Does using PrintScreen interfere with enemy AA missiles?

[Gloom Demon]

Is it true, that pressing PrintScreen multiple times creates lags in network play which can interfere with enemy AA missiles targeting you? I was wondering why is it that some players take series of screenshots on some occasions - does this explain it?

Edited January 13, 2014 by Gloom Demon

[ENO]

Yes... that's why they continue to announce when screenshots are taken in messages (even with messages turned off) but I think it's more prominent in adversarial (person vs person) engagements... though I'm certain it would work the same against AI.

 

My suggestion to you if you don't want to get banned from servers is not to do that in the MP environment.

 

Some people take a few screenshots to capture a certain angle, but it's not rapid succession... it's the really rapid "screenshot spam" that generally indicates someone was pulling a fast one.

[JayPee]

Just thinking out loud here, isn't it possible to implement a sort of anti flood solution server side? Something like a 10 second mandatory delay, no screenshot gets taken if you hit Print Scrn within those 10 seconds?

[ENO]

I could see that being a function of SLMOD actually- but Grimes would need to weigh on.

 

I know he's had a few things in mind- hack loadouts for example... the screenshot spam issue might be a good addition.

[EtherealN]

No, because the problem isn't server-side.

 

The screenshotting causes issues on the client that is taking the screenshots which, since that client is where simulation of his aircraft happens, causes issues when it gets momentarily confused when it doesn't "sync" correctly with the server anymore. This causes warping, which then causes missiles to get "lost".

 

You would have to do this client-side, for all clients. You cannot ask a server for permission to take a screenshot on your computer. ;)

[JayPee]

So it's not possible from the server's perspective to overwrite the screenshot command to do, well.. nothing?

[Frostie]

Its not as big a deal anymore, the message is there for all to see so there can be no doubt, there are plenty of causes of network lag. In the past everytime someone lagged there would be crazy accusations of print screener now it's plain to see that lag is not always down to this.

[EtherealN]

So it's not possible from the server's perspective to overwrite the screenshot command to do, well.. nothing?

 

Only if you make the server be made aware of and clear your local commands. Are you sure you want to give random game servers that kind of access to your computer? :P

 

What you could do I guess is make a server option where screenshotting is disabled, and have the client read this option and disable screenshots locally from that. Except, then people will take screenshots with any of a million other means; remember, Print Screen itself is ACTUALLY an Operating System function.

 

...so now you're asking for the game server to be given access to the deep innards of your Operating System. Yeah... Not going to happen. ;)

And as Frostie says: it isn't actually common for this to cause issues with this. What used to happen was that people didn't know for sure, so they'd blame any random lag that comes from completely mundane reasons on people trying to "cheat". Now, with that message popping up, they can't make that claim if/when they otherwise would since they would have been told if there was screenshot spam going on.