|
Post by zzZhenon on Nov 13, 2005 14:12:09 GMT -5
I"we" don't play the same version; "we" play the retail version (french tech tree, a keyboard "lav-over" that doesn't "lay-over" stated/printed minimum computer requirements that don't even come close, and a misleading "stable game-platform"). I can at least answer this one: My machine is a Pentium 3, 933 mhz with 512 mb ram and a geforce 2 64 mb graphics card. My machine is under the minimum requirements. It's a shame ppl are "ignorant" about updating drivers and fine-tuning their machines. CIV runs fine for me, if a bit slow. But other than that, yeah the MP lobby needs a lot of work. There really aren't any in-game issues I have except to point fingers at the Warez users and dial-up ppl that cause so much OOS.
|
|
|
Post by skidbladnir on Nov 13, 2005 15:51:42 GMT -5
err...I'd be very interested in seeing how the game runs on your comp and what you consider 'a bit slow'. Im no computer-expert, but 'good' enough to assemble one myself and tune it right, bios- drivers- o/c- wise. still, only thing that eventually enabled me to play the game smoothly was to change my gf5200 graphic card for a gf6600gt (rest being xp+2800 1gb ram). Sure the 64bits gf5200 was crap, despite its 128mb ram, but i hardly see how your computer could be better than my previous setup.
Now, when i had the 5200 i found the game to be 'playable but slow', slow enough to keep me from playing more than an hour. When i got the 6600, i understood what smoothly means. it runs a the speed of light now and its nowhere close to what it was before. So maybe you should check out how the game runs on a good computer (if you havent already) (notice that the game running very fast now doesnt make the game itself faster or with more rythm, those are 2 different concepts)
|
|
|
Post by zzZhenon on Nov 14, 2005 10:12:08 GMT -5
I'm not very good with hardware -- I mean I can change out my graphics card, install more RAM, etc. -- but I like to think I'm pretty good with optimum software settings. It's very simple to close all of your progs in the taskbar... and when you download or install a new program, it's not necessary for it to be running all of the time. I mean really, do you use Quicktime so much that it needs to be on your taskbar? What about your antivirus? Why do you need to run that when you're not downloading or checking email? The only thing running on my taskbar is my graphics overclocker. I also allow windows to use up to 1 gb of free HD space as virtual memory. ("Ignorant" was meant as a joke toward CS/MMV)
Basically my CIV loads slowly. The game plays quickly, but I get delayed messages. For example, when my cultural borders expand it shows it immediately but there's a 10-12 second delay before I get the actual message in my message window. On maps larger than small, it takes up to a minute for the AIs to complete their turns.
Anywho... my comp is a dinosaur and I've been looking at pricewatch.com to figure out what I want to buy at the end of this month.
I think I'll start a "Help Zhenon build a computer thread" in the off topic topic if anyone cares.
|
|
|
Post by whiplash on Nov 14, 2005 10:28:38 GMT -5
What is your CPU speed? Sounds to me that is what your bottleneck is. You could upgrade by replacing the motherboard with a new processor and keep all of your other hardware.
|
|
|
Post by skidbladnir on Nov 14, 2005 11:12:57 GMT -5
well it doesnt take a genius to do all that :s but those are good advice to people not at-ease with computer fine tuning. Many people would be amazed how faster you can have your comp running..for free. Sure money isnt a problem for some (dish), but it's most of the time worth considering. Ultimately, formatting is the deadly weapon. Before that, ppl can do the aforementionned, but also make sure all 'invisible' running processes are closed, turn off windows desktop background image and dozen of other small things
bottomline is I still think that having civ4 running well on a p3 933 takes more than this, and that c3c 'minimum requirements' were very optimistic, not to say deceiptive..
|
|
|
Post by tommynt on Nov 15, 2005 5:50:04 GMT -5
at the moment lobby is nearly as quiet as in the last days of civ3.
hardly more then 3 games up at same time - I expected to see much more civ3 vets
if the interest in cvi4 stays like this there s no need for a lobby upgrade - just klick on pc symbol and go into the only ladder game up - if there s non open 1 yourself - as its the only one up it will fill somewhat fast
|
|
|
Post by friedrichpsitalon on Nov 15, 2005 6:39:37 GMT -5
At 6am EST, yes, it's going to be very quiet. Try primetime US or early afternoon US/evening Europe.
|
|
|
Post by donaldkipper on Nov 15, 2005 7:58:40 GMT -5
ive found europe evening to be pretty quiet
it's a pain in the ass to get a game going at the moment and their sre too many ladder players who have joined purely to get a game and dont give a toss about reports and just quit the going gets tough
|
|
|
Post by Magzi on Nov 15, 2005 9:12:56 GMT -5
I also think there are quite a few of us still having lobby and/or PC problems too. Hopefully we can all get sorted and into a few games!
|
|
|
Post by whiplash on Nov 15, 2005 9:48:14 GMT -5
My speculation is that many of the vets have just set the game aside until the patch comes out. Too much frustration trying to run it as it is.
|
|
|
Post by SirPartyMan on Nov 15, 2005 12:09:28 GMT -5
I've had very enjoyable games the last few days. 135 turns - with zero or 1 drop. Played a number of C3C veterans who are getting the hang of the new game.
Granted there are bugs - but the game is still much more reliable in my opinion than Conquests. Of course the patch will help a lot.
We are seeing about the same number of games played in C3C and in CIV IV. About 200 a day each.
Best, SPM
|
|
Mo_D
Settler
Posts: 45
|
Post by Mo_D on Nov 15, 2005 12:17:21 GMT -5
Yeah, I played one the other night with SPM and we had what? 8 players or so in that game. There were a few minor kinks, but I'd have to agree that it ran better than PTW or Conquests ever did. Minimal lag, not having to go back to the lobby if someone drops (which does happen, but not very often), and no crashing to desktop due to OOS all combine to make multiplay a more enjoyable experience. There are a few bugs (as you'd expect in a just-released game), but those should be gone soon with the patch.
I look forward to many fine hours of CIVving! ;D
|
|
|
Post by Vermillion on Nov 15, 2005 16:20:34 GMT -5
I look forward to many fine hours of CIVving! ;D And getting your arse handed to ya!
|
|
|
Post by holocanthe on Nov 16, 2005 13:54:30 GMT -5
This evening (for me, France ;D ) several tests were necessary before finally succeeding in entering a game. Others are obliged to use IP
And once the launched play, it misses players.....
"GĂ©nial" this Civ4 lobby
|
|
|
Post by civerdan on Nov 16, 2005 14:29:17 GMT -5
I agree that the lack of a mute or ability to PM w/o adding ppl to buddy list are a pain. However the MP is much more playable out of the box than Civ3 MP ever was IMHO. Nice only having to open Civ4 and not civ and GS.
|
|
|
Post by Tony on Nov 30, 2005 9:08:40 GMT -5
This is what i would like inculded. 1) PM anyone 2) Mute 3) Games in progress and games about to start seperated with a tab or something like that 4) Access to the lobby when you in a game, maybe with a seprate program? Dont have to be GSArcade just something that allows you to see that chat and give people IP or something like that. 5) Another another feature that would be nice is to have a few things stored in the somputers memory, like the last game you connected to, so when you drop or it OOS's you know what game you came out of. This happened to me yesterday and i couldnt remember game name 6) If number 4 in implmented then CIV should also store the last IP you connected to when direct IPing in, like C3C did. 7) Dont know if this happens to anyone else but once i connect to other people, (game set up room, or a game) when i go back to lobby the "games up" display is messed up so have to restart computer, thats pretty annoying :S
|
|
|
Post by MMV on Nov 30, 2005 10:36:26 GMT -5
"Games in progress and games about to start seperated with a tab or something like that[/i]"
On the top menu bar that says games/ping, etc there is a "telephone" icon.
If you click the "telephone" icon ONCE on that top menu bar, it will seperate and put the games in order with the "games in progress" on the botton (identified by a white telephone icon) and the games available (no telephone icon) seperated on the top (scroll up to it).
That's both how to find a game that is starting (now at the top with no telephone icon), as well as find the game that you dropped from (because the game that you dropped from is no longer "in progress" with a white telephone icon and is at the top "waiting" for another player/you).
|
|
|
Post by Sidhe on Dec 1, 2005 16:00:54 GMT -5
You can privately talk to any player in the list already. Believe it or not it is actually possible to set up a game in the lobby, HINT HINT
|
|
|
Post by eiffel on Dec 1, 2005 18:44:42 GMT -5
Yes, and sometimes, you can't even connect to a game. We lost several hours trying to connect to eachothers yesterday... at least 3 hours and only some games worked through directip. I heard that if too many games are currently played you'll have issue creating or joining a new one. Multi and lobby are far from being fixed atm
|
|
|
Post by Vermillion on Dec 1, 2005 18:55:29 GMT -5
We lost several hours trying to connect to eachothers yesterday... at least 3 hours and only some games worked through directip. Yes and it was hell
|
|