Curse

Kamatsu · Jan 21, 2006, 05:54 AM // 05:54

*raises eyebrows* I'm on dial-up and not having any problems playing. Sure, the initial d/l took forever .. umm like 1-2 hours.. not sure exactly as I turned my monitor off and went and made and had dinner and watched TV for a bit, came back ~2 hours later and I was standing around looking like a dork all by own

About the only drama's I'm having now is having to d/l files everytime I hit an PVP arena I haven't been in since the update.. then I sit and have to wait for the files to d/l. I have to say I feel sorry for the people that I get grouped with.. having 1 teammember not there due to this..

But once I have the files, it's all fiune and dandy.. So I don't see why anyone on dial-up should think they are being excluded - unless your impatient or have extremely limited time.. you'll still be able to get hours of fun with the new classes...

stokey · Jan 21, 2006, 09:45 AM // 09:45

Since we're on the subject of dial-up, how do you guys work GW with vent or TS? I'm also on dial-up and vent doesn't work for me at all. I always get error 7 when I try using it. TS on the other hand, works for me except when people start casting spells and using skills. I try lowering the bandwidth used by it but then it goes to the point where I can barely understand what the people on TS are saying.

Desthe · Jan 21, 2006, 09:49 AM // 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSecorsky

I'm sorry, but in today's day and age you're not going to find designers and games focused on the dial-up crowd anymore. Game technology is getting too far beyond that too fast. You will seriously need to consider upgrading.

Not a flame, but please consider that a lot of people have no other alternative, couple that with the fact that in the official FAQ on their website, they specifically state that Dial-Up users should have no issues.

Our problem is this. They plan these events, they know it'll require a massive download, yet they refuse to stream it to us far in advance. What is the use of this "streaming technology" if they don't use it? As of right now, every big update is just like a massive patch, something that Arena.net claimed streaming would avoid in past interviews.

This problem wouldn't be so prevalent if they just ninja'd the update files as we played say... a week or so in advance. It would be much better than slamming us with a huge PATCH on the day of the event. Something like this was suggested back in the original beta by myself and others, yet it seems to have gone ignored, or there is some logistical issue with it that I don't know about.

Now, to fellow dial-up users, we should be perfectly fine once the game is released on CD for us. Normal updates are kept very small and the only time we see these huge downloads is when we're basically getting an entirely new area, new classes, new skills, new icons, new animations... you get my drift. All of this comes on the install CD we will get when it's released.

All we can do is tough it out and hope to get some playtime in. Also, don't be intimidated by 1000+ files remaining, a lot of times they drop VERY fast in number after a little bit.

Lady Lozza · Jan 21, 2006, 10:55 AM // 10:55

Dial up is a pain, but once all the map areas are loaded, then you shouldn't have a problem.

DarkerHelmet · Jan 21, 2006, 11:06 AM // 11:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by drowningfish999

Yeah, I have SBC Yahoo DSL and get 200-300kbps for $15 a month, its a great deal, and to think I used to pay $10 a month for 3kbps...

OMG, I'm buffed too see that. Is the US really that far behind nowadays?. 200-300kbps?. I would seriously kick the government if I were you. That speed isn't even sold as a dsl anymore, here (Holland, Europe).

I pay 19Euro/month for a 4480kbps connection and it's not even the cheapest, though it is reliable. I started with 2000kbps 2 years ago for the same price, now it's doubled :P.

I guess it's hard to connect your vast country with fiber optic wire but it's a very welcome infrastructure, even to make business :P.

DarkerHelmet · Jan 21, 2006, 11:10 AM // 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by trancejeremy

I'm also on dial-up and screwed by this. Spent an hour downloading the patch, then when I tried to play (picked a character and tried to enter the game), I have 1300 files to download. Which would take years on dial up.

And before of any of you say anything, it's all I can get in my area. Even wireless isn't available at broadband speeds. And it's never been an issue before with GW.

Why the heck didn't A-net warn players not to bother if they have dial-up?

They should have a warning like that yes, agreed. I'm sorry for you guys, but all of you in remote areas, atleast that's what I experiented in Canada, do have satelite connections right?. Isn't there a way to connect to the internet with that or am I talking crap now, or perhaps it's very expansive?.

Kamatsu · Jan 21, 2006, 01:24 PM // 13:24

Satallite can be bloody expensive..

Just to compare.. and these prices I'm quoting might not be the most expensive, but they are around what you'd get over here..

Dial-up - $10/month unlimited d/l & u/l - 56K max connection.
512/128K ADSL - $39/month with 12 GB data limit (befor ebeing slowed down)
1500/256K ADSL - $59/month with 15 GB data limit.

1 way satillite (d/l via satillite, upload via modem) (and note, these cost's do *NOT* cover the dial-up connection.. this is just for the satillite connection. At least for the provider I'm quoting)
256K with 200 MB data - $50/month
512K with 500 MB Data - $60/month
512K with 2 GB Data - $80/month

2 way satillite (upload and download via satillite)
256/64K with 500 MB data - $105/month
512/128K with 500 MB Data - $125/month
512/128K with 2 GB Data - $250/month
800/128K with 4 GB Data - $500/month

So yeah, at least over here if you go by those prices.. there's no bloody way going full satillite is even to be considered.. unless you can fork out $500 a month on a connection slower than the fastest ADSL available over here..

Plague · Jan 21, 2006, 02:05 PM // 14:05

I'm on 21.6k. I downloaded all the maps ahead of time by warping into them with henches, so no one could complain. I did this three or so times since GW retardedlly insists on downloading even MORE information after you supposedly finish downloading the map the first time.

R. Mindwalker · Jan 21, 2006, 02:09 PM // 14:09

Like DarkerHelmet sas, move to holland, The Netherlands. I pay only 25 euro's (thats around 30 dollars) for a 8 mb connection that doesnt fail. And they upgrade it like every year for free because of testingtrails of new kinds of DSL.
Now im at DSL 2 with 16 mb xD all for free.

BTW whats datalimit xD

War Hound · Jan 21, 2006, 02:29 PM // 14:29

i have a satellite connection and GW works great for me and is not as expensive as cable or dsl cost 34.99/month have mine through midwest wireless could be an option for those who have this company near them

drowningfish999 · Jan 21, 2006, 02:33 PM // 14:33

I pay $14.99 a month for 300k DSL from SBC Yahoo, its a great service, and you should consider getting it since its barely more expensive than dial-up.

Bane Darkhold · Jan 21, 2006, 03:06 PM // 15:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by drowningfish999

...you should consider getting it...

Believe me, I don't think there's any dial upper left in the world (that tries to game on line) that would need to consider upgrading for more than .3 seconds before they did.

The saddest thing is that it still simply isn't available in so many areas. And yes, the U.S. is that far behind.

Cable and / or dsl is available within five miles of me, in every direction, but not here. Just out of range, no company considers it worth the money and man hours to extend service to this area.

And the bandwith restrictions, price and latency that I would have from our satillite provider actually makes dial up the better choice of the two.

In short, I'll have high(er) speed internet whan I move.

Although I can certianly understand fellow D-uppers frustration and being "left out" of this event, I'm just thrilled GW supports dial up as well as it does. My party usually only has to wait a few seconds for me to materialize beside them. There are many games out there, and more coming, that don't support dial up at all.

We have to wait longer, we get left behind from time to time, and it gets frustrating. But I'm still thrilled with what GW has provided so far.