The article reports on a case in Russia where a man, Andrey Kirsanov, is being tried for creating and selling cheating software for the online game World of Tanks. The software, which gave users an unfair advantage, is estimated to have caused the game's developers, Wargaming, a loss of 670 million rubles. The case could set a precedent in Russia for holding individuals criminally liable for interfering with computer game codes.
In an interview with video blogger and streamer Konstantin Lada Nin, the discussion focuses on the issue of cheating in online games and the challenges of preventing it. Lada Nin notes that while game developers can take measures to prevent cheating, there is no foolproof way to eliminate it entirely. He also suggests that the estimated loss of 670 million rubles may be an indicative figure, rather than a precise calculation, aimed at deterring others from engaging in similar activities.
The article highlights the serious consequences of cheating in online games, not only for the game's developers but also for the players who use cheating software. In the West, such violations can result in severe penalties, including prison sentences of up to 15-20 years.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Andrey Kirsanov, a native of Yekaterinburg, Russia, is being tried for creating and selling special programs that gave buyers an advantage over other players in online games, particularly World of Tanks.
2. The programs, known as "cheats," allowed players to activate auto-aim and transfer control to a program that would play the game for them.
3. Kirsanov sold packages of cheats for World of Tanks, with prices ranging from 100 rubles for 50 fights to 85 times that amount for 15,000 battles.
4. The creators of World of Tanks, Wargaming, estimate that Kirsanov's actions caused 670 million rubles in damages.
5. Kirsanov is accused of creating, using, and distributing malicious computer programs and faces up to 5 years in prison and a large fine.
6. This case could set a precedent in Russia, as no one has been held criminally liable for interfering with the code of a computer game before.
7. In China, using cheats can result in up to 5 years in prison, and creating such programs can lead to even more severe penalties.
8. The Russian gaming market is estimated to be worth over 165 billion rubles this year.
9. Wargaming's income was over $470 million in 2017, and the company is worth around $1.5 billion.
10. The fight against cheaters in online games is ongoing, with some companies using anti-cheat software and others relying on user reports to detect and ban cheaters.
11. Konstantin Lada Nin, a video blogger and streamer, notes that creating a 100% reliable anti-cheat system is difficult, and vulnerabilities will always exist.
12. Lada Nin suggests that the 670 million ruble estimate of damages may be an indicative figure rather than a clear calculation.
13. In the West, particularly in the US, violating copyright laws can result in serious sentences of up to 15-20 years in prison.