Sim speed warning idea

from Demigod Forums

Forgive me if this idea has been posted before, I don't read all multiplayer topics.

The idea I'm having is simple: there have been a lot of complaints about not ping, but Sim speed. Players with low Sim speed will slow down multiplayer games, thus ruining the fun for others.

How about GPG or SD implements some kind of small benchmark for sim speed. I understand sim speed is mostly about cpu. I've seen other games with 'benchmarks', some simply check your cpu against the minimum required cpu, some other games run a short ingame scene. For the demigod sim speed maybe a simple predetermined sim calculation might suffice. The idea is this: when the benchmark, in whatever form it would have, detects that a player has a slow computer and sim speed will be low, he'd get a popup when starting a multiplayer game stating "Your sim speed is low. This might result in lagging online games and reduce fun for other players. Your PC does not meet the requirements for online play. Do you want to continue? [Yes] [No] [Show me how to solve this problem]

Yes will launch the lobbything, No will bring them back to the menu, and the last will bring up an ingame page or launch a browser with tips on how to improve the situation. Now I read that if you have a low sim speed then there's not that much that you can do about it, but surely there are some tips to give, like

* disable background applications/download programs

* turn down or disable music/detail/<insert random setting x that might help>

* upgrade your PC to recommended specifications

* update your drivers

* etc

A lot of people on this board know about sim speed, but I think most people online that you ask about it will reply: "Sim whut?!". There should definately be some room for improvement here.

What are your ideas about this? Complaint obsolete? Complaint works differently? (I don't play many multiplayer games so I don't know how all of it works). Screw sim speed let's just kick anyone thats low? Hell yeah implement this tomorrow? Tell me :andrew:

2,639 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Demigod Forums Top

If I remember correctly there was a program/setting/test like this in Supcom. It was fairly nice, I rather wish they would implement it here.

It isn't just ping that slows down games (and normally if it is ping it is because of ping spiking).

Reply #2 from Demigod Forums Top

I suggest forcing the game to run at lowered settings if the simspeed drops to a level below 0.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting TheGuildfordStrangler, reply 2
I suggest forcing the game to run at lowered settings if the simspeed drops to a level below 0.
End of TheGuildfordStrangler's quote

This please. If it continues to run below zero, it may be necessary to create a democratic kick button. :/ I hate this idea myself, but playing on -3 speed in a 2v2... is unacceptable.

Reply #4 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting TheGuildfordStrangler, reply 2
I suggest forcing the game to run at lowered settings if the simspeed drops to a level below 0.
End of TheGuildfordStrangler's quote

I have less sim speed than others, but a good pc, so i tried to lower settings. The result was that I got just graphic bugs till a new match loaded. Plus I know I don't have a high-end cpu. So sim speed depends mostly on cpu and all settings depend on graphic card. And it doesn't help to lower settings ingame.

Reply #5 from Demigod Forums Top

Well it should be fairly easy for GPG to point out some settings that will help your cpu and thus sim speed. Or maybe they could up the priority of sim calculations and leave the graphics for whatever cpu power is left after you get sim speed = 1.

Reply #6 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Izibaar, reply 4

Quoting TheGuildfordStrangler, reply 2I suggest forcing the game to run at lowered settings if the simspeed drops to a level below 0.
I have less sim speed than others, but a good pc, so i tried to lower settings. The result was that I got just graphic bugs till a new match loaded. Plus I know I don't have a high-end cpu. So sim speed depends mostly on cpu and all settings depend on graphic card. And it doesn't help to lower settings ingame.
End of Izibaar's quote

Actually, it does, provided the graphics are an issue.