This post is addressed to those that stream AoC games, but it is actually for everyone to read and try to help the cause - improve stream possibilities in upcoming UserPatch.
YOUR help is appreciated!
We won`t get a "spectator" mode in UserPatch v1.1, but we might get the next best thing fixed so it`s usable for game streaming - coop + resign, and it`s up to all of us to try to replicate the current lag issue and get as many useful data in order for it to be fixed.
What is this exactly about? (a small intro for those that are not familiar with it)
At the moment, when you want to live stream someone else`s game (like a live broadcast, very useful for tournaments and show cast matches), you (a streamer) usually coop (co-operate) one of the players by selecting the same color as him on the pre-game settings screen. When the game starts, you get to see the action from the point of view of the player you are co-oping, being able to move the view as you like.
The bad thing here is that you`re restricted by your coop`s line of sight, meaning that you can`t see through the fog of war (the black thing that covers unexplored parts of the map) where your coop (the player that actually plays the game) hasn`t explored or does not see at the moment.
Now, there is a solution for this - you can resign! It won`t change anything in the game, as you weren`t actually playing but just watching the game, and once you resign you get to see the whole map - how good for streaming is that now You can see everything (and the people watching your stream, too), being able to follow what`s going on everywhere on the map, what each of the players is doing.
But, there is one little problem...
The bad thing here is that you`re restricted by your coop`s line of sight, meaning that you can`t see through the fog of war (the black thing that covers unexplored parts of the map) where your coop (the player that actually plays the game) hasn`t explored or does not see at the moment.
Now, there is a solution for this - you can resign! It won`t change anything in the game, as you weren`t actually playing but just watching the game, and once you resign you get to see the whole map - how good for streaming is that now You can see everything (and the people watching your stream, too), being able to follow what`s going on everywhere on the map, what each of the players is doing.
But, there is one little problem...
It`s an "urban myth" that once a cooping player resigns, the game starts to lag heavily, making it pretty unplayable (or not very enjoyable, at least) for the actual players. Because of this, people generally avoid using the benefits of resigning when being a coop, thus being restricted to one player`s point of view and not being able to show the whole action to their viewers.
If we want this lag issue to be fixed once and for all in the upcoming UserPatch (that already brings so many goodies to AoC), we need as many recorded and saved games where this bug occurred, preferably with exact steps to recreate it.
If you want to help fixing this bug and improving the AoC live stream possibilities, please try playing co-op games (where more players pick the same color) and once the game starts have some of the players resign (but stay in the game, to watch what`s happening). You can try the regular 2 player coop (where 2 players pick the same color), but also feel free to test other settings, too, as having 7 players picking the same color, then having some of them resign once the game starts. It would be helpful to make screenshots of pre-game settings screen - and don`t forget to record the games!
What is needed:
- Screenshot of exact game settings before the game (multiplayer pre-game settings screen)
- Save game file, saved just before coop player will resign and lag is going to happen
- Recorded game file of the game in which the lag happened when coop resigned
- Exact steps that lead to lag (describe it, if you can)
Regarding #2 - Of course you can`t know in advance if the game will start lagging when you resign, or not, but you can save it in advance, then if it doesn`t lag - feel free to delete the save game file If it lags - upload it!
Regarding #4 - It would be good if some "pattern" is found, so the bug can be easily recreated by the UserPatch people, who can then fix it.
Please pack (.ZIP) all the necessary files and upload them somewhere (here, for example), and post the link in this topic.
The more cases of this coop + resign bug we get, the bigger the chances that it will be fixed! Let us all try to help and improve the AoC streaming capabilities, inhaling even more life in this great new way of enjoying AoC games! 14!Now that you read the whole post, please read this post, too :lol: I`ll just leave the rest for anyone who wants a good laugh... oh dear Well, at least we`ll have that lag fixed
edit: In the meantime, the UserPatch guys fixed it!UserPatch 20121218-195224 has been released! This update resolves 531: #UserPatch [Core Bug] Players who stay connected after resigning may cause severe multiplayer lag. Actually, this affects the game's performance during ANY post-game activity, including after losing in single player games, looking around on the map after a recorded game ends in the rec player, etc.