Lag and pay to play?

Tapio75

First of all, please be aware that lag is not something that happens because you have inadequate computer system. Lag is not bad graphics card, lag is not too low memory, lag is not too litle processing power, lag is not too slow hard drive..

Lag is Network latency and responsiveness of server, at least in this case.

Now to the point, i have been noticing lag getting worse each moth for 3 consecutive last moths. It has been investigated allready and determined that my network or network provider is not to blame for this.

What do you think will happen to server responsiveness when players flock in after launch of Tamriel unlimited.. Will things stay the same, go better or go worse. Please also provide some feedback about your own experience about lag.

Seraphyel

Responsiveness gets slower/nothing is done.

I really hope they'll improve the lag and responsiveness issues.

It's always been an issue and it's still there.

Examples?


* Talking to NPCs while riding a horse is nearly impossible

* You need to click some skills 2, 3, 4 times until something happens

* Mobs are dead but still "live" for 2-3 seconds and then fall down

* etc.


I am playing on the EU server and the responsiveness is in a horrible state at the moment.

Micallef

Responsiveness gets slower/nothing is done.

I run a pretty decent rig and my internet connection is high speed cable, I agree with your'prologue'.

Considering how it hasn't really improved during the first year and that with F2P ZO resources focus will be shifting primarily to maintain income (i.e. cash store) I fully expect things to get worse.
I dare them to prove me wrong.

ShadowDisciple

I dont have any problems. Install Leatrix and enjoy.

Sheuib

Other

I currently do not have any problems and I am expecting the same going forward.

Tandor

Other

I have no problems on the EU server and don't expect that to change.

Cogo

Interesting.

I have noticed less lag. Still lags a bit in cyro when there are like 100 people around in the same area, but apart from that, no lag pretty much.

If you lag somewhere when other players don't, then it's not the server side.

Lag is caused by loss of "packets" (data) and can be tons of different reasons.

Most common is anything from the network/software/hardware at the ZoS datacenter, global network "trunks" (non tech term is Internet), your ISPs core network, your ISP network to your router/firewall and lastly, your system.

It's quite common in MMOs to mistake FPS for lag. Two very different things.
In order to make sure you are not lagging and maintain your system, a working list is:

• - Update drivers
• - Update OS
• - If a windows system, then use a software like CCleaner or any registry and "junk" cleaner
• - Close down any running software you don't need (Check programs and features to see whats running)
• - Lower the settings in the game

To make sure about your system, run an assessment of your system at:
Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Performance Information and Tools


A newer villain that causes lag and problems for online gaming is every service, software and/or Add-ons for your browsers.
These things are not viruses or harmful in any way, but they steal resources from your system just like running several programs at once would do.

Even if someone never even open Microsoft Internet explorer, Win 7 and 8 does something interesting depending what sites you visit.

Open Internet explorer - Tools - Manage addons
Here you get a list of addons that runs every time you start the system. Not the browser.

Check the list called "Run without permission".
These are programs, addons and services that Windows uses.
Microsoft have decided that you need to run all applets and software that they use on their sites, such as facebook for example. Without you even say yes or no, just visiting facebook on any browser installs several addons and applets that runs on your system whenever you start it.

All these addons you find here, runs actively just like a virus killer for example. These adds up.....especially those programs that sends data or ping somewhere. (or runs java/skype/video services)

You never allowed this or did anything wrong. They fly past all firewalls and virus killers.

This section you can see what runs and not.
Java, lots of Microsoft software, adobe, your graphic card software can be found here. Those are just fine. (Even if you never said ok to it)
You will find lots of running addons that you have no clue what they are. Facebook and Skype are 2 big sources for all kinds of Apps that ends up here and runs -when you start your system-.

You can disable and manage these addons here. Disable them will not harm your system. However, let the Microsoft stuff run.

Your browser - Manage your addons as well.
These does not do any harm per say. But they run and uses something called "heartbeat", or "ping".

These 2 places for addons can fix alot of things if you keep clean. They clog up fast.

If you have done all these things, then you can be sure its not "your lag".
Opening your desktop and clean out dust sounds silly, but do make a difference as well.

This have worked for several friends in ESO who had problems. Mostly the "run without permission" and CCleaner does the trick.

Messy1

Responsiveness gets better/is fixed

If ZOS adds more servers would that lessen the lag? Why don't they just add a few more server for Cyrodil where most of the lag seems to be occuring?

Rune_Relic

Responsiveness gets slower/nothing is done.

If you go into settings you can switch on FPS+Latency counters provided by ZOS.
Mine goes from 60 to Red on a 50/50 basis.
So its not a case of permanent latency ...its transient latency being the major issue.

You can help with this by identifying every installed program that is set to auto-update and manually setting them to once a week on a more convenient time or disabling any and all auto-update features in any software you have.
Microsoft included.
This includes such things as java/flash/virus/hardware drivers/etc...

BUT....these are not THE cause of the issues. They will only help reduce the impact of the ZOS issues.

mika_hr1eb17_ESO

Responsiveness gets slower/nothing is done.

Messy1 wrote: »

If ZOS adds more servers would that lessen the lag? Why don't they just add a few more server for Cyrodil where most of the lag seems to be occuring?

No, thats not teh problem. If it was that simple, it would be solved already as they have all that unused campaign servers from launch sitting around

Tandor

Other

I'd also recommend checking your machine for viruses and malware if you are suffering any form of slowdown in performance, and also disabling all add-ons in ESO to see if that makes a difference.

Work on the assumption that such issues in Cyrodil are commonly experienced and likely to be mainly server-side, whereas such issues outside Cyrodil are rarely experienced and likely to be mainly client-side. I'm not saying that is 100% factually correct, simply that adopting it as an assumption is a good starting point when trying to resolve the problem.

Also, use the technical support forums, it's what they're for and where you'll get the attention of the ZOS technical staff. Check your ISP technical and gaming forums too as that may indicate whether other players using that ISP are having similar issues which could be down to network routing.

Seraphyel

Responsiveness gets slower/nothing is done.

I can't believe that some people don't have any responsiveness issues. Maybe you don't realize it, but they are there.

Try to talk to an NPC while riding a horse. If it doesn't work for the first time, there you've got your responsiveness issue. Same with skill activation.

Cogo

Seraphyel wrote: »

I can't believe that some people don't have any responsiveness issues. Maybe you don't realize it, but they are there.

Try to talk to an NPC while riding a horse. If it doesn't work for the first time, there you've got your responsiveness issue. Same with skill activation.

Sorry, no. Weapon Swap is still buggy but that's fixed in Update 6.

Never tried to talk to an NPC while riding a horse lol.

I do not lag, but I have a monster system and know mostly how to maintain my system to not get lag.

Cogo

Rune_Relic wrote: »

If you go into settings you can switch on FPS+Latency counters provided by ZOS.
Mine goes from 60 to Red on a 50/50 basis.
So its not a case of permanent latency ...its transient latency being the major issue.

You can help with this by identifying every installed program that is set to auto-update and manually setting them to once a week on a more convenient time or disabling any and all auto-update features in any software you have.
Microsoft included.
This includes such things as java/flash/virus/hardware drivers/etc...

BUT....these are not THE cause of the issues. They will only help reduce the impact of the ZOS issues.

FPS is not lag. That's local. Latency is lag. This is a very common misconception among MMO players.

Tandor

Other

Seraphyel wrote: »

Try to talk to an NPC while riding a horse. If it doesn't work for the first time, there you've got your responsiveness issue.

Why would anyone try to talk to an NPC while riding a horse? Surely it's polite to dismount first !

Actually, my characters very rarely ride their horse as they're constantly stopping for harvesting etc.

It would in any event be wrong to assume that everyone has responsiveness issues, they don't. I fully understand that some people have all manner of performance issues with ESO, but for me it's been one of the smoothest-running games of the lot, although my not doing PvP or group dungeons doubtless helps!

EDIT: As per request below, I am playing on the EU server.

Seraphyel

Responsiveness gets slower/nothing is done.

Cogo wrote: »

I do not lag, but I have a monster system and know mostly how to maintain my system to not get lag.

The issue is not your system, it's the server responsiveness. That's why even the best system has issue with it.

Just try it. Talk to an NPC while riding a horse.

And nobody can tell me they never experienced issues with skill activation or weapon swap (weapon swap in 1.6 is again broken after they finally fixed it with 1.5).

Tapio75

Responsiveness gets slower/nothing is done.

I am EU, Southern Finland. 100Mbps optical, firewall hardware based and configured. Adequate gaming rig.

My lag, as i said in the post, has been getting worse over time, especially in last 3 moths.. For the firts half year, i had no problems, even when server was still over sea at the Usa. I have been noticing spikes of lag when everything stops responding, my character can be moved and basic attacks hapen when i press mouse but they will not hit anything.. This might last for few to several seconds and meanwhile it seems, even NPC enemies åpause since when things start to wotk again, both seem to have same health, last attack i performed finally hits and battle continues as if everything has been paused in both sides.

Last couple of weeks this has been less, but instead i have to take 0.5 to 1 second fore, if i want to block effectively, i can also stop blocking when enemy is still doing power attack and it gets still blocked when it finally hits. I learned to play with this but it is horrible. Everything just seems to happen 0.5 to 1 seconds after i do something..

It is very similar now that was the infamous "Ability delay" in SWTOR.

I do hope they can and will do something to improve network performance to everyone but i fear that it will just get worse when all those players who allready have copy of game come back to see how things are today.

Still, lets hope the best.

LtCrunch

Me and a couple guildmates were just talking about how much better our latency to the server has been lately. So I haven't had the same experience as you have OP. I'm on the NA server.

Sheuib

Other

Seraphyel wrote: »

I can't believe that some people don't have any responsiveness issues. Maybe you don't realize it, but they are there.

Try to talk to an NPC while riding a horse. If it doesn't work for the first time, there you've got your responsiveness issue. Same with skill activation.

I talk to NPC all the time while still on my horse and do not have issues. The only time it is a problem is when my horse interferes with the character being able to turn and face the NPC. But, I have figured that out and can avoid it now. Basically, anything that your character is going to interact with the character has to be able to turn and face it before it will interact with it.

Tapio75

Responsiveness gets slower/nothing is done.

Would be interesting if everyone could also add whether they are on EU or US Megaserver.

Heishi

Responsiveness gets slower/nothing is done.

Because Cyrodiil. Let's just look at it for an example. They already had to remove a lot of clutter and critters because the server simply couldn't handle it. Cyrodiil is much larger than other zones, but when you compound many more people into a normal zones, can we really expect anything different?

Rune_Relic

Responsiveness gets slower/nothing is done.

Cogo wrote: »

show previous quotes

Rune_Relic wrote: »

If you go into settings you can switch on FPS+Latency counters provided by ZOS.
Mine goes from 60 to Red on a 50/50 basis.
So its not a case of permanent latency ...its transient latency being the major issue.

You can help with this by identifying every installed program that is set to auto-update and manually setting them to once a week on a more convenient time or disabling any and all auto-update features in any software you have.
Microsoft included.
This includes such things as java/flash/virus/hardware drivers/etc...

BUT....these are not THE cause of the issues. They will only help reduce the impact of the ZOS issues.

FPS is not lag. That's local. Latency is lag. This is a very common misconception among MMO players.

A lot of special effects go via the CPU and not all go through the graphics card.
So saying FPS and Latency are never related is misleading IMHO.
If the CPU is tied up waiting for server response it cant off load the graphics to the GPU.
This is why we have actions that go off a few seconds later etc.
Hell after after shield assault on a keep stairs I fell through floor and rezzed at PVP base camp.....with my axe letting off a technicolour display the likes of which I have never seen before and my full health bar flashing away like an Amsterdam brothel with a dodgy light bulb ...for 2 minutes.

https://docs.unrealengine.com/latest/INT/Resources/ContentExamples/EffectsGallery/1_A/index.html

Rune_Relic

Responsiveness gets slower/nothing is done.

EU server.
PVP improved.....because its pop locked but I rarely see a group larger then 30 people.
So I have no idea where they all are but there is no mass zergs like before.

PVE has got worse...mainly as you need to highlight NPC to attack them.....the highlight simply switches off and you cant attack them (swing & miss).
BUT....Weapon swapping feels better generally and combat too in PVE.
[EXCEPT npcs that need manlove and snuggle up so close you cant hit them after invasion]

Big fights in cyrodiil vs batwarm/talon trains ect still results in non responsive skill bar.
After sustained battles like this that last 5 mins or more...the control start to bug out and audio drops.
This often leads to a total game freeze of the environment..but I can still run around and move and light/heavy without issue with all the player manequins....for about 30 seconds until I am kicked for ability spam.

So in conclusion....lowering the PVP server pop cap has helped with the lag by reducing the number of enemies you fight and how long the fights last. Which indicates some kind of memory leak with sustained battles causing the issues. Perhaps server side rather than client side. Hence every one being hit by the same issue at the same time. So PVP isn't fixed....they just minimised the chances of it happening.