Genius of the Rules-Style System

Chapter 116: Chapter 110: Let me take you home!

After considering the idea of game plug-ins, Zhao Yi decided to change his idea about developing a ’Super Plug-in’.

The first reason was that it was unnecessary.

Plug-ins were freely available for download on the internet, complete with various modification functions; there was no need to create one himself.

The second reason was the lack of creative ideas.

The plug-ins available online could destroy a base, directly deciding the outcome of the game. If you expanded on that idea, would it prevent others from participating in the game altogether?

What would be the point in playing then?

Even if he developed a game plug-in, it would at most have higher authority than other plug-ins, but it would face the same problems. It would lead to unfairness once used and other players of the same game would report it.

Many gaming platforms ban players, not because they detected a plug-in, but because of the high number of reports against them. This reflects the lack of technical sophistication in detecting whether players have used plug-ins.

This links back to the openness of the War3 game.

Warcraft III itself is not a networked game, it can be considered half a standalone game, supporting only LAN connection. It can be viewed as a gaming platform that sets internal gaming rules, providing some basic data and character models, and supports the design of maps and rules.

Dota, put plainly, is a map designed by the players based on War3’s internal rules.

This resulted in the rampant use of plug-ins.

Many game plug-in creators only design plug-ins for a single game, then use War3’s internal instructions to implement the plug-in’s features.

"Even designing a plug-in is pointless; you might as well download one off the internet."

"Playing games with plug-ins isn’t fun."

"Perhaps, a device that works against plug-ins could be designed, so that once the device is activated, nobody in the map can use plug-ins?"

An idea suddenly brightened up in Zhao Yi’s mind.

While it may seem easy to say, implementing it wouldn’t be straightforward.

Creating plug-ins are supported by the game’s internal instructions, but a counter-plugin device would need to be designed entirely by himself. It sounds like, though plug-ins are supported by the game itself, counter-plug-ins appear to be plug-ins themselves.

After mulling it over, Zhao Yi concluded that this was indeed the case, because plug-ins use game internal instructions, counter-plug-ins would have to be developed externally.

A counter-plug-in becomes something that works ’against the game’.

Of course.

Whether or not the game offers support isn’t that important; he had two design options in mind.

One is a passive approach.

The passive counter-plugin operates like a firewall protecting the game; if it detects that a player uses a plugin, it would activate the protection measures.

For instance, it could forcefully disconnect the opponent’s internet connection.

Or it could prevent the internal instructions keyed in by the opponent’s plug-in from being activated.

And so on.

The reason why the ’Game Firewall’ is described as a passive method is because it is a ’defensive counterattack’. If the opponent doesn’t allow any room for defense and directly forces a base explosion, ending the game immediately, there wouldn’t be any opportunity for a counterattack.

The advantage of the ’Game Firewall’ is that it’s relatively easy to design. It doesn’t require too much mental effort, the features needed are usually present in other plug-ins, relevant codes can even be found and transferred, some modifications and improvements would then make it work.

The second is an active approach.

At the start of the game, other players on the same map are locked in.

The principle of the gaming platform is to pull the players into a ’room’, creating a ’virtual LAN’ by pulling them onto the same IP address.

Taking advantage of the characteristics of the gaming platform, other players on the same map can be locked in, and then the exchange of game data can be used to send fake data or even programs.

The aim of these data and programs is to read the software exchanging data with the game on the other player’s computer.

Then, it’s simple.

If this step can be achieved, what happens next can be decided freely.

Zhao Yi rubbed his forehead hard.

An active design approach sounds great, but it wouldn’t be easy to implement. Utilizing the game’s data exchange to fake an invasion into someone else’s computer certainly involves hacking techniques.

This approach would essentially be a direct invasion.

Invasion is tough.

This is equivalent to using the gaming and platform channels to send a Trojan program directly.

However...

It sounds, very interesting!

...

Zhao Yi only came up with a general direction of design. For him to actually start coding, a lot of preparation is needed.

For instance, he needs to understand the game’s port and some related information.

For instance, he needs to experiment with data transmission within a local network.

And so on.

This is just a design he would explore during his spare time, so there’s no need to put too much effort into it.

Tomorrow is moving day.

In the morning, Zhao Yi packed his things and left them in his bedroom. His parents will arrange for people to move the items to their new house, they will also visit the supermarket to make large purchases, buying any life necessities they lack.

At noon, Zhao Yi went to his new house, dialing a number on his phone while entering the community, reporting his address to the other party.

It was the delivery guy.

Zhang Zhen’s work efficiency was quite high; after helping Zhao Yi to purchase a telescope, he had the company’s driver deliver the items all the way to Zhao Yi’s house.

The trip was more than a thousand kilometers.

Robots and telescopes are expensive items, and they were worried about damage during transportation. This was why they chose to drive the goods instead of using express delivery, which felt less safe.

The robot was delivered in an out-of-the-factory state, unassembled, with parts taking up several large boxes.

The telescope also had two large boxes and a sack.

Zhao Yi asked his dad to come down and help the driver move all the items into their home.

The living room was instantly filled with boxes.

Zhao Zhenxi kept asking, "Yi, what are these things? There’s so much, and they’re heavy too!"

"A robot!"

"A robot? You bought it? How much was it?" Zhao Zhenxi asked with interest.

Zhao Yi stated uncertainly, "About seventy, eighty thousand I think, I was helping a friend, and they gave it to me to conduct research." He honestly didn’t know how much it cost.

Zhang Zhen only told him an approximate sum, because he paid using a package of algorithms, so Zhao Yi only knew a rough estimate.

Upon hearing the price, Zhao Zhenxi almost dropped the items, "It’s that expensive?"

"This is a research-grade robot, it’s already very cheap." Zhao Yi quickly explained.

"What about that? A telescope?"

"Correct."

"Wow, it seems pretty high-end. It must not be cheap, right?" Zhao Zhenxi looked at the thing, feeling a bit of a pinch on the wallet. Zhao Yi explained it was a gift from a friend. But, who could possibly have friends who gift such extravagant things?

The driver next to them suddenly laughed, "Brother, you’re Zhao Yi’s dad, right?"

"Yes?"

"Then why are you worried about such petty cash? This is nothing, you know. Your son is really a phenomenal guy. Our manager, Zhang, said if he comes to our company to work, he’d offer him an annual salary of a million yuan straight up!"

"Our company might not be able to retain him; there must be loads of other companies trying to offer him more lucrative salaries!"

Zhao Yi, carrying some stuff and walking ahead, dismissively waved his hand.

Stop being so conspicuous!

Be modest!

Such show-offy phrases should be said for others to hear. What’s the point of telling my old man!

...

The afternoon classes continued.

Since returning to school, Zhao Yi felt that it was quite inconvenient. Lin Xiaoqing’s house was far from school, and also far from his old house. No wonder his parents weren’t keen on moving here.

So inconvenient and challenging!

"My dad should get a driving license. I should also get one!"

Driving is so essential!

Zhao Yi planned to sign up at a driving school in the next few days.

Obtaining a driving license now was not like a decade later when one could even buy a legitimate license with money. Even if one had to take the regular test, it wasn’t as troublesome as it became later, with no rigid requirement for a certain number of hours of instruction, and the requirements for the test were relatively relaxed.

So, it wouldn’t interfere with his studies.

Of course, even after getting a license, it doesn’t mean he can drive to school. However, having a car at home would definitely facilitate a lot of things in life.

Zhao Yi shook his head and continued with the lesson.

The evening self-study time was taken up by Teacher Sun. Physics has always been one of the toughest subjects. When the problems get tricky, many students don’t pass. The scores of the elite Class A were somewhat low, with high scores always belonging to a handful. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

Teacher Sun decided to give more physics classes and explain some challenging problems to the students.

According to the College Entrance Examination pattern of Nanjiang Province, if last year’s questions were relatively easy, this year’s questions would be pretty challenging, and usually, maths and integrated science were the trickiest subjects.

In integrated science, the most difficult questions usually came from physics and chemistry. Questions in biology were all a summary of the key points of knowledge, at most they skewed a bit towards some subsections.

Zhao Yi’s physics was a little weaker than his maths, so he paid full attention in class. The problem-solving approach provided by Teacher Sun was quite helpful for him.

After Teacher Sun’s physics class, the students had one hour of self-study time.

It was a bit of crunch time.

Although there wasn’t much homework in the senior year, there were still teachers who liked to assign work, and half of the evening self-study time would be spent on completing homework.

Zhao Yi also concentrated on his homework and worked on some trickier problems.

Finally, he looked at biology.

Class dismissed.

The bell rang punctually at 9 o’clock, and the students cheered as they ran out of the classroom.

Zhao Yi rode his bike out of the school gate.

At the school gate, he ran into Lin Xiaoqing and accompanied her on the bike ride.

"You’re going in the wrong direction, aren’t you?" Lin Xiaoqing asked, surprised.

Zhao Yi showed a gentle smile on his face, "Today, I’ve decided..to take you home." He added a term of address after saying this, "Qingqing!"

"Don’t be disgusting!"

Lin Xiaoqing gave him a roll of her eyes and continued riding her bike ahead. She thought Zhao Yi was joking, so she deliberately speeded up a bit, but Zhao Yi quickly caught up.

Lin Xiaoqing asked in confusion, "Are you really coming? My house is very far, and you will have to ride even longer to get back."

"No problem, consider it as physical exercise."

Zhao Yi smiled gently, his tone sounding quite firm, "Anyway, I am determined to take you home."

"Whatever, hmph!"

Lin Xiaoqing turned her head and blatantly stopped paying attention to Zhao Yi. She just kept her head down and continuously pedaled, not expecting Zhao Yi to follow her the entire way.

When they reached the entrance to the residential complex, Lin Xiaoqing stopped her bike and looked at Zhao Yi, her tone becoming much softer, "You should head back, I’ve arrived. Be safe on your way, it’s getting late."

"Oh."

Zhao Yi responded, "You go ahead first. I’ll leave after I see you enter the complex."

Lin Xiaoqing stared intently at Zhao Yi, her face reddening, and her eyes softening. She appeared calm on the surface, but her heart was racing inside.

"Did he just drop me home?"

"Did he just ride for more than twenty minutes, just to watch me enter the complex?"

"Is this a confession?"

"It seems a bit romantic, but what should I do?"

Lin Xiaoqing looked at Zhao Yi for a while, her tone even softer than before, "Then I’ll go in first, be careful on your way back."

"Hmm."

Zhao Yi nodded in agreement.

"I’m leaving then."

"Go ahead."

"I’m really leaving now? Be careful on your way!"

"Yeah, hurry up!"

Lin Xiaoqing got on her bike, turned back, smiled gently, and waved at Zhao Yi, "You should go now. I’m heading inside."

Zhao Yi watched as Lin Xiaoqing entered the complex.

He hesitated for a moment, planning to follow her in, when he suddenly heard the system notification.

[Flirting, Target: Lin Xiaoqing, Study Coin +3.]

"Critical hit?"

What Zhao Yi felt was not surprise but shock.

What if Lin Xiaoqing found out...he hurriedly pressed the brakes, decided to change direction, and rode halfway around the complex to enter from the opposite gate.

Yes!

I’m going home!

We’ll talk about moving in tomorrow.