Daybreak Game Company president John Smedley has this week revealed that the company is willing to give gamers that have been caught cheating at their new H1Z1 game a second chance and a way to redeem themselves.
To be eligible to receive a second chance, H1Z1 cheaters need to publicly apologize to the game’s community of players via YouTube, says Smedley via Twitter. This unique approach aims to foster a sense of accountability and community among players, encouraging them to reflect on their actions and make amends in a public forum.
The Concept Behind Public Apologies
The idea of public apologies is not entirely new but is quite innovative in the gaming world. By requiring cheaters to apologize publicly, Daybreak Game Company aims to create a deterrent effect. The embarrassment and social consequences of admitting to cheating in front of the entire gaming community can be a powerful motivator for players to adhere to fair play. This method also allows the community to see that the developers are taking cheating seriously and are committed to maintaining a fair and enjoyable gaming environment.
Moreover, this approach can help rehabilitate the cheaters themselves. By making a public apology, they are given a chance to re-enter the community with a clean slate, provided they genuinely regret their actions and are willing to change. This can lead to a more positive and inclusive gaming environment where players feel a sense of responsibility towards each other.
“H1Z1 is a survival sandbox massively multiplayer online game in development by Daybreak Game Company (formerly Sony Online Entertainment). H1Z1 is currently being developed for Microsoft Windows and eventually PlayStation 4 in 2015.”
“The gameplay of H1Z1 emphasizes multiplayer cooperation, trading, and team-building. In an interview with Adam Clegg from Sony Online Entertainment, he made clear that unlike other zombie massively multiplayer online games, the main focus will be about surviving against the zombies through teamwork with other players, rather than having a player versus player (PvP) environment with zombies as a backdrop.”
Community Reactions and Future Implications
The community’s reaction to this initiative has been mixed. Some players appreciate the effort to maintain a fair gaming environment and believe that public apologies are a fitting punishment for cheaters. Others, however, feel that this approach might not be enough to deter habitual cheaters who might not care about public opinion.
Nevertheless, this initiative sets a precedent in the gaming industry. It shows that developers are willing to think outside the box to tackle the issue of cheating, which has plagued many online games. If successful, this method could be adopted by other game developers, leading to a broader cultural shift in how cheating is addressed in the gaming community.
For more information on the new H1Z1 game that is available via Steam Early Access, jump over to the Steam website for details.
Source: Kotaku
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