BioWare fixes Old Republic Valor exploit

By Oli Welsh Published 20 January, 2012

Will take action against players "who took extreme advantage".

BioWare has patched the problem in Star Wars: The Old Republic's open-world player-versus-player zone, Ilum, that allowed players to farm huge amounts of Valor points.

Game designer Gabe Amatangelo posted on the official forums to announce the fix and explain the problem, which was introduced with this week's update 1.1 to the game. It was caused by players managing to enter and camp enemy bases when "under server load", which was not intended as part of the design.

BioWare's also reducing the population cap on the zone to improve performance.

There will be no general rollback on the Valor points earned since the exploit was found. However, associate community manager Joveth Gonzalez added, "we're definitely aware of individuals who took extreme advantage of this situation and we will be carefully evaluating and taking action as necessary".

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About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (23) Latest comment 4 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • George-Roper #1 4 months ago

    Without a rollback, those who exploited this just under the 'extreme' label will be fine.

    What a great message to give your player base. Cheat but don't go mad and you're in the clear.

  • samred #2 4 months ago

    The one time players actually want some banning without prejudice and EA plays coy? http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/ea-bans/ -- an issue so bad, RPS has a tag for it.

  • ring_piece #3 4 months ago

    Man, they're doing this all the time, it's their fault there's an exploit, the development of the game is on-going. But to ban people and kick them for exploiting faults in your software?

    Eww, just... eww, I don't want to be a customer to this kind of management.

  • OverWind #4 4 months ago

    @ring_piece Except they didn't say they were gonna ban people. My guess is that they'll just reset the valor on those chars to what it was before 1.1.

  • anomagnus #5 4 months ago

    @George-Roper

    In the same vein that blizzard banned anyone involved in tol barad flipping?

    Or wintergrasp victory trading?

    What message did that send?

  • SweetMrGibs #6 4 months ago

    @George-Roper

    Please explain how "we're definitely aware of individuals who took extreme advantage of this situation and we will be carefully evaluating and taking action as necessary" equates to "Cheat but don't go mad and you're in the clear."? I'm genuinely interested in the thought-process you used to get there (or rather, the lack of)...

    George, I have to ask, which camp do you fall into? A) You currently play the game, b) You used to play the game, but quit, or c) You have never played the game, ever.

    If it's A) why do you still play? You clearly don't like SWTOR. Also, aren't you wasting your time - after all, the game won't last more than six months. If it's B) Why are you bothering to continue to read forums and comment threads about a game you no longer play? Go do something useful like make Mildred a cuppa. While you're there, two sugars for me please. If it's C) why the interest in a game you don't play?

    See, your arguments would have more validity if you came across as objective. But you don't. You seem to have some sort of grudge against the game, like it's existence is an afront to your sensibilities. What's the problem, George? Do you play a different MMO? Are you worried SWTOR will affect the game you play, by taking away subscribers? Have Bioware done something to you in the past? Run your cat over maybe?

  • arcam #7 4 months ago

    B) Why are you bothering to continue to read forums and comment threads about a game you no longer play? Go do something useful like make Mildred a cuppa. While you're there, two sugars for me please. If it's C) why the interest in a game you don't play?

    Man, I hate this argument. We're on a games specialist website, loads of us have interest in games we don't play, and that shouldn't mean we aren't allowed to comment on them.

    If you don't agree, attack his argument, don't question his right to an opinion in the first place.

  • SweetMrGibs #8 4 months ago

    @arcam

    Just so I'm clear, you advocate having an opinion about something you have no experience of?

    Allow me to clarify. I do question his right to a STRONG opinion. I question anyone's right to a strong opinion unless they've actually played/watched/read the thing they're commenting on (and, let's face it, George has a strong opinion on SWTOR). If they haven't, then what are they basing their opinion on, exactly? It doesn't matter whether we're on a specialist games website, or a specialist films website. In fact, it's rare that you hear people say "I've not seen Film X, but it's rubbish". Why shouldn't that also apply to games?

    You could argue they have a right to an opinion based on what other's have said, but that extends only so far. You don't have the right to a STRONG opinion if you haven't taken the time to try the thing you're referring too. I like to think I have enough good grace left in me to *not* comment on things I don't know much about. I know *nothing* about Anime for example - BUT I realise that due to this inexperience of the format I have no right to a strong opinion on it.

  • arcam #9 4 months ago

    It's an open forum, everyone has the 'right' to an opinion, strong or otherwise, informed or otherwise. This is the internet, we all deal with that every day. I don't go on many movie sites but I have no doubt that there are loads of people making comments on films they've never seen.

    I see you haven't questioned everyone else on whether they've played the game, just the person whose opinion you disagree with most.

    Besides, it seemed to me his comment was more about the politics of banning and cheating, rather than the quality of the game itself, which I admit would be difficult to judge without playing.
    Edited by arcam at 20/01/12 @ 10:30

  • SweetMrGibs #10 4 months ago

    @arcam

    But his comment wasn't a general one about banning and cheating - it was a comment aimed at SWTOR in particular. And, if you read his comment, it has nothing to do with what the developer actually said.

    I'm sorry mate, but I can't get my head round people having the right to an uninformed opinion. Even you yourself had to put 'right' in italics, indicating - to me - that even you think it might be tenuous (apologies if I misconstrued that).

    "Besides, it seemed to me his comment was more about the politics of banning and cheating, rather than the quality of the game itself, which I admit would be difficult to judge without playing."

    Well, that's my point. George makes umpteen comments about the quality of the game - I just want to know if he actually plays it.

    "I see you haven't questioned everyone else on whether they've played the game, just the person whose opinion you disagree with most."

    And? What's your point?

  • Kanjin #11 4 months ago

    If you come across a mechanism that seems to bypass the whole way the game is structured: e.g. EXP and money for doing bugger all, how can you be surprised when it gets nerfed, especially such a short time after launch?

  • arcam #12 4 months ago

    OK, between this and the Ubisoft DRM thread I seem to be getting into some arguments this morning. Sorry if I come across combative, maybe I just got up on the wrong side of the bed.

    I agree that a proper opinion needs some experience, but I don't agree with telling someone to get the fuck out this thread even if it isn't.

  • ToBBeX #13 4 months ago

    @ring_piece you obviously didn't read the EULA you accepted. assumed you play the game.

  • SweetMrGibs #14 4 months ago

    @arcam

    Woah, don't put words in my mouth. I didn't tell George to get out of the thread. I'm asking him to explain what he's basing his opinion on. He may choose to ignore me, which is his right, I'd just like to know where he's coming from.

  • darkmorgado #15 4 months ago

    George just attacks SWTOR because he's a WoW fanboy and he's terrified TOR is treading on his baby's toes. That's the beginning and the end of his direct experience of the game.

  • anomagnus #16 4 months ago

    @arcam

    You're right arcam, everyone has a right to an opinion, but there comes a certain level of responsabilty for that opinion, or this board just becomes 4chan, and a wild west.

    In particular, of late, has been the constant stream of bile (and it is bile, it isn't even opinion) around bioware and sw:tor. Some of the posts have ranged from just ill informed, to almost sociopathic in their hatred.

    I personally am getting very annoyed, and it shows in my posts. SW:TOR isn't going anywhere short term. Even were it the biggest flop in the history of games, it would take months for it to die. And lets be clear here, it isn't. Bioware as a company isn't going anywhere, and neither is the DA and ME franchises.

    Am i supposed to endure this constant stream of vitriol for the remainder of my time on this site?

    Let me be clear. I understand that some people, yourself, imediaeress, george and others are disappointed in Bioware, SW:TOR, ME3,DA or any combination there of. I'm sorry to hear there, they're great games, but everything can't be for everyone. But do we need to hear about over the course of a year? No, we don't.

    Now in fairness to you arcam, you've been pretty quiet of late on the Bioware posts, after we had a conversation about it a few months ago. George himself seems pretty reasonable to, and immediaerss.

    But you have to admit, there comes a point when having a negative opinion, just becomes mindless bitching if it continues ad infinitium.

  • arcam #17 4 months ago

    Now in fairness to you arcam, you've been pretty quiet of late on the Bioware posts, after we had a conversation about it a few months ago.

    Hehe, you noticed? I took your point to heart, unnecessary bitching does no one any favours, you were right.

  • MaybeLater #18 4 months ago

    @arcam Isn't that exactly what we post here for? In order to discuss our various views?

    Just as George Roper has the right to post whatever drivel he likes, SweetMrGibs is perfectly within his rights to call him out.

    The difference is that when you get into discussions you're happy to back up your opinions and respond to any criticisms/disagreements. GR isn't here for a discussion- he's here to feather his own ego.

  • anomagnus #19 4 months ago

    @arcam

    Course i noticed, and we agree on most points, not the least of which is the horror that is SOPA. And even though i disagree with george on SW:TOR, he seems like a pretty funny guy.

    Honestly, i just think that EG as a whole has let a darker tone come into it. I really hope that EG strives to be a little more light hearted in 2012, and recaptures the joy of video gaming.

  • miiiguel #20 4 months ago

    Have to agree with Sweet, it borderline ridicule such strong opinions from people who never played the game, watched the movie, read the book...

    Yes, it is the internet, but that's not a freaking free pass to be silly.

  • jimr9999us #21 4 months ago

    The pvp community is absolute poison to a new mmorpg launch.

  • skinfasst #22 4 months ago

    @SweetMrGibs

    Omg get over yourself. it's an open website about games. People write on threads for games they've never played all the time. It is possible to have an opinion about something even if you've never experienced it. I have an opinion about war, but I've never been in one. So fucking what? Stop being such a sanctimonious twat and get on with your day.

  • SweetMrGibs #23 4 months ago

    @skinfasst

    Firstly, don't call me a twat. If you can't be civil, keep your trap shut.

    I'm not being sanctimonious, merely stating how I feel. I'm not saying others will agree, and that I'm necessarily right.

    As for comparing war to a game... now who's being sanctimonous. Here's a ladder... use it to get over yourself.

    Now, if we can come back to the matter at hand; if someone were to ask me what I thought of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo' Nest", I would say "I haven't seen it, but I hear it's excellent". What I wouldn't say is "Great film, shame about plot point x or y". Subtle difference.