Cheat Codes

There is no way to effectively get free in-game currency for IMVU, Second Life, World of Warcraft, EVE, Conan, Video Poker, (note - all these are trademarks) or any other online game available now.

First, the basic answer. Many years ago, game companies didn't worry as much about in-game currency or items. Part of this was they didn't really think of these things being worth real money (half the time you weren't even playing against other players; you were playing against yourself, and who cares if you cheat at solitaire?). The other reason was, there weren't a lot of ways for the game companies to stop the improper acquisition of in-game currency or items. The technology was flawed at best. And the legal system wasn't there. The Internet was a law enforcement no-man's land. Nobody knew who had jurisdiction. None of the judicial or law enforcement personnel had a serious understanding of what a computer or a server was, much less a way to explain all this to a jury. So the game companies didn't really fight it, and you could find sources for free, "cheat" money and items in computer games.

Those days are gone.

First, computer gaming went from something a handful of hobbyists did (a tiny market) to something that nearly everyone does (a huge market). So the money cascaded in and the process all became important. So now, game companies CARED. A lot.

Next, the technology improved. Where cheats and security holes used to prevail, they're gone now. This isn't to say there's no way to cheat at an online game - this is to say it's right on the knife edge of being impossible without an insider helping you. Games now use the same encryption most militaries and banks use - and you aren't cracking that in a hurry. Likewise, attacking a gaming server is now about as hard as attacking a bank server -- really. That is to say, it's typically a huge amount of effort involving a lot of people, they'll catch onto it at once, and (we'll get to this in a second) now there are laws that protect these game companies from this kind of theft.

The Internet: when online multi-player gaming first came out (maybe 20 years ago with the MUDs), jurisdiction was hard, as was explaining to a jury. Now, jurisdiction is pretty clear: take away over $20,000US in profits, assets, potential(!) to make money or add to the cost of doing business buy making them clean up your (perceived) mess, and the hosts of the Law Enforcement show are the US Secret Service and the FBI (in America - many other countries operate at this level too). Juries are a Lot more sophisticated nowadays. And if that weren't enough, the PATRIOT Act, for the first time, criminalized computer hacking in general. While it surely didn't target gamers, it did set precedent.

Also, we noticed that the currency in computer games is, in a way, real money. You (or someone) spent hours earning it. While you don't own the "money", it seems you do own something (exactly what you own is a question of some serious legal interest just now). And if the game deals with real money (like Second Life, IMVU or any online casino), those companies are currently under review from people like the California and Nevada Gaming Commissions (as well as a few other states), the California State Franchise Tax Board, and the Internal Revenue Service. Even the US Department of State and the Federal Trade Commission can get involved if you go international on this. It seems some people actually do make real money legally in these games (In Second Life, one lady in Germany made around $250,000US in one year doing the in-game version of real estate trading). So, even though you can't hold it in your hand, now the money is Real, and so are the agencies that want some of it, and take personal theft of money very seriously indeed.

So - here's what you're up against with getting free money out of these games:

* If the Game Company wants to run a promotion, they can (although their legal departments will likely all go simultaneously insane trying to justify that). You see a lot of companies giving out free money promotions nowadays? Don't expect these companies to either.

* You ask for the proceeds of some clever, undetected hack, as a gift. This is like a stranger finding a way to steal from a bank without getting caught, and then in an act of random kindness, freely giving you - a stranger -- some of that money. Right. This happens every day. But not on earth. However, let's say it did. The following applies to you: * ** You solicited a federal criminal act (by implying you'd like someone to hack a system thus breaking a federal law). ** You are a party after the fact (just as if you knowingly received money from a burglary). ** Interstate trafficking in stolen goods (if it's on the Internet, it's federal, yes?). ** The game company will detect this (unlike real, EVERY monetary transaction is recorded and serialized - in real, this wouldn't be legal - in IMVU it's just part of the design). Once detected they will expel you fast, hard and forever. And if they want, they can go after you with a civil suit (they haven't done this yet, to my knowledge - the civil suit thing - but in time they surely will). * You ask how to do that hack yourself. This is unlikely too, as safe crackers and their ilk don't typically take it upon themselves to teach strangers how to use their tools, especially strangers who only want to use the tool and not do the actual work. And how do they know you aren't working with the police? So this doesn't happen in real life anymore. But if it did…: * ** Everything in the previous section except and… * ** ** Instead of accessory, you're the defendant. Enjoy. You think this is so wild that it's not true? Look up the TOS (Terms Of Service) or EULA (End User License Agreement) for ANY online multiplayer game you're playing, read them carefully, and SEE what the game companies and the law will gladly do to you personally, if you interfere with their legal profits.

So - in summary:

* There are no known hacks that get you in-game currency or items for any game I know of made in the last 6 years (written 2008, August). * If there were, they'd catch you and stop it. At the very least you'd be banned from the game. * I don't believe a serious hack is possible without (a) huge resources (which kinda defeats the purpose), and (b) an employee or 10 helping you out (thus adding criminal conspiracy to the shopping list of charges). * If we did know of a way to do this, we'd forget it. We surely wouldn't tell you how to break the law, especially in such a manner as would risk our involvement. * If someone else tells you there's a great way to do this, they're lying, insane, trying to scam you, or acting as bait for the game company or law enforcement (and don't even think about entrapment - you're the one soliciting the illegal act in this case) - or any or all of the above. The least you'll get is they take your money and/or ID. If you want in-game currency for these games, you can almost always buy it legitimately from the game company itself. A warning here - it's not cheap. But it's legal.