NOT A BUG: WaD: AI failure to kick in after player drop

[Mowers]

AI failure to kick in after player drop

I’m sure this must have been discussed before but I cant find it. In an MP game of more than 5 people you are going to repeatedly get players dropping out over time- it’s a fact of MP play. However, I have noticed that the AI doesn’t take over when a player drops. This is incredibly frustrating as reloads have to take place- effectively a 10-30 minute reload time because of this, wasting fantastic amounts of everyones time. If this has already been discussed can someone post a link please. Thank you

 

[AndrewT]

Is the AI supposed to take over when a player drops out? I didn't think so, but I haven't played much MP.

 

[Mowers]

Well if it isnt meant to then I would love to know the reason.
How can you possibly play on when there is no AI to take over?

 

[AndrewT]

Anyone know for sure? We may have to move this over to the MP forum for more informed answers.

 

[Mowers]

MP forum doesnt know the answer.

 

[AndrewT]

OK, lets go to the betas ...

 

[unmerged(8303)]

The AI isnt supposed to take over. Most likely the game just assumes the player is very quiet and just not entering commands. Which is why when a player drops a box pops up giving you the option to end the game then and there. But 30 minutes in reload time? I think thats a bit of an overstatement.

 

[unmerged(2833)]

Originally posted by jaronpinochet
The AI isnt supposed to take over. Most likely the game just assumes the player is very quiet and just not entering commands. Which is why when a player drops a box pops up giving you the option to end the game then and there. But 30 minutes in reload time? I think thats a bit of an overstatement.

It depends entirely how fast are players. Sometimes someone gets wrong file, or something (sent by ICQ)

But generally, we were able to restart in 5 minutes, or something.

 

[unmerged(2833)]

Btw, since in EU I ai indeed take over player countries, it seems it was changed, so probably it's feature.

 

[Mowers]

erm

Is it too complicated for the computer to realise the client computer has disconnected? I'm not a programmer so I have no knowledge of these things?

 

[sirbruce]

As a programmer it isn't *hard*, but it isn't easy either. You can't just check to see if the socket is still open, because sometimes connections can get lost but the socket remains open for some time due to TCP keepalives. Then again, EU2 may be using UDP for all this.

Ideally the game protocol itself should do periodic ACK checks to see if the client is still responding, and if not, they know the connection is truly lost and the person isn't simply not moving the mouse. However as with any protocol there are going to be timeouts to allow for dropped packets, so even under the best of circumstances a player could drop and yet the AI would not know to take over for several minutes.

Bruce

 

[AndrewT]

They're using DirectPlay, if that info is of any use to you SirBruce.

 

[sirbruce]

I figured they were; everyone Windows game does these days. Unfortunately I don't know anything about how it really works.

But, bottom line, yes they could be able to detect most player drops, but there is going to be some delay before the AI kicks in.

Bruce

 

[Mowers]

Very informative-thank you. I wonder if that is the problem. I will check!

Ben

 

[AndrewT]

Originally posted by Maur13
Btw, since in EU I ai indeed take over player countries, it seems it was changed, so probably it's feature.

Actually Johan just confirmed it does not and has never worked like that. There was no design or intention for the AI to take over if a player drops out in EU or EU2.

Sorry folks, not a bug.