Editing Cheating in online games (section)

===World-hacking===
'''World-hacking''' is a method or [[third-party software component|third-party program]] that enables a [[user (computing)|user]] to exploit bugs and to view more of a [[Level (video games)|level]] than intended by the [[video game developer|developer]].

A common aspect of [[real-time strategy]] games is the player's partial limitation or complete inability to see beyond the visibility range of individual game objects that are under their ownership (typically units and structures); this concept is controlled by a mechanism known as the [[Fog of war#Simulations and games|fog of war]]. World-hacking usually enables the user to bypass this mechanism, either by removing it entirely and/or by [[rendering (computer graphics)|rendering]] objects through the fog that would not normally be visible.<ref name="Pritchard-Gamasutra"/> In multiplayer modes, this allows for a distinct advantage against the other players who are subject to the intended settings. The advantage gained can be substantial, especially for the average real-time strategy games that rely on the [[rock paper scissors]] dynamic to [[game balance|balance]] out individual objects' varying strengths and weaknesses.

[[File:AssaultCube wallhacks.png|thumb|Wallhacking in ''[[AssaultCube]]'', where players concealed in the corridors to the left and right are indicated with red rectangles]]
World-hacking may also allow a player to see through solid or opaque objects and/or manipulate or remove textures, to know in advance when an opponent is about to come into targeting range from an occluded area. This can be done by making wall textures transparent, or modifying the game maps to insert polygonal holes into otherwise solid walls. This variation is commonly known as a "wallhack" since it basically allows to the player to see enemies through walls.

World-hacking relies on the fact that an FPS server usually sends raw positional information for all players in the game, and leaves it up to the client's 3D renderer to hide opponents behind walls, in plant foliage, or in dark shadows. If the game map rendering could be turned off completely, all players could be seen moving around in what appears to be empty space. Complete map hiding offers no advantage to a cheater as they would be unable to navigate the invisible map pathways and obstacles. However, if only certain surfaces are made transparent or removed, this leaves just enough of an outline of the world to allow the cheater still to navigate it easily.

[[Asus]] released wireframe display drivers in 2001 that enabled players to use wallhacks, announcing the settings as "special weapons" that users could employ in multiplayer games. In a poll by the Online Gamers Association, 90% of its members were against the release of the drivers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/05/10/asus_releases_games_cheat_drivers/ |title=ASUS releases games cheat drivers |date=May 10, 2013 |publisher=The Register |access-date=2013-06-06 }}</ref>