Gripe about cheaters on personal quests

[goofy4dizney]

Ok, now I know how yavn felt when people were cheating on his quest, and he shut it down.

I ran my Journey of a Hero quest yesterday and today, both times with pretty good prizes (fire window, super suit, etc.). Well, that's like waving a flag out the window to all the mulers, saying "Come on in and give it a spin!" LOL

I sat there watching mule after mule parade by, funnily enough wearing no pins except for the exact two that my quest require (both Kelloggs). Then I watched as the times got faster and faster, bumping the "regular" players off the list one by one.

What a shame for those folks who legitimately spent the time and effort to figure out the quest, without cheating. These people that want the top prize so badly that they play again and again under different accounts, getting faster each time.

There's nothing I can do about it, either. Can't change the prize, can't stop the person from playing once they start, can't report them. Just sit there and watch them stroll in and race out, over and over. So sad...

From now on, I'm just awarding credits. No more great prizes. Hopefully, people will just enjoy the quest for what it is, and be happy to get some change in their pocket.

Just a shame to ruin what is such an awesome idea.

 

[laxplaya1346]

yeah i no what you mean. My new quest coming up for my park im having the prize just a MGM pin so its not that great

 

[Julesoola]

yeah, i've noticed this too, which is why I kind of like the first to complete prize giivng quests versus the ones that give prizes at the end to the best times. Seems to disuade the less than honest..

 

[cat_herder]

On the other hand, I have done 6 personal quest and got nothing for them. Not 1 credit - not one 25 credit pin. The owers buged out.

 

[VirtuallyMe]

I had a blast doing your quest... it was challenging and fun all at the same time... and yes when I saw some of the final times of other players I shook my head-

Just a question- can't you go in and make a change to your quest and force everyone to do it again if they want the prize? Isn't that why I had to keep re-doing the partially done VMK quests- they make a change mid quest and everything changes- or since they did it already does that make it end?

Anyway- your quest was lots of fun- and the prize was no big deal in my case- as I anxiously tried to finish before I had to attend a meeting.

Thanks- and sorry some people will just insist on cheating no matter what you do.

 

[goofy4dizney]

Hey VirtuallyMe!

Thanks for doing my quest, and for the kind words! I did work hard on the quest, and I'm so glad you had fun!

Once I start the quest thing going, the only option I have is turning it off, which will automatically hand out all the prizes to the top five anyway, so that doesn't help me, unfortunately, once I see their times.

I really wish there was a way to edit it while it is running, or at least, as you suggest, stopping it and altering it, but right now, there isn't.

And yes, I agree that there will always be ppl looking for the easy win. I just wanted to put my gripe on here so other Dis'ers are aware of the potential problems, and learn from it when they make their quests, and perhaps if staff or someone else from the game knows what is happening, maybe they can redesign the controls.

Like I said, next time it will be credits only, and I will not keep it open as long, probably just an hour, to lessen the time they have to come back. I could do what NJMike is doing and limit it to friends only, but sadly, I dont have as many friends as he does apparently

 

[TikiKrissy]

Hi Dewberry,
I am sad for you also. I had a really neat time doing your quest... my time was more than 40 minutes I think because I couldn't get the "who is a cool dude" question right, lol. I won 200 credits I think. Anyway, it was super fun, and I will look forward to trying out any more that you do.
Tiki

 

[goofy4dizney]

Woot, hey there Tiki!

Glad you finished - and even better, won something!

And yes, that was a silly question, really - sorry it gave you so much trouble. Even heroes need a little luck sometimes LOL

I had real fun making the quest and enjoyed watching my old friends and new all puzzling through it. Again, the quest maker is a terrific concept, just needs some of the problems worked out, which I'm sure they will be eventually.

 

[robynbird]

I agree, it is disappointing and annoying how everyone does that. It bumps you out of the list almost always if it's a timed thing.

 

[BelievinNMagic]

Hey Dewberry,

I played your quest earlier. I had a blast! On the other hand, that is a very good point that you bring up about the mules because it never even occured to me that that was happening. How sad.

 

[Renpener]

Dewberry,

I tried your quest, and it was a blast. Once you said to spell a disney phrase backwards it reminded me that disney was in a pickle about naming the sorcerer, and spelling disney backwards. One thing I noticed is that the players were able to do it fast because there were no minigames involved. If there were minigames, the players may not be able to obtain the same score all the time. My quest is just like yours, but it ends with a surprise to people who want to mule up. Yup, 50 ghosts. Hope this helps.

Regards,
Renpener

 

[goofy4dizney]

Hey BelievinNMagic!

I remember you from yesterday - didn't know you were Dis! Thanks for playing my quest, and glad you had a blast! Hope you won SOMETHING!! I tried to put enough prizes in there to reward those heroes who persevered to end.

Renpener - Hmmm, that's an interesting point about the minigame. I purposely left one out because I didn't want to have to play a game every time I tested the quest LOL Will have to really think about adding one next time. Thanks for the tip! And I'm happy you enjoyed playing my quest

 

[Debs5angels]

Hi Due,

I just wanted to tell you how much fun my DD's and I had doing your quest. It was fun trying to figure out some of the inside jokes even though some of them I got wrong! It's a shame after all the hard work you put into it that people would cheat like that. I don't even know what my time was. all I know is that it was fun!! Congratulations on a great quest!

Hugs,
Debsangels

 

[goofy4dizney]

Aww, thanks Deb!

The main reason I made the quest was for my friends to have fun, so I'm glad you liked it! I had a ball incorporating you guys into the questions LOL

Oh, and before I forget, I have a waiver here for you to sign, releasing me from all responsibility for any negative ramifications that might arise from posting that pic of us from beta!

Hugs to you and all the little angels...

 

[*TrixieBella*]

In Yavn's third quest the winner did it in 1 minute!! I played his quests for the fun, although winning Inferno would have been nice, I knew the mules would be out as soon as word leaked that inferno was involved.

Now I know why your room was so crowded when I came to visit Due!! (Fire window)

 

[Goofy05]

Dewberry,

I tried your quest, and it was a blast. Once you said to spell a disney phrase backwards it reminded me that disney was in a pickle about naming the sorcerer, and spelling disney backwards. One thing I noticed is that the players were able to do it fast because there were no minigames involved. If there were minigames, the players may not be able to obtain the same score all the time. My quest is just like yours, but it ends with a surprise to people who want to mule up. Yup, 50 ghosts. Hope this helps.

Regards,
Renpener

PLEASE don't pull surprises like that! If you have any mini-games in your quests, let people know up front. Personally, I hate playing the haunted mansion game. If I would know up front about it being included in a quest, I would have the option of NOT wasting my time playing. There are too many other quests I would rather attempt.

Back on topic! I, too have a quest generator. I set my timer for 2 hours, but I may go back to 1 hour. I think this may cut down on the number of cheaters. I also don't have "fantastic" prizes, but I'm using the Nemo chairs (500 credits each) and/or Red Penny Presses as the first 5 prizes. I have a total of 25 winning places, too. Hopefully, someone deserving will win, but unfortunately there is no way of knowing.

 

[goofy4dizney]

Now I know why your room was so crowded when I came to visit Due!! (Fire window)

You mean they weren't there just to see me??? Aww, darn!

I want to add a big shout-out to WingedHeart for taking the time to go to the Tomorrowland Help desk and get their thoughts on the problem. The HOST flatly stated that it was not against the rules, but oddly enough, then when CL_MrLunatix inquired, he was told that it was, and it would be looked into. So who knows??

And HUGS to pixiebell for keeping me entertained while watching me answer the same questions OVER and OVER and OVER again!! LOL Inferno dueling! WOOT! I will get you next time, girlfriend!

 

[NJ Mike]

I could do what NJMike is doing and limit it to friends only, but sadly, I dont have as many friends as he does apparently

well, my first quest is just a test, but i will be keeping my quests friends only from here on out. I figure I will run smaller quests, with better prizes in the future for dis peeps only. I have no desire to run a public quest with all the people complaining, and asking the same questions over and over, or reporting me because they dont like a prize. I don't need that cra........aggravation.

Goof, i agree with the others that next time try doing a NON-timed quest. That way you set the prizes 1-whatever and people get them as they finish. I saw the mules times with the regular vmk quests, and figured if you run a timed quest, you are pretty much daring people to get a faster time. Not that it is your fault, far from it. Like I said, i have seen it on the regular vmk quests and opted not to do any timed quests. No reason to cheat on the other type. Everybody gets a prize, and you cant come in with a mule, get a faster time, and take a prize somebody already won away from them. Know what I mean?

 

[goofy4dizney]

Sorry, double post. GR

 

[Wingedheart]

Due, I think your quest was fabulous!

It was very innovative how you made it a quest about your friends! So, fun that you thought of that! I think your prizes were also very generous. And, thus cheaters were out in full force.

To me, the times that were recorded were IMPOSSIBLE based on the number of questions, the load times of the rooms, getting trapped in teleporters, having to play your mix, etc. So, I have NO idea what people were doing to get those times, but it was NOT in ANY way, shape or form HONEST.

I think the ability for us to create quests is by far the most exciting thing to hit VMK lately, but sad to say, it's already being abused. And, as you mentioned, my reporting and questioning the use and abuse of mules seems to have fallen on deaf ears. Let's hope CL_MrLunatix and/or others have more luck than I did in getting the point across that this is NOT FAIR.

I personally will not do timed quests at all unless my room is friends only because of this problem! Oh well! But, take HEART, cheaters never win and winners never cheat.

Hugs,
Wingedheart - the FAIR