Third party tools are a game design failing in a multi-platform game

[Cyd3l]

How can PC and Console even be equal, its not possible the interface itself is already different, the input devices are different. Someone playing on mouse and keyboard vs controller already has a very different game experience.

[Lufir]

How can PC and Console even be equal, its not possible the interface itself is already different, the input devices are different. Someone playing on mouse and keyboard vs controller already has a very different game experience.

You do realize you can do either methods on both platforms right?

[Cyd3l]

You do realize you can do either methods on both platforms right?

Does PS4 support keyboard macros. toggle keys, 18 mice buttons with macro customization? Which is another thing, many gaming keyboard and mice require their manufactures software to function, and a lot them provide access to macro and toggle key tools that normally aren't available to default windows drivers. They're gonna have to start banning hardware too. Or at the very least since we need to ban all 3rd party tools that will include your gaming keyboard/mice as they provide an unfair advantage. Discord too, another unfair advantage. Can't look up anything in a web browser either, technically that's a 3rd party application. Its a gray area because it has to be. Some things are essential to just using a PC that could be considered a 3rd party tool that provides an 'unfair' advantage.

But more importantly there is literally nothing they can do. You think anti-cheat spyware that boots up when you run the game is going to prevent people from using mods? It will make it more difficult for the average player to access QoL improvements and literally do nothing to stop people who are adamant about cheating. Virtual machines can run software outside the games active environment and are therefor not detectable by anti-cheating software. Or you can go one step further and literally run things that sniff your network packets on another machine entirely. People could have their entire raid callouts happening on their laptop next to the PC they're playing FFXIV on. There's absolutely no way SE could do anything to detect or stop that.

[Lufir]

Does PS4 support keyboard macros. toggle keys, 18 mice buttons with macro customization? Which is another thing, many gaming keyboard and mice require their manufactures software to function, and a lot them provide access to macro and toggle key tools that normally aren't available to default windows drivers. They're gonna have to start banning hardware too. Or at the very least since we need to ban all 3rd party tools that will include your gaming keyboard/mice as they provide an unfair advantage. Discord too, another unfair advantage. Can't look up anything in a web browser either, technically that's a 3rd party application. Its a gray area because it has to be. Some things are essential to just using a PC that could be considered a 3rd party tool that provides an 'unfair' advantage.

But more importantly there is literally nothing they can do. You think anti-cheat spyware that boots up when you run the game is going to prevent people from using mods? It will make it more difficult for the average player to access QoL improvements and literally do nothing to stop people who are adamant about cheating. Virtual machines can run software outside the games active environment and are therefor not detectable by anti-cheating software. Or you can go one step further and literally run things that sniff your network packets on another machine entirely. People could have their entire raid callouts happening on their laptop next to the PC they're playing FFXIV on. There's absolutely no way SE could do anything to detect or stop that.

/facepalm Please tell me you're not serious.

[Cyd3l]

/facepalm Please tell me you're not serious.

I mean i am sorta playing Devils advocate, but my point was this isn't a simple binary matter with a simple solution. That's why the ToS is probably sorta vague so they can handle incidents on a case by case basis.

[Johners]

I mean i am sorta playing Devils advocate, but my point was this isn't a simple binary matter with a simple solution. That's why the ToS is probably sorta vague so they can handle incidents on a case by case basis.

Peripheral software is usually fine but I think some of the macro functionality they have could potentially trigger anti-cheat software if it existed. Not that it's really a problem because the game has it's own macro function anyway.

[LeonKeyh]

Thing is, better graphics and resolution ARE an advantage, in and of themselves. For example, if you do Savage / Ultimate with an ultra-wide screen, you can see the full arena without turning the camera, making mechanics way easier. Especially safe spot type ones.

That's a...stretch.... (yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)

Does PS4 support keyboard macros. toggle keys, 18 mice buttons with macro customization? Which is another thing, many gaming keyboard and mice require their manufactures software to function, and a lot them provide access to macro and toggle key tools that normally aren't available to default windows drivers. They're gonna have to start banning hardware too. Or at the very least since we need to ban all 3rd party tools that will include your gaming keyboard/mice as they provide an unfair advantage. Discord too, another unfair advantage. Can't look up anything in a web browser either, technically that's a 3rd party application. Its a gray area because it has to be. Some things are essential to just using a PC that could be considered a 3rd party tool that provides an 'unfair' advantage.

But more importantly there is literally nothing they can do. You think anti-cheat spyware that boots up when you run the game is going to prevent people from using mods? It will make it more difficult for the average player to access QoL improvements and literally do nothing to stop people who are adamant about cheating. Virtual machines can run software outside the games active environment and are therefor not detectable by anti-cheating software. Or you can go one step further and literally run things that sniff your network packets on another machine entirely. People could have their entire raid callouts happening on their laptop next to the PC they're playing FFXIV on. There's absolutely no way SE could do anything to detect or stop that.

I mean, playstation controllers are the equivalent of 52 easily hit buttons, with a fairly easy way of toggling to other hotbars if needed. So, toggle keys, and 18 button mice really aren't necessary. If we're talking about those things if anything controller is better and those macros make up for the shortfalls of KBM.

As for the (overdone, silly) Discord/Web browser argument. It's not that difficult. If it doesn't interact with the game it's not a "third party tool."

Anti-cheat implementation would be incredibly stupid because it's going to hurt more than it helps.

[LeonKeyh]

How can PC and Console even be equal, its not possible the interface itself is already different, the input devices are different. Someone playing on mouse and keyboard vs controller already has a very different game experience.

PC can use controllers and consoles can use keyboard/mouse. Those differences are a choice that the player makes, they're not locked out of the other because of the platform they're playing on. Also, both are on a fairly level playing field regardless of what they pick. It's not a shooter where kbm is twice as good.

I'm not sure what you mean by the interface being different, I can assure you that it's functionally the same.

[Johners]

How can PC and Console even be equal, its not possible the interface itself is already different, the input devices are different. Someone playing on mouse and keyboard vs controller already has a very different game experience.

Both input methods can be used on PC or console. I know people that play controller on PC and people that play KB+M on console. The default game is equal between the two platforms and there's many scenarios in which the lowest end PC experience is worse than what you can do on the base PS4.

This isn't about the default game client experience, the differences are some graphics options and that's it really, but rather it's entirely about already prohibited third0party tools that Square Enix can't correctly screen or moderate.