Beware of Short Keys for Code Entry

[VirtuallyMe]

I heard the talk of using Short Keys to enter codes- and gave it a try yesterday- I didn't do it too fast was doing a few other things at same time and had son on my lap- it was still faster than me typing in by hand- since I seem to have this problem with z's and 7's (I want to replace the one with the other when ever)...

Anyway- DH had several Narnia codes he was entering on his main and his alter self- I told him to give short keys a try that it worked great for me. So he downloaded the program and started loading in his codes- After entering about 50-100 codes he got a visit from a VMK staff member who politely told him to stop and that it is against VMK values... warned him that if it continued he could get banned.

He implied- that it was only a problem for codes- but I did want to share the warning and maybe suggest that those who have staff as friends- ask if it is a problem to use short keys in game rooms and the like...

 

[Dizpinfriend]

Direct from the VMK Home Page:

VMK Values
Virtual Magic Kingdom is a free multi-Player game, where you can have a Disney Theme Park experience and hang out with your friends. While it is designed to be enjoyed by Guests of all ages, many VMK Players are between the ages of 8-14, so VMK needs to be a safe, non-threatening environment.

The rules are very simple. Stick to them and everyone will have fun; break them and you'll get yourself banned from the game.

You Must NOT:

Use ANY hacking, scripting or editing program with the game.

The Hacking/Scripting "NOT' is at the top of the list!!!

Thanks for posting your experience, It is nice to now that VMK is watching.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Odd. I've never had a problem using it.
I guess I can see what problems they would have using it for lots of codes, but they can't have problems with us using it for chat/games.
THEY use it themselves.

 

[pokemon_master]

THEY use it themselves.

Hypocrites!!

 

[robynbird]

What is short keys?

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Short Keys is a program that allows you to input in a short code to enter a longer item.
Such as, when entering in a 16 digit code, I can just enter into the box .qw, and it will enter in the entire code.
Thereby saving me lots of time and trouble.

You can also use it for saying things in game that you say all the time. It is especially helpful to those hosting game rooms. So instead of them typing out "please read the pictures" over and over again, they can just type .1. Which is why the HOSTs use it too. I know this for a fact because several of them have said that they use it.

 

[cat_herder]

Direct from the VMK Home Page:



The Hacking/Scripting "NOT' is at the top of the list!!!

Thanks for posting your experience, It is nice to now that VMK is watching.

But several of the staff have said that the Short key program was NOT a problem if we use it. You have only entering data not trying to change the software.

 

[Dizpinfriend]

I am not aware of what staff may or may not have said - it is just that in my experiences of playing this game ( I wear a Day 1 badge ), staff have been known to not always have the correct information.

Not looking to nit-pick, just pointing out what the VMK Values states on the Home page:

You Must NOT:

Use ANY hacking, scripting or editing program with the game.

That is a direct copy paste of the words on the home page - note the use of the word "ANY"...

 

[PirateSteve]

Not having been there, I'm wondering if the problem was with entering "50-100 codes" in a short period of time. Maybe they thought he was cheating somehow.

I have gotten a lot of bad codes from the Narnia game. Maybe he was entering so many bad codes so quickly that they started thinking that he was using a tool to randomly guess at codes - something that would definitely be against VMK values.

Did your DH or the staff who asked him to stop mention "Short Keys" at all?

<geek talk>
The way ShortKeys works, it's capturing the signal from your keyboard and, when one of your special phrases is entered, sends a different set of keystrokes. In a way, that's what every Windows keyboard driver does - your keyboard has no idea that there's a letter A on that left-most key of the home row, the driver program figures that out and sends it to the active program (Shockwave in the case of VMK).
</geek talk>
When you use Windows, you are inherently using a "scripting" program of sorts. I don't see where VMK could have a problem with that.

I have been sitting in Tom Sawyer Island and helping people with the new quests (there seem to be at least two big bottlenecks there due to poor planning on the part of the designers). Without ShortKeys, repeating myself all day would not be worth it!

Just my 2 cents...

Steve

 

[Nanoer]

Hypocrites!!

excatly! remember my infamous quote

Life is not fair. Irony is everywhere!

 

[VirtuallyMe]

Not having been there, I'm wondering if the problem was with entering "50-100 codes" in a short period of time. Maybe they thought he was cheating somehow.

I have gotten a lot of bad codes from the Narnia game. Maybe he was entering so many bad codes so quickly that they started thinking that he was using a tool to randomly guess at codes - something that would definitely be against VMK values.

Did your son or the staff who asked him to stop mention "Short Keys" at all?

I honestly think it was the fact that he was rapidly entering the codes- and the number of codes he was entering- he has several hundred saved still-

I didn't read the entire converstation between the staff member and dh's mule that was entering all the codes- but dh told him he was using short keys to enter the codes he had saved. Dh can enter them pretty fast by hand too- (much faster than I can) and I think Short Keys made him just too efficient lol- I had distractions when I had entered mine in the same way earlier (probably the same amount too) but where he did his in about 10 minutes it took me more than 20 minutes to do the same.

The staff member was very polite- and told dh that he didn't want him to get into any trouble or be accused of hacking- which would lead to banning- so basically was just saying back off- and everything is fine.

I would assume like you mentioned that using the program to give instructions in the game is acceptable- but mass entering of codes may not be... also it may go unnoticed if using the short keys to enter codes at a slower pace- but I have no idea- which is why I suggested that someone with friends for staff ask if it was safe to use for game rooms

I know all the Zeta's were using it for the Ride competition with staff judging us- and there was no problem.

Just my guess- dh suggested I post a warning for others who may use the method a little too rapidly. He didn't try to enter any more after the warning- didn't want to push things- so I really can't answer...

IF others have used the program to enter codes- how fast do you enter them- and how many have you entered at one time? It may just be the speed and volume triggered them to look at what he was doing- and nothing else.

 

[Laurabearz]

I use short keys to enter codes but I go slowly, and only enter in 10-20 codes at a time. I guess I dont use it for speed, but for acuracy. lol

 

[SurfingGirl]

Maybe they have a problem with short keys on codes because it floods the system it cant handle it. I am not sure about that but thats my guess.

 

[Captain Brain]

I asked HOST_Bella a month ago is we could use Short Keys. She told me that you could.