Video games that cheat to win.

Ever had those moments where you just feel cheated after playing a video game, specifically a sports game?

Case in point, I was playing NBA Live 08 just now on PS3. I was the Phoenix Suns playing against the Orlando Magic. Late in the third quarter, I was STOMPING them by 21 points. All of a sudden, I can't hit the broad side of a barn, even uncontested right up on the basket. A high percentage shot. It's not like I was trying to be fancy or anything, or even changed the way I was playing. Then in the 4th quarter, the officials start whistling fouls on players away from the ball that I am not even controlling. Game ends, I lose by 1 stinking point. I mean, really, that's ridiculous.

Stuff like this has been in sports games, and other video games too, for many years. Is it some kind of programming that is supposed to give players more challenge, but rather just the opposite and cheats them instead? Let's hear your stories!

See also: Almost every racing game ever made. All well and good if you get into an unlucky crash and end up behind, hugely aggrivating if you're ahead by 20 seconds and the computer catches up even though you're going top speed in the fastest car available.

That Mario Kart series is notorious for rubber band AI.

Mario Kart 64 gives opponent racers items even if they dont hit item boxes.

QFMFT!

The original Mario Kart gave the oponents annoying items that you can't use even if you were using that specific character...

Any damn sports/racing game from EA. I have been up by 30 points on the Dolphins as the Broncos, only watch my quarterback throw 5 interceptions that should not have been (i.e., the football ricochets halfway across the field backwards and into a defender's waiting hand) or have my running back fumble by looking at the ball, and all of them get run back for touchdowns within the last minute of the game so I cannot retaliate. I have seen Heywood Jablouwme of the Clippers teleport across the court and block Kevin Garnett in the closing minutes of a game that I inevitably lose by 3 points after leading by 50 the whole game. I have been driving a tricked-out Ford GT and had a 3-minute lead in a race, only to get an oncoming car stuck to the front of the car and keep me from the finish line as a Chevy Cobalt blows by and takes the win.

EA is quite possibly the worst offender for this.

Any of the Need For Speed games pretty much, not only the rubber-band AI but the oh-so-conveniently placed traffic right in your path around blind corners. The last few races you get to on Ridge Racer 7 are ridiculously hard with very lucky AIs as well.

IIRC Psygnosis admitted that the original Wipeout was programmed to cheat on the hardest difficulty as well.

The Need For Speed series is well known for its rubber band effect, even when the "catch up" option is turned off. It's traditionally also had kamikazi traffic AI, that will actually swerve in front of you. I've actually seen the suicidal traffic in NFS 3 through 6. At least in Hot Pursuit 2 (NFS 6) they'd veer back into their own lane, if you honked the horn. Most Wanted doesn't seem to have that problem, but the traffic cars love to make left turns out of the right lane (and vice versa) usually just as you're trying to pass them. (where they then become inexpicably welded to your bumper.)

YES. I swear, they coated every other car in that game with Stick-um or something.