots are repeatedly black it may be worth checking player stats out to make sure there isn't anything fishy or flagging players for further investigation. Once a player is returning screenshots or has been investigated further any temporary bans can be removed.

If a player is temporarily banned for failed screenshots, they can be directed to evenbalance.com and fill in a support ticket. Evenbalance are generally very good at resolving such graphics issues. 9/10 its a graphics driver issue.

It is important to note that failed screenshots do not neccessarily imply guilt, it just means we can't check legitimate PB activity and therefore is better safe than sorry to protect the rest of the players on the server from potential hacks.


Guide to things to keep you eye out for in PB screenshots:

1. No (or reduced) fog
2. Additional or non-standard crosshairs
3. shims (bright colours) on players
4. Non-standard info e.g. distance/health on enemy players
5. overlays e.g. big blocks of black/grey in middle of the screen (a PB screenshot blocker)
6. Severely scrambled bight coloured screenshots (usually screenshot blocker)

The more effective hacks e.g. aimbots/ESP generally require modification of game files, thanks to our server's custom security (and MD5 checks) this generally is more difficult and checking screenshots most of the time, we generally only see evidence of the less useful and simpler hacks.

Name spoofing hack: we should be protected against this on the server. If however somone does get on it only spoofs their name. The guid relating to that player cannot be spoofed, hence why our server bans are based on GUID rather than playername/PID/IP

[=FaRT= skutaboy]

My head hurts.