[FEATURE REQUEST] ReCAPTCHA on match queue

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Feature Proposal Replace the AFK check with a ReCAPTCHA-style human check (https://www.google.com/recaptcha/intro/index.html).

Background In recent months I have noticed a sharp increase in the prevalence of so-called "player bots" in League of Legends, which negatively impacts the experience of all actual players involved in those games. Given that this is most common at low levels, it seems likely to drive away new players whilst encouraging experienced players wanting a new account to play on to pay for a bot to level it up, rather than play themselves up to level 30. My experience also seems to be supported by many complaints from other players on forums.

Requiring each player to solve a ReCAPTCHA before joining each game would ensure that each player is human, at least at the point of joining a game. I must admit that I'm unsure of the technologies used by the League of Legends client and whether it is possible to integrate a ReCAPTCHA element into it. However, I am sure that it must be possible for at least a similar feature to be introduced. Obviously, this would not prevent a human from babysitting a bot and simply clicking the ReCAPTCHA for each game and leaving the bot to play, but it would at least greatly reduce the cost-effectiveness of player bots as a means of getting to level 30 quickly. I am confident that this alone would be enough to drive down the prevalence of bots dramatically.

Please note that I am specifically suggesting Google's ReCAPTCHA, which requires only a click to solve, as opposed to CAPTCHA, which requires the user to input a code that is displayed in an image above the input box. I think most players would find solving a traditional CAPTCHA during each AFK check very annoying.

5 Comments

Kei1431 votes

hmm I think Ghostcrawler answered that question in one of the monthly live Q&A on twitch stream (@leageoflegends).

I don't remember the answer, but it's there for sure. I think it's on the May or June video. pretty recent. Go look it up.

Favicon1 votes

Just seen a question on the June Q&A about low level play having a lot of bots and smurfs. I think Ghostcrawler actually misunderstood the bot reference to mean the AI in Co-op vs AI, as he said that bots are a great way to experiment and learn in a low stress environment. This doesn't seem like a description that applies to the use of player bots, which seem to be typically sent into games alone, rather than pre-made with a player who wants to practise with them.

Kei1432 votes

there was a specific question about ReCAPTCHA specifically somewhere.

I know it has been answered. But I guess now that jogs my memory whether it was the live Q&A.

It is a specific ReCAPTCHA question though and not about bots. Maybe try the April and May live Q&As.


EDIT: Found a major botting discussion, probably can answer some of your questions as well. http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/gameplay-balance/QAhwmGWy-riot-its-time-for-you-to-take-action-now-not-later

Favicon1 votes

Thanks. I'm somewhat disappointed by Riot's responses so I've posted a comment on that thread in reply to one of The Wolff's comments. Hopefully that will get a direct answer to my suggestion of ReCAPTCHA as I haven't seen that mentioned (only regular CAPTCHA) so far and I cannot see any downside of using it.

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/gameplay-balance/QAhwmGWy-riot-its-time-for-you-to-take-action-now-not-later?comment=005a000400000003

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