The average Internet user simply needs to get the speed they're paying for without too many disconnects. Browsing to different websites, downloading basic files or even streaming videos of their favorite TV shows and movies is what basic, residential Internet looks like, but gamers are something different. Online gaming has a few timing requirements that may be different between every game, but the failures of bad Internet are annoying all the same. Take a look at what could go wrong and how to be prepared for gaming Internet interruptions.
What Makes Online Gaming Different?
Online games rely on a constant exchange between the game's server--which is managed by the game company--and your computer.
When you press a button to use an ability, fire a weapon or throw a punch, a signal is sent from your computer to the game server across the Internet. The server must receive the signal, make a decision on what should happen next, then send the information back to your computer.
The size of the information packets being sent between the game server and your computer is different for every game, but it's negligibly small. It has to be, since online games rely on different Internet connection and computer situations that they can't plan for if the company wants as many players as possible.
If there are upload delays through sending the information, there will be a delay in the response. If the download speed is delayed, your action would still have taken place on time, but you won't receive information about what the rest of the game is doing on time. You may have landed an attack, but enemies may be doing something requiring you to move that you may not see in time. The game goes on even if you're not getting information in time.
Lag Isn't Always Noticed By Non-Gamers
In many unfortunate cases, both the upload and download have problems. When there's slow performance in the game due to these network issues, you're dealing with something called lag, which is also a term in broader computer networking to describe a delay in information traffic.
Lag can happen at the game server itself and is hardly a rare occurrence, but you can usually find out if the game server is at fault by asking other gamers or by checking the support information (announcements, forums, etc) for the game. If other people are having similar problems at the same time, it may be just the game. Unfortunately, you have no control over the game server's lag issues; proprietary networking and in-house security means that you'll have to wait for an announcement from the game company or simply wait out the lag.
If it's just you or a small group of people, it could be your Internet. Others in the household may not notice the problem because gaming is a much more sensitive, easier to notice system that has real-time effects when performance is a problem. Download speeds constantly fluctuate and websites can load at different speeds randomly, but as a gamer you have a front row seat when it comes to game networking performance.
Contact an Internet Service Provider to discuss options for troubleshooting, better speed plans for gamers and ways to share the Internet with people who need to download while you play.
Share31 December 2015
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