GAMESPY Matchmaking Clarification

jschuur · November 7, 2002, 00:11

Some clarifying words here from the Developer Relations Manager at GameSpy (that's me):

'Uninstalling GameSpy (Arcade)' will not affect your game performance. For one, having it installed while you're doing all your matchmaking using the in-game system couldn't affect your performance, since it's not running. More to this later on.

Plenty of other games use Arcade for matchmaking, including TBS games like Moonbase Commander, Heroes of Might & Magic IV. Telling people to uninstall it would be extremely ill advised, especially since it is not the root of the problem here.

Even if your game is launched by GameSpy Arcade because you chose to browser for games with it, Arcade will use next to no extra bandwidth while minimized. This is documented here:

http://www.gamespyarcade.com/support/hibernate.shtml

Additionally, if you're using the in-game matchmaking system (accessable via the 'Multipayer' menu item), you're still using GameSpy tech as a matchmaking solution BTW. Infogrames and Firaxis have licensed our tech to allow you to find opponents in-game without needing to run an external matchmaking application.

So why's the game so slow then, you say? PTW currently sends more traffic than it should when performing in-game GameSpy matchmaking. It's a known issue by Firaxis and GameSpy, we've isolated the problem and Firaxis will be fixing this in the next patch.

GameSpy Arcade also doesn't install any spyware products. All software bundles are specifically prompted for. If you installed it straight off of the CD, you're getting a version that is clean of any third party software bundles.

What is GameSpy Arcade there for then, if the game features an in-game matchmaking lobby? As some have mentioned in the forums, it's a convenient way of seeing activity in the lobbies, will not having the game running full screen. You can idle and do other work elsewhere on your desktop. If people decide they want to use the in-game solution solely, more power to them. Just remember you're still using GameSpy technology as implemented by the developer

Jon Shafer · November 7, 2002, 01:50

Good to hear that the problems are being worked on.

notyoueither · November 7, 2002, 02:03

I agree. If you do not have GameSpy running, how could it effect launching games?

I also applaud the news that the issues have been identified and are being fixed.

Wise Ass · November 7, 2002, 02:19

The only issue I have with gamespy is the memory, I can't have both run or I will have color issues but that is all on my end of it.

vmxa1 · November 7, 2002, 04:10

How much memory is on the rig?

Wise Ass · November 7, 2002, 06:45

Mine? 364 MB

Nikolai · November 7, 2002, 09:56

364 MB memory, and you have memory problems?!?!

Man, that GameSpy program must be bad programmed or something... I'm glad I have 512 MB!

SpencerH · November 7, 2002, 10:02

jschuur, Thanks for the input

This confirms a post (I cant remember exactly where) that said essentially the same thing. The MP slowness problems are not due to gamespy, its a problem with the game itself and directIP hosting (that many people asked for) wont help.

Sandy · November 7, 2002, 12:04

Gamespy sucks, use all seeing eye instead. No crap ads, slow memory hog software etc. You can donate if you want to, and with the approach the all seeing eye has taken, i am more likely to give them my money.

Wise Ass · November 7, 2002, 16:30

Quote:

Originally posted by Nikolai
364 MB memory, and you have memory problems?!?!

Man, that GameSpy program must be bad programmed or something... I'm glad I have 512 MB!

It is more CIv3x that is the memory hog, but running anything in the backround will cause for "team" color loss.

Switch · November 7, 2002, 19:13

364 MB and your having problems?

Do you have a lot of programs running in the background? You should check msconfig (typed in the "run" box) and under Startups deselect whatever you don't want. Check here for a list of what most of those things are, and whether you need them.

Maquiladora · November 9, 2002, 02:58

Quote:

Originally posted by jschuur
...if you're using the in-game matchmaking system (accessable via the 'Multipayer' menu item)...

Freudian slip perhaps?

Sarxis · November 9, 2002, 03:50

Quote:

Originally posted by Maquiladora

Freudian slip perhaps?

That is rich.

Or should I say, HE is rich?

NeOmega · November 9, 2002, 04:26

I did just read gamespy's staement, and I am a bit saddened, they replied to a thread I started at CFC, and yet, it appears they did not even take the time to read what I had posted.

In fact, my intelligence was insulted, as he went on to address how gamespy does not contribute to lag, (which I had already clearly clarified thaT UNINSTALLING IT WOULD NOT HELP lag issues) but did not address the fact that two different programs being used for the same game in the matchmaking process could be having problems, (even though thte techs are the same, something I also already aknowledged...... if he would have read the first post of the thread before he replied

then he went on to say that arcade and the Civ 3 PTW lobby use the same tech, not the same program

It seems to be inattentive damage control.

Quote:

Additionally, if you're using the in-game matchmaking system (accessable via the 'Multipayer' menu item), you're still using GameSpy tech as a matchmaking solution BTW. Infogrames and Firaxis have licensed our tech to allow you to find opponents in-game without needing to run an external matchmaking application.

So does that mean that these two programs are going to function with eachother flawlessly? Is there a chance that the two lobbies could be conflicting?

BTW the problem should be fixed in 1.05 patch, so I hear.

Sandy · November 9, 2002, 08:48

Thats the problem with gamespy, they have been pulled down the buisness route, and lost touch with ordinary gamers.

Like they are going to ever listen to what you and I say .... but its their problem.

DJ RRebel · November 9, 2002, 16:40

ummm ... does gamespy actually start itself when you open Civ3 multiplayer ???

I am experiencing exactly the same problem NeOmega is addressing, in that I can't actually start games with more then 2 people (1 vs 1) ... each time I try to host, no-one makes it to the 2nd set-up screen ... and on the other end ... when I don't host, I've never had a game where more than just me and the host made it to the 2nd screen ...

But I've never manually started the Gamespy software ... so the only gamespy tech running is the licented tech within Civ 3 ...

Unless, as I mentioned at the start, Spamespy automatically launches at the boot-up of your system, or when you launch Civ3 ...

How exactly does Gamespy work ???

Does it launch itself ???

Inverse Icarus · November 9, 2002, 18:40

i'm putting my money on a memory leak. me and my friend were playing, and we got horrible game-lag. we rebooted and all was well.

RealSpices · November 17, 2002, 08:49

I uninstalled Gamespy and all the crashes stopped...

Panag · November 22, 2002, 16:19

Quote:

Originally posted by RealSpices
I uninstalled Gamespy and all the crashes stopped...

hi ,

and many people have done so with you , all with the same result , in most cases there are almost no crashes

have a nice day

Alexander's Horse · November 28, 2002, 19:02

I think the real point is many of us want to use direct IP - we don't want to use gamespy matchmaking at all.

NeOmega · November 30, 2002, 05:28

1.14f has direct tcp/ip connections

notyoueither · November 30, 2002, 05:30

Direct IP is working quite well.

War4ever · December 7, 2002, 05:19

how does it do with a dial up, i have adsl but we played a guy with dial up and it was brutal....

also i hear something a bout another patch on the horizon...hopefully it will be as successfull as the latest one 1.14f

notyoueither · December 7, 2002, 05:25

I have not played with modem users yet, so I cannot say.

I would expect several more patches, if the past is an indication of the future.

petemajor · January 6, 2003, 16:15

Hi all. I've been playing on 48.8 dialup...

Yeah, it gets a bit laggy now and then... but when you think that, every now and then, you lose a second or two in a turn that takes a couple of minutes it's not really a big deal.

Instead, the thing I find frustrating is all the launch crashes. My experience is that the game seems pretty stable *if* you manage to play the first turn ( and that's a BIG if ).

Roll on next patch!

Pete

Panag · January 8, 2003, 11:55

Quote:

Originally posted by petemajor
Hi all. I've been playing on 48.8 dialup...

Yeah, it gets a bit laggy now and then... but when you think that, every now and then, you lose a second or two in a turn that takes a couple of minutes it's not really a big deal.

Instead, the thing I find frustrating is all the launch crashes. My experience is that the game seems pretty stable *if* you manage to play the first turn ( and that's a BIG if ).

Roll on next patch!

Pete

hi ,

so you have these problems with the patch

it seems that people with high speed connections have less problems then people with low speed ones , ....

have a nice day