I've been using MVPS Hosts for many years: http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm
for a number of reasons like security, ad blocking, stats blocking etc.
One of the listed lines in it:
127.0.0.1 motd.pinion.gg #[Game Adverts]There is no reason to ban ppl who use
localized settings as their preference. People have the choice to disable the
MOTD, etc.
And actually that is not hacking "your" server. They block the content from
Pinion, which is a 3rd party who has nothing to do with the client but way more
with the server ('s owner). The client blocking the third party is entirely up
to them. They didn't change or access your server in any way inappropriate.
And btw, "hacking" in relation to the game is being able to overcome server
settings/limitations by using arbitrary means that change processes run-time.
Like the named "aimbots" "wallhacks" etc. Protection/insurance of client
settings and files is done via the sv_cheats and sv_pure var's. Its
"exploiting" when something is abused but not protected within the game. If its
downright a OPTION in the game to block MOTD's, its neither in regards to
blocking the pinion ads.
You state that its in the "rules" of the server that clients should view the
MOTD... but where/when do you state that? When the client connects? in the
MOTD? oh, no, thats already (ab)used with Pinion. so where/when then? in the
game's chat? more ads in-game midscreen ? I've always seen the MOTD as a place
where a server owner can put his banner, server rules and whatnot so players
have an idea what community and rules they have to play by. If you as server
owner replaced that with 1 big advert, then when are the players to find out
about the rules? not from your MOTD, and by the time you can advert them, they
are already past that.
Also, with Pinion crashing clients if they have the latest Flash installed, who
are you to crash somebody's game?
With what I read bout the pinion stuff, I'm just glad I disabled MOTD a long
time ago, it has been a pain crashing the game for a number of things over the
years, and there is never been anything there thats interesting enough. So far
I've not seen even 1 positive argument to enable it anyways. With positive one
I mean not saying:
- or otherwise you just look at a countdown
- or you get a ban
- etc.
Make it a privilege, that they get a "donator slot" or other perks for 3 hours
or something like that. Reward them doing "good", don't punish the "bad". I bet
you get then even discussions about it to get ppl to enable it. Instead of now
ppl recommending each other to turn it off, getting a hosts block, etc.
"Join a Pinion enabled server, watch their video, and get a Neon-sign hat."
No idea how it can be that a advertizing company doesn't know how to please
their audience. Guess thats the gap between the "positive" message and actually
giving a positive experience.
Also, reading the SPUF, with Pinion ads running, it loads its video, and takes
so long to load the video, and then it still has to finish it. So thats 1-1,5
minutes instead of the 30 second countdown? pfff, 30 sec countdown any time
beats that timewaste.
>________________________________
> From: Todd Pettit <[email protected]>
>To: Half-Life dedicated Win32 server mailing list
><[email protected]>
>Sent: Tuesday, 19 February 2013, 6:11
>Subject: Re: [hlds] Pinion Pot of Gold blacklist?
>
>My point is if you are using you client settings to subvert my server settings
>then you are hacking. So there is no reason I should not punish players who
>subvert the ads any differently than someone who spams chat, abuses voting,
>trolls the server, aimbots, wallhacks, etc. By your reasoning these hacks,
>cheats, and behaviors are perfectly reasonable to use on any server simply
>because you are located somewhere else. The second you connect to our server
>you are taking the slot of a player who actually contributes to the well being
>of the community and you are just to lazy to join one of hundreds of other
>servers and not contribute to them. I don't take it personally, by the way, I
>prevent it.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "[BT]Black V" <[email protected]>
>To: "Half-Life dedicated Win32 server mailing list"
><[email protected]>
>Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 12:02:24 AM
>Subject: Re: [hlds] Pinion Pot of Gold blacklist?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>The game is free NOW.
>But yes that is my point I would join another server rather than see ads
>
>and your point is you feel you have the right to show me those ads
>
>It's not a personal attack on you, I don't like ads, where I can avoid them, I
>do
>As you server is under you full control, so is my client
>
>
>
>
>On Tue, Feb 19, 2013 at 5:35 PM, Yun Huang Yong < [email protected] >
>wrote:
>
>
>
>On 19/02/2013 3:12 PM, Todd Pettit wrote:
>
>
>I offer a pinion bypass to all my players for $1 a month. It already has close
>to a hundred people who are contributing. So our players obviously like our
>servers enough to contribute.
>
>How do you handle the billing?
>
>I looked around for ways for players to contribute micro-donations and most
>solutions made it crazily inefficient. e.g. PayPal is 2.4% + 30c for every
>transaction.
>
>I would love a mechanism that allowed players to easily contribute micro
>amounts... :)
>
>
>
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>
>
>
>--
>Cheers
>
>Terry Wrennall
>
>_______________________________________________
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>
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>
>
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