Grey Hack Map started as an experiment to see if you could create a piece of art from IP addresses and
network
traffic.
What it was: A visualization of player activity in Grey Hack gathered entirely
from in-game system.log files. Every dot is an IP address, every line a connection.
How it worked: Every log was accessed manually, through a custom hack
tool and password cracker.
A Bepinex plugin saved the visible
contents of logs to a JSON file, nothing more. It didn’t automate
gameplay, or interact with the game world in any way.
Why it’s gone: Repeated, unfounded accusations of cheating, a failure of the developer
to listen to the community, and the chilling effect of toxic community members being given authority.
What remains: A snapshot of a passionate community and a creative moment.
To the community: I want to sincerely thank everyone who explored the map, shared
feedback, or reached out to say it inspired them. This project allowed me to meet some of the most
thoughtful and passionate players I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. I’m grateful for
that.
For the record: The plugin source is public GHLogViewer. Decide for yourself if it is
cheating.
I'm proud of this project. I hope to continue it someday.