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Monday, March 18, 2013

Multi-boxing: So What Is Legal?

Is anyone else tired of the discussion of multi-boxing software?  If not I have one more post to close out my thoughts on the whole situation.  But before I post my final thoughts I'd like to retrace my steps down the rabbit hole.

If Inner Space weren't such a powerful tool used by bot developers I probably would have avoided the subject altogether.  But when this Twitter exchange between Riverini, the publisher of Eve News 24, and CCP Sreegs occurred my interest peaked.




Did this mean that the new automatic detection code released with Retribution 1.1.5 on 5 March was creating false positives and banning ISBoxer users because ISBoxer uses Inner Space?  Or had CCP changed its policies?


Doing some investigation showed that CCP had changed some policies.  On 18 February 2013 GM Lelouch updated a post from April 2010 with the following information:
This post was originally written almost three years ago and as software/hardware evolves, so must our stance on what goes within our game. It has become increasingly difficult for us to track the capabilities of various pieces of software over the years as their number, as well as the features they offer, increase greatly in number.

In other words, it is unfortunately impractical for us to evaluate whether specific pieces of software can be used without breaking EVE's EULA/ToS. This post should not be taken as endorsement for utilizing specific pieces of software/hardware with EVE, but as a guideline to what is acceptable.

Our general stance towards the concept of multiboxing has not changed but we cannot guarantee that the EULA is being upheld should you use any of the software/hardware mentioned by name in this post, nor will we at EVE customer support be able to officially endorse or sanction specific third party multiboxing programs.

Players wishing to multibox are responsible for familiarizing themselves with our EULA and Terms of Service, the following clauses in particular are of much relevance to this topic:

EULA:
6. CONDUCT
A. Specifically Restricted Conduct
2. You may not use your own or third-party software to modify any content appearing within the Game environment or change how the Game is played.
3. You may not use your own or any third-party software, macros or other stored rapid keystrokes or other patterns of play that facilitate acquisition of items, currency, objects, character attributes, rank or status at an accelerated rate when compared with ordinary Game play. You may not rewrite or modify the user interface or otherwise manipulate data in any way to acquire items, currency, objects, character attributes or beneficial actions not actually acquired or achieved in the Game.

ToS:
21. You will not attempt to decipher, hack into or interfere with any transmissions to or from the EVE Online servers, nor will you try to create or use any third party add-ons, extras or tools for the game.
This raised the question of why CCP chose to edit a nearly 3 year old post like this.  The answer was staring at me from my computer screen because I found the post from the ISBoxer web site on a page called "Is Multiboxing with ISBoxer allowed?

From ISBoxer.com 14 March 2013.  Misinformation underlined in red.
I originally believed that the post was directly referring to ISBoxer due to finding the post through the ISBoxer web site and the claim that Kromtor was using ISBoxer.  Further investigation (i.e. scrolling to the top of the thread) shows that Kromtor was using Synergy, not ISBoxer.  Kromtor also posted a statement on his web site after GM Lelouch made the original post.
"A big thank you to CCP for correcting this mistake and clarifying the rules! Now I can use Synergy again and not have to mess with the retarded mouse cluster seen below, but make no mistake, Eve is one of the hardest MMO's to multibox on a large (5+ accounts) scale even with perfectly synchronized mouse clicks. Multiboxers coming from WoW or EQ will find it very frustrating at first."
That ends the summary of the trip so far.  Now comes my poor attempt to decypher what CCP will and will not allow.  That means once again going to the Eve Online EULA and Terms of Service.  GM Lelouch specifically pointed out three items to look for when evaluating software, although none of the software should violate any portion of the EULA or ToS so I'll begin there.

EULA, Section 6A2. You may not use your own or third-party software to modify any content appearing within the Game environment or change how the Game is played.

KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switching software like Synergy, Input Director or Mouse without Borders do not violate this section of the EULA.  Neither does ISBoxer.  Any screenshots or videos that apparently shows a modified UI setup in an Eve client is actually looking at the ISBoxer client, not the Eve client.  For any other dedicated multi-boxing software do your homework.

EULA, Section 6A3. You may not use your own or any third-party software, macros or other stored rapid keystrokes or other patterns of play that facilitate acquisition of items, currency, objects, character attributes, rank or status at an accelerated rate when compared with ordinary Game play. You may not rewrite or modify the user interface or otherwise manipulate data in any way to acquire items, currency, objects, character attributes or beneficial actions not actually acquired or achieved in the Game.

Evaluating this portion of the EULA required a bit more thought.  From what I've seen in my research all the free KVM switching software has the capability to broadcast keystrokes and mouse clicks to multiple client computers.  That is an option that users can disable and usually are disabled by default.  I was using one virtual KVM, Input Director, that also has macro capability.  While I was not using that capability (and, embarrassingly, didn't even know about it) I switched to the Microsoft Garage virtual KVM switch Mouse without Borders to avoid any problems with a game company scanning for the presence of Input Director running.  Besides, the possibility exists that Microsoft could include the functionality of Mouse without Borders in a new version of Windows.

After giving ISBoxer a few days of consideration I do not believe that ISBoxer violates this section of the EULA.  While Inner Space gives software developers the capability to program extremely complex tasks, as far as I know ISBoxer's functionality is limited to broadcasting keystrokes and mouse clicks.  That just leaves the question of "other patterns of play".  That other pattern of play is multi-boxing and since GM Lelouch's post stated that CCP's general stance on multi-boxing has not changed (it's allowed) then ISBoxer also meets that standard.

Some will disagree, stating that the global broadcasting of keystrokes and mouse clicks represents a variation of "stored rapid keystrokes."  While I agree intellectually with such a stance, I have to try to interpret CCP's statements.  In particular I am looking at this paragraph from GM Lelouch's original post, which I believe is still valid:
"Lastly, multiboxing is allowed, and programs designed for multiboxing in mind which allow a player to manually issue the same command to multiple game clients at the same time are allowed. In the same vein as what has been stated above, the player must be manually sending the commands; if a program is automating those commands for you, then it would be considered a breach of our EULA."
Of course, if I am wrong then ISBoxer violates the EULA and players should not ISBoxer.  Players should then also ensure that any broadcast to all computer functions on any KVM switch software is set to "Off" or "Disabled".

So for the checks with the EULA I found the KVM software switch programs and ISBoxer in compliance with CCP's rules.  That and $7 might get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.  So how about compliance with Eve Online's Terms of Service?

ToS - 21. You will not attempt to decipher, hack into or interfere with any transmissions to or from the EVE Online servers, nor will you try to create or use any third party add-ons, extras or tools for the game.

This is the part I have problems with interpreting correctly.  Once again, not only do I have to figure out what is actually occurring but what CCP may rule and act upon.  I'll take the second part first, since addressing that is easier:

"nor will you try to create or use any third party add-ons, extras or tools for the game." - This is the part of the ToS that bans the creation of mods for Eve.  For the software KVM switches, the answer is easy.  They are built for general use to connect computers.  So they were not created for the game.  The same holds true for ISBoxer.  ISBoxer was created to handle all games, not just Eve Online.  Is that semantics?  Probably.  But that is the way I read this portion of the statement.

"You will not attempt to decipher, hack into or interfere with any transmissions to or from the EVE Online servers"

This, I believe, is the phrase more commonly referred to as client modification.  So does KVM switching software like Synergy alter the client?  I don't believe so.  I don't know exactly how these programs work though so I'm not sure if they use any techniques that CCP considers client modification, such as injecting information into the client.  But to the best of my knowledge they do not do so.

ISBoxer is a different story.  While I don't know the technical explanation of how ISBoxer works, I do know CCP's view of Inner Space when the subject is related to botting.  I asked CCP Sreegs if a bot used any code injection if the botter would receive a permanent ban or a 14-day ban for a first offense.  He replied that, "Any attempt detected at client manipulation leads to a permanent ban across all accounts."  So if Inner Space is performing any code or DLL injection (I hope I got the terms correct) into the Eve process to make ISBoxer work, that is a violation of the Terms of Service.  Given the reaction that CCP has toward injection bots I have to believe that CCP sees Inner Space as doing that for ISBoxer.

So in the end I believe that Synergy and Mouse without Borders don't violate the Eve ToS but that CCP would rule that ISBoxer does.  Am I saying this analysis is infallible?  No.  The possibility exists that I am completely wrong.  But CCP is not going to tell us.  All they've said is read the EULA and ToS and that some of what was posted before is still valid.  But people have asked for answers so I posted mine.

22 comments:

  1. CCP are creating a grounds for arbitrary behaviour on the part of whoever fulfills Screegs role. Sooner or later this will come back to bite them - when there is some high profile false positive.

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    1. If ISBoxer is performing DLL injection then it is not arbitrary behavior as that was outlawed before Sreegs was hired.

      Delete
    2. Unless CCP changes its policy and disallows single user click amplified to multiple clients.

      In my most humble opinion, multi-boxing is perfectly fine; however, the use of software to replicate a single player action to multiple clients should not be permitted.

      A single use of fleet warp does not send the command of fleet warp to each client, rather it has one client through the game, command other clients to warp.

      A single click to have several ships jump through a gate should not be permitted (in my opinion).

      Again, this is just my opinion.

      Delete
    3. @Knug Lidi - You mean like ArenaNet's policy in GW2? That would definitely make things clearer in terms of enforcement and for users looking at software trying to figure out if it violates the EULA and ToS.

      Delete
    4. Sure, but their 'clarification' is not based on DLL injection or a modified client per se.

      Essentially you now have behaviour that will get you banned, behaviour that won't get you banned, and behaviour that is illegal but wont get you banned for now unless Screegs decides otherwise (on his stated opinion anyone using EVEmon over the last 6 months has been guilty of illegal behaviour).

      "nor will you try to create or use any third party add-ons, extras or tools for the game." is a statement so vague that it's useless. Anything using the API is a 'third party add-on .. for the game'.

      Delete
  2. Given that it's riverini he's probably whiteknighting a botter.

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  3. Hello all,

    we need an official statement from CCP if Synergy and SW KVM is allowed. Personally I don't see a problem here. You can also use HW for recording macros via keyboards etc.

    And what can this help you in EVE? It's a game that needs a lot of logic behind, simple pres F1 to F8 with a single key press it's not an issue.

    I have a G15 keyboard, and only what I'm using a macro key is that I don't have to type my long password into eve client. :)

    rgds

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  4. Does multiboxing necessarily mean using some kind of support software? I have been known to launch two EVE clients on the same machine, arrange them so that I can see them both on the same screen, and foreground the one I want to interact with. Other people use two machines at once.

    In other words, does CCP's endorsement of multiboxing imply any endorsement of software that replicates keyboard and mouse commands, or slices up and rearranges the contents of EVE client windows in another window? I'm not 100% sure of that. Though it would clearly change the way a lot of people play if they did rule that kind of software out.

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    1. You do not need specialized software to multi-box. You really only need one computer that is powerful enough to run multiple clients and then all you have to do is alt-tab. On both occasions I've triple-boxed that's how I handled two of my Eve clients.

      I mainly use a software KVM switch when dual-boxing because I like to look at both screens. Watching missiles stream in on my Maelstrom from a different perspective is really cool.

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    2. I know you don't need it, because I don't need it. I'm asking if CCP saying "we support multiboxing" necessarily translates to "we support third-party software that facilitates multiboxing." I'm not sure that that's a safe assumption to make.

      I mean, a corpmate just linked this killmail, where 3 RL players took down a titan by running myriad accounts with ISBoxer. That's probably legal under the current interpretations of the EULA and the TOS, but I can see why CCP wouldn't exactly be thrilled by that kind of gameplay. There are more people than that on cruiser KMs.

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    3. It depends on the software. If you consider KVM switch software as software that facilitates multi-boxing, then I would say yes. Stuff like ISBoxer? It depends and CCP is not going to spell out what is and is not allowed. You have to interpret the EULA and the ToS.

      The answer isn't great but that's all I have to go on.

      Delete
  5. You know what I want to see? A clear and concise definition of "How the Game is played." which is the basis for the EULA and CoC. CCP please tell us what YOU expect a normal gaming experience to be, and then we will better understand your basis for exceptions and violations of that "user experience"...

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  6. I would love to see some clarification on accessibility issues. I'm mildly visually impaired myself and I know gamers who have much larger impairments who can't play without support software (or mods on games that support them), some of which might violate the EULA.

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  7. I understand why they won't, but really, we just need a hard and fast answer to 'will using isboxer (via innerspace) get my accounts banned?'

    All this skirting around the bush and referencing EULA lines is typical of a politician that doesn't want to answer a question.

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  8. I wonder if he was using ISXEVE as well as ISBoxer. ISXEVE is now being specifically scanned for.

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    1. ISXEVE is interesting because it has been modified so that on autopilot you warp to zero on a gate instead of 15km off. Either that or maybe he modified ISBoxer?

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  9. They are memory scanning for specific processes don't let them tell you other wise. The EULA was written in a way that you can be banned on their discretion for multiboxing.

    The WHOLE multiboxing discussion was started ages ago. a GM deemed it "ok" long as you are not using to do things AFK that you normally do while sitting at the machine.

    Those people who cry about multiboxing = dont understand it or can't afford or have the knowledge to set it up. Plain and simple.

    Muliboxing games like embrace it. This conversation is like discussing digital darkrooms vs conventional ones. As time and technology changes so should "YOU".

    Here is a small list of game that embrace multi-boxing.

    Aion
    Asheron's Call
    Asheron's Call 2
    Champions Online
    Dark Age of Camelot
    DC Universe
    Diablo 3
    Dungeons & Dragons Online
    EVE Online
    EverQuest
    EverQuest 2
    Guild Wars
    Guild Wars 2
    Lord of the Rings Online
    Path of Exile
    Perpetuum
    PlanetSide 2
    Realm of the Mad God
    RIFT
    Runes of Magic
    Star Trek Online
    Star Wars: The Old Republic
    TERA
    Torchlight 2
    Ultima Online
    Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
    Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
    Wizardry Online
    World of Warcraft

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  10. 1. Inner Space performs just as much "client modification" as other gaming overlay software, like X-Fire or Mumble. That is, none.

    2. CCP Eterne posted this to clear the air
    https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&m=2750884#post2750884
    "Our policy on ISBoxer has not changed in a long time. I am not trying to trick you or present you with some sort of intricate sting operation. We are currently applying the same rule we have on ISBoxer as we have for quite a long time."


    For actually interesting discussion that isn't from a random blogger with an agenda, check out the Reddit AMA (Ask me Anything) from last Friday, on the topic at hand: http://www.reddit.com/r/Eve/comments/1act9k/i_am_the_creator_of_apparently_controversial/

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    1. So you are saying that Inner Space performs no code injection in order to do its magic? That's not what my research indicates. If you read the post, you will see that I state that ISBoxer does not alter the appearance of the Eve client. But what I do believe is that Inner Space performs code injection in order to perform the commands that would normally be performed by a mouse-click or keystroke. That has been defined by CCP Sreegs as "client modification". And since Inner Space is what runs ISBoxer...

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    2. As for CCP Eterne's statement, that is good to hear considering CCP has tacitly allowed the use of ISBoxer for years. If there is going to be that drastic a change of policy, CCP needs to make it perfectly clear to users who wish to remain within the rules.

      Delete
  11. Kromtor started using Synergy AFTER getting banned, and he did it out of fear of getting banned again. He had 6 PCs, each running 2 at the time. He switched to 15 separate PCs for the wooden dowel rig, and then used Synergy afterward.

    http://www.dual-boxing.com/threads/29236-Just-got-3-day-banned-for-quot-macroing-quot

    Nice work super-sleuth, maybe stick to other topics for a while.

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    1. So you are saying that Kromtor was using ISBoxer and that thread proves it? Did you even visit that link? That thread says nothing about using ISBoxer. All it states is that Kromtor was using syncd mouse clicks/keystrokes, which according to my reasearch could be done in Synergy 1.3 if you altered a configuration file.

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