Question for online gamers

[flxnimprtmscl]

Pretty simple question for you guys from a gaming noob. I just wanted to know if you're limited to 56k what holds you back, your ping or the lack of bandwidth? Also what's an acceptable ping for most fps games and had anyone stuck on 56k had any success at all playing fps type games online? Thanks guys.

 

[Nohr]

Ping is what generally holds you back. Anything under 200ms is great. Under 300ms is playable. Over that and you'll probably have problems hitting anything.

 

[igowerf]

I thought ping was just a measurement of how fast you can send/receive data from the server. If you have crappy bandwidth, you could still have a decent ping (sometimes), but the crappy bandwidth will make your connection to the server unstable and choppy.

 

[Looney]

On a 56k it's normally lack of bandwidth... ping are normally quite good, since most ISPs have great T1s and T3 connections.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

56k is perfectly fine for online gaming. You should stick to servers where you ping < 300. I still remember playing quake on a 28.8. Everyone was happy to have a ping < 400.

 

[monk3y]

I personally don't even think it's worth it playing an fps with a 56k. You 'may' do alright but the fact is you'll never compare to a low pinging player. You'll find yourself becoming very annoyed.

 

[Shagga]

Originally posted by: InstincT
I personally don't even think it's worth it playing an fps with a 56k. You 'may' do alright but the fact is you'll never compare to a low pinging player. You'll find yourself becoming very annoyed.

This is very true. I believe it is latency which is the problem. U just will not compete against a below par player who has a 30ms ping and it does from experience become sooo annoying. That fraction of a moment it takes for someone to see you before you see them is so aparent. The amount of times you will say "I off loaded a full clip into you and you didn't die, yet u shot me once and killed me....d@mn cheats".

Many games are different. For instance Quake3 plays prolly the best on a 56k modem, but try Battlefield 1942 and, well you wont get a game at all unless your the only one on that server. If you can get ISDN I would consider it (still struggle at BF 1942 though).

Good Luck...