02-03-10, 03:40 PM | #1 | |
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HOW-TO: Custom mouse cursors
This is not allowed, per my conversation with Blizzard. Details are posted here. As such, I've removed the information on how to do it. ~ Cairenn
Last edited by Cairenn : 02-24-10 at 03:18 PM. Reason: self-evident ~ Cairenn |
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02-04-10, 12:51 AM | #2 |
WARNING!
This How-To is bordering on ToS violation territory if not aright violating the WoW ToS.. Blizzard historically had not taken kindly to MPQ hacks of any kind whether it be modifying the existing mpq or adding new "patch" mpqs. These types of changes are picked by Warden and likely will result in your account being flagged. You may want to take down this How-To until you can verify the legality of what you are doing.
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02-04-10, 01:18 AM | #3 | ||
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Also, I really dislike how you've alluded to this being a "hack". It's not. All this is doing is adding a file that says "Hey WoW, instead of using your own file how about you use this one?" (EDIT: Actually it doesn't even do that. It just exists. WoW is choosing to use it.) In fact, it's really no different than this: http://www.wowinterface.com/download...rrorsound.html The only thing that's different is that this file is a .MPQ, and that one is an audio file. NO BLIZZARD FILES ARE BEING ALTERED IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER. So perhaps before you villainize someone you should back up your claims with some solid evidence? Innocent until proven guilty...the burden of proof lies on you, not me. Last edited by Amenity : 02-04-10 at 01:09 PM. |
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02-04-10, 01:36 AM | #4 | |||
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Actually...I'll take ya one further.
WoW TOS, Section #2:
Also (Section #17, subsection A):
I've been known to be wrong on occasion, and in the event I am here I will admit it. It's not looking like I am, though. |
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02-04-10, 01:55 AM | #5 |
This technique of overriding (not just adding) files is how model edits work. Model edits are very much hacks, and are often used to modify in-game geometry or other off-limits data. No one is accusing the cursor graphics of being hacks, but I wouldn't trust Blizzard's anti-cheat program to be as smart as you or I. It may simply see the extra MPQ and assume the worst. That's where all this caution comes from.
Granted, real model edits are locked down much tighter by Blizzard and require a lot more effort to get working. The fact that this cursor patch file works without any extra effort almost convinces me that it's safe. It's still a big risk to assume how Blizzard's anti-cheat works though. The only 100% safe thing to do is put a suggestion in on Blizzard's forums. Ask for a GetCursor API to return the current cursor graphic, and mods will be able to replace cursors easily. |
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02-04-10, 01:55 AM | #6 | |
I am sorry if you feel that I reacted too strongly however I have seen these things come and go usually with Blizzard snapping at their heels. Blizzard is very protective of all aspects of their games. In the case of WoW, that goes for the mpq files. I do not want to see people getting one shotted by the Banhammer because they used an innocent change to something like their mouse cursor. We do not know what Warden (the anti-cheat program) picks up on, however from what I have seen, it generates a hash based on what it finds and then compares it to what it expects to find. Additional mpq files will alter that hash (thus the comparison is not what Warden expects to find) and thus your account will be flagged. Whether or not and how Blizzard decides to act on the flagged account is up to them. As the previous poster stated, the safest way is to get in contact with Blizzard and ask for a legitimate way of changing the cursor such as the OP's idea of a GetCursor API for mods to hook into. If you are ever in doubt on whether or not something is kosher to post here on WoWI (such as your guide), email the WoWI staff. They don't bite (that I know of).
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Last edited by Zyonin : 02-04-10 at 02:02 AM. |
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02-04-10, 02:11 AM | #7 | ||||
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And Zyonin...did you even read the initial post? Or for that matter, ANYTHING I've posted in this thread? You're still spouting the same crap with nothing to back it up. HOW is this a "ToS 'grey area'"? WHO said so? WHERE in the legal documents does it state as much? WHEN has something like this (where NO BLIZZARD STUFF IS BEING TOUCHED) ever led to any action whatsoever? To be honest, it looks like you took one glance a the top of the first post, saw "MPQ Editor", and immediately flew into action. |
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02-04-10, 02:18 AM | #8 |
Why modeledit's are illegal BTW, is not because of the cosmetic changes, but you can also edit the terrain. Which means(and this has happened) that you can create a path to GM Island. I don't think that Warden will actually scan your injected .MPQ file and see wether it's a terrain edit, model edit or cursor edit, I think he will just kick your butt.
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02-04-10, 02:27 AM | #9 | |
New MPQ = Warden flag = possible unwanted attention from Blizzard.
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Last edited by Zyonin : 02-04-10 at 02:30 AM. |
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02-04-10, 02:29 AM | #10 | |
New MPQ = Warden flag = sadly enough no attention from blizzard and instead an autoban
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02-04-10, 02:29 AM | #11 | |
If you don't think you'd be heard in the Suggestions forum, you might want to try the UI Developer's Suggestions and Questions thread on the UI & Macro forum. I like to imagine that Slouken still reads it. |
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02-04-10, 02:31 AM | #12 | ||
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Anyway, if this were true then Warden would ban me if I made a blank .MPQ with nothing in it and tossed it into my data directory. Hell, it wouldn't even have to be a "real" .MPQ...I could just write "SKEET" 450,000 times in a .txt file and rename it to "SKEET.MPQ" and get banned. I don't think so. |
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02-04-10, 02:33 AM | #13 | |
And yes, if you made a blank MPQ with nothing it, it will be picked up by Warden and the account flagged. If you want to play tag with Warden, go ahead, it's your account.
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Last edited by Zyonin : 02-04-10 at 02:36 AM. |
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02-04-10, 02:36 AM | #14 | ||||
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It's this:
**EDIT: Going to bed. I'd like to see some actual evidence to one side or the other by the time I get back to you. So far all I've got is conjecture and prediction. It's been over 5 years...surely there's some precedent here? **EDIT #2: Just had to get this out right quick:
Last edited by Amenity : 02-04-10 at 02:40 AM. |
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02-04-10, 03:36 AM | #15 |
Warden adding a flag doesnt mean your automatically banned. It means the system is alerted. What happens from there is entirely up to blizzard.
In the end its a risk. You can choose to take it based on what you feel is correct and that is your choice. Though i will agree that until you have a definitive answer from blizzard about this, it is best to leave out the tutorial on how it is done.
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02-04-10, 04:48 AM | #16 | ||
I've used a custom patch cursor for 2 years, I asked a GM and he said it was alright, but Blizzard could do what they want so use at your own risk. The fact is Blizzard has not come out and said it's bad so I see no reason to worry about it. It's a custom cursor for God's sakes people! Get a grip.
Blizzard will *NEVER* state whether it's okay or not because they don't like to be held to policy. The fact that they have not said it's bad though should be clear enough that it's not.
and TOLD him I was using it, and never been hassled. Last edited by Kupotek : 02-04-10 at 04:50 AM. |
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02-04-10, 09:01 AM | #17 | |
I knew about MPQs and was uncertain of their legality. I talked to a GM who told me that while it might not be a violation of the ToU, Blizz can still cancel my account for it if they want and suggested I better remove the MPQ instead of risking it. Conclusion: 1) Two GMs contradicting each other, usually means they have no clue/internal policy for these kind of things 2) One of the GMs is correct, the other one is wrong. I didn't see your GM conversation but I can say that the GM i talked to at least seemed to have a clue about what I was talking about. |
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02-04-10, 11:10 AM | #18 |
Still, it's a cursor, and I'm not sweating it. I love my custom cursor.
Here's a screenshot of the cursor I put together. |
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02-04-10, 12:52 PM | #19 | ||
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Very nice, Kupo! As I told ya in my email, I dig it.
Oh, and thought I'd interject a little something in here: a blue post. ZOMG WTF BBQ LOL, someone actually PROVIDING SOEM DATAZ???!?! Yes...because instead of blind fear-mongering like the rest of you, I decided to read. http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/th...eNo=1&sid=1#17 If you're lazy (which you are, obviously):
Besides, did any of you stop to think for just one second that maybe there's a reason this works? Blizzard is fully capable of blocking this type of action (as they've done on numerous occasions with actual "model edits"). We're able to change all kinds of other stuff in the user interface by simply adding files (anyone seen AI-Art?) and nobody has ever asked questions about it. We even change in-game sounds by inserting our own audio files into the Data directory tree with no worries. In fact, I don't see how this doesn't apply to the existing addon common practice of "if Blizzard allows it to happen and it's not altering the game client, it's perfectly legal". I'd stake my account on it...with two geared 80s and a third 80 on its' way, and my sentimental vanilla WoW T2-geared PvP-title-holding Druid. But no...I come along with a simple, safe, and effective way to change mouse cursors that is in no way violating the ToS (try reading the damn thing) and get jumped on. I guess that's the privilege the "UI community elite" get around here. I haven't written any life-changing 100k+ download addons and aren't buddy-buddy with the site administration here so it's perfectly acceptable for all sorts of blind misinformed accusations to be tossed my way with no repercussions whatsoever. I mean, you're the ones bringing in the site traffic and the advertisement dollars so they have to cater to your whim. Don't worry...you won't have to put up with my "annoyances" much longer. |
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02-04-10, 02:12 PM | #20 | ||
That's enough! Don't make me put you in separate corners!
While you may feel that Zyonin's post was meant to turn you into a bad guy, that is not the case. Zyonin's post was meant to avoid any unwanted repercussions as a result of your publicly available tutorial. And, no, it hasn't been said that editing the cursors in this way is "legal". GM's aren't allowed/don't know 100% what is legal or not. Pavonum, the blue you quoted, is a GM. You can add his response to those of the other two GMs listed in this thread. All you have is two for and one against. And you will find many, many more varying GM responses on the subject. None of which are definitive or make something "legal". Even Pavonum's response could be interpreted as referring to regular Interface overrides (in the Interface folder), since he specifically said "user interface". Kaone (another GM) also replied to that thread, quoting the relevant section of the Terms of Use (2.B.), saying:
The old way for cursors to be overridden was via a CURSORS folder in the Interface folder (the normal way of overriding interface textures). This ability was **removed** by Blizzard a few patches ago. The change to .mpq files is nothing new, but people stayed away from it because of a) the risk to your account for doing so, and b) the ability to change cursors via an "accepted" manner was available. The question is (and has been since that patch) "Why did Blizzard take away that way to change our cursors?" Also, Blizzard is free to apply their TOS/TOU as they see fit, and change it as they see fit. Just because Kupotek has been changing his for 2 years with no repercussions, doesn't mean that Blizz won't decide to take action later. TL;DR: no one knows if your tutorial is "legal" or not except the people at Blizzard that call the shots and make the rules. And whether they choose to let us know is up to them. If they say that changing cursors in the .mpqs is "legal", then that opens the flood gates for other edits/questions. The answer to these questions is **always** to err on the side of caution and "don't do it." One last thing.
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"You'd be surprised how many people violate this simple principle every day of their lives and try to fit square pegs into round holes, ignoring the clear reality that Things Are As They Are." -Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh Last edited by Seerah : 02-04-10 at 02:27 PM. Reason: edited wording of a sentence |
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