The Castle Doctrine's in-game security cameras are already busting cheaters

Security cameras in massively multiplayer online burglary game The Castle Doctrine are more than just a way for homeowners to see who robbed them; they're also a way for the game's creator to bust cheaters. Those security tapes have already claimed their first victims who have found themselves banned from the game's alpha, says developer Jason Rohrer.

Although it is an MMO, players will never see another player in-game. The aim of the game is to rob the houses of other players. If a player is logged out or has left their house to rob another, that player is leaving their own house vulnerable to burglary.

"In fact, the security tapes were originally in the game just for me to catch cheaters, but I thought that they were so interesting to watch that I made them part of the game," Rohrer said in an email to the The Castle Doctrine's alpha community.

"Though [cheating] is impossible to PREVENT (even with a closed-source game), it is easy to catch, because everything is recorded. The great thing about security tapes is that they catch people in the act," he says.

The information comes after the banning of a player who "apparently modded their game client to walk through walls and ignore death."

Rohrer said that cheaters are banned permanently from the game, so if a player comes across a bug it is their responsibility to report it and not exploit it. He also prompts players to report suspicious player activity captured by the security cameras so he can investigate if a player is cheating.

The Castle Doctrine was announced in October 2012 for Windows PC, Mac and Linux. It is available in alpha now for $8. The price includes a DRM-free copy for Windows PC and Mac OS builds, and a source code bundle.