Curse

Faer · Sep 15, 2006, 01:26 AM // 01:26

Quite a simple and short suggestion, and it has probably been thought of before. Ran a few searches and manual scans for a similar thread without finding anything; however as a human I am known to err and I humbly request forgiveness if this has been posted before.

Inspired by this thread.

Allow us to choose how we wish to receive game updates. Yes, the streaming is a wonderful thing, and it saves thousands of players the pain that they experience with other online games. However, as has been pointed out in the past, it can also cause problems for individuals attempting to complete difficult missions or compete in the PvP realms of Guild Wars.

Therefore, a simple option within the game options interface to disable streaming while playing seems to me to be a wise, and somewhat needed, addition to the game. Perhaps users could choose to receive updates only at the Log In screen; or possibly the option could be given to begin the stream only when the client has been idle for a specific period of time. The possibilities are indeed numerous; however the basic concept remains the same throughout.

That is the basic version of my suggestion. Please, comment and criticize. Let the discussion commence.

bigwig · Sep 15, 2006, 10:33 AM // 10:33

yeah i'll give you a bump.

This sometimes interferes while i'm playing sometimes, although I don't normally have a problem with my dsl connection

Faer · Sep 16, 2006, 09:24 AM // 09:24

I appreciate it, bigwig. I really was expecting more feedback on this, but I suppose there just aren't enough people interested. C'est la vie.

Initially I decided to suggest this mostly for the benefit of Dial-Up users or those running on older machines that just barely meet the requirements for Guild Wars and as such can't handle the extra strain that the streaming creates (my own video card is a bit below standards, so on occasion, I fit into this group).

However, after giving it yet more thought, I realized just how useful it could be for all users, no matter what their PC Specs or Internet Connectivity Rating. As far as I can tell, it'd greatly enhance the playing experience for many players, especially those on the short end of the money stick (mentioned above). If we are given the option to disable constant streaming, not only will we encounter less laggy bumps along the road, but we'll also have a psychological sense of security, knowing that we won't be hit with a stream at a critical moment (personally, as a Mesmer / Interrupt Ranger, I fear these occurrences greatly) and suffer a loss or disastrous mishap because of it. The more secure we feel about out playing experience, the better it will be overall.

And hey... If the players have a better playing experience, they may just be more inclined to keep coming back for more releases in the future.