New Fairplay Solution (NFS) - presentation

Discussion about fairness-stuff. Advices of breach of rules and so on.

Moderators: systemmods, fairplaymods

Locked
team fl
Posts: 5009
Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:43 am
Contact:

New Fairplay Solution (NFS) - presentation

Post by team fl » Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:54 pm

Hey ho! Due to the remodeling of C4F and the admin change, the Fairplay situation has been hanging in midair ever since. Hence, in coordination with the new admins Alive and Dead (flockmastoR in the forum), Alkworld and Gipfelstuermer, I present the process to implement the Fairplay system (again), including the Fairplay Committee (FPC) (nothing new here...). As this is a community based approach regarding legitimization, we need all of you to contribute, either with your input for the discussion and/or your voting later on. Anyway, this is how it goes:

In the second post of this thread, the Concept for the NFS (the NFSC ;)) will be presented.

Simultaneously, there will be a discussion thread about it, that will be open until Sunday, 22 January 2023. After that, it will be closed again, and the concept will be adapted if necessary. Keep in mind, not every single proposition/opinion may be included in the NFS eventually.

When the adaptation is finished, there will be a community poll about it to adopt the concept and implement it's features. It will be a simple yes or no majority poll.

- Link to the discussion

- Link to the poll: tba
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.

team fl
Posts: 5009
Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:43 am
Contact:

Re: New Fairplay Solution (NFS) - presentation

Post by team fl » Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:55 pm

Cycling4Freaks - New Fairplay Solution (NFS) to enforce the fair play rules of the game

General remarks

Current situation

After the end of life of Flash (on January 12, 2021), the unannounced PHP update on the game’s server (on June 19, 2022) was the final deathblow to the Cycling4Freaks Flash Version including its ingame fair play committee functionality. Therefore, the fair play committee (FPC), consisting of Gipfelstuermer, RideforMoney, Trekken Racing, Tukhtahuaev and Team Hunsrueck since 9 February 2019, neither had a technical solution to fulfill its duties nor a legitimization from anyone to enforce the fair play rules of the game in an alternative manner as the sole fair play decision-maker(s) luques (and lesossies) discontinued making decisions. However, developers with access to the source code and database have the technical means to do it.

Aim and purposes

Hence, this concept shows a new solution and its process to legitimize a new FPC to enforce the cycling4freaks fair play rules via its community. The concept includes these parts:
- the legitimization process;
- the definition of the fairplay rules in the game;
- the organization of the FPC;
- possible penalty guidelines; and
- possible technical solutions for a long-term solution.

Legitimization

From 2006 until 2016, Buhmann (ingame known as “Radler”) and lesossies, the founders of C4F, managed it until Buhmann didn’t have the time to do it anymore. During their time of administration, the fair play system introduced by them, the owners of the game.

In 2016, they granted access to the source code and database to Luques, a motivated player with programming skills. He managed the game until he had no time himself anymore either. The game was still owned by Buhmann and lesossies and the fair play system was still “owner ruled” as mostly lesossies was sanctioning any penalties by the fair play committee.

When it was clear that also Luques lacked the time to transition the game from Flash to another platform, following the “Open letter about the future of C4F” in October 2021, players Alive And Dead, Alkworld and Gipfelstuermer have been granted access to the source code and database as well.

Unfortunately, they did not receive an explicit mandate to enforce the fair play rules of the game. As the owners of the game were not involved anymore at all and the react version lacked a technical solution, the fair play system of the game has been out of order until today. But Buhmann stated in 2016 regarding the transition from Flash to a new technology that “it is not little work. If we do it, we should combine it with some other changes in terms of graphic or/and playing. Otherwise, it is not very motivating just to translate it”.

In the current situation, a solution to enforce the fairplay rules (as there are still fairplay violations going on) is needed. As the “owner” legitimization is not entirely possible beyond doubt, we seek the legitimization of the community to address this topic and find a new solution. After consultation among Alkworld, Gipfelstuermer and Team FL (author of the original 2011 Fairplay Committee Reform Concept), we come up with this proposal to be discussed and (hopefully) finally accepted by the majority of the community (see starting post of this topic).

Proposal for the New Fairplay Soluation (NFS)

Fairplay

In general, C4F is affected by three types of fair play:

1.) In-race fairplay (team attacks, unrealistic arrangements, sitting)
2.) Offensive language in the race chat, spectator chat, general chat or forum
3.) Technical fair play (Multiple accounts, cheating with technical means, bugusing)

General rules of the game apply in every part:

1. The user commits himself not infringing the laws of his country.
2. This game may be played by minors. Therefore, users are urged to use appropriate and respectful language. Furthermore, users commit themselves to adapt their language and behavior to the laws and manners protecting minors.
3. The user commits himself not to use terms or names with racist, pornographic or sexist connotations or other offensive terms that are against good manners.
4. It is prohibited to create more than one account per user to play the game. Multi accounts will be deleted (except measures otherwise provided).
5. The user commits himself not to manipulate the game neither directly nor indirectly.
6. The user commits himself not to use possible bugs.
7. Usage of VPNs is limited and controlled constantly. To fight multi accounts, the use of browsers or extensions that let the user hide and change their IP constantly without plausible explanation is not allowed.
8. When playing the game, the user declares himself in line with the rules of fair play.
9. Any violation of these rules may be sanctioned up to a permanent ban from the game and deletion of the account (except measures otherwise provided).

Below we suggest improvements to the fairplay rules, up for discussion amongst the community.

1.) In-race fair play (prohibited team attacks, unrealistic arrangements, sitting)

a) Prohibited Team Attacks

Current rule: “Prohibited team attacks:

1. Normal Team Attack. Attack (not following) with more than 2 riders of one team at the same km out of the same group. This rule is deactivated for the last 10 km of every race.

2. Combined Team Attack. Attack (not following) with more than 5 riders of one team during 20 km out of the same group, if these riders end up in the same group. This rule is deactivated in the second half of every race.

3. Chained Attacks. Escape (attacking or following) with more than 2 riders of one team at the same km out of the same group. This rule is deactivated:
- if ≥11 riders from ≥4 teams escape, or
- if the original group has ≤14 riders, or
- if there are ≤20 km left in the race, or
- if the road incline is ≥4%.”

We do not intend to change these rules. Suggestions to formulate them in a more precise way are welcome though.
Note: As developers, we plan a long-term solution, in which team attacks are automatically detected and/or automatically resolved by the game’s km-by-km progress.

b) Unrealistic Arrangements

Current rule: “Unrealistic arrangements are not allowed. Every manager must do the best for his team. Separation of private and C4F is required.”

Note: This rule is very difficult to enforce and very vague. The intention of this was that behaviors that harm the spirit of the game (not cycling!) may be punishable. It is only for very clear and very severe cases. This does not include bad tactics or inexperience 😉.

c) Sitting

Current rule: “It is forbidden to be sitted in 1 day races”

Note: A ingame sitting tool has been developped that provides a technical soluation to help with this.

2.) Offensive language in the race chat, spectator chat, general chat or forum

There is no current rule besides the general rules of the game.

So far, users have only been fined for direct and obvious insults or offensive language. We suggest to explicitly prohibit all harmful behavior, including, but not limited to:

- Bullying or harassment of other players without insulting them directly, e.g. by sending repeated threats, pejorative labels, hate speech, sexual remarks, or posting false statements as facts, aimed at discrediting or humiliating a targeted player;

- Repeated usage of insulting Emojis or Ascii Symbols;

- Defamatory false accusations of players in their role as a volunteer (Developer, FPC member, NC member, Calendar Manager, Race Designer or other role), in particular falsely accusing them of manipulations to their own advantage with the effect of harming the game’s reputation.

3.) Technical cheating (multiple accounts, cheating with technical means, bugusing etc.)

Current rule: “IPs are controlled during races.”

We suggest to explicitly prohibit all sorts of technical cheating, including, but not limited to:
- Owning multiple accounts;
- Using obvious or officially announced bugs in the game to gain an unfair advantage over other players;
- Any cheating by usage of technical means, including, but not limited to, hacking other players accounts or the game’s server.

Fairplay committee (FPC)

The FPC is the organization in C4F that is responsible for:

- handling cases that affect the fair play in the game, most importantly violations of the fair play rules;

- reading and responding in the fairness section of the forum and investigating accusations;

- interfering in the race chat if there is a fair play incident.

Members

The FPC shall consist of around 5 players that have been found suitable for this role. For the moment, we suggest the following members:

- Alive And Dead (flockmastoR in the forum)
- Hansa
- Gipfelstuermer
- Team FL
- Trekken Racing (Kunske in the forum)

The FPC members are neutral, objective and unbiased in every case that they handle. If a member is biased in any way, this member has the duty to withdraw from the case on the grounds of bias and will not be involved in any decision regarding the case.

Mode of operation

FPC Members have several rights (and duties) to enforce fairplay rules. They may open a fairplay thread, moderate a fairplay thread, propose a penalty and vote for a penalty. The game developers generally follow the FPC discussions and execute its decisions in the database. They also preserve the right to halt, postpone or veto a decision in the exceptional case that it cannot be implemented technically or poses problems for the game’s existence or further development.

- Opening a fair play case: Either a player or an FPC member opens a thread in the fair play section, which allows the accused player (as well as others) to comment.

- Discussion amongst FPC members: Each FPC member can propose a decision/penalty and has the right to discuss the proposal and counter propose.

- Hearing: The FPC opens an ingame hearing for the involved parties in which they can give their opinion/view about the fairplay issue.

- Voting amongst FPC member: Each FPC member has the duty to vote for a proposal. A proposal that gets the majority of votes will be the preliminary judgement.

- Decide about a fairplay case: As soon as possible, but within 7 days, a decision is made by the FPC internally and then communicated in the respective fair play thread.

- Executing the decision: The game’s developers generally follow the FPC discussions and execute its decisions in the database as soon as possible, but within 3 days.

- Appealing against a FPC decision: After the decision has been communicated to the player and made public in the fair play thread, players have 3 days to appeal against it in this thread. If nobody appeals, the decision remains in force. If there is an appeal, the FPC does another voting round as soon as possible, but within 7 days.

Penalty Guidelines

A penalty (or no penalty) is decided by the proposals and the voting in the FPC. Nevertheless, there should be a frame in which a decision should be made according to the severity of the fair play breach and the players fair play history. As different players may have different opinions about penalties for certain fair play breaches, these guidelines will not be made publicly available but will serve the FPC for a better and fairer decision making (prevention of arbitrariness and too much time-consuming discussion in the FPC decision making).

The following principles shall guide any decisions:
- Financial advantages gained from fair play breaches shall be reversed through a fine that exceeds the advantage gained.
- Advantages gained unfairly in a race shall be reversed through time penalties or IS/KOM penalties, if that is possible in a timely manner during a stage race. In extreme cases, palmarés entries can be revoked.
- Offensive language and technical cheating shall lead to fines and, in extreme cases, to bans.
- If fair play violations are repeated, or if a player honestly (believably) regrets his fair play violation, that shall be considered in the decision making.

Technical solution

Forum

There is the public fairplay section where every player can open a fairplay thread. Additionally, FPC members themselves may open fairplay threads if needed.

There is an internal FPC section in the forum where only FPC members have access to. Fortunately, the current programmers now have the administrative rights to give new FPC members the rights to join this forum part.

Database access

The game developers have access to the database, enabling them to execute fairplay decisions made in the forum.

The game developers developped an in-game tool for FPC members in the react version. This tool is only be accessible by the FPC members, even when they are sitted during a stage race.
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.

team fl
Posts: 5009
Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:43 am
Contact:

Re: New Fairplay Solution (NFS) - presentation

Post by team fl » Thu Feb 02, 2023 6:59 pm

The slightly adpated NFS:

Proposal for the New Fairplay Soluation (NFS)

Fairplay

In general, C4F is affected by three types of fairplay:

1.) In-race fairplay (team attacks, unrealistic arrangements, sitting)
2.) Offensive language in the race chat, spectator chat, general chat or forum
3.) Technical fair play (Multiple accounts, cheating with technical means, bugusing)

General rules of the game apply in every part:

1. The user commits himself not infringing the laws of his country.
2. This game may be played by minors. Therefore, users are urged to use appropriate and respectful language. Furthermore, users commit themselves to adapt their language and behavior to the laws and manners protecting minors.
3. The user commits himself not to use terms or names with racist, pornographic or sexist connotations or other offensive terms that are against good manners.
4. It is prohibited to create more than one account per user to play the game. Multi accounts will be deleted (except measures otherwise provided).
5. The user commits himself not to manipulate the game neither directly nor indirectly.
6. The user commits himself not to use possible bugs.
7. Usage of VPNs is limited and controlled constantly. To fight multi accounts, the use of browsers or extensions that let the user hide and change their IP constantly without plausible explanation is not allowed.
8. When playing the game, the user declares himself in line with the rules of fair play.
9. Any violation of these rules may be sanctioned up to a permanent ban from the game and deletion of the account (except measures otherwise provided).

1.) In-race fair play (prohibited team attacks, unrealistic arrangements, sitting)

a) Prohibited Team Attacks

Current rule: “Prohibited team attacks:

1. Normal Team Attack. Attack (not following) with more than 2 riders of one team at the same km out of the same group. This rule is deactivated for the last 10 km of every race.

2. Combined Team Attack. Attack (not following) with more than 5 riders of one team during 20 km out of the same group, if these riders end up in the same group. This rule is deactivated in the second half of every race.

3. Chained Attacks. Escape (attacking or following) with more than 2 riders of one team at the same km out of the same group. This rule is deactivated:
- if ≥11 riders from ≥4 teams escape, or
- if the original group has ≤14 riders, or
- if there are ≤20 km left in the race, or
- if the road incline is ≥4%.”

b) Unrealistic Arrangements

Current rule: “Unrealistic arrangements are not allowed. Every manager must do the best for his team. Separation of private and C4F is required.”

c) Sitting

Current rule: “It is forbidden to be sitted in 1 day races”

2.) Offensive language in the race chat, spectator chat, general chat or forum

General rules of the game apply. Direct and obvious insults, offensive language, harmful/offensive behavior will be sanctioned, including, but not limited to:

- Bullying or harassment of other players without insulting them directly, e.g. by sending repeated threats, pejorative labels, hate speech, sexual remarks, or posting false statements as facts, aimed at discrediting or humiliating a targeted player;

- Repeated usage of insulting Emojis or Ascii Symbols;

- Defamatory false accusations of players in their role as a volunteer (Developer, FPC member, NC member, Calendar Manager, Race Designer or other role), in particular falsely accusing them of manipulations to their own advantage with the effect of harming the game’s reputation.

3.) Technical cheating (multiple accounts, cheating with technical means, bugusing etc.)

Technical cheating is forbidden, including, but not limited to:
- Owning multiple accounts;
- Using obvious or officially announced bugs in the game to gain an unfair advantage over other players;
- Any cheating by usage of technical means, including, but not limited to, hacking other players accounts or the game’s server.

Fairplay committee (FPC)

The FPC is the organization in C4F that is responsible for:

- handling cases that affect the fair play in the game, most importantly violations of the fair play rules;

- reading and responding in the fairness section of the forum and investigating accusations;

- interfering in the race chat if there is a fair play incident.

Members

The FPC shall consist of around 5 players that have been found suitable for this role. For the moment, we suggest the following members:

- Alive And Dead (flockmastoR in the forum)
- Hansa
- Gipfelstuermer
- Team FL
- Trekken Racing (Kunske in the forum)

The FPC members are neutral, objective and unbiased in every case that they handle. If a member is biased in any way, this member has the duty to withdraw from the case on the grounds of bias and will not be involved in any decision regarding the case.

Mode of operation

FPC Members have several rights (and duties) to enforce fairplay rules. They may open a fairplay thread, moderate a fairplay thread, propose a penalty and vote for a penalty. The game developers generally follow the FPC discussions and execute its decisions in the database. They also preserve the right to halt, postpone or veto a decision in the exceptional case that it cannot be implemented technically or poses problems for the game’s existence or further development.

- Opening a fair play case: Either a player or an FPC member opens a thread in the fair play section, which allows the accused player (as well as others) to comment.

- Discussion amongst FPC members: Each FPC member can propose a decision/penalty and has the right to discuss the proposal and counter propose.

- Hearing: The FPC opens an ingame hearing for the involved parties in which they can give their opinion/view about the fairplay issue.

- Voting amongst FPC member: Each FPC member has the duty to vote for a proposal. A proposal that gets the majority of votes will be the preliminary judgement. The individual votes will not be made public.

- Decide about a fairplay case: As soon as possible, preferably within 7 days,a decision is made by the FPC internally and then communicated in the respective fair play thread. Exceptions are cases, when a fast decision is not possible due to extensive investigation.

- Executing the decision: The game’s developers generally follow the FPC discussions and execute its decisions in the database as soon as possible, preferably within 3 days.

- Appealing against a FPC decision: After the decision has been communicated to the player and made public in the fair play thread, players have 3 days to appeal against it in this thread or in the ingame hearing. If nobody appeals, the decision remains in force. If there is an appeal, the FPC does another voting round as soon as possible, preferably within 7 days.

Penalty Guidelines

A penalty (or no penalty) is decided by the proposals and the voting in the FPC. Nevertheless, there should be a frame in which a decision should be made according to the severity of the fair play breach and the players fair play history. As different players may have different opinions about penalties for certain fair play breaches, these guidelines will not be made publicly available but will serve the FPC for a better and fairer decision making (prevention of arbitrariness and too much time-consuming discussion in the FPC decision making).

The following principles shall guide any decisions:
- Financial advantages gained from fair play breaches shall be reversed through a fine that exceeds the advantage gained.
- Advantages gained unfairly in a race shall be reversed through time penalties or IS/KOM penalties, if that is possible in a timely manner during a stage race. In extreme cases, palmarés entries can be revoked.
- Offensive language and technical cheating shall lead to fines and, in extreme cases, to bans.
- If fair play violations are repeated, or if a player honestly (believably) regrets his fair play violation, that shall be considered in the decision making.

Technical solution

Forum

There is the public fairplay section where every player can open a fairplay thread. Additionally, FPC members themselves may open fairplay threads if needed.

There is an internal FPC section in the forum where only FPC members have access to. Fortunately, the current programmers now have the administrative rights to give new FPC members the rights to join this forum part.

Database access

The game developers have access to the database, enabling them to execute fairplay decisions made in the forum.

The game developers developped an in-game tool for FPC members in the react version. This tool is only be accessible by the FPC members, even when they are sitted during a stage race.
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.

Locked

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests