GM / Master map hacker and general hacking and cheating th…

Let's say you're Blizzard, and you're trying to stop hackers. $100,000 a year minimum. Probably much more.

Let's say you set up infrastructure for an automated report system in Battle.net, allowing submission of replays. Say it's a given that replays submitted for hacking reports must have been viewed at least once. (To prevent the millions of spurious and unfounded accusations of hacking which would inevitably be submitted.)

Now let's say you set up a data analysis system to analyze submitted replay data for hacks. Since detected hacks are continuously replaced by newer hacks and bypasses, this means at least one programmer to constantly update data &c. More likely, you need a team.

Any such team would further have to work with existing SC2 teams to integrate antihack patching.

It isn't just a matter of having the existing SC2 teams do antihacking data analysis and reprogramming. The existing SC2 teams already each have their own jobs, even if they were qualified to do antihacking data analysis - which they may very well not be. (There are different areas of expertise in programming, and data analysis is not the same as thing as game programming).

Now let's say also that you need translation and support teams. It isn't enough to just take in replay data; players suspecting hacks may have particular reasons for suspecting hacks that cannot be readily identified with data analysis.

Besides those costs, the amount of data being sent to Blizzard would probably require additional server setup - which of course requires more money.

Even then, that's the absolute minimum cost. If Blizzard were to put "serious" attention to addressing hackers, including followups on reports and individual analysis of suspect replays, the time and staff costs would skyrocket. I wouldn't imagine $100K would even begin to cover it in that case.

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I think it's a gross exaggeration to say Blizzard doesn't care, or that Blizzard's only in it for the money. Obviously, a company cares about its product, if only to the extent of protecting its perceived value to its customers by eliminating negative influences such as hacking.

On the other hand, there's a limit to the extent a company can reasonably be expected to police its own product. A house can be covered with toilet paper and eggs, but that doesn't mean toilet paper manufacturers and farmers should be held responsible for establishing and paying for neighborhood watches to ensure their product isn't misused. That may sound a little ridiculous, but things far more dangerous are still relatively unregulated. Where to Mexican drug cartels get all their guns? (They certainly aren't homemade.) Why are there so many accidents related to talking on cell phones or excessive drinking? We're talking about things that destabilize countries and destroy lives, but which still aren't policed to the degree that's being suggested as "reasonable" in this and other threads for Blizzard.

Explain, please, why Blizzard should be held to a different standard.

I'm not saying hacking should be ignored. What I am saying is that there isn't any legal basis for holding Blizzard responsible for third party hackers. What I am saying is that the degree of apparent responsibility that people seem to be thinking Blizzard should be held to is *abnormal* in light of the degree of regulation in other industries.

What I am saying is that there is a real cost associated with dealing properly with hacking, and that Blizzard's failure to deal with hacking as some customers would like it to is *reasonable*, considering that real cost, considering their lack of legal responsibility, and considering the degree of responsibility that other companies take regarding their products. As far as allowing people to "volunteer" their services - ever since the Ultima Online volunteer class action lawsuit, that's probably not an approach Blizzard (or any other company) is eager to leap into.

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What this all means is - it's not a great situation, but it's the hand that's been dealt. I'm not saying people shouldn't complain about Blizzard; I think it's good that posters with grievances should make their opinion known. But posters should think more about real-world considerations and make suggestions or direct discussion along those lines if they really want any productive results.