How can we prevent users from using online solvers? Ideas?

[bestng]

Is there a way to prevent this? Ideas are needed.

This is the real way out.

[bestng]

Is there a way to prevent this? Ideas are needed.

This is the real way out.

Well, first, I appreciate the developer for this great game.

However, I'm this digital age, many people use online sudoku solvers to beat logical real players talking of highest points and other parameters. What are ways to discourage this and reward real players?

Many ideas come: but 1 really is what I feel will work:

1. Introducing 2 or more random, wrong initial digits.

Cheater usually copy the puzzle to an online solver and copy the solutions back within 5 minutes.

But with the random hardcoded wrong digits, copying the initial numbers to online solver will show error.

This will force players to resort to manual logical solution.

The 3 major downsides:
1. No one will be able to score full obtainable points. Which is OK, because people will.be forced to use the help buttons.
2. the random hardcoded numbers may be spotted and eliminated if not made random.
3. Sometimes the hardcoded numbers can.lead to repeated numbers if an algorithm is not used to avoid that.

So, using the html source code, how can we program the placement to be random on the html boxes?

[Mike-on-Tour]

People using online solvers may be a problem, but it can not be solved by introducing randomly false digits because that will render the puzzle unsolvable for everybody.
And BTW you can not introduce false digits into the HTML code since that is generated dynamically by phpBB's usage of TWIG.

To be quite honest, I can not imagine a way to prevent the usage of online solvers, at least not on short notice.

[bestng]

People using online solvers may be a problem, but it can not be solved by introducing randomly false digits because that will render the puzzle unsolvable for everybody.
And BTW you can not introduce false digits into the HTML code since that is generated dynamically by phpBB's usage of TWIG.

To be quite honest, I can not imagine a way to prevent the usage of online solvers, at least not on short notice.

I found a way sincerely. Its with 2 false digits. Should we discuss in PM?


First, this is what online solvers do: they pick the presented puzzle numbers and positions and paste it into an online blank sudoku solver. The solver will solve it and then the player will copy it back. This forfeits the whole game if we want to run fair competition with it.

I discovered that if I introduce manual 2 false digits in your sudoku html file, mot_sudoku_classic.html, this will render the presented puzzle without solution by the online solver.

Change

Code: Select all

<tr>
										<td id="mot_sudoku_c_cell_id_21">{{ MOT_SUDOKU_CELL_21 }}</td>
										<td id="mot_sudoku_c_cell_id_22">{{ MOT_SUDOKU_CELL_22 }}</td>
										<td id="mot_sudoku_c_cell_id_23">{{ MOT_SUDOKU_CELL_23 }}</td>
									</tr>

To

Code: Select all

<tr>
										<td id="mot_sudoku_c_cell_id_21">6</td>
										<td id="mot_sudoku_c_cell_id_22">{{ MOT_SUDOKU_CELL_22 }}</td>
										<td id="mot_sudoku_c_cell_id_23">2</td>
									</tr>

however, as you mentioned, this could cause the puzzle to look unsolvable to the logical player. But if he continues to attempt it, it will be knocked out by placing a digit over it or using buy digit and other options.

the only problem is, it will lead to mistakes and cost points, but the player will still solve it somehow.

this is better than letting cheaters render the game unfair.

This solution is manual, but we could introduce it as another layer of difficulty.

In case the cheaters detect that the position of the random digits are constant and that the same number is repeating, I wrote a js code that can make the wrongly placed digit random between 1 to 9. We can also time the regeneration to every 1 hour.

This js code generates a random number 1 to 9 in any cell id stID, which the

[Mike-on-Tour]

It would be possible to initially insert some false digits, but the question is how long the cheaters (as you call them) will take to check that they just have to buy a digit to have the original digits displayed again and then copy everything into a solver.

If I implement such a feature, it surely will only be with an according ACP setting, but as I already said I do not see that this will stop the cheaters very long.

[bestng]

It would be possible to initially insert some false digits, but the question is how long the cheaters (as you call them) will take to check that they just have to buy a digit to have the original digits displayed again and then copy everything into a solver.

If I implement such a feature, it surely will only be with an according ACP setting, but as I already said I do not see that this will stop the cheaters very long.

On my test platform, I configured the costs of those buttons such that only people who take time to really solve the puzzle will score highest.

Also, I found a way to use js to randomizer the value (1 to 9) of the false digit on each page load.

This is just my temporary fix and it's working.

At least, on load, copying the puzzle to a solver will throw error: NO SOLUTION.

So, let's look into a future where we can find a better solution.

Once again, thanks for the great app.

[Mike-on-Tour]

Also, I found a way to use js to randomizer the value (1 to 9) of the false digit on each page load.

I would be interested in that, at least to see how it works with honest players.
If you do not want to share it publicly, perhaps you can give it to me by PM?

[bestng]

Also, I found a way to use js to randomizer the value (1 to 9) of the false digit on each page load.

I would be interested in that, at least to see how it works with honest players.
If you do not want to share it publicly, perhaps you can give it to me by PM?

I'll send DM.
I plan using the game for tournaments, timed and with puzzle number limit.

I'll create a new topic for that.