CE Wiki

Other considerations ​

As you would expect with a system that is based upon many different processes and structures, there are sometimes components that aren't purely black or white.

Accessibility Options ​

Many games nowadays include "accessibility" options as well as assist modes, cheat codes, etc. Basically things that make the game easier than what is often viewed as the "normal play experience". We have different rules regarding these options depending on the Tier of the game.

For T1 games, we simply value the games assuming they are played "as intended". This is the concept of "Tier 1 Leniency".

For T2+ games we simply require video/screenshot proof showing these options weren't used. In cases where these features exist but they have a relatively minor impact on the challenges of the game, then they are assumed to be used to their full extent and are just valued accordingly.

Tier 1 Leniency ​

At its core, the concept of 'T1 Leniency' is that any game may have up to 15 points (the top of the 'Tier 1' threshold) of objectives awarded without proof where:

  • Full proof would be overly burdensome (eg: 6 hours of video proof – please note though that there is no defined threshold for ‘overly burdensome’)
  • PO outcomes (eg: achievement, other in-game recognition) can be obtained with assist options enabled.
    • This should not mean that a high valued YOLO (for example) should be awarded partial points up to 15 when the owner/player count is low and accessibility use is rampant (eg: Scoot Kaboom and the Tomb of Doom)
  • Other complications exist, such as:
    • Glitches allowing for developer-recognised feats to be made substantially easier (eg: Squidlit, VVVVVV's YOLO)
    • Later-released DLC tracks (in the case of rhythm games) contribute to an in-game tracker (eg: DEEMO - Reborn-)

In these cases, the value is set based on the assumption/expectation that the challenge was undertaken at face value, without actively seeking out ways to bypass the challenge as set out by the developer.

There are, however, situations where this leniency would not be applied, such as:

  • There is a broken achievement which unlocks incorrectly; the achievement signals developer intent, and serves as a PO goal. Proof would be required (eg: Rex Rocket sub-10 deaths).
  • A prolific Steam guide exists which details console commands (or similar) that automatically award, or completely trivialise, an achievement.
    • This is likely subject to how simply proof can be provided to prove this method not utilised.
  • Points would be awarded to a high number of users that have clearly utilised a workaround within Steam (eg: rolling back to an earlier build that awarded achievements with accessibility options).
    • This would be at the discretion of the moderators, and may change for an individual game over time depending on the circumstances.
    • A token number of partial points may be awarded to recognise those that legitimately achieved the objective (eg: Sunblaze)

Cheating ​

Separate from in-game cheating using dev-provided cheat codes or accessibility options.

Cheating can encompass any of the following from a CE perspective:

  • any kind of file manipulation within game folders
  • editing files or copying save files in order to trivialize a challenge
  • down-patching to previous versions of a game which make achievements easier (eg: to a previous version where achievements could be earned with accessibility options enabled)
    • this is not to be confused with down-patching to enable/fix broken achievements
  • the use of any external programs to trivialize a challenge, whether unlocking achievements without actually doing them, playing a game in slow motion, etc.

Effectively, any action that may lead to an objective on the site being earned without having accomplished it in good faith.

CE operate on the assumption that these kinds of foul play are not utilised. If you are found to have cheated it there may be severe consequences.

Past Cheating

CE recognises that users go through many phases in life, and may have cheated achievements (or similar) in the past for a number of reasons.

It is expected that anyone looking to engage with the CE community and website will proactively identify to CE Staff (see: Contacting Mods/Admins ) instances where past actions have impacted the integrity of their CE profile (eg: achievements unlocked using external programs).

No 'black mark' will be placed on your CE account, and CE staff will advise on the best course of action to bring the user's CE profile back into good standing.

Active Cheating

Any user found to be cheating will go through a process of being returned to E-rank and removed from the leaderboards. This may not be permanent if actions are taken to acknowledge and reverse the cheated games via an appeal ticket in our Discord server, but said user will be subject to more scrutiny during an unspecified period of time.

Each user only has a chance to appeal once for active cheating, and if repeated they will be permanently removed from the leaderboards.

Proof Requirements ​

For high value games, even if a game lacks any in-game methods of "cheating" (accessibility options, exploits, or otherwise), we often require video proof of challenges when/where it is reasonable to do so. In some cases you may get partial points for having the achievements and then require proof in order to get the full value of the objective.

Guides & Puzzle Games ​

It goes without saying that guides can massively effect the difficulty of games and skew expected playtimes. In general, all games are valued assuming guides are used. This is necessary in order to even the playing field and simplify the process of valuing games. As a consequence, puzzle games are not currently valued on the site at all, though they do exist in their own little ecosystem here: https://cedb.me/game/27578157-10b2-4f29-acee-452c2dc59477

There are cases where puzzle games are valued on the site. EX: The Witness, Portal, Braid. However these games are not valued for the puzzle solving element of the game and only for the portion of the game that can not be fully trivialized by a guide. This often includes some form of randomization or a speedrun/deathless challenge of some kind.

Dynamic / PvP challenges ​

Developer-intended or not, we do not add dynamic or PvP-related challenges to the website. Their variable nature makes them impossible to value, as there is no consistent experience against which to assess the level of challenge / difficulty.

This may arise in the form of:

  • Reaching the top "x" ranks, or top "y%" of scores on an in-game leaderboard.
  • Challenges where the developer commits to adjusting the difficulty over time.
  • Defeating someone with a particular rank, or a certain number of opponents, in a PvP setting.