Game requirements?

[AdmiralSavvy]

If the requirements are increased, it would definately give the developers more freedom to add more intricate content that they would, beforehand, be afraid to implement because of issues with the weak, rather aged engines that some players still own.

If the requirements are increased, then there would be more availability for improved types of content, bug fixes, lag reduction, and improved graphics. If the engine used for POTCO is outdated, then that DEFINATELY helps explain the lag, if my amateur tech-logic is correct. If the requirements are increased, we could be looking at less lag. Also, I'm sure that Disney can in fact have improved graphics and still remain family-friendly.

If the requirements are increased, we should have some very happy pirates in the Caribbean.

[Captain NightWolf]

Savvy, your tech-logic on lag is right...to a degree...

As PC gamers, we actually face 2 types of lag in games...that being "game lag" or just good old "lagging" aka 'latency'...

In terms of game lag, that usually occurs for one of two reasons...either the graphics are intense which means you have to scale back some of the bells & whistles...by that I mean turn off anti-alaising, anisitrophic filtering, shadows, etc...or as easy as setting graphics to med or low...or in some games they allow you to choose between appearance or performance...only really high end systems can run mostly everything on high or ultra high...heck I run a nice rig with Crossfire cards and on some games I still have to scale back...

The other reason of game lag, funny as it may be...is that our current systems are 'too fast' for the older games or games using older engines...modern cpu's breakdown the data so fast that one minute you're seeing one thing then it jumps to something else making the person think they lagged whne they didn't because the data is processed so fast...at times it'll even skip things...


The bigger issue we face, since the requirements to run POTCO are so low, is lagging/latency...this issue has nothing to do with the game graphics, nor it's engine just as it has nothing to do with your pc system...this is solely an internet issue...the only internal cause could be your network adapter isn't configured correctly...or if using a router that might need updating...otherwise it's a multitude of reasons for latency...

Using a FPS game as an example...here's a millisecond-by-millisecond breakdown, ie Server 101, of what happens when you say pull the trigger...

1> enemy spotted...you pull the trigger
2> your pc sends a data packet to the server saying you in fact pulled the trigger
3> the game server receives and verifies your packet, registering it as a click
4> the server examines it's current knowledge on the position of all players, and compares that against your weapon being fired...the server sends this info to all players on the server, incl you
5> opponent's pc receives a signal informing them that the person standing before them has shot at them
6> a hit! player's pc render's in all the fun visuals, ie particle effects, muzzle flash, etc
7> your opponent's pc reports to the server that his/her HP is equal to or less than 0...the server sends a message to all players that the enemy's character should activate ragdoll physics...aka you got 'em!

Now, as for latency...

1> your pc sends a signal to the server telling it you clicked...this signal is delayed by numerous factors such as distance, slow internet connection, a bottleneck at the local or interstate POP, etc...

2> the server looks at the currrent position of all players and your player shooting, and sends a signal containing this info to everyone on the server, incl yourself...their positions however have changed since you clicked, due to the time it took for your click signal to be received by the server...

3> Opponent's pc receives a signal telling him/her that you fired, but he/she had already moved and now knows who fired which in turn means they most likely have you now in their sights...

4> Oops!...you're gone!


Latency is also why, say for example everyone grinding on a Boss enemy, we all experience that horrendous lag...you could have 10 people or more with pings of around 45ms-55ms and all is well since they're all even...but now in walks Mr. High Ping with a 130ms ping...things start to get laggy but just a little...in walks cousin Super High Ping with 200ms, neighbor LagAlot with 150ms, the sudden rush of the Latency family, all of them in the high 100's to low 200's ping...now we have a real lag party...


So basically, what we really need besides better graphics is most likely updated servers that can handle the flow of data packets it receives...and yes there is the rare occasion where you might have a player that is experiencing both types of lag which makes it even harder on the player...regardless the issue is most times easily delt with by making sure you update your drivers on everything, incl the router if using one...if having latency issues you can even try a different DNS server to see if that helps...

Or simply go to a quiter server...the more you have on a server the better chance of experiencing lag...

[leo]

Nice pointers Captain. I think our next step could be to send this as a suggestion to Disney although it's going to be a challenge to convince them but sending them this as a suggestion with some of Captain's pointers that it can improve game would be a good idea.