SE should consider providing its own VPN network to solve the lag problem

[Alhanelem]

not all MMO's have terrible netcode and require an amazing connection to do the end-game raiding.

Except it is well established that this isn't a netcode issue, it is a backbone ISP issue. It is not within SE's control, short of them badgering the owner of the infrastructure to fix it. This also explains why some people are not having any issues, because their connections are taking a different path to the target host machines.

If you read the posts above, you'll understand exactly why the VPN is effective. If it was "terrible netcode", then you would still be having problems even with the VPN. No amount of efficiency in networking would be able to compensate for bad netcode.

[Eijii]

yep have this issue after 2.1 and only WTfast fixes it.. ISP said everything is 100% good on their side...

[Rekujen]

Except it is well established that this isn't a netcode issue, it is a backbone ISP issue. It is not within SE's control, short of them badgering the owner of the infrastructure to fix it. This also explains why some people are not having any issues, because their connections are taking a different path to the target host machines.

If you read the posts above, you'll understand exactly why the VPN is effective. If it was "terrible netcode", then you would still be having problems even with the VPN. No amount of efficiency in networking would be able to compensate for bad netcode.

That's very understandable and I'm aware of the situation, but other MMO's have back up features for this exact problem. For instance, in WoW my ping is 300 but they have lag compensation to help, and it really does work.. FFXIV has no lag compensation whatsoever and the netcode in regards to client/to/server ratio isn't optimized properly, meaning players with ping over 200+ have a very poor chance of dodging red AoE's compared to other games and their AoE mechanics.

3 options

1. implement lag compensation
2. tweak the client to server ratio
3. contact ISP's and fix the "p2p throttling" that is apparently plaguing this game.

I have made contact with my ISP but am still waiting for a reply...

[Alhanelem]

That's very understandable and I'm aware of the situation, but other MMO's have back up features for this exact problem.

Lag compensation really doesn't work very well in my experience; and it can only go so far when the network issues are severe. If packets are being dropped, they're being dropped. You can't compensate for missing data.

As for who to complain to, you want to complain to Level 3 Communications, a major internet backbone provider: http://www.level3.com/

[Billie21]

Just a though: bad netcode might not be the origin of packet loss or latency, but it makes a game unplayable with those (common) occurrences.

FFXIV's battles are designed as if it was a solo/LAN game. It doesn't leave any room for the slightest lag/latency/whatever network fluctuation we all get at some point or another.
And the netcode doesn't seem to compensate for any of said (common) occurrences.


But this is not the topic of this thread.

On topic:


Considering the number of people who claimed their game experience improved drastically with the use of a VPN, it seem to be an effective crutch.
(I've only ever saw a couple of people saying VPN didn't improve their situation at all or too little to make a real difference, while there are dozens of people out there claiming it helped them tremendously)

This only leaves the question of: would it be a good idea to have SE offer their own VPN service?



EDIT: while I was posting, some more precise, better formulated answers have been posted.

I've seen this a million times and it looks like a lag spike to me, the 'line' of the landslide appears for a far shorter period of time than normal.

Some people have this constantly, without any visible sign of lag (no "fast forward" moments or such). The game appear to be running smoothly, but you get hit by things after you've (apparently) already dodged them.

This isn't a netcode issue, it is an internet issue.

Did I say there was no Internet issue?
You said it yourself. There are many ways you can get "lag".
Netcode doesn't prevent lag from happening. It doesn't make your connexion better.
It's supposed to make your online game more playable.
Did I mention that the battles in this game were designed in a way that doesn't leave any room for any delay, on top of all this? You know, the whole "split second reaction" thing? Let me check. Oh yeah, I did.

[Alhanelem]

Just a though: bad netcode might not be the origin of packet loss or latency, but it makes a game unplayable with those (common) occurrences.

FFXIV's battles are designed as if it was a solo/LAN game. It doesn't leave any room for the slightest lag/latency/whatever network fluctuation we all get at some point or another.

Buddy, I'm sorry, but you don't know what you're talking about. "bad netcode" is not the problem here. That's what everyone immediately thinks whenever they see that they lag in one game and not another, "oh, it must be bad netcode." But no, there are a million possible reasons for network issues, and we know exactly what the issue is. Certain major backbone routers on the path many connections take to reach the NA datacenter are expereincing difficulties. This isn't a netcode issue, it is an internet issue.

[Alkimi]

just look at this person's signature. Yeah he was obviously too slow. it's totally his fault.
Lag happen nobody will deny that. in this game, it happen too often. What you see in this gif would happen 8-9 time to my friend during titan with weights. We quitted to play rift and she's avoiding all AoE perfectly. Woah

I've seen this a million times and it looks like a lag spike to me, the 'line' of the landslide appears for a far shorter period of time than normal.

[Squa]

If it was "terrible netcode", then you would still be having problems even with the VPN. No amount of efficiency in networking would be able to compensate for bad netcode.[/QUOTE]

well its a few things. SE (unlike other companies) use server side netcode. So, you are much more prone to issues such as these.
Secondly, I think absolutely SE should either pay for users VPN, or have their servers in an area such that they aren't needed. Compromising the gameplay experience (which is the solution now) I think is the least desired, especially for a subscription based game. People will eventually get sick of having to pay for 3rd party and subscription to play 'correctly' and it will be bad business.

[Alhanelem]

well its a few things. SE (unlike other companies) use server side netcode. So, you are much more prone to issues such as these.

Again, you don't know what you're talking about. It's not "unlike other companies. All games use "serverside netcode." some games differ in the amount of information they trust the client to be in charge of. Most games, including FFXIV, only trust the client to control movement and some other things. This is also a completely seperate issue from the lag issue we're all talking about.

99% of people who throw around the term "netcode" don't even really know what it means, nor could they code "Hello World."

The issue at hand here is a connection issue with certain internet backbone routers. Other things, like responsiveness of actions or whatever among people who are NOT having any connection issues, is an entirely seperate topic.

[Squa]

Again, you don't know what you're talking about. It's not "unlike other companies. All games use "serverside netcode." some games differ in the amount of information they trust the client to be in charge of. Most games, including FFXIV, only trust the client to control movement and some other things. This is also a completely seperate issue from the lag issue we're all talking about.

99% of people who throw around the term "netcode" don't even really know what it means, nor could they code "Hello World."

The issue at hand here is a connection issue with certain internet backbone routers. Other things, like responsiveness of actions or whatever among people who are NOT having any connection issues, is an entirely seperate topic.

but it doesn't happen in any other game is the main point you are missing. So SE has cheap servers, or cheap netcode, take your pick.