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The Leader Of SA’s Oldest Clan, NDC, Was Caught Cheating In Quake Live [Video Included]

The Leader Of SA’s Oldest Clan, NDC, Was Caught Cheating In Quake Live [Video Included]

Quake Live, the web-based shooter based on Quake 3 has been roaming around the community for quite some time now. The game is really awesome, and I won’t lie, some of us just can’t get enough of it. Anyway, we’re not really here to ramble about us, as there seems to be some major scandal in the local community.

DoGaming recently contacted us about information on cheating. Yeah - cheating in our own damn community!

The cheater, or accused cheater, is known as Rapts — the leader of NDC, South Africa’s oldest team.

We’ve included the DoGaming article below. Visit DoGaming here to read it on their site.

Jerri ‘Rapts’ Mperdempes has been accused of cheating by very high ranking members of the Quake Live community, who have claimed that his accuracy was well above where his levels actually were and that he was using software to see through walls.

Over a month ago, Garth ‘Garth’ Jones and Micele ‘Szarko’ Aleksandrov (also known by the nick ‘Azul’) started watching Mperdempes play Quake Live, and took an interest in his style saying there was something “wrong” in the way he played.

Aleksandrov has posted a clip saying he spectated Mperdempes games and recorded them. This video can be seen here.

The argument is, however, a complex one. Aleksandrov used a command available in replays enabling him to see the player opposite to the player he was spectating, which he says is Mperdempes. Aleksandrov and Jones maintain that when looking at Mperdempes gameplay in this format, they can draw the conclusion that the player being spectated is using a wall hack.

Mperdempes has confirmed that the clip posted on Youtube is him playing. However he denies ever using the wall hack and maintains his kills are legitimate.

“This is simply part of a smear campaign by various members of the community,” he says.

Jones and Aleksandrov are convinced that the accused is using an Aimbot as well as wall hacks, which would allow Mperdempes to have an almost unbelievable accuracy. To offset the accuracy in accordance with the Quake Live online statistics, they claim Mperdempes would apparently shoot randomly at walls to lower his accuracy rate and modify the accuracy of the Aimbot.

“He has poor mouse control, but when he takes out his Lightning Gun (LG), he would almost lock on to players and be insanely accurate,” says Aleksandrov. “He has been around the game for something like 10 years, just like us, so he would obviously know to shoot randomly to offset his accuracy.”

Travis “Shase” Weedon, who recently competed at Dreamhack in a Quake Live tournament in Sweden, has left the NDC clan because he says he doesn’t want to associate himself with cheating. Weedon posted the Youtube clip in the Quake Live channel on IRC in the channel topic.

However, Mperdempes says no member of NDC had confirmed to him that they were leaving the clan.

Unfortunately, even Aleksandrov and Jones admit that no player can prove irrefutably that Mperdempes is cheating. It is simply the judgement of senior Quake Live players that he is cheating, in their opinion. Both Aleksandrov and Jones, both having played in CPL competitions, are convinced of the fact that he is cheating and claim Mperdempes has brought the entire NDC clan into disrepute.

“It’s just disrespectful. Plain and simple. It’s disrespectful to your opponents and your team mates. The guy is cheating and he leads a clan like NDC that has been around for a decade, which consists of respected players from the community,” Aleksandrov claims. He went on to say he will notify ID on their forums of his belief that Mperdempes is cheating and will list two accounts he believes Mperdempes plays on.

Mperdempes says he does not understand why he is being targeted. He says the players accusing him are better than he is anyway and with stats of 159 wins and 179 losses, according to his Quake Live profile, he is not even breaking even yet. His accuracy is listed at 28 percent.

His lightning gun is listed at 27 percent and his railgun at 53 percent (his two most used guns). Mperdempes’ highest accuracy is with the shotgun where he has a 78 percent accuracy rate.

Comparing the other two players same stats: Aleksandrov has a win record of 625 wins and 70 losses on Quake Live. His accuracy is listed at 27 percent. His lightning gun accuracy is 30 percent and his rail gun accuracy is 40 percent. He also has an accuracy of 78 percent with the shotgun.

Jones has 162 wins and 174 losses. His accuracy is listed at 29 percent. He has a lightning gun accuracy of 29 percent and a railgun accuracy of 39 percent. His highest accuracy is also with the shotgun with an accuracy of 80 percent.

Mperdempes’ railgun statistic seems to be the most surprising compared to that of Aleksandrov and Jones. Furthermore, it can be compared to the railgun statistic of Weedon (44 percent) and Stephen “Ph4ntom” Cloete (43 percent).

Mperdempes took over the leadership of NDC in 1998. He says the clan went quiet on the First Person Shooter front around two years ago after Quake 3 started to die down. However, when Quake Live came along he started to play the game and recruited players like Weedon and Cloete.

“I’ve always stuck to what I am good at: recognising the potential in players and managing players. NDC was a platform to allow players to be competitive, and there was a lot of resentment against NDC when I recruited players like Weedon and Cloete,” he says.

Mperdempes says he is “over this” (the accusations) and lists this current incident as the “cherry on the top” in a long list of smear campaigns against NDC.

It is hoped the Quake Live community will be able to work the issue out, and grow a game which has only recently begun to grow in popularity as players have been able to play on local servers with good ping times.

Following the comments on DoGaming, Vitrolic posted a few accuracy states to back up the cheating allegations.

Rail Accuracies
DaHang: 45%
Rapha: 45%
Cooller: 47%
NDC Rapts: 53%

For those unfamiliar with NDC and Quake: NDC has been around for years, and they are probably the oldest clan around. They are home to many of the top local players which attend overseas events.

The article above is very informative, however there were a few things that made me smile and ask, WTF? For instance, “Mperdempes says he is “over this” (the accusations) and lists this current incident as the “cherry on the top” in a long list of smear campaigns against NDC.”

Why would someone start smear campaigns against NDC? What’s the point, they are the best, they have the best. There is nothing that people can do about it. I highly doubt that this is one big conspiracy aimed at breaking the team down.

Anyway — one cheater down. Who’s next?

[via DoGaming]

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Name: Dean Oberholzer
Location: Cape Town
Position: Editor

  • 1337BuNNy

    Wow, this is not cool. It looks very suspect. But okay, he’s been playing for 10 years so he prolly knows by now how not to look suspect and that might be how he is hiding it.

    I dono, I don’t play quake live. But use to play css and seen a shit load of hackers back then

  • Fatbob

    So that’s why you’re so good @ instagib Nitrate? *runs*

  • Nitrate

    No Fatbob, you’re just really bad :)

    • Fatbob

      Don’t be that guy. :(~

  • snake2804

    Sigh I truly hate cheaters – why would you wana spoil a game with cheats, maybe it’s just something I cant understand

  • Nitrate

    Fatbobby.. Like – I typed it then I was like wow thats harsh. After that I was too lazy to edit :)

    I’m sorry.. But I only cheat on weekends.. With your wife! :D

  • http://marcbowes.com saidin

    So obviously cheating.

  • Esta

    Checked the vid. Pretty sure he wasn’t cheating and besides, whats the chances the leaded of clan NDC would cheat.

  • Meep

    Go to love the title of this article… There is no proof that anyone is cheating here, you are making assumptions. It is so obvious that this is standard quake gameplay.

  • Nitrate

    Well, that’s the point of the comments. Thing is after many discussions and valid input from the community it was kind of said that he was cheating.

    It looks more suspicious then it should be, and the stats are kind of unreasonable…

    Might not be super cheating like people are used to seeing in videos, but cheating is cheating – big or small

  • http://www.nodamnclan.com BabBoyBubba

    Nitrate, you need to do a follow up on this, at least post the demos that are being referred to here, as that video is inconclusive to say the least. Specifically I could not the random wall shots mentioned, nor do I see Rapts nick except in the first few seconds (you should also post his alledged nicks)

    As for the stats, especially rails, again, not 100% conclusive. Anyone who has played for a long time, especially with pro’s, knows that more often than not the pro’s are not actually the best “in the house”, there is always someone else around who does not qualify for pro tourneys, or does not want to play pro. It has always been this way.

    99% of NDC original members were solo guys, but some of them just did not want to play comps, a bit of team DM yeah, but pro, nope, and no matter what was said they never did.. although NDC was founded at the 1st national comp, comps for NDC players came later, like 3 years plus..

    To make my point, watch the latest Rapha vs Coola final (the video, not the demos). And you will hear 2 qualified commentators say “they are not the most accurate”. The stats you provide confirm this. I have played with people who have 70% rail accuracy, hell I have played peeps who appear to have 100% rocket accuracy (in QL)..

    People also need to remember that great players can only get better practicing against better players, and I know there are a few of us who have practiced with GREAT players.. and if I know Rapts, he was playing with those guys he recruited

    I believe cheating is an issue, and I believe that you (Nitrate) should do a article covering exactly what is possible, and how to accurately analyse a demo. I have seen aim-bots, demos of them, and played against them. What is available here is nothing more than exceptional game play, until more game play can be recovered (in this case), you will find identical results every day on QL.. it is just a fact that goes with pro levels of gaming

    Weather or not these accusations are true or not is beside the point, while the commentary you have provided has weight, atm it amounts to more here-say, you have not provided the actual data (or links) to back it up, at least get those demos, let us see them, if you really believe there is an issue, I suggest getting and Gaming Official (or panel) is to analyse them (all the demos, not just that video)

    To punch home the lack substance, I have no problem submitting one of my demos of me practicing rail in a free-for-all game, and yes the are a ton of wall shots, mostly because I am trying to keep usage up to 100%, practice my snaps (even when no one is around), and get the reload time down pat..

    The only last thing worth mentioning here is the map. At least the one in the video is almost 12 years old now. Anyone who has played Campgrounds Redux will know that map inside out. Anyone who has played it in competitions, especially duals, can play it in there sleep. I does not matter who is on the other end, there is just certain things that you do on maps you know inside out, and no analysis of a demo is going to deny the use of bots in that case, in fact it is more likey to show that there are bot-like qualities in the game play, not matter who they are, but especially when reaching world class levels..

    “The Leader Of SA’s Oldest Clan, NDC, Was Caught Cheating In Quake Live [Video Included]” – January 14th, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    is misleading. If you are honest about this article, Cheating, what can be done about it, and a technical analysis of both ways to do it, and spot it, then:

    “The Leader Of SA’s Oldest Internet Clan, NDC, is Accused of Cheating In Quake Live [Video Included]” – January 14th, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    Chances are that Rapts probably just pissed them off verbally, on a day when he was rocking, and a lot of people have only one answer for that..

    Appologises if Nitrate’s comments and the original quoted post are confused in my reply

    BadBoyBubba
    paul.wratt@gmail.com

  • Nitrate

    Hey thanks for the lengthy reply.

    We created this article short after a lengthy debate on IRC about the video and Rapts. It was pretty much confirmed in IRC that he was cheating.

    After this a few players even left the team — some of the top players in the country — as they believed that he was cheating. They did not want to be affiliated with this.

    While accused for cheating might have been the better title, or the ‘nicer’ title I strongly believe that if you want to play unfair then you should suffer the consequences.

    I strongly feel that there was foul play here, and that’s why I structured the article in this way.

    Following this, like I said above, it wasn’t only me that thought this. We had a massive discussion about this in real-time.

    Now the problem with this article is that it does not provide all of the data from the chat and this is why it might feel inconclusive.

    Unfortunately, some points were brought up which explained why the player in question did what he did etc.

    Either way, the title is slightly sensational, however in the article is says accused cheater..

    We even included the full dogaming article, so while we might believe something everyone is entitled to their own assumption.

    Not to sound rude, but we’re not really here to ‘change minds’ as such, we can only relay the news. If you don’t agree, that’s your choice, however I do agree that we could make it fair on everyone to make their own assumptions without trying to force ours. If that makes sense.

    Sorry for the inconvenience about this, but accused cheater — I don’t feel that’s fair..

  • http://www.nodamnclan.com BadBoyBubba[NDC]

    “everyone is entitled to their own assumption” – is not the thing same as a fact.

    “slightly sensational” – it destroyed a clan, that make is a bit more that sensational

    some follow up, and a broader look at the issue of cheating, how it happens, why it happens, and what it looks like. Why was “Jerri’s cheating” up for examination on an IRC channel when there are panels of fully qualified (10 year+) quake veterens and professionals available for detailed analysis.

    For an IRC discussion to conclude from that video combined with those stats to be conclusive evidence of cheating, then anyone who is having “good day”, “rocking”, or repeatedly “in the zone” is in deep brown stuff.

    Too agree with others that something is true, does not make it true, even when everyone says it is true.

    I’m am not here to defend Jerri/Rapts. I am here to defend players that have excellent setups, great setting tweaks and perfection in aim, map knowledge, strategy and tactics. I am here to defend those players who have bot-like game play qualities.

    I repeat one of my original statements:
    “… watch the latest Rapha vs Coola final (the video, not the demos). And you will hear 2 qualified commentators say ‘they are not the most accurate’.”
    here:
    http://tv.esl.eu/de/vod/22013

    Listen to what is said about the current best in the world.

    Its not that I dont like the words used, its that those words have a profound impact, not just on the person accused or the clan associated with them, so when an article states “caught cheating”, as opposed to “accused of cheating”, there is a difference in the psychological affect it has on the community.

    Its not even about who is cheating. No body like cheaters, nobody wants to play with them. Nobody respects them if they find out who they are.

    What I see here is the same thing as Salem, a witch hunt, and lets be honest, to take down the leader of such a famous clan, as a cheater, no one in there right mind would miss that chance, especially when I think back to what has gone down in the past..

    By claiming it as “caught cheating” and backing it up with “the community agreed on IRC” that he was guilty, you have opened the door to something really nasty

    Weather they know it or not, peoples live are at stake here. All it would have taken was to present a more well rounded presentation of the main issues and the associated problems.

    To be honest, I believe if it was not for Jerri’s attitude and personality, it would not have got this far. I cant find one set of discussions with him anywhere, just a one line comment repasted from the original news article. That in itself is a dis-service to the community and clans, by both accused and editorial staff.

    At least if more details, IRC chat logs, demos and “over experienced” pier professional level commentaries were available, then it would not matter weather people agreed or not, you would have present as much of the argument as was possible, and chances are only one conclusion would have been the result.

    The fact is, even with the resulting decision made on IRC, it is clear that not everyone agrees, especially based on the evidence presented here. That is my issue with this article, not weather someone was a cheater or not, but that from the evidence presented here, I was unable to categorically, “yes, that is cheating”.

    There are ways to tell from game play when someone is cheating, but to dismiss the obvious things as “poor movement”, when in actual fact they “he just picked his mouse up, he is having a hard time turning with such a low sensitivity”, which is turn says “ultra low sensitivity make for great rails and LG accuracy”.

    Again, there is no real need for continued comments or replys here, just do a couple of follow up articles that provide both the missing details, and the IRC stuff/reasoning.

    Even condemned prisoners get right of appeal, last right and regular visits and phone calls.. including when the judicial system says they are guilt

    All I can say is this:
    “how many people sentence to death, have later been found to be innocent”