Some Multiplayer Issues

[Devrim]

Hi...

 

I checked three pages about my observations. I decided to write again.

 

1. FPS Hit. Actually this is not a "FPS drop" issue. I play DCS with 35~60 FPS normally. I was in a server last night (I think its name was "free-flight" or "free-fight" something). I started with 25 FPS. And when I turn my head, or turn my mouse in outside view, FPS directly goes to "0" (zero), later 1, later 5, later again 0... and a few seconds later comes back 25. Whlie flying, it's a mistake to hit F2. Screen freezes! Or, taxiing, turning left, FPS goes "0" because of changing view! When it comes back, I find myself in grass!
    
   There's no any software running back (anti-virus, Windows's auto-update etc.). I check the harddrive LED, no extra read/write activity... Immediately I quit and jump in a quick mission. Everything is perfect and smooth with my system!
    
   What's going on?!
    
    
   
2. We can't see usernames that joined in an aircraft whlie multi-monitor usage.
    
    
   
3. While flying in a server, server admin decides to shut down it. When he does it, DCS stucks along time. If you wait in patient, many minutes (or seconds) later, DCS returns to Server-List page. If you touch mouse-button, DCS crashes (or about to crash). Is this delay about creating track file?

[xcom]

1. About the FPS hit, there are a lot of issues in DCS at the moment that kills FPS.

3. Bare in mind that, most of the times, the host is not deliberatly closing the server it just crashes :/

[diveplane]

multiplayer is very poor performance for me, whatever is hogging the game engine in multiplayer needs to be addressed, frame rates are terrible.

 

latest build 1.2.5.16508

 

even tested in window mode with low res.

[zaelu]

For me multiplayer is now kind of no go. I'm hosting usually for 4-6 friends but now if me or someone give CA orders to ground units the clients fall like flies. Also they crash to desktop unexpectedly while flying SU25T or P51.

 

I hope for a patch soon.

[ENO]

Current issues we're experiencing:

 

1) No ATC- at all.

2) No tanker contact except for TACAN- and even TACAN takes 20-30 minutes in mission to get contact.

3) Tanker seems to fly random paths- not paths set in ME

4) Crash when set-path for GC in CA module

5) NEED to set LAN as default speed setting or fix that problem so we can stop telling people to do it.

[104th_Maverick]

The FPS drops in Multiplayer is something I have started looking into, I have a general idea of why this happens and will be testing over the next few days to submit a report to the developers early next week.

 

I'm not sure at all about the issues your host is having closing down.

 

Eno,

 

I have tested the tankers in our latest test build and they fly the tracks just fine so next update you can scratch that off.

 

LAN as default has been submitted to the developers as a feature request ... sit tight!

[ENO]

Good to hear mav... thanks!

 

On a serious note, I worked hard as did many at integrating CA GC functionality into my missions... this set path issue is crippling. Any success with that that you can speak of?

[Stacker]

Current issues we're experiencing:

 

1) No ATC- at all.

2) No tanker contact except for TACAN- and even TACAN takes 20-30 minutes in mission to get contact.

3) Tanker seems to fly random paths- not paths set in ME

4) Crash when set-path for GC in CA module

5) NEED to set LAN as default speed setting or fix that problem so we can stop telling people to do it.

 

Just to add to this - we are also seeing your issue (4), GC sets a path for a unit and it crashes 2-3 of the clients. Also, one of our guys (the host) is suffering severe FPS loss (I think it's when we are at an airbase etc..).

[ENO]

I think they're still plugging away with some of the graphics inefficiencies around the air bases. I find that when I'm at one (Kutaisi is a good example) or looking at one my frames drop from 50-60 down to 30 no matter how many aircraft are around.

 

My host computer is a complete stand alone and has 3d rendering turned off... so I can't tell if it would be similarly affected as much as to say my clients are all affected by that problem.

[Wrecking Crew]

Good to hear mav... thanks!

 

On a serious note, I worked hard as did many at integrating CA GC functionality into my missions... this set path issue is crippling. Any success with that that you can speak of?

 

 

VERY disappointing to me to not find any news in the update list for v126 about correcting the inability of any multiplayer Ground Commander to control AI aircraft.

 

Combined Arms missions will not be hosted on Hollo Pointe until this feature is fully implemented, nor will I develop new missions with CA.

 

Come on ED, make me happy.

 

Wrecking Crew

[Nate--IRL--]

VERY disappointing to me to not find any news in the update list for v126 about correcting the inability of any multiplayer Ground Commander to control AI aircraft.

 

Combined Arms missions will not be hosted on Hollo Pointe until this feature is fully implemented, nor will I develop new missions with CA.

 

Come on ED, make me happy.

 

Wrecking Crew

 

I don't think this was ever an announced feature of CA for MP. The Feature was certainly not part of the original CA feature set, for SP or MP, it was added later, after release for SP.

 

Nate

[xcom]

Will ED take serious look at the MP stability and FPS?

This is a big MP killer at the moment, can't do any good missions without crashing evantualy or having a huge slideshow

[ENO]

Current issues we're experiencing:

 

1) No ATC- at all. (Fixed radio)

2) No tanker contact except for TACAN- and even TACAN takes 20-30 minutes in mission to get contact. (Fixed I think)

3) Tanker seems to fly random paths- not paths set in ME (Not sure if fixed)

4) Crash when set-path for GC in CA module (fixed)

5) NEED to set LAN as default speed setting or fix that problem so we can stop telling people to do it. (not fixed but at least we know what the problem is)

 

 

Well it's a solid start for 1.2.6... Shame that this is the last weekly update.

 

 

Xcom- what frame killer are you speaking of specifically? I mean... there are some definite areas for improvement no doubt but anything that isn't already common knowledge and generally avoided (CBU-87 / 103 for example)...

 

And the crashing... we haven't had THAT MANY crashes lately- perhaps there's an old trick that might still work that may help you get by until release.

 

Biggest one I can think of now is making sure you update each mission after EVERY patch is applied... save it under a new name or version number.

 

Is your server stand-alone or is there a host on it playing? Do you force scenes and civ traffic? Do you render 3D on the server?

 

Edit:

 

A couple other things that helped us through some dark times with 7570 that I still use:

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=1618030&postcount=82

 

Disregard the one about SLMOD- at that time we were trying everything but as Speed will tell you that wasn't the problem.

Edited August 30, 2013 by ENO

[104th_Maverick]

Will ED take serious look at the MP stability and FPS?

 

 

Yes!

 

Please don't ever forget ... ever.... that many of the ED Team including Wags fly online very often. We suffer the same frustrations as you guys, we get the same crashes as you do and yes... we get just as angry.

 

Please keep in mind this is the most complicated and diverse sim of its type that allows clients to fly together online, this is not easily achievable and will take some more time to iron out the problems we are having as a community... progress is being made, we are getting there step by step but needless to say it's not something that can be fixed at the drop of a hat.

 

Mav

[Hamblue]

;1853236']Yes!

 

Please don't ever forget ... ever.... that many of the ED Team including Wags fly online very often. We suffer the same frustrations as you guys, we get the same crashes as you do and yes... we get just as angry.

 

Please keep in mind this is the most complicated and diverse sim of its type that allows clients to fly together online, this is not easily achievable and will take some more time to iron out the problems we are having as a community... progress is being made, we are getting there step by step but needless to say it's not something that can be fixed at the drop of a hat.

 

Mav

We understand that things are being worked on. We don't understand why the same issue keeps creeping in after being fixed several times. (always looks easier from the outside). We also understand that we often shoot the messenger. (people the company puts in front of us) :thumbup:

 

Note though that it's not the only diverse sim with clients flying on-line.

Aces high flies hundred of people from around the world in the same server every day without a hiccup. While it's not a high end sim, it does have many times more planes available and flying at any time. In the end they're computer programs with similar issues and challenges.

 

I think the issues are simply a company that is trying to grow at a fast pace and tripping some along the way. we're hanging with ya's but still get frustrated when things aren't right.

[104th_Maverick]

Fixing problems in DCSW is not as simple as changing a line in the code, it's not the case that these bugs are known and just on a list waiting for someone to get down too.

 

Yes 100% it is frustrating when reoccurring bugs make it version on version, these are the ones that are hardest to deal with.

Without breaking my disclosure agreement suffice it to say that everything in DCSW is connected, changing something at one end can potentially have implications somewhere else.

 

This is where the complexity of getting issues like these fixed becomes substantial ...but not impossible... it just takes longer to fix and then these fixes have to be tested!

 

Like I said, most of the team fly online too so please don't ever think no one is working to improve the MP stability because it's just not the case!

 

The Aces High subject is a topic for another day ;)

[Wrecking Crew]

I don't think this was ever an announced feature of CA for MP. The Feature was certainly not part of the original CA feature set, for SP or MP, it was added later, after release for SP.

 

Nate

 

This feature works in Single Play - it works when testing MP missions - the controls are in the sim in multiplayer. FIX IT.

 

Here are some quotes.

 

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/products/combined_arms/

DCS: Combined Arms supports both single player and multiplayer gameplay. When in multiplayer, different players can take on different roles such as artillery commanders, tank commanders, pilots, JTACS, etc. DCS: Combined Arms allows you full control of the battle. All roles can be changed dynamically during the battle.

 

 

Singe Player and Multiplayer

Open big picture

When in multiplayer, Combined Arms really shines. Both cooperative and head-to-head missions can be played with at least 32 players occupying various ground command and aircraft command roles. The true digital battlefield realized.

 

Combined Arms Manual

Thank you for your purchase of DCS: Combined Arms. DCS: Combined Arms adds a new element to the DCS World combat environment by allowing players to directly control AI air and ground forces, including indirect fire systems (like artillery and rocket launchers). All of this is done through the Command Map that provides movement, engagement, formation, and other orders.

 

DCS: Combined Arms works in both single and multiplayer game modes

 

The staff of Eagle Dynamics

12 June 2013

 

^^^ That's from Page One of the manual. Do I need to go further? Like to Page 30?

 

 

The feature is there. It is bad design to have it work in SP and ME testing but not extend it to full MP play, which is the whole reason for DCS!

 

 

WC

Edited August 30, 2013 by Wrecking Crew
CA Manual Page 30

[ENO]

With "AT LEAST 32 PLAYERS?!"

 

Where's my pinocchio smiley?

[Wrecking Crew]

Where's you see that? LOL Oh yeah arrrrr

 

Rant OFF

 

:-)

[cichlidfan]

Singe Player and Multiplayer

 

Open big picture

Combined Arms can be played in both single player and multiplayer modes. In single player mode, players can choose to play missions solely from the ground command point of view, or they can choose to fight the battle from the cockpit and direct ground forces as needed. No more do you need to rely on the AI ground forces to make the right choices.

 

When in multiplayer, Combined Arms really shines. Both cooperative and head-to-head missions can be played with at least 32 players occupying various ground command and aircraft command roles. The true digital battlefield realized.

 

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/products/combined_arms/

[Nate--IRL--]

The feature is there. It is bad design to have it work in SP and ME testing but not extend it to full MP play, which is the whole reason for DCS!

WC

 

 

True, but that said, it it was never a feature that was promised in the first place, it was an addition. It was never part of the original Combined arms scope. It was implemented as a bonus for single player, a programmer implementing something fun, because he could. It will take quite a bit of co-ordination between the teams to get it to work in Multiplayer. It isn't a trivial task, and not one that was ever promised.

 

Nate

[Wrecking Crew]

Nate,

 

I think that is a really poor reason for not finishing the Combined Arms product - 'a programmer implementing something fun'. There is a whole section in the manual about controlling AI aircraft.

 

WC

 

 

---> edit

Well, I don't like this news at all, but at least it's in the open now.

 

WC

Edited September 1, 2013 by Wrecking Crew

[Nate--IRL--]

The whole feature was added after CA was released. Note I'm not saying it won't be done, just that it isn't an easy task.

 

Nate

[ENO]

Sorry Crew... I know it's a big part of your campaign- Any chance you save another version and unload those tasks on human controlled aircraft?

[Wrecking Crew]

^^^ It's hard to set a B-52 group to Client mode :D

 

...and SEAD.

 

Where the GC's would have taken care of that.

 

---

 

Yes, I've resigned myself to the whimsies of CA coders. Carry on, dudes, I shall do so with scripted AI waypoints.

 

WC