External Analysis=cheat?

[Ominous]

I was wondering what is considered cheating by the host site, In my case king.com.

In a tournament in something like big bang is it allowed to screen dump the game, analyse it and then enter again with an improved strategy.
Is this considered cheating?



I mean, looking at the scores on some strategy games I have a hard time thinking people do not use this kind of strategies to improve thier game.


If screendumping is disallowed, where is the line drawn? I mean, multiple entries = players can recall from previous games.... its just a question of how much.

[Jacob]

From the best of my knowledge, the line is drawn when you are using software to gain any special advantage in a given game/tournament. If you are using software to capture moves, that could very well be cheating.

Then again, how would they know? You could use video recording software to record games, replay the match, and plan moves accordingly. In terms of practicality though, it's better off to go by both pure memory and your own playing ability.

[Ominous]

OK I wrote this email to customer support at king.com, lets hope they bother to reply. Doesnt seem like they have such a great customer service to be honest.
Has anyone here got an official/(or unofficial) contact who they can forward this email to?

Skickat: den 17 mars 2009 10:28:57
Till: segold@support.king.com
Dear Support

I would like to know if the following methodology would be considered cheating in king.com strategy/puzzle games, as I do not want to cheat or be found guilty of such action.

As far as I can read from your user agreement I cannot find any indication that this is not allowed.

1. I enter a jackpot tournament and write down the layout of the board.
2. After the tournament is finished I analyse the board.
3. I enter the same jackpot tournament again, with a strategy created from the analysis in step 2.

<No software involved>

Is this considered cheating?

Can you be false-positive flagged for cheating using this methodology?

Best Regards

[rahnnyboy]

Ominous,
I think I can give you a definite answer....

No, this is not illegal on king.com.

My examples are from wordlink progressives, where the bonus letters for each repeat entry are identical.
I have a video on youtube showing the strategy to be used to obtain the bonus letters, then solve for the best word, then structure the board to form this word.

I think that you still have to use strategical judgements and since each player has the same opportunity, it is a level playing field...the best optimization will win every time.

King.com support told me that it was not a breach of the rules to even use Notepad to record notes during the game.

Regards,
Rahn

[Ominous]

Hmm, That was not the answer I got. I guess its sortof a grey area...

Kinda sux because it feels kinda useless to try to get good at game like Big Bang when some of the more adept opponents are sure to use some sort of this strategy....

[Customer Support #1177874] Is this Cheating?‏
Från: abuse@support.king.com
Skickat: den 20 mars 2009 14:45:15
Till: stasjo@hotmail.com


--
Hi,

thank you for your email!

We concider your methode as you stated below unfair and a form of cheating.
So we strongly recomend you not to do this as that can lead to a closing
of your account.

Kind regards,

Petra
Abuse & Security


On Di. maa. 17 10:29:11 2009, stasjo@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> Dear Support
>
> I would like to know if the following methodology would be considered
> cheating in king.com strategy/puzzle games, as I do not want to cheat
> or be found guilty of such action.
>
> As far as I can read from your user agreement I cannot find any
> indication that this is not allowed.
>
> 1. I enter a jackpot tournament and write down the layout of the
> board.
> 2. After the tournament is finished I analyse the board.
> 3. I enter the same jackpot tournament again, with a strategy created
> from the analysis in step 2.
>
> <No software involved>
>
> Is this considered cheating?
>
> Can you be false-positive flagged for cheating using this methodology?
>
> Best Regards

[Ominous]

Ominous,
I think I can give you a definite answer....

No, this is not illegal on king.com.

My examples are from wordlink progressives, where the bonus letters for each repeat entry are identical.
I have a video on youtube showing the strategy to be used to obtain the bonus letters, then solve for the best word, then structure the board to form this word.

I think that you still have to use strategical judgements and since each player has the same opportunity, it is a level playing field...the best optimization will win every time.

King.com support told me that it was not a breach of the rules to even use Notepad to record notes during the game.

Regards,
Rahn

Could you forward your email conversation to me privatly at stasjo@hotmail.com or post it in this thread?

Would be nice

[rahnnyboy]

below is an excerpt of the e-mail...

<excerpt>

To make it even safer, close down any external application that is not
really part of the King.com games when you play. Notepad is allowed though.

We are sorry for the inconvenience this has caused you.


Kind regards,
Bruno
King.com / Abuse & Security

<end excerpt>