Multiplayer Lag and the annoying Auto-kick

[GeneralScrage]

We all know lag is annoying, and we all know that some computers are superior to others, but I think we also all know that lag is generally not a game-breaking event/occurence. The auto-kick gives you all of 10 seconds before it kicks you and ruins your game. For example I was playing in a Strategy map, had a well defended base, had some tiny lag...and got auto-kicked. It ruined all the work I did and of course felt like crap afterwords. Please consider upping the time it takes for the game to Auto-kick you if you're lagging. Something like 30 seconds would be better than the nigh-instant Auto-kick in MP now.

[Deadly Methods]

The easiest way to turn off autokick is no go to your main bz directory, the default path should be something like this
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Battlezone 98 Redux"

and look for a file called net.ini (open it with notepad) and raiser the AutoKickLoss and AutoKickPing values. Personally I also suggest that you raise the MaxBandwidth value by a zero or elese the game will cap the bandwith resulting in lag

note: thease changes will only work when you're the one who is hosting the game

[DustRider]

Nice tip!

[Stinger]

I hate to commit necromancy, but

Originally posted by Deadly Methods:

and look for a file called net.ini

A quick search seems to suggest this file doesn't exist, at least not any longer. Is there any equivelant files I'm missing, or did Rebellion just decide to remove it stealthfully?

[DustRider]

You are right, it must have been with the patch. Real ninjas.

[Novus Ordo Seclorum]

The real solution is to stop lagging. Autokick exists for a reason.

[Jackalope]

My friend was auto kicked for lagging but her ping never exceeded 250, and most of the time it was ~100.

[Seqan]

Originally posted by Pepe Silvia:

My friend was auto kicked for lagging but her ping never exceeded 250, and most of the time it was ~100.

The auto-kick usually cares more about loss than ping.

Let me see if I can track down that file.

EDIT: Nope. Not happening.

[Jackalope]

All my friends had a ping of less than 200 and loss was 0% for most of the game, sometimes it would increase slightly. The auto kick seemed to eject everyone when there wasn't even a lag spike or any spiking numbers to speak of. We all have good computers and high speed internet connections within the US. We play a dozen other games online that rarely have any lag or netcode issues. Why did Rebellion hardcode an autokick into the game? This is unplayable currently. I can't imagine anyone manages to complete an online match.

[Bobcat Betty]

Plenty of people manage to complete online matches, I've seen my ping as high as 400 and my loss as high as 30% without getting an auto-kick. Something is amiss here.

[Bat]

To have auto-kick enabled in a 2 player strat can only be destructive. The only possible effect is that the auto-kick comes in and, against you will, ends the game for you. If the game is too laggy to play, I'm sure people are smart enough to know how to end the game. To have the auto-kick wreck a game that has lasted 30 minutes makes no sense at all.
Back in the day, a ping of 500-700 was normal when playing across the Atlantic with a 56k modem. You just had to lead a bit more... ;)

In, for example, CS GO I have never been auto-kicked. There it would make way more sense than in bz.

Please make the auto-kick optional.

[Novus Ordo Seclorum]

Autokick doesn't make sense in a 2-player game. If player 2 or player 1 doesn't like the lag, they can leave.

[el Guapo]

Yeah, I'm having the same problems here. I'm on AT&T, fiber optic to the neighborhood, but using the two wire phone system to the house. I typically see other folks ping at 100-200 with 0 to 30% loss. I'm lucky to get 5 minutes in a game before an auto-kick. I checked the modem AT&T installed and it says it's a DSL modem. The lines also run the TVs in my house. When I was using Spectrum (regular cable), this game (Redux) was still laggy, but I didn't see all the >0 % loss spikes. Wish I'd have stayed with Spectrum now, but I was having all sorts of trouble with them as cable suppliers. Oh well....

[Jackalope]

Yep. Pretty bad. I've been online gaming since 1997 and never have I had a game breaking "feature" like this. And back then I was on a dial up modem, not fancy city super internet.

The Rebellion interns must have coded the auto kick feature.

[Novus Ordo Seclorum]

Originally posted by Septic Pig:

The Rebellion interns must have coded the auto kick feature.

False. Autokick was first implemented in the unofficial 1.5 patch, and then it remained when Rebellion turned that into BZ 98 Redux.

[Jackalope]

File that under who gives a ♥♥♥♥