Summary: In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Hogan to explore the growing problem of cheating in online gaming. Andrew shares his journey from brand strategy at Barclays to co-founding Intorqa, a company dedicated to combating cheating through with threat intelligence. We dive into the business of cheating, its impact on game developers, and how Intorqa’s SaaS platform helps publishers stay one step ahead of cheaters. This episode is a must-listen for game developers, community managers, and anyone interested in maintaining a fair gaming environment.
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Key Topics Covered:
- Introduction to Andrew Hogan and Intorqa:
- Andrew’s background in brand strategy and his unexpected path from Barclays to gaming.
- How Intorqa started during the early days of COVID-19 and has evolved since then.
- The Business of Cheating:
- Cheating has grown into a commercial enterprise with subscription models similar to SaaS.
- Cheating is not just about hobbyists anymore; it’s a lucrative business with developers selling cheats to players.
- Cheating and Its Impact on Gaming Communities:
- Cheaters drive players away, affect in-game spending, and damage the game’s reputation.
- Toxicity linked with cheating often creates a negative loop, pushing more players towards cheats and spreading distrust within communities.
- The Real Cost of Cheating:
- Cheating costs developers by driving players away and decreasing in-game purchases.
- Andrew discusses the financial impact on developers and how anti-cheat efforts help protect game economies.
- The Challenges of Implementing Anti-Cheat Measures:
- Cheaters constantly adapt, making anti-cheat a never-ending game of cat and mouse.
- Insights on why developers must prioritize anti-cheat strategies early in game development.
- Andrew’s Insights on Gaming Security:
- How Intorqa’s platform helps developers understand and preempt cheating tactics.
- Discussion on some of the most sophisticated cheats, including Direct Memory Access (DMA) cheats.
- Future of Gaming and Anti-Cheat Technology:
- The importance of staying vigilant as gaming continues to grow.
- Intorqa’s vision for a safer and fairer gaming environment.
Timestamps:
- 00:32 – 02:24: Andrew introduces himself and the origins of Intorqa.
- 04:02 – 05:42: Discussion on how cheating has become a commercial business.
- 10:25 – 12:47: The impact of cheating on player experience and community toxicity.
- 13:28 – 15:30: How Intorqa’s SaaS platform gathers intelligence from cheat forums.
- 32:17 – 34:13: When and how game developers should start thinking about anti-cheat measures.
