User:Catote

24. May 2018 - The Day Game Devs and/or GMs revealed Emotional ties to a small select group of players.

When I logged on yesterday around 23 pm (GMT) the Malard-designed factions competition were very active. Both sides had finally realized the way to win the competition was heavy use of macros. I saw both sides doing the exact same thing (macroing thorns on one toon, dumping the harvest on another toon for unlimited storage). One toon moving from bush to bush, one toon standing still. 24h previously Hyksos were 600 units behind. Yesterday the score was even. The last score I saw was slightly in Hyksos favor. 10 mins later the competition was stopped.

A Dev entered Hyksos chat and basically called us cheaters. And while he didn't mention a name, his friends soon did. Thereby initiating a personal attack on Hyksos leadership. Later that same Dev revealed that he had, in fact, collected no hard evidence. Only a very brief observation about "two inventories going up at the same time". For that reason, the personal accusation was withdrawn and an apology followed in ENN. Yet, it was maintained, Hyksos had gained an unfair advantage and their score would be reset. Effectively passing victory to the same people he Emotionally seem to favor.

Later the accused person provided screenshot documentation that no double harvest had occurred. And his story exactly matches my own in-game observation from that day. He and Kush both did the same thing: two toons: one harvesting, one doing storage.

So what does it mean for a competitive game, if the people in power have Emotional ties and favors and side with a select group of people. And are willing to jump to conclusions based on no hard evidence. Are willing to publicly accuse people falsely? And are willing to change the outcome of a competition. What are the implications for what has occurred in the past? And how can we have any faith in the future?