Screen peeking

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[edit] Definition

Screen peeking, sometimes referred to as screen looking or lan hacking, is a common form of cheating on split screen multiplayer games in which the players are competing against one another on the same screen. Since both (or more) players are playing on the same screen it is easy to see where your opponent(s) are hiding. When one of the players looks at his opponents screen to get an idea of where his opponent is, it is called screen peeking. The most common form occurs when one of the players is utilizing a weapon with a telescopic sight. A seasoned player could use his/her periphirals and avoid the crosshairs of his/her opponents. This is most common in the first person shooter genre.

[edit] History

The term "screen peeking" first came about for the game of Goldeneye on the Nintendo 64. Seasoned players who knew the maps were able to hunt down in their opponents in even the most secluded hiding spots. Screen peeking, if used properly in Goldeneye, was a vital skill for succeeding in the split screen multiplayer mode.

A common argument for screen peeking is the fact that split-screen is often for casual play, where the sounds are already known to all. The loud ring of a shotgun shell, or the tell-tale sound of someone going up the teleporter(Halo:Halo2)--you don't need to screen peek, and you already have a massive advantage over opponents. The argument against screen peeking on split-screen is already largely nullified, as it's impossible to offer completely fair play given the resources and style of play.

[edit] Solutions

Many players use the simple remedy of staring at the ground when another player is a suspected screen peeker. This enables the location to be kept confidental. Perfect Dark for the N64 had a feature where the player could cause their screen to turn black to prevent screen peeking. There have also been products designed specifically to prevent screen peeking in video games. [2]