John Carmack on Dedicated Servers

IgsTer

Just noticed this today, not sure if its already been posted. John Carmack one of the biggest names in PC FPS if not the biggest talks on the future of dedicated servers, doesnt sound too good at all. Another huge reason to not support infinity ward in what their doing.

http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/11/dedicated-servers-and-rage-news-you-probably-dont-want-to-hear.html

cherryghost

cheers for more depressing news seems its gonna get worse before it gets better.

will we have no choice but to embrace matchmaking?

Naikon

From what I understand, Rage was never supposed to be a multiplayer
oriented game in the same sense that say, Quake 3: Arena was.

Multiplayer/mod support is going to suck for this game, so I reckon
people will just have to stick with QuakeLive/Q3 for their fix.

Strange though, considering Doom3 had dedicated server
support and could only support at most 8 players when released.

This better not be a permanent move on their behalf. If they start
fkucking around with the Linux crowd and totally drop DS support
they can quite frankly go to hell. JC needs to start innovating again...

Hercule

rage is a co-op game co-op does not need dedicated servers - this is poor timing to make a statement about dedicated servers

suffice to say Rage is primarily a SP experience - iD arent about to **** over the pc community - they have more prestige in it then a certain other developer does

Kinetic^

For any PvE online game then dedicated servers aren't really needed unless there's more then just a few of you playing it.

For PvP they're a necessity tbh.

Naikon

Looking at some of the Slashdot/reddit comments, it would appear that
they are giving up on dedicated servers. Rage is NOT a deathmatch game.

Carmack has mentioned that he is sitting on the issue, and that IW's
performance will lead the way. We will have to wait and see.

That said, he realizes the affinity many PC gamers have for them – and is glad “Rage” won’t be leading the charge away from them.

I really hope people boycott Infinity Ward, otherwise multiplayer may go down the ****ter
even if id does not follow suit with P2P. Crazy times ahead.

Sierra Oscar

Why dont they actually give us a good reason behind dropping DS's?

I have yet to see an actual decent explanation as to why Infinity Ward are dropping them.

One thing which is very important to highlight is this though - MW2 is using SteamWorks, so the server system is pretty much already setup and means tested in games like L4D. Rage will not be using SteamWorks most likely, so iD will be out on their own.

L31mr0d

Naikon wrote: »

I really hope people boycott Infinity Ward

Won't happen. I liken gaming closer to a drug addiction and less to media like music and film.

If someone spat in the heroin, the junky might say they aren't going to stand for it, but eventually the withdrawals will kick in and they'll cave to get their hit

I can see gamers calling for a boycott of MW2, but when the release date comes, and they start thinking of all their friends who are less principled playing the game, and imagining that new game smell when they open the wrapper they'll also cave and run down to their nearest purveyor like a giddy schoolgirl to pay top dolla to get their fix... that sweet sweet fix.

PogMoThoin

L31mr0d wrote: »

Won't happen. I liken gaming closer to a drug addiction and less to media like music and film.

If someone spat in the heroin, the junky might say they aren't going to stand for it, but eventually the withdrawals will kick in and they'll cave to get their hit

I can see gamers calling for a boycott of MW2, but when the release date comes, and they start thinking of all their friends who are less principled playing the game, and imagining that new game smell when they open the wrapper they'll also cave and run down to their nearest purveyor like a giddy schoolgirl to pay top dolla to get their fix... that sweet sweet fix.

Well here's one stubborn fooker here who's not buyin it

BeansBeans

I feel the same any other game that drops dedicated servers i wont be buying. Fair enough with co-op games but something like COD or BF good god no.

IgsTer

Yeah im aware rage isnt really going to be a true multiplayer game in the same sense as CoD, Quake and BF games are but still to see a man like John Carmack deciding on this in even one of the games hes part of isnt good news at all if it carries through into future games hes dealing with.

pH

I've no idea why this annoys people! Sure isn't a server using some random guys home PC over his ADSL line while his brother torrents porn on the same link just as good as real servers on hosted hardware on gigabit backbones!

It's the xbox 360 multiplayer experience ... coming soon to a PC on your desk!

Genghiz Cohen

I have yet to notice any difference between CoD4:MW2's P2P Matchmaking and L4D's Client-Server Matchmaking. The game is solid, it would have to be or I wouldn't be playing it.

Fnz

Genghiz Cohen wrote: »

I have yet to notice any difference between CoD4:MW2's P2P Matchmaking and L4D's Client-Server Matchmaking. The game is solid, it would have to be or I wouldn't be playing it.

L4D's server matchmaking doesn't always deliver the best results. That's why it's nice that they provide the option of a server browser so I can choose the server I prefer.

It would also be nice if everyone could compete on an even playing field; without the host having a zero ping.

[Edit] Actually, has it been confirmed that IWNET doesn't use dedicated servers? Thought it might only be third-party servers that weren't being supported (i.e. they would still be running their own servers).

Davidius

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

Why dont they actually give us a good reason behind dropping DS's?

I have yet to see an actual decent explanation as to why Infinity Ward are dropping them.

Probably too lazy.

That or they wanted to turn more people to the 360 version so they could charge them outrageous prices for DLC. [/conspiracy]

pH

Apart from the fact you're playing on a sub-standard connection which gives the host considerable advantage, it leads to massive amounts of cheating.

Even on the xbox, forcing host is rampant, then all you need to do is screw with your upstream bandwidth using a firewall or some form of bandwidth throttler and you can screw with everyone else.

Another major problem is the fact that on a PC as opposed to an xbox, if someone figure out how to alter the executable without flagging the anti-cheat software then they can have all kinds of wonderful advantages on 'their' server.

ronkmonster

Fnz wrote: »

[Edit] Actually, has it been confirmed that IWNET doesn't use dedicated servers? Thought it might only be third-party servers that weren't being supported (i.e. they would still be running their own servers).

the game picks the best connection from the players and that person hosts the game. if that host leaves, the game pauses and it is transferred to another host. happened a few times for me when i played.

Fnz

ronkmonster wrote: »

the game picks the best connection from the players and that person hosts the game. if that host leaves, the game pauses and it is transferred to another host. happened a few times for me when i played.

That's a shame. Also sad that their system allows for wall hack cheats, along with the 'maxing out your levels' trick.

citizen_p

i hate match making.......just makes things harder

ffs let me choose a server with rules i like, a map i like (i hate when you keep getting maps you dislike,which overtime makes you hte them) with fun mods that know to kick ****heads............

yeah some server will have gay rules etc......but you have the choice between it and 1000 more....