Home Gaming South African competitive CS:GO player receives a VAC ban

South African competitive CS:GO player receives a VAC ban

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think about it

Valve’s Anti Cheat software has done a great job in the past of ridding the CS:GO world of some nasty cheaters, including those in the international professional scene. Some may remember the KQLY saga of 2014. The VAC system is swift, and a strike on your profile means you’re done playing CS:GO competitively on that account, or on any other account, for any other team. It’s comparable to a criminal record and trying to find a job.

And now, a South African CS:GO player has been hit. The player in question goes by the name of Invert, and allow me to explain why, while this may not be news worthy, it does warrant some opinion on that matter. Invert has been playing in the higher tiers of Counter-Strike in South Africa for over ten years. This is the first time in South Africa a prominent, well-known player has received a ban for cheating. Naturally this shook the scene quite a bit as Invert was currently playing as a reserve for Virtue, a team comprised of some of South Africa’s prominent veterans and up and coming players. Invert has attended a number of LAN tournaments in his competitive time, the latest (and probably last) being the Vodacom Gamer’s Fest. He has attended the Digital Gaming League Championships on numerous occasions, and in the few times I’ve chatted with him, has come across as a really nice guy.

Invert

His reason (or excuse?)

In a statement put forward by Angelo “Adr3nalin” Olevano, Team owner and captain of Virtue, Invert’s reason for the VAC ban was made apparent.

“On behalf of team Virtue / Above the Law – regarding the recent VAC ban received by Invert:

We brought Invert into the team as a reserve earlier this year and have to date had no indications that he may have been using any ‘cheats’. As soon as we learnt of his ban we immediately removed him from our roster. We in no way condone cheating and have thus disassociated ourselves with the player until proven innocent. We will leave it to him to make an official statement as to “what happened” but would like to also mention that he has not represented our team in any competitive / DGL matches to date.

What we did learn from him was that he used a bunny-hopping script on his spoof account for non-competitive play but that VAC somehow identified this as a form of cheating and subsequently banned his spoof account which immediately spilled through to his main competitive account. Although we cannot prove anything, we find it hard to believe that he would have in fact used any aim or wall hacking scripts, those who know him a lot longer than we have, have already expressed their disbelief. I therefore ask everyone out there, on his behalf, to reserve judgment until he has had a fair opportunity to clear his name and explain himself. He has also logged a ticket with Valve in the interim. Be it as it may, we have no choice but to take him out of our lineup in the interests of the team and our strong condemnation of cheating and suspected cheating in the community as a whole.

Yours sincerely,
Team Virtue / Above the Law.”

This has happened before to some players, and really it’s a thoughtless, yet foolish mistake some players make when messing around on spoof accounts. Before I continue, let this be a warning to those who have considered fooling around on spoof accounts. Don’t. Whether or not his reason is true, this line in particular is what led me to writing about this.

“Although we cannot prove anything, we find it hard to believe that he would have in fact used any aim or wall hacking scripts, those who know him a lot longer than we have, have already expressed their disbelief.”

A lot of players have expressed their disbelief, and for those exact reasons they have every right to. Invert has been a respected player for the better part of 10 years. Some of the new comers immediately jumped on the hate train, but discussions among the more level-headed, more prominent members of the community did give him a small, maybe tiny, benefit of the doubt.

In closing

Let’s assume for  a second Invert is telling the truth. Many of his respected former team members and opponents will now question anything and everything. Any player in any top team could be cheating. Your friend, your enemy, your mom, or even your aunt Nancy. The fact is, if this had to happen again to any player who tried to fool around on a smurf, he’d receive the same response from the community as Invert has. Even if he was the most respected player in the community.

This was extremely foolish on his part, and really a loss to the competitive community. I’d say innocent until proven guilty, but that big red text on his account unfortunately does him no justice. Stay safe, friends.

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Last Updated: May 4, 2016

70 Comments

  1. Pariah

    May 4, 2016 at 14:09

    I heard someone received a VAC for joining a server that was using hacks without knowing about it. I understand the need for VAC, but the fact that it’s automatic and all-encompassing for me is a bit heavy-handed.

    Either way, VAC for a spoof account? That’s wrong, no matter which way you look at it. Leave the main account alone, as long as the spoof account wasn’t interfering with it. Now if the spoof account was playing pro games or ranked, then maybe MAYBE. But investigate before the outright all-encompassing ban that is VAC. Seriously.

    Wait, I mean [mssc].

    Reply

    • HairyEwok

      May 4, 2016 at 14:14

      Why would you use scripts in the first place, even if its on a spoof account.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in New York

        May 4, 2016 at 14:15

        SPOOF, always reminds me of a soft poop.

        SPOOF

        Reply

        • HairyEwok

          May 4, 2016 at 14:16

          The “I shouldn’t have drank that chamberlains” poof

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief in New York

            May 4, 2016 at 14:35

            The “I shouldn’t have had that last garage pie at 23h00” poof

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 14:36

            Eish, nee dankie.

          • Admiral Chief in New York

            May 4, 2016 at 14:37

            The “I shouldn’t have gone for a second helping of KFC dunked wings” poof

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 14:38

            I don’t eat KFC, I’m fine thanks.

          • Admiral Chief in New York

            May 4, 2016 at 14:49

            I used to love dunked wings, until I had a 3 day spoof

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 14:49

            LOL yeah that’ll do it.

          • HairyEwok

            May 4, 2016 at 14:39

            You should be dead then, not having a soft poo XD

      • Pariah

        May 4, 2016 at 14:17

        Curiosity? That’s the #1 reason I’d create a spoof account. To try something that I wouldn’t normally do, and then go back to my main and carry on with my life.

        Reply

        • HairyEwok

          May 4, 2016 at 14:20

          Curiosity killed the cat….. The cat being his account.

          Reply

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 14:23

            His spoof account is fine. His main as well?

            It’s not like he raped a child here, or spewed hate speech and incited violent riots. He tried a script on a spoof account in a non-official setting.

          • HairyEwok

            May 4, 2016 at 14:29

            I still see steams way of thinking as a safety precaution, 2 accounts that’s still being operated by the same person. Who is to say he’s not secretly also using hax on his main as well. Like I said, I think this is just steams way of making sure, if you have 2 holes in the dam, one big and one small its best to plug up both rather than just the big one.

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 14:30

            No, this is one crack and one solid damn. This is like blowing both up to prevent either from causing any lasting damage. It makes no sense.

          • Brett Johnson

            May 23, 2016 at 23:09

            It’s easy, don’t cheat. This situation would be non-existent. If it’s not part of the main game the way it was meant to be played then uhh i don’t know, DON”T USE IT. So stupid. How logical does one have to be to get this through to people? In the end, he’s dumb for using that b-hop script. I mean really? The stupid thing is all valve matchmaking servers regardless of comp (demolition, arms race, casual, etc) should be protected from people who use cheats. It’s sad to say that the company can’t allow for the other modes to be as well protected. Clean house!

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 14:31

            Also, if he was using hacks on his main, Valve would’ve picked it up and VAC’d him some time over the last 10 years…

          • HairyEwok

            May 4, 2016 at 14:36

            He could have recently started using hax, just like he recently made the spoof account. Like i said we won’t know exactly what’s going on.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            May 4, 2016 at 14:41

            People don’t cheat until they do.

          • Louis Marais

            May 4, 2016 at 16:34

            Seems to me we have another hacker here, which might just spoof in his pants when he gets home to a VAC ban.

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 16:37

            Yes. I’m going to get VAC banned for a game I don’t own, nor have ever played. You’re a smart one, aren’t you?

    • Admiral Chief in New York

      May 4, 2016 at 14:15

      Was just about to say, tl;dr[mssc]

      Reply

    • Spy Master Tokashi

      May 4, 2016 at 14:26

      If the dumb ass did not use a script in the first place, he wouldnt have been banned. I do not understand why people have to cheat in anyway, even with a fake account messing around on a lan. It is stupid, especially when you are in a professional esports team.

      Reply

      • Pariah

        May 4, 2016 at 14:27

        Cheat or have a bit of fun? Also what about scale? Like you know, maybe a 1 week ban initially. That’s my issue.

        His spoof account can get VAC banned to hell if he uses a script, that’s fine. It’s his main being affected that’s the issue here. There’s no reason to VAC his main.

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          May 4, 2016 at 14:28

          We all know the devil made him do it.

          Reply

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 14:30

            No, he did it himself. But he didn’t do it to win a competition, or any prizes, or anything. In fact that script on that spoof would have 0 impact in pro games on his main account. Literally none. So why? It’s not like an athlete who uses banned substances, this doesn’t stay in your blood.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            May 4, 2016 at 14:35

            He took the risk for whatever fun he thought he’d have, he got caught, as far as Steam’s concerned he’s demonstrated a willingness to use hacks, he got the punishment.

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 14:36

            Yeah but it’s like someone caught stealing a R2 chocolate in a store being locked up in maximum security prison for life. That’s what this is.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            May 4, 2016 at 14:40

            Which would be very unfair… if that someone wasn’t fully aware of getting that sentence should they steal the R2 chocolate, whatever their reason for stealing it.

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 14:46

            No, that’s still not proportionate punishment. That’s the point. Yeah that person needs to face the consequences of stealing said chocolate. But to be punished the same as if he murdered? That’s not how a criminal justice system works. That’s how a dictatorship works, perhaps.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            May 4, 2016 at 14:51

            But it is a dictatorship.

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 14:53

            Valve. Gaben is love. Gaben is life.

            Heil Gaben.

          • Brett Johnson

            May 23, 2016 at 23:11

            His account didn’t do it, he did. Damn you are stupid.

          • RinceThis

            May 4, 2016 at 15:54

            lol

        • Brett Johnson

          May 23, 2016 at 23:10

          It’s only fun for you, obviously you don’t care about other people. Get a job pal.

          Reply

    • Louis Marais

      May 4, 2016 at 16:36

      Dude, are you sure you aren’t Invert? with a spoof account?

      Reply

      • Pariah

        May 4, 2016 at 16:38

        I’m sure. Idiot.

        Reply

        • Louis Marais

          May 4, 2016 at 16:40

          LOL, be warned the VAC is watching you…

          Reply

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 16:41

            Yes, it’s watching my single player games. I’m going to get VAC banned from Mad Max. And Terraria.

          • Louis Marais

            May 4, 2016 at 16:44

            Then why give input? you haven’t played against hackers? So you will not understand how hacking affects the online community.

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 16:47

            I’ve played many online games. I’ve seen and dealt with hackers plenty. And while I agree his spoof hacking account should get banned, for life. His Main should not. Simple as. If he hacks on his main, then ban that too. No question. But to ban both? It’s a knee-jerk reaction with emphasis on the “Jerk”. Great assumptions you have going there though. I applaud your logic, or lack thereof.

          • Louis Marais

            May 4, 2016 at 16:50

            Seems to me you might be one of the sour hackers out there who are scardy cat for the VAC, shame dude go cry us a river. Zero tolerance to cheaters.

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 17:41

            Yes. You’re 100% correct. I will go cry myself to sleep now. You’re the man. Your balls have dropped and they make all the girls swoon. You big, big man you.

  2. HairyEwok

    May 4, 2016 at 14:10

    I find scripts is still a way of cheating… Also 3000 hours is no small amount of time, wow!

    Reply

  3. Alien Emperor Trevor

    May 4, 2016 at 14:15

    I bet athletes wished that excuse worked. “I was only using banned substances while playing a non-competitive match”

    Reply

    • Avithar

      May 4, 2016 at 14:42

      LOL yeah and how does this guy provide the script was not used for competitions

      Reply

      • Pariah

        May 4, 2016 at 14:57

        Easy. He didn’t get banned during them. This is an automated system here, not a random check. There are no tip-offs. There are no exceptions. Everyone gets screened while they’re playing. If he used a script while playing in a competition, he would’ve been VAC banned like every other competitive player who did so. During the match.

        Reply

        • B3ware_za

          May 4, 2016 at 18:08

          You are aware that Valve sends out ban waves. So he could have been caught recently or 3+ months ago. It does not always have to be in a match.

          There is a reason the script is a ban-able offense. They won’t just an for the sake of banning.

          I’m all for innocent until proven guilty. Just remember, ANYONE can use a banned script or hack. Being a competitive players for so long or being part of a community for this amount of time, you’d know what is ban-able offenses by now.

          GL to the guy. Lets see if he can clear his record if he is indeed falsely accused.

          Reply

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 18:24

            Well yes you do know, and you don’t risk your pro profile. Hence trying it on a spoof account. And I’m all for banning his spoof account. But if he didn’t use the script during a tournament or ranked or anything else on his main account, then the ban on his main makes no sense. It’s about scale. A blanket VAC ban on all accounts for life for a minor infraction does not make sense. It’s as I said – stealing a chocolate and getting a 30 year prison sentence with no chance for parole. It’s extreme.

            Get the spoof banned and get a warning. But not the blanket VAC.

            Do it on the main, in or out of tournament? Get the VAC ban. No questions, no arguments.

    • Private Baboon

      May 4, 2016 at 14:47

      The effects of both these banned “substances”, are carried over to the competitive match as well. However, in the case of the gamer, it is a negative effect, as he will no longer have the aid of the script, which potentially altered his game play strategy while using it. Thus I agree with Pariah, even though it was careless to make such a “mistake”, banning a player completely if one of their accounts was found to be cheating, doesn’t make much sense.

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        May 4, 2016 at 15:02

        That’s how zero tolerance for cheating works in competitive activities. You’re not meant to cheat in non-competitive matches either. You cheat, you’re responsible for your actions, you’re out, how/what/where/why doesn’t matter.

        Reply

        • Pariah

          May 4, 2016 at 15:04

          Except those in a lab testing to see if the drugs boost performance don’t get banned. They get praised. You’re saying that they should all be arrested for making the drugs that are banned from pro sports? You know, like asthma pumps, flu medicines etc. Let’s arrest and blanket ban everyone because SPERTZ.

          Makes as much sense as Valve’s beyond heavy-handedness.

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            May 4, 2016 at 15:06

            ROFL.

        • Private Baboon

          May 4, 2016 at 15:16

          Zero tolerance for cheating in competitive activities should apply to that, competitive activities. Take this for example, if a pro cyclist uses another bike that is motorised in some way, to ride around his neighbourhood, should he immediately be banned from any cycling competition, cause he cheated while using his “casual bike”?

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            May 4, 2016 at 15:30

            So if a professional walker jogs in his neighbourhood they should be banned from professional walking?!

          • Private Baboon

            May 4, 2016 at 15:32

            You are making my point for me.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            May 4, 2016 at 15:38

            Actually I was mocking your point.

          • Private Baboon

            May 4, 2016 at 15:40

            Well then I’m sorry that you cannot grasp the concept.

          • RinceThis

            May 4, 2016 at 15:56

            Well he is challenged…

          • RinceThis

            May 4, 2016 at 15:56

            hahahah

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 16:42

            At least one person gets it.

          • Louis Marais

            May 4, 2016 at 16:47

            Nope, the hackers will always soften their crimes, just as criminals in court.

          • Pariah

            May 4, 2016 at 17:42

            I hope you get a 30 year prison sentence for stealing a chocolate. Oh wait, you won’t. Because in real life, the justice system aims to be fair.

    • RinceThis

      May 4, 2016 at 15:55

      But eSports IS sports!

      Reply

  4. RinceThis

    May 4, 2016 at 15:54

    GOOD

    Reply

  5. For the Emperor!

    May 4, 2016 at 16:00

    I do not know the person and I do not follow the game at all. I do not want to get involved in a long argument here but here is my quick opinion:
    1 – Is it heavy handed if he was messing around on a spoof account? Probably yes.
    2 – Is this prohibited in the T&C or EULA or whatever you call it? Probably yes.
    3 – What reason is there to mess around with something like that other than to see if you can get away with it though?
    Anycase, this will be resolved somehow by someone else who actually gives a flying F 🙂

    Reply

  6. Louis Marais

    May 4, 2016 at 16:29

    Once VAC banned always VAC banned, logging a support ticket at VALVE will not absolve you from the VAC BAN. I hate spoof accounts and cheaters, Invert got what he deserved, a big red forever and ever; and ever; and ever VAC BAN. One more hacker gone, is a good riddance for all, and a victory for online competitive gaming.

    Reply

  7. Kyle Farmer

    May 5, 2016 at 13:17

    I’m adamantly against cheating of any kind BUT I do cheat in single player games either once I’ve completed them or towards the end to enjoy the story and move on. I’ve done this many times. In fact I think I have 4 or 5 completions of KOTOR having cheated in all playthroughs except the first.

    Point is, cheating in multiplayer games is unforgivable and I reckon people should simply be banned from all multiplayer games if caught and found to be guilty. However, when I’m chilling with a single player game I should be able to cheat and edit the game as I see fit to my benefit if it means I will continue playing and enjoying it.

    When we had an ARMA 3 server we had a couple guys who were auto banned for cheating after which they explained that “Cheat engine” was open after cheating in single player games before starting up ARMA. I, being a cheater (SP games) can understand this and even felt for the player BUT they remained banned since I could never know for sure.

    Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps this is the case. He was cheating in Fallout 4, left cheat engine open, joined CS:GO and was banned fro cheating. It’s probably not the case, but is possible. Either way, if he’s guilty, he should be banned from all online competitive games, end of.

    Reply

    • KingCactus22

      May 11, 2016 at 15:34

      Your point seems reasonable of letting people cheat in their single player mode to make the game more fun or just to mess around. It is after all you who want to enjoy the game and if the standard version of the game is too boring, so go for it.

      But, Alien Emperor Trevor mentioned the whole R2 chocolate prison story. You know you will get locked up if you steal the ultra rare R2 bunny hopping chocolate, but you steal it anyway. I think that if you do something unlawful and you are fully aware of it being against the rules then why not also bear the responsibility of your actions. If you know that using hacks are completely against what e-sports and competitive gaming stands for, then why even think of risking it( and saying he was testing it on single player sounds like something reasonable to do but not if you are a league player).

      For example, here is the first thing I saw while reading VAC guidelines stated by steam support:

      * VAC and Game bans apply to all accounts on a phone number

      Now I don’t know about the rest of you but If I in any way took something serious enough to play competitively then:
      1) you read the rules,
      2) you don’t test the rules knowing that steam do not tolerate cheats in any way.

      He might be an old player and respected but to valve he is a player and hold no higher merit than the next user. He used a cheat, he was banned, he has more than one profile, they both got VAC banned to prevent the said player to have a platform to cheat again. Valve is justifying VAC banning one person against 9 other players on the server raging at a hacker. People use cheats more often than we think and they corrupt the multiplayer experience.

      Reply

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