Punkbuster and your shard(S)

**Queen Mum** · 25th June 2006, 02:01 PM

... the link is ... http://www.evenbalance.com/ which owns PunkBuster

perhaps we can better understand the issues being posted by copy and pasting if we are given the direct link to the referenced information. It would help us to all be on the same page ...

TY

*Thanks Tuka too!

witchy · 25th June 2006, 02:09 PM

http://www.evenbalance.com/
Here you will find what i been state hit doom 3 see the problems also use the above site such as info announcement n so one

**Queen Mum** · 25th June 2006, 02:16 PM

Just A Friendly Reminder ...
Interviewing Tony Ray from Punkbuster - Questions sought ...
HERE -> http://www.uoforums.com/showthread.p...662#post148662

we are posting questions for consideration to be submitted to the founder and administrator of Punkbuster.

witchy · 25th June 2006, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiP

The program does not run off of it's desires.

Many things have had issues with norton's ms and firewalls, hardware has problems with it, xbox live has had issues with it, so have major ISPs.

Not meaning to beat the horse again (sorry horse, but your dead, so it won't hurt much) scripters/dupers/hackers/cheater/thiefs/etc. will CONTINUE to, and attempt to do whatever they can regardless of what you, I, the company, my cat, some kid in Cambodia do to attempt to stop them. Sitting Idle and playing dead will not stop them from doing what they do, atleast attempting to stop them will make them work harder and possibly fail where they are having great success with nothing being done.

never said a gm's life was glory but it's a problem that should have been addressed year's ago im hoping they cant be hack it be a gift from heaven as they made million's off the dupe's n ect my only intent was to show yes it has problem's as well as conflict's and also agree alot of program's do as well.
I will also add this i enjoy uo if because of the router's n firewall's in programs i have in place on mine prevent's me from playing i will be upset to say the least and i also do not want to have to invest more money just to play if these conflict's arise on my comp.

Call me a worry wart but i do have a right at that Good Day

Drax-Gva · 25th June 2006, 02:20 PM

Again. I did go to your FAQ for Doom 3, as well as other sites. Your concern about firewalls is addressed by EvenBalance as follows:

"Do I have to re-configure my firewall or proxy to use PunkBuster?

In general, if a connection can play the Game online successfully without PunkBuster, then there will be no need to make any changes to a firewall or proxy that may be in use when PunkBuster is Installed and Enabled. PunkBuster communicates over the Internet (and in LAN environments) using the same network channels created and used by the Game, and therefore requires no changes. If, however, you had to adjust your firewall to use the game in the first place, you may need to extend that adjustment to include ports used by PB's auto-update feature. PunkBuster use outgoing UDP Port 27666 to get security info from the PunkBuster Master Servers, PunkBuster Servers use UDP Ports 24300-24399.. "

witchy · 25th June 2006, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drax-Gva

Again. I did go to your FAQ for Doom 3, as well as other sites. Your concern about firewalls is addressed by EvenBalance as follows:

"Do I have to re-configure my firewall or proxy to use PunkBuster?

In general, if a connection can play the Game online successfully without PunkBuster, then there will be no need to make any changes to a firewall or proxy that may be in use when PunkBuster is Installed and Enabled. PunkBuster communicates over the Internet (and in LAN environments) using the same network channels created and used by the Game, and therefore requires no changes. If, however, you had to adjust your firewall to use the game in the first place, you may need to extend that adjustment to include ports used by PB's auto-update feature. PunkBuster use outgoing UDP Port 27666 to get security info from the PunkBuster Master Servers, PunkBuster Servers use UDP Ports 24300-24399.. "

ty for going there i also hope you looked around and will add some computers just cant hold alot on there's. I do have some valid concern's
If it can be hacked what then? Then all this was done for nothing?

Drax-Gva · 25th June 2006, 02:59 PM

Witchy:

I really can't address your concerns any better than I already have.

I don't minimize anyone's feelings regarding the most sensitive issue of computer security. It's a serious issue.

However, I really think that the vast, vast majority of "security concerns" are actually Phantoms....shadows..."what if" scenarios which apply to ANY program which can be purchased or used....which apply to ANY employee of any company which has the potential to have access to our private information.

So, I have to rely on my ability to reason when I make the determination on the risk/reward formula. And, when I do so, I can come to no other conclusion but that PunkBuster is about as safe a "safe bet" as one can get in this world.

In addition to the many reasons I supplied earlier, I just want to say that NONE OF THIS IS NEW.

These very concerns were raised when PunkBuster first entered into the market. And, then, they didn't have the 5-6 year track record that they have now.

Can you imagine the Game Manufacturer's initial response to this notion? "You want me to tell MY customers to install this program on THEIR computers? Are you TRYING to put me out of business??? Let YOU (and who the hell are you anyway?) and YOUR EMPLOYEES scan MY CUSTOMERS' computers?" Etc.

So, in order to get this FIRST client, EverBalance had to CONVINCE the game manufacturer that, in fact, the program they were hawking did not have the POTENTIAL to do what you fear it can do, i.e., allow unfettered access to the game manufacturer's customers by employees of an unknown company.

And, 5-6 years later, a dozen and more HUGE software companies, millions of users of PunkBuster....

And, still, not ONE instance of a EvenBalance employee stealing ONE piece of personal information. Not ONE "disgruntled employee" spilling the beans on how EverBalance employees "rooted around" in our computers.

If there is one thing that life should teach us with clarity: The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.

I am satisfied, as is EA, as is Id, as is Blizzard, that this program not only WORKS as intended, but that it does nothing MORE than advertised...and, not only that, but does not have the POTENTIAL to do any more than advertised.

**Queen Mum** · 25th June 2006, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by witchy

http://www.evenbalance.com/
Here you will find what i been state hit doom 3 see the problems also use the above site such as info announcement n so one

ok, i have gone to the doom 3 page ... faq ... http://www.evenbalance.com/index.php?page=faq-doom3.php (hoping thats the right page)

1. I said it could send collective data if it wanted to.

Aye it sends collective data but it isn't sending our personal data ... only collecting data that pertains to UO and known cheat programs

2. I also said it has issue's with norton's ms and firewall's.

Aye doom3 users have had issues and PB gives the steps to correct those issues. I did not go look at any other games using PB but I'm sure they addressed and helped folks who might have these types of problems. And I'm sure they will address them with UO if necessary.

3. The program itself already has been had granted was fix but it's not 100% that it will block scripter's or duper's as for a person with knowledge just them stating it unhackable become a challenge for them.

They never say that it will stop cheaters 100% but with their track record they have proven successfully to put a clamp (and a good one) on them.

4.The issue's still remain's on what shard going to be made devil's island no one want's it on there shard let alone them thinking about 3rd party program's if memory serve's they had a pub to fix that so if you gonna be playing that shard better make sure chest's are in the middle of your house.

Not sure what you mean in the second part of your statement but yes the issue remains whether they open a new shard specifically for folks who do not want to use PB or redesign a current one. Time will tell and UO folks are listening to our input on that issue.

5. You talk about being liable there you'll have to but a new comp if you try to hack them put's them liable (quote scare tactic).

?? Not sure what your trying to say, sorry.

6. Maybe you should type in punkbuster.com and go look at various game's and the issue's that have ensued with punk.

addressed this with correct link information for ... http://www.evenbalance.com/ Even Balance owns Punkbuster.

7. Still Remain's why should many honest people if they choose not to be forced to play with cheater's (I do not condone them ) i've also stated that as well!

It certainly is a terrible shame that we honest players have to choose to play UO with anticheating protection. The alternative is basically to leave the cheaters to keep doing what they do best ... "Cheaters suck the life out of games, in part by setting off a domino effect."
~ Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software

8. And the biggest problem i have with this is why should i give them more access then my freaking bank has.

Over and over again they state that they are not interested in your personal information, or gather that kind of information. Do you really believe that a company who has not received a negative mark against their 'privacy' agreement is out to get us? EA/UO are not in the business of damaging their reputations because they are trying stop cheaters in their games nor are they going to align themselves with such companies.

9. And notice i did this without swearing like you did And as far as your to wise crack's about teenager or oldlady (LEARN SOME RESPECT)

Sorry, I must have missed this part of the posting and lets hope it doesn't come back up

10. This was put here to show the program has it issue's and well as problem's nothing more or nothing less and was taken from there site !!!
witch by the way none responding to these was so kindly to give (wonder's why)

I think it basically was because we didn't know how to address your concerns or where you were getting your information from. Perhaps it is a small language barrier on both sides.

11. One said it even the playing field it wont to do that you have to have this take all the house's the gold everything you work your rear off for including pet's stat's in ect.in let him make it disapear for everyone then install punk and youd have a even playing flield (but that won't happen

Sorry, I'm not sure what you are saying. Are you saying that someone suggested that they wipe accounts (shard specific) clean in order to play on an even level? Seriously doubt UO would do that to anyone of us.

12. I've learned this also it does not matter how you feel what you have to say here there mind all ready made up the pvp pub proves that theory

Everyone here does have a right to their opinion and we do enjoy respectful, intelligent, legitimate, debates. There are some that have made up their minds about this issue, one way or the other, there are many more that are still searching for answers, asking questions, and haven't decided one way or the other.

ty.
Good Day

yw. and I hope this helped you in some way to know that no one is attacking your opinions, nor trying to dispute that there are unanswered questions about this program. Thats why we are trying to get as many questions together as soon as possible to present to the founder and administrator of Punkbuster.
Good Day to you as well.

**DiP** · 25th June 2006, 03:21 PM

*bows deeply* Thank you Drax and Mum, if nothing else, you've both answered (or pointed where to get answers) any questions I had.

Drax-Gva · 25th June 2006, 03:28 PM

Heh....thanks.

But, don't get me wrong. I have some SERIOUS concerns about PunkBuster being implemented with UO, with "false positives" heading the list, followed a close second by how it will be determined which shard (if any) will be the "PB free" shard(s).

It's just that I'm not really concerned by the security issue and think it's mainly a "straw man" argument, which, in some cases is being raised to instill FEAR into us so that, regardless of the potential to curb cheaters, enough HONEST players will be so afraid that the backlash will prevent it from being implemented. (Of course, I'm not specifically saying that about anyone on these boards. However, the HUGE number of "visitors" on Stratics who are employing this tactic is pretty impressive.)