This Thread will be used only for Brainstorming! So post every single idea you have about how to get the common Data out of a Game, ignoring the fact how much work it would be or how good/bad it is for the Resources you need. Its also NOT a Part of this Thread to discuss about how to "React" to this Data and how to put Data back into the desired Game!
There should be one single fact which must be true. The Idea must be realizable!
I will start with the most known one, hopefully you will add some:
1.) Screencapturing / PixelBotting / OCR
- If possible Capture the Window directly, if not possible you have to capture the whole Screen as Screenshots and work with them directly (unmanaged for speed) in the RAM.
- After that you have to run OCR at the Desired "Zones", reading any for you important Text.
- With this Regions you can also scan about Health Bars ect.
Negative Part:
- Sometimes the OCR doesnt read the Text well enough (small text, untypical Font ect.)
- Even if you can capture the Window Directly its a huge Resource waste
- Switching/Minimize the Window will result in complete Datalose...
- its (from my point of view) the dumbest method, but it works.
Positive Part:
- As long as you make Screenshots without HiJacking the Window, there should be no worry about getting Problems with MMORPGs.
2.) Read the RAM / MemHacks
- With an effort of x weeks you should be able to code your own complete RAM Scan Tool which can be used for a varity of Software, unimportant if this is a Game or not.
Tools:
CheatEngine.
Negative Part:
- Some Games block every try to gain access to the RAM Segment, if you still try, you raise the possibility to get banned.
Positive Part:
- You have, if you know the Adresses and if they are not crypthed, direct access to all data which are used by the Game.
3.) Read the NIC Stream
- With this Part you are be able to read all incoming/outcoming Data. If you are trying to capturing a MMORPG you are be able to get your Health and other Data because they will be refreshed in cycles (and can be recalculated within your tool, too)..
Tools:
WPE
EtherCap
WireShark
Negative Part:
- Some Games crypt their Data Stream, therefor it takes sometimes long before someone crack this Stream AND Publish his knowledge to let other be part of the Community.
- If you 'Read' your NIC Data directly the "possibility" to get problems in MMORPGs are low, but still exist. Due the fact its hard to believe they will and want differ between a FireWall which also scan all in/outbound traffic i guess the "risks" drops near zero.
4.) Recompile the Game itself
- Okay, nearly impossible that you got the Original SourceCode, but if you can code Assembler and if you are willed to do so, you could back engineer the executable and (maybe) past some own functions/interfaced to get a port for data mining.
Tools
forgot the name already.
Negative Part:
- Hard to do, most time wasting, if you dont check the whole file there could be some counter measures included which report you directly.
Positive Part:
- You can do, as always, all what you want, even display the Data (modified) in your screen or all other imaginable which can be created with Code.
So, are there other ways too?
I could imagine to run the Game in a Sandbox which gain someone Access to all 'within' protected areas, but i dont know if such Sandboxes exist already. Maybe VMWare/VPC but i dont know if the interfaces exist to access the Host Memory from outside in realtime and while the System is running.
- BTW -
There are 2 Ways of Sniffing NIC Data, first at the Interface of the NIC Driver (if Supported) / own Virtual Nic Driver which was used as Bridge, or by using the given Functions from Windows ( or how is WPE Capturing Data Streams ? ).
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