CATCH A CHEAT!
NOBODY LIKES A CHEATING AIMER BUT SADLY IT'S A PART OF YAHOO! ONLINE POOL
Unfortunately, in SS we have our fair share of aimers just like any other league. But we try to do our best to reduce them to an absolute minimum. In that respect, we have rules giving Admins the power to act where there is suspicion – you can view these below. But another way of catching a cheat is through YOUR help as a member of the League. You can play your part to help reduce aimers so please read on!
CAM YOUR GAMES: Download Camtasia (or a similar recording program) if you haven't done so already, and record ALL tourney and league games you play in All Mixed Up. You can download Camtasia here if you need too – everything is there, including full instructions, to get yourself set up... it's very easy to do!
CATCH THEM UNAWARE: Don't tell your opponent you are recording. Of course, in most cases, the game will be played fairly. But when you DO come across a cheat, you will be ready for them by taping. An aimer trying to cheat in SS will not realise that his or her game is being recorded so he or she will go ahead and use the aiming device to try to win the game. A lot of aimers 'show off' by trying unlikely shots thinking that there is no way their cheating can be detected. The key to catching cheats is to catch them unaware. Let them do their thing and let them be caught via your recording.
SUSPICIOUS PLAY: Of course, anyone can get lucky – anyone can hit a seemingly 'impossible' shot which not only gets out of that 'snooker' by the bottom right corner, but comes off three cushions and pots that colour by the top left corner! Sure, it's really flukey! But the problem is when this happens twice or more times in the same game. That's when the opponent watching this 'luck' starts thinking "hmmm, aimer!"
ON THE LOOK OUT: Admins will be looking for similar 'give-away' signs... those really suspicious and impossible shots which happen more than one, where coincidence and pure luck are ruled out. It is through seeing tapes that we can more easily act on potential cheats. Just one banned aimer is one less to worry about, so it's a worthwhile exercise.
SAVE THE TAPE: Always save as an .avi file. It would be useful to date the file with the player's name, for example: v_pool_cheat_15dec11.avi. Send the tape to an Admin as soon as possible.
WHAT NEXT? Well, taped evidence is one sure way to build up a case against a potential cheat. If a tape shows an unlikely or 'impossible' shot, or a sequence of shots which are very suspicious, or clear aiming (such as a quadruple bank from an impossible position), then Admin can decide to take action. It only requires two Admins to order a member to Cam all SS games or to have a Belarc test done. In the most obvious of cases (proven cheating), an aimer can be boxed for 90 days.
WHAT'S BELARC? Belarc Advisor is a simple program that creates a complete profile of the software and hardware on anyone's computer, alerting the viewer to programs such as an aiming device. The test would be done immediately and failure to cooperate would be seen as highly suspicious. The idea is not to pry into the contents on someone's computer; it is SOLELY to see if an aiming device is present or not.
Please play your part to help us rid the League of as many cheats as possible. Tape your games and help us to CATCH A CHEAT!
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13. Aiming Suspicions
13a. The League advocates fair play at all times and will not tolerate aimers under any circumstances. Should a minimum of TWO League Admins be suspicious of dubious play by any member who they consider may be using an aiming program, they may, at their discretion and at any time, conduct an investigation.
13b. In such cases where an investigation is deemed necessary, an Admin may order a member to:
- Compete in League or tournament games using the Camtasia program or a similar recording program, and to submit tapes accordingly as directed
- have a Belarc test conducted by an Admin on their computer immediately to ascertain whether or not an aiming program is present.
13c. Should a member fail to comply or co-operate as directed including submitting tapes to a satisfactory standard or within reasonable time, he or she will be boxed indefinitely until such a time as the HA is satisfied that he or she is fully clear of any suspicion of dubious play.
LEAGUE RULES: Read the complete Straightshots Pool League Rules here.
