First multiplayer experience - pretty bad

[irR4tiOn4L]

Hi everyone, I thought I might give a new player's (to multiplayer CoD) perspective on multiplayer - initial impressions = not good. I will focus on the issues that determine how enjoyable the experience is overall. Here's what I found:


a) The server list does not populate more often than not, and this requires starting a generic server and then quitting again (or, if you're lucky, a COD restart) to repopulate. Every time. Not exactly great when you are greeted with an empty list of servers.

b) The game can sit an awful long time at the connecting screen, with just the 'break' button as an option and a lack of feedback on what is happening to the user. Very confusing.

Of course, pressing that 'break' button is a false option and mistake and will trigger a 'failed to authenticate' message every time you try and use that server again (for me it did the whole evening anyway) and requires computer surgery to repair. Very, very crap user experience so far.

c) As an Australian, most servers have 300 ms lag. Can't blame the game for this, and 300 ms is manageable in practice.

d) Most servers do not have many players. Can't blame game.

e) When they DO have players, they fly blue. All of them. I saw 4 players in the server and all were flying blue. Where is the fun in that? It's not like the RAF planes are THAT bad!

These players inevitably cooperate making going against them (to get some gameplay going) an exercise in futility in what is often the only allowed RAF planes, the Hurris and Spit I and Ia. I went up in a Spit Ia and despite jumping and having a great dogfight with one 109, I was of course shot down by a friend.

f) Further dampening the online balance, starting as RAF is made all the more unpleasant by the time it takes to warm up the spitfires as opposed to the instantly ready 109. Its not as bad as bombers and the G.50 (not nearly as bad), but it adds to the delay and odds against you.

g) Because mods are not available online to fix the most basic oversights of 1C, like the overly dense cloud and dust effects (easily fixed by mods) and the extreme framerate drops (related to clouds and dust) associated with looking at where the mirrors would be (because despite being non functional, they are still being rendered), even taking off involves more frustration than you are used to offline because you must avoid like the plague all hint of looking at the mirrors, dust or clouds. Manageable, but poor.

h) When you do finally take off, chances are that the blue team, that is, most everyone in the server, is already pounding your airfield and you are racing to get to altitude without being noticed.

Despite managing this and even tracing flak to a 109 unaware of my presence, and jumping him and landing some hits, you are inevitably at a major disadvantage in the present RAF aircraft. In the Spit Ia, you bleed E more readily with a high speed dive (which is necessary to bounce a 109) and soon the tables are turned.

However, I was able to evade a 109 that got on my tail through great, heart pounding maneouvering that was a lot of fun - he stuck on me like glue till he spun very close to ground, but recovered! From there, I was able to maneuver to advantage, which leads me to my next point

i) Given that most of the server (in my experience, once again) is blue and 109's and your only allowed plane is the abysmally slow Spit Ia for example, it is a given that as soon as you gain advantage the 109 will simply fly straight and outperform and outclimb you. Worse, they will call friends - not very sporting.

I was able to see the climb coming of course, so I didn't fall for the inevitable hammerhead, dodged the attack and again began a duel where I had a fair chance - but I was shot by an unknown enemy (I was checking my six, but hey) into my pilot and that was that. Numbers are everything, and while I wouldn't normally object, its a bit silly for 4 players who have all gone blue to cooperate against the only red player in an inferior aircraft over the red airfield. In this case, it ruined a great dogfight that the 109 had a better chance of winning to begin with! How can that be fun for those 4 people?

j) Of course, being a sport, I wanted to congratulate my opponents. But the game has not seen fit to assign a default 'chat' button, requiring a trip to the options menu to assign a button. Very poor attention to detail yet again.

Upon congratulating my opponents however and requesting in a sporting fashion that some join red for a bit more fun, i notice that my plane is still flying (should've crashed by now) and that I cannot switch to another or the other side - not to mention I am not receiving any messages in response.

k) Which is, of course, when the server tells me that I have a sync problem and am no longer connected to the server, and find myself back at the server list. Very frustrating, especially as my opponents will now think me unsporting!

l) And finally, to end the evening, I find that NO server is able to sync and logon anymore, thus ending my first ever multiplayer experience with CoD and IL2 (yes, never been online!) as an utter abysmal user experience failure.



Now I realise that first impressions are only so much, and I will overcome these troubles. Moreover, I found that my skills measured up satisfactorily for online play (I wasn't a pushover at least) and I was hooked on the pure unadultered adrenaline and plane handling that only human opponents can provide. My heart was actually pounding when that 109 got on my tail, and I loved the way I could see him spin out of control when he pushed too hard! This was fun!

So I will definitely persist.

But I must say that initial impressions are just not good. Particularly given problem after problem even connecting and the mildly unsporting attitude displayed by the players in the server for all hopping onto one side and actually bringing their advantage in numbers to bear (against a single player).

I understand that the 109 is better - I TOO wanted to pick it. But I chose red to get a game going and because everyone was already blue. I would expect at least some compassion from the other side and more importantly, some to actually join me.

Do we need a 'team balance' server setting like Counter strike and ilk? Are we really so unsporting as a community that people must be forced to join the other side like the fifteen year olds that populate first person shooter servers?


Still, I greatly enjoyed it and I hope to see you all online! My user name on that occassion was 'Tom' from Australia btw. To my opponents - I enjoyed our fight - sorry I couldn't continue!

[irR4tiOn4L]

Oh, one last one:

Cannot change view to outside of the plane or another plane in tracks recorded online despite enabling 'edit views' etc - it appears that the realism settings of the server continue to be applied. So I still can't find out how I was actually killed or who killed me!


That's a lot of issues for one game!

[drewpee]

Can't wait to read how your second online experience is like.

[irR4tiOn4L]

Originally Posted by drewpee

Can't wait to read how your second online experience is like.

Lol are you taking the piss?

Still, you're absolutely right that this is only a single data point and I am treating it as such of course.

I thought, though, that it might be worthwhile posting, in detail, the problems a new user is likely to come across so that whoever it may concern can get a guage of just how newbie-unfriendly the game is at the moment.

It's not just the requisite flying and simulation skills required - which are of course steep. What concerns me is all the technical problems I encountered!

[drewpee]

LOL. Sorry mate I was taking the piss. I think it's always helpful for people to state their experiences with the game.
I play exclusively online now(under the name Headshot). Some nights can be pretty ordinary other times it's a blast. I'm in WA and it usually doesn't start to get busy until late. I fly blue as a preference but I'll fly red when teams are too uneven. I can get my bum whipped equally well flying any AC but I like blue due to the easy to read metric instruments.
The track recording issue is a bug as far as I know and will be sorted in the future. The next patch will be a game changer and will take even the vets down a peg or two until we learn the new flight models.
Any how I hope to see you online. There are some great blokes online and more and more Aussies are taking the plunge.
S!

[danjama]

It's depressing as hell, I agree. Only half promising server is ATAG, and that isn't even showing in the list at the moment. There's about 6 people flying online, spread across two servers.

Hmmm.

[ATAG_Snapper]

It's good input.

The technical aspects of your post (non-intuitive GUI, server lists not populating, etc) are unfortunate, have been reported to 1C, and hopefully will be improved/resolved as CoD evolves.

You didn't mention if you were flying the ATAG Server, but it sounds like you may have been with the 300 ms ping -- our server is located in Chicago. A newcomer to the ATAG Server may well find the initial experience unfriendly -- even hostile. As you found out, it's "Full Realism" -- meaning no icons, no outside views, cockpit-only (no "Wonder Woman" unrestricted view), Complex Engine Management, etc. One exception: anthromorphic controls are disabled due to some inherent problems with it.

Another aspect to the ATAG Server that many newcomers with high hours in other game servers may find a little unsettling: very few rules. Obviously foul/obscene/abusive language or behaviour is not permitted over chat or the ATAG Teamspeak Server. Other than that, no deliberate shooting down of team mates (not to be confused with accidental friendly-fire incidents in the heat of combat). I think that's it.

Many servers have additional rules or understandings that there is to be no "vulching", shoulder shooting, no wheels-down shooting, team balancing expected, sportsmanlike behaviour expected, etc. etc. No such rules exist in the ATAG Server. If it could have happened in a real theatre of war -- so be it. Understandably, this can be a little unsettling (polite term for "pisser") for many coming from other servers -- so be it. . As a well known and much-loved (Cannes Festival -grade) video has said, "There's no licking in a dogfight!"

Some quick tips:

1) The are other Aussie pilots who fly Red on ATAG. PM me and I can hook you up.
2) Grab Teamspeak 3 (you may have it already). As you found, the "unsporting" (I prefer "dastardly" myself) Blue 109 pilots use comms to advantage. So do Reds!
3) Avoid coastal airfields (Hawkinge, Lympne, Manston, Ramsgate) for the time being. Spawn further inland (Rochester, Maidstone) which gives you the chance to grab some altitude as you fly eastward towards the combat zone.
4) How did Clint put it? "You gotta get mean.....junkyard dog-mean!"

Looking forward to flying with you online. I'd be proud to fly as your wingman. We could do some serious damage and definitely even up the score for you. Guaranteed the Blue team will be very timid about taking off when they see "Irrational and Snapper" on the Netstats scoreboard. Terrified, even.

[irR4tiOn4L]

Originally Posted by drewpee

LOL. Sorry mate I was taking the piss.

No need to apologise, I appreciated the humour!

Originally Posted by drewpee

I think it's always helpful for people to state their experiences with the game.

Well exactly and I more or less wanted to point out all the 'issues' that multiplayer has - before you even start flying - but in a more entertaining and narrative form and without being too negative. Given the experience was a bit disastrous and comedic, I thought it was a great way to vent my dismay too.

This game definitely needs more players and frankly I just wonder how any new players are going to be attracted to this game if its so hard to even get into a server?

Originally Posted by drewpee

I play exclusively online now(under the name Headshot). Some nights can be pretty ordinary other times it's a blast. I'm in WA and it usually doesn't start to get busy until late. I fly blue as a preference but I'll fly red when teams are too uneven. I can get my bum whipped equally well flying any AC but I like blue due to the easy to read metric instruments.

I prefer blue as well

As you say, easier to read the cockpit instruments and the 109 is just so nice to fly. But like you, I feel compelled to hop in any aircraft if it will even the game because ultimately online play is about having a great matchup. I even tried to fly the G.50 but after yet another engine failure I felt it best to stick with something I have confidence will get me into the air and do it in less than 20 minutes

Originally Posted by drewpee

The track recording issue is a bug as far as I know and will be sorted in the future.

I thought so. Its things like this that are just killing the fun though.

Originally Posted by drewpee

The next patch will be a game changer and will take even the vets down a peg or two until we learn the new flight models.
Any how I hope to see you online. There are some great blokes online and more and more Aussies are taking the plunge.
S!

I too have big hopes for the patch although I have my opinions on the lack of 100 octane aircraft. Although I don't mind the vet's skills - its why I want to play online! Its the technical issues even connecting (and that crash when flying in formation) that I want fixed.

I look forward to better online flying next time and meeting you online!


EDIT: I should mention though, on the topic of ATAG, that theres a LOT of positive things about the game generally and the ATAG/mission structures and servers specifically that I liked but didn't mention.

I was mighty impressed overall with the way the server would send ships, vehicles and aircraft about the place and assign you missions. With the potential of the engine to simulate ground vehicles etc, the multiplayer has HUGE potential.

Originally Posted by ATAG_Snapper

You didn't mention if you were flying the ATAG Server, but it sounds like you may have been with the 300 ms ping -- our server is located in Chicago. A newcomer to the ATAG Server may well find the initial experience unfriendly -- even hostile.

I tried to get into a more local server first but it was locked out from having pressed 'break' so I went to ATAG and then Spits vs 109's. Servers themselves were great though (the ping was not an issue in practice), its the game generally that was the problem. I suspect the loss of connection wasnt the server's fault either.

Originally Posted by ATAG_Snapper

As you found out, it's "Full Realism" -- meaning no icons, no outside views, cockpit-only (no "Wonder Woman" unrestricted view), Complex Engine Management, etc. One exception: anthromorphic controls are disabled due to some inherent problems with it.

I knew to expect that and i'd been playing like that offline in any case so this was a plus. I'm glad servers are taking full advantage of the spotting and CEM possibilities in CoD.

Originally Posted by ATAG_Snapper

Another aspect to the ATAG Server that many newcomers with high hours in other game servers may find a little unsettling: very few rules. Obviously foul/obscene/abusive language or behaviour is not permitted over chat or the ATAG Teamspeak Server. Other than that, no deliberate shooting down of team mates (not to be confused with accidental friendly-fire incidents in the heat of combat). I think that's it.

Many servers have additional rules or understandings that there is to be no "vulching", shoulder shooting, no wheels-down shooting, team balancing expected, sportsmanlike behaviour expected, etc. etc. No such rules exist in the ATAG Server. If it could have happened in a real theatre of war -- so be it. Understandably, this can be a little unsettling (polite term for "pisser") for many coming from other servers -- so be it. . As a well known and much-loved (Cannes Festival -grade) video has said, "There's no licking in a dogfight!"

The lack of a tight mission structure and ability to just fly around is definitely a plus, as it allows you to jump in and learn online at your pace.

I also agree that having a 'whatever went in war' policy is great - I like the thrill of getting shot up anytime, anywhere like the real pilots and having to watch for strafing of my airfield, attacks on final etc. I don't mind having a good ol' force of numbers fight either with very unsportsmanlike odds.

But I do think that to get a good 'if it went in war' scenario you need plenty of players that are fairly well split, and I guess what concerned me was that the lack of 100 octane/high performing RAF planes seems to have resulted in unbalanced preferences for blue planes, leading to skewed teams. Fixing the underperforming RAF fighters would go a long way.

Originally Posted by ATAG_Snapper

Some quick tips:

1) The are other Aussie pilots who fly Red on ATAG. PM me and I can hook you up.
2) Grab Teamspeak 3 (you may have it already). As you found, the "unsporting" (I prefer "dastardly" myself) Blue 109 pilots use comms to advantage. So do Reds!
3) Avoid coastal airfields (Hawkinge, Lympne, Manston, Ramsgate) for the time being. Spawn further inland (Rochester, Maidstone) which gives you the chance to grab some altitude as you fly eastward towards the combat zone.
4) How did Clint put it? "You gotta get mean.....junkyard dog-mean!"

Looking forward to flying with you online. I'd be proud to fly as your wingman. We could do some serious damage and definitely even up the score for you. Guaranteed the Blue team will be very timid about taking off when they see "Irrational and Snapper" on the Netstats scoreboard. Terrified, even.

Great tips! I'm actually a bit of a blue flier (prefer 109) too but given so many are, I think i'll be flying red online.

In this case the blues were over my field so I couldn't pick the fight, although I still got up without being noticed and jumped the 109.

Having watched the replay, to be honest I actually can't see whether it was the one 109 or whether another 109 was involved - I couldn't see any other 109's or even bullet tracers flying past my plane. I just suddenly died. If it was just the one though that would be very strange and likely related to the loss of connection, because when I died I was on its tail and chasing. It would be great to have a working external view in the replay to be able to check what happened

I will definitely grab teamspeak and get to know a few regulars to get more structured experience happening once I have familiarised myself with online play a bit more

Originally Posted by ATAG_Snapper

Looking forward to flying with you online. I'd be proud to fly as your wingman. We could do some serious damage and definitely even up the score for you. Guaranteed the Blue team will be very timid about taking off when they see "Irrational and Snapper" on the Netstats scoreboard. Terrified, even.

I'd think at this point I would have to be the wingman Striking terror into the blue team sounds like a most entertaining activity for the evening. I need more gunnery practice (9% ave in offline) though.

[irR4tiOn4L]

Second experience = much better

Easy connect to Atag, more reds than blues! Took a 109 E1 up to 5000m and flew around between the two coasts trying to spot things. Definitely lots of work to do here.

Eventually, after a report of a Blenheim formation, I spot a formation and dive after it, but then lose sight of it. I do, however, spot two spits and promptly dive on the rearward spit. A nice high speed pass and single burst from 150-200m does the trick with a pilot kill and I zoom back up and proceed to thank my victim for my first online kill.

Course, I am so busy talking that I forget the wingman (rather, I thought they wouldnt be able to follow) and am promptly interrupted by a burst from behind. I break immediately and what follows can only be described as repeated dives, barrel rools, split-S's and other maneuvers to dodge my pursuer.

Eventually, I simply fly straight for what I think is the french coast in a high speed dive levelling out at sea level and eventually, although they get hits in (no damage) my pursuer seems to lose me. Except that the french coast turned out to be English.

I begin an ascent, thinking id lost my pursuer, and cut back on the throttle to 80% or so, beginning a climb. Nothing much seems to happen all the way up to 3000m or so and my six seems clear. Something must have spotted or followed me, however, as I am suddenly ambushed by a massive volley that hits my pilot and makes the entire screen a bright red.

I immediately dive straight for the ocean and the correct coast, keeping up high speed (looks like 500 or so) in the hope of outrunning my pursuers. Which I seem to do, for a little while, before another burst and a spitfire roars overhead.

Thinking that my plane is either losing performance or I am at a big E disadvantage, I loop round and pursue the spit, which is heading away from me at this point. I soon lose it in maneuvering, however, and my engine cuts out.

I crash land near a castle safely as the sound of another aircraft's engine roars nearby - and a spit IIa AI crash message appears in the listing - could this have been an AI spit IIa?

Either way, I won't find out till I can view outside views in the track At least I survived, though heavily injured, and got a kill!

Lessons for the day;

the server was set to dusk and on my 22" CRT I had great trouble spotting anything, and often lost targets. Spotting needs work. Even my victim said they had spotted me first but then lost me. After engaging the spits near the blenheim formation I was consistently being ambushed.

I am probably not flying to the strengths of the 109 - although I go vertical as often as I can, I had trouble shaking that one pursuer. Flying and gunnery were probably ok though.

I need to install teamspeak I was flying totally alone and deaf out there, and I suspect that makes a large difference in a server with 8 a side.

All in all, that was the most fun I've had with the game for sure. It was also the most, in my mind, accurate and confronting portrayal of how intense, dangerous, confusing and difficult A2A combat could probably be in WWII. I was always in doubt as to whether there were aircraft I had not spotted around me, who had seen me, how many aircraft were attacking or following me and after getting my pilot hit, navigation was doubtful at best, following, let alone fighting targets was impossible and everything was a blur. The whole experience was not even dented by the connection loss after the mission restarted.

Thoroughly enjoyable all round!


EDIT: After reviewing the replay, I believe I was being followed by a pair of AI spits (they held tight formation). I didn't check my six long and well enough, because the spits were clearly visible on my tail at least 2 or 3 times and I missed them. By slowing to 70% throttle or so and climbing, the spits had a chance to catch me, which they did, and in their first burst, although I broke right very quickly, they hit my pilot.

So moral of the story - check six longer and better and never chop throttle more than absolutely necessary over enemy territory.

[ATAG_Colander]

irR4tiOn4L,

I'm glad your second time on the ATAG server was more enjoyable.
As you noticed, the red/blue balance changes depending of the time of day.

As for spotting in the dark, yes, is a LOT harder and usually easier from bellow which is how I suspect you where bounced. Also, as you noticed, this makes B&Z very complicated.

There are no AI fighters on the current ATAG missions, and as you also noticed, the plane set varies depending on the mission that is currently running on the server's rotation. I suspect you where bounced by 2 spits flying together with the help of teamspeak.

Anyway, I hope to see you in TS soon, although I'm in Texas so our time windows might not overlap.

~S~
ATAG_Colander