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Reminder: Third Party Applications

Riotcluvie·9/28/2015, 6:09:18 PM·69 votes·228,473 views

Hey there, Riot Cluvie here for the Risk team. We’d like to provide some insight into how we work with the Dev Relations team to determine which apps are and aren’t allowed.

Quick preface: third party applications are sometimes difficult to classify, and we know that can make it hard at times to find consistency in what we do and don’t allow. We’ve tried to stay flexible in our decision making to keep up with the community’s innovation, but the lack of clear policy surrounding the use of unapproved apps just generates confusion. So with that in mind, we’d like to set fair expectations by calling out some features that definitely aren’t okay.

To reiterate our stance on 3rd party applications from about a year ago:

> No software should interfere directly with the in-game player experience between when you press “Play” and the end of game screen.

It’s been said before, but we absolutely don’t like applications that provide measurable player advantage. If there were ever any modification that were to become so standard as to be required for competitive play, the integrity of our environment just wouldn’t be viable. You shouldn’t ever have to go digging for add-ons just to stay competitive. Some examples of measurable player advantage include:

  • Exposing information that’s intentionally obfuscated (cooldowns or timers)
  • Taking actions on your behalf (botting or scripting)
  • Drawing conclusions for you (predicting enemy positions)
  • Otherwise altering your field of intelligence (zoomhacks or global ult alerts)

For now, custom models and artwork sit firmly in a “use-at-your-own-risk” category, but we’re keeping an eye on them. We can’t optimize for assets we don’t develop, and if they do become a concern in the future (ie. they provide measurable player advantage), we’ll take action based on the stance we just discussed.

Gray areas aside, there are definitely applications which are blatantly not okay, and while the number of players in this space are very low (think a fraction of a percentage), we remain vigilant and have been handing out punishments to those who show patterns of consistent abuse. Suspensions will ramp up in duration across multiple offenses and will be accompanied by ranked reward removal where applicable.

Hopefully this post hasn’t come across as too doom-and-gloom! The third party ecosystem is full of devs making awesome applications that don’t run afoul of any restrictions. Our goal today is just to ensure we’re being clear on our end to provide them with peace of mind as they continue to innovate.

513 Comments

Deep Terror Nami9/28/2015, 6:17:13 PM18 votes

Do you have a list of applications that are 100% approved? The only one I know is Curse Voice, because they had to remove their jungle timers and auto joining to comply and the approval was announced.

Mody bird9/28/2015, 8:49:38 PM12 votes

so you guys are starting to detect scripters, right?

DevineThanatos10/21/2015, 10:19:56 PM11 votes

This is absolutely absurd. The fact that you can stipulate in your ToU that you can run unauthorized scans to find out what applications I choose to run along side with League is a breach of privacy and moral standings. It is completely ridiculous to suggest that knowing when you're jungle camps are going to respawn, when they are on a SET TIMER is considered a form of cheating. This is such a massive waste of time and resources, as this causes such an insignificant change in game play. Why don't you guys spend time doing something productive like developing a ranking system that is not based upon 1v1 statistics, and actually judges you based on your performance in a team. Why don't you fix your client so there isn't a 50% chance your updates don't download. Why don't you add more bans in ranked. Why don't you make a matchmaking system that doesn't put people on my team who is 4 ranks under me. Why don't you stop penalizing the community for automating a manual process, for your oversight in the set jungle timers. In additions does that mean Razer Synapse is not allowed on my computer as I am able to make automated chats and spams, because does that not violate your ToU? Good luck banning the millions upon millions of people who use that. MKJOGO in no way gives people an advantage that they couldn't give them selves manually. End of story.

Remlap12239/28/2015, 7:41:44 PM9 votes

What about the chocolate god Blakinola announcer pack?

Zilion18710/24/2015, 11:47:14 AM7 votes

OK,Riot can i give u some advice, u banned mklol, ok i agree with that even if rly i don't see reason for that except u start loosing money because of skins.But u should know that many plp use that to buy skins after and some plp just don't have money to buy or don't wanna buy skins because they don't wanna give money for games(in both negative ways u wont get money because plp wont give u money even if u ban mklol(like i sad early they don't have money or they wont give money for games i mean anygames)), anyway i wanted to give u advice so here it is. You can always make some skins usable on random for free like u do with champions and i rly think that would provide even greater skin buy because plp would then be like "ooo i have to have that skin because i rly like it" so he would probably buy it when the free skins changes.That is my idea for your solution for mk LOL and for your loosing money on skins i just given you good advice how to lvl up on skin sale :))) i hope u agree with me. See ya

by.the way i unist. MKlol

PixelButtz1/31/2016, 12:44:03 AM6 votes

So I've been recently given a 24 hour ban for using MKLOL/JOGO as can be seen here http://puu.sh/mPWdS/d79bcf976d.png I understand usage of this tool is prohibited but I have to ask if it's really acceptable to be banned when the only things being done are client sided cosmetics or replays. Yes, client sided cosmetics are an actual issue but as someone that doesn't have money to pay for skins it is a method that I can feel satisfied with as in the end everyone just see's the default skin.

Jungle timers are disabled, actual game altering tools are disabled. Any advantage enabling tool is disabled. It's not like I need them because there's already something IN GAME that allows me to see the same thing, rendering tools in MKLOL/JOGO useless.

I just want the replays most. The tools available to record are very much behind and incompatible 90% of the time making them useless. LOLReplay is completely worthless unless it's updated fast and works, but it doesn't.

I'll openly admit to using it, as well as using the cosmetic tools, but that wont stop me from using it for replays. In the past I've sent in bug reports that HAVE STILL NOT BEEN FIXED and only was able to see it clearly when reviewing the replay that had been created. Instead of working on the bug that was found that crashes the whole game client you instead gave me a warning because of cosmetic changed only one person can see. Hell I've even sent in reports for people actually cheating in game once reviewing replays.

Whether it's in violation of your ToS or Policies, it's not being used for malicious intent. I'll still be using it on new accounts if I must because I want to have things work, I want to send in bug reports with recorded footage, and I want to actively review games to find those who are actively cheating.

I'll take a ban for the cosmetics, but I will fight the replays being acceptable.

DIO Over Heaven10/21/2015, 4:05:05 PM6 votes

Okay, I know that there have been a lot of comments about MKLol /MKJogo, but i genuinely want to know-- what makes it illegal to use? The champion and ward skins are purely local, there is no way for anyone else to see that you're using them unless you buy the skins, and the jungle timers only show red/blue buff (if you or your team saw them die) and baron/dragon (something you guys changed to have a global timer recently anyways, whether or not your team saw the kill.) Now, I've only been playing for a few months so it's only my fault for not reading something like this before (never had a reason to really go onto the forums) but if someone from riot could give me an answer I'd greatly appreciate it.

Banzai999/28/2015, 6:50:55 PM5 votes

So mk lol just to have the skins is accepted ?

Narnada10/20/2015, 4:43:37 AM5 votes

Dear Riot,

Recently you've send me the following:

_Greetings Summoner,

After an extensive investigation, your account: narnada has been detected using MKLoL/MKJogo, a third party application that unfortunately violates our current policies and the League of Legends Terms of Use. More specifically, this application automates several actions on your behalf, including chat and jungle timers.

For now, this is a warning, but continued use of this program will result in suspensions placed against you, and may ultimately result in permanent account closure.

Please take a moment to review our stance on third party applications here: http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/miscellaneous/5kx4F7VE-reminder-third-party-applications

The Terms of Use in its entirety can be found here: http://euw.leagueoflegends.com/en/legal/termsofuse

We want you to take this seriously and understand that we take actions like this to ensure the competitive integrity of League of Legends. While we are unable to go into specifics, if you wish to dispute the actions taken against your account, you may contact us via this link: http://support.riotgames.com. Please know, however, that it’s very unlikely that the action will be reversed._

However I only use MKLoL for jungle timers which as you state is "unfair" or "against the rules". But if you hold tab you'll see these timers anyway because it works in the exact same way. It's just a litle shortcut and gives NO ADVANTAGE at all, because the timers are revealed anyway in the tab interface. Please consider this, I'd also like a reply on your thoughts aswell.

Narnada

Colgate Gator9/28/2015, 6:44:23 PM5 votes

I generally liked installing custom skins, but to be frank a lot of them are somewhat sub par and sometimes even begin causing issues (i.e. bugsplat) so I've been staying away from them.

Still, would be cool if an official portal for custom skins was endorsed, but since that most likely conflicts with skins' sales I don't suppose it will be the case.

Krutmanis10/21/2015, 8:53:57 PM4 votes

Thank you for email! You won't get my money anyway. ;)

4ManVotedAgainst9/28/2015, 6:59:10 PM4 votes

One of the most-obvious blatant-abuses is scripting. A few times I have faced against a Ryze & he moves away out of range from being harassed EVERY TIME 100% of the time you move towards him to ATTEMPT to Ranged auto-attack (evading 100% of your harass for 10+ minutes), then he follows you just like a script-bot to combo you, and I have even encountered several cases of a few people playing ADC who have an Auto-Flash script (talking about those stupidly IMPOSSIBLE human-reaction-times where you're ulting as Malphite even from out-of-vision due to double-checking for no brushes with Sweeper & enemy ADC not having Sight-Orb, yet they IMMEDIATELY flash out of range EVERY time anyway !). Also... this Balance-Team has seriously broken just as many things if not more than those scripters (either them and/or the Champion-Release people & game-breaking re-works/items). Custom-Skins don't affect game-play but Scripting does give seriously unfair and broken advantages (re-read example with Ryze I described).

ThatNinetiesKid9/28/2015, 8:13:54 PM4 votes

Hello Riot Cluvie,

I have a suggestion for the 3rd party programs. Since you guys have a well laid out website already.

Would it be possible for 3rd party devs to give you their applications. They go through beta testing. Then on your website you have 3rd party apps APPROVED by Riot games.

So you would have two area's. Approved Beta apps. And Approved finalized apps. This way you are working close with the developers. You can make sure everything up to Riot Games standards. I strongly believe communication between Riot Games and 3rd party app developers would help make production for the game on both sides more streamline.

For example there are a few apps that provide replays. Some will send you a email. Some will give you a link to download them. I wish someone would work with you guys and make a replay system that records the game and puts it into a folder where you can access it anytime. Because as of now we have a problem. Anytime there is a new patch. The replay has a high chance it wont work if i played a game last week, I want to review it, or make a video. But I cant see it anymore because the patches dont line up.

This would fix the issue you would be worried about with the server overload for the replay system that has been talked about. I am not sure on what your guys' plan actually is with this situation. But any transparency would be great as far as a reliable replay system goes. I think working with 3rd party developers closely could help Riot Games move forward with out any stress on your internal systems.

Edit: was reading some of this post. And Riot Sargonas said,

In short, I clarified that it no longer violated the policies, I did not however give it a clear "approval", and I even addressed this later in the thread elsewhere by stating that we did not keep an approved list nor intended to. As Applications can always change by their developer without warning, it's better/safer for us to state what does/does not comply with the rules than it is to give something an "official seal of approval" which we might then awkwardly have to retract later due to unexpected changes.

Why not have an approved list with SAFE LINKS provided from a riot games website. Anytime there are updates to an approved 3rd party program update it. This is why the Beta prorgam should be there as well.

If youre going to allow 3rd party apps. People shouldnt be scared about using them. We really do need a concrete answer as some people worry about the grey area's. And no one wants to make or take a risk if they aren't approved.

Levitating10/19/2015, 11:04:33 PM4 votes

Why is MkLol/MkJogo not allowed? I received an e-mail from riot, that the program is not allowed because of jungler timer and the chat macro. 1. Jungle timers are already implemented in the game so its useless and the chat macro is actually useful to write ss/miss/mia/whatever so the program is not giving me information i couldnt get without the program

Letharas10/21/2015, 10:50:46 AM3 votes

o woow i readed on forums it was alowed to use mklol i almost got a hartattack when i got that email. damn i only used it when i wanna buy a skin or play a skin that is coming out soon. i deleted it now

Rick Leonhart10/24/2015, 4:15:46 PM3 votes

Well thanks for the warning xD just used to try the skins I knew the timers were illegal and never used it but didn't knew using the mklol was too... well and mklol made me buy lots of skins xD you should make a try out skin for the league of legend :D GG!summoner 4

Brownie Loco9/29/2015, 5:34:42 AM2 votes

Hi! i also wanted to know about the LoL Summoner Information (LSI). It allows to change language, which is pretty much the only use i give to it, and all the pros playing in different language servers might find that really really useful..

so.. how ok is this?

LaceUp239/28/2015, 9:37:31 PM2 votes

No software should interfere directly with the in-game player experience between when you press “Play” and the end of game screen.

So does this include curse voice? It brings up lil icons that tell you who is talking. it would be pretty dumb to ban people for curse voice.

Johnny Kujo9/28/2015, 7:00:48 PM2 votes

so why do i see so many bots then?

Lon dubh9/28/2015, 11:26:15 PM1 votes

I have a macro that types '/all LET IT GOOOOOOOOOOO!' every time I use Janna's ultimate.

Is this a legal/unbannable macro or is it too toxic?