:OMEGALUL:
Now that is actually stupid. However, assuming your mouse has that many buttons, you simply could have gone into the game keybindings and bound them to those buttons. None-the-less, Overwatch’s system detects the use of a macro, not what the macro is actually doing. Any bans made through this system are well justified. I’m sure you remember the whole Necro outrage that went on for a month after he seemingly managed to 180, as Genji, and lock dead-onto an enemy Pharah who was in mid-air in less than 10 frames. Blizzard isn’t forgiving and they have all the right to do so. While it was never confirmed if he actually used one, turns out there are macros that do similar things. Why go through the hassle of seeing what each macro does when you can just ban them all?
If a game does not naturally have some sort of macro mechanic, then using an outside macro program (3rd party program), can result in a ban. This is common MMO gamer knowledge. Regardless of the 3rd party program being used for ill or simple convenience, it can result in a ban, and the ToS warns you.
If you wish to rebind keys, it is far simpler to just use Sharp Keys to permanently alter keys (it does the “hard registry editing” for you in a safe manner). The program only allows you to switch 1 for 1, which doesn’t result in advantages gained/lost. (ie: such as turning Page Up/Page Down into Volume Up/Volume Down keys)
If you wish to rebind keys for specific games, OW already allows you to do so.
If you want a macro (1 key = many actions) and the game doesn’t offer one, too bad, so sad, no macro or take your ban.
So I guess you learned a lesson today.
I hope “alt+tab” on one of my mouse buttons isn’t against the rules. Also DPI changers.
Sorry not everyone is a pro MMO gamer veteran like you.
“I gots banned for opening Chrome whilst playing Overwatch”
~Concerned Overwatch player
When you buy or use pretty much anything with a computer, including the game Overwatch, you have to say “I have read and agree to the Terms of Service” or some form of the matter.
It is your responsibility to read through it before clicking yes, you acknowledge the terms put forth. It is not Blizzards fault if you skip past it because a legal document is “filled with legal speak” and wasn’t “short or brief”.
DPI changers or programs (like Blackweb mouse side programs) are fine. They only act as an interface to alter things your computer can already do, along with the device’s features (such as LED lightning). They are very subtle programs. Macros, on the other hand, are like bulls in a china shop (in the PC world). That’s often why “PRO HECKERZ ECKS DEEE XD!!!” have to use cute little tricks to cover up their macro’s loud romp through the digital world.
“alt+tab” (the effect) can be simulated with 1 button on certain keyboards (swap tasks). So I don’t think that would fall under scrutiny unless you were specifically using an active background program or script to make 1 button = alt+tab.
That’s really the problem here. There needs to be very clear warnings to players about this when they buy the game.
Software like AutoHotKey or Razer Synapse is not a “hack” or a “cheat”, but you can be banned for using software like this for even very mundane and trivial macros or rebinds.
I wanted to macro primary voice line on top of my melee so that hog says ‘Boo!’ Every time I hook combo someone. Never got around to it
I’m using my mouse driver, Logitech. It pushes alt then tab in order with a tiny delay so it swaps between things. I use it to go between active windows when waiting forever for a match. I haven’t been banned yet though so I think I’m good.
We’ve had situations like the Lucio wallride rework, which happened because the overwhelming majority of top level lucio gameplay revolved around spamming jump on walls via scroll wheel binds or macros except for that one guy who was simply violent with his spacebar, and all of this could be reasonably considered an exploit. The fact that blizz didn’t notice that literally literally every pro did this before the patch is troubling, and while they did the right thing by not banning every single main support above 4000, this shows how flawed their approach to rules is. Honestly an embarrassment given that the league is a thing.
That is because you aren’t using the macro for an in-game action.
And for those worried about key binding, just use the in game options for key binding to be safe.
Man, if only Bungie was so adamant about going after macro users…
Macros are a grey area that varies depending on the game and company. Some company allows it if you are actively playing it and not using it to bot, while other do not. I’ve played some fps game that allows it.
In a competitive setting, macros are usually not allow. However, they are 100% against the idea since they implement macro features into the game, for example, Counter-strike has a built-in custom keybinds for auto-buy.
Personally I mostly use macros to create chat messages since they aren’t built into the game.
I don’t use the game to rebind my controls, because some games constantly reset it after every update, therefore I often rebind my mouse buttom from the mouse software instead. It’s more convenient this way since the setting is stored on my mouse, so I can easily use a different computer and not have to reconfigure the game settings other than sensitivity.
After all everyone else understood what 3rd party programs meant except you.
Notice how even Blizzard writes 3rd party programs and doesn’t need to clarify for the utterly clueless.
More importantly, it is the EULA which defines cheating not the ToS.
Cheating: Create, use, offer, promote, advertise, make available and/or distribute the following or assist therein:
- cheats; i.e. methods not expressly authorized by Blizzard, influencing and/or facilitating the gameplay, including exploits of any in-game bugs, and thereby granting you and/or any other user an advantage over other players not using such methods;
- bots; i.e. any code and/or software, not expressly authorized by Blizzard, that allows the automated control of a Game, or any other feature of the Platform, e.g. the automated control of a character in a Game;
- hacks; i.e. accessing or modifying the software of the Platform in any manner not expressly authorized by Blizzard; and/or
- any code and/or software, not expressly authorized by Blizzard, that can be used in connection with the Platform and/or any component or feature thereof which changes and/or facilitates the gameplay or other functionality;
Macros actually do modify code.
Mouses were designed with 1 button - 1 function in a game.
If you can’t add multiple functions THROUGH OVERWATCH CLIENT - it is considered a 3rd party application.
Which is what makes TF2 Different, you can add multiple functions through the TF2 Console to bind to a key. Which is what makes TF2 and OW different. One supports macros through the client one does not.
Seriously even my 5 yr old nephew can understand that.
What’s the point of this thread? Crying here won’t get you your account back. And using macro of any kind has always been banable in all kind of multiplayer games since…forever.
Sorry you have to learn it the hard way…but it is just common sense.
Doesn’t read or look for rules.
Gets mad when they break a rule.
So you did read the EULA before playing Overwatch right?
Yes… I mean that was clear from the get go.
Macros are not banned in all multiplayer games.
It is not common sense that simple mouse macros not used for cheating could get you banned.