How much Data does Ark use per hour in mulitplayer?

[N'Zoth]

So you understand my situation I'll try to keep it short and simple.

1.)I use 2 different internet providers. My primary is Hughsnet. I am capped at around 60gb per month before my internet gets throttled. But I can still download "Okay" when that cap is reached. My second internet provider is Verizon Mifi. I only have about 6gb per month before the internet is completely shut off and I have to buy a new card.

No I can't upgrade my internet the US's internet infastructure is s***.

I'm just wantint to get an idea of how much data the game actually uses playing before I purchase it.

[Githany]

Man, I would be furious if I only had 60gb a month.

[EzRyder]

after download and install you wont need a lot of data transfer to join and play ark. its just position data and such since all the assets are in both locations already. your probably looking at kb's per minute or maybe a couple mb per hour, but tbh i have no idea exactly.

you could also play single player with no internet usage at all but ...

[Eminence]

Be warned Ark updates VERY FREQUENTLY. So while gameplay may not use much the updates will add up quickly.

[Serangel]

WHen i visit my parents who dont have internet, i usually tether my phone, i'll use about 6bg a week playing for 2-3 hours a day.

[retsam1]

Originally posted by xXROUGEXx:

So you understand my situation I'll try to keep it short and simple.

1.)I use 2 different internet providers. My primary is Hughsnet. I am capped at around 60gb per month before my internet gets throttled. But I can still download "Okay" when that cap is reached. My second internet provider is Verizon Mifi. I only have about 6gb per month before the internet is completely shut off and I have to buy a new card.

No I can't upgrade my internet the US's internet infastructure is s***.

I'm just wantint to get an idea of how much data the game actually uses playing before I purchase it.

I dont think the game is going to match your restrictions and thus your wants are not going to match the reality of your situation. Dont say you werent warned.

[N'Zoth]

Ya and together both my servies cost about $140 a month. I'm assuming it would use the same as about Battlefield 1 or World Of Warcraft, which should be fine. Is there a way to shut off automatic updates so that I can log out and update then log back in?

[N'Zoth]

I might just have to set up a hard limit of 50mb an hour to be honest using windows. That way if it does start to update during the game, I'll just run out of data and it will kill the internet connection, if there is no way to shut off auto updates.

[retsam1]

Originally posted by xXROUGEXx:

Ya and together both my servies cost about $140 a month. I'm assuming it would use the same as about Battlefield 1 or World Of Warcraft, which should be fine. Is there a way to shut off automatic updates so that I can log out and update then log back in?

Then you would assume wrong. You have two sources of downloading in Ark:

1. The core game(which updates usually multiple times a week(do a search on here of people who complain about this). This can be -very- hefty, especially if its a major update that drops and you get 5+ micro updates there after in the first 24 hours and then a few every day after that for a week(it does happen).

2. Modded content(the main focus of what this game is about btw). Mod makers update their modded content at any time they choose. If you visit a few unofficial servers, you'll be at the first time visiting them, automatically subcribed and start downloading those mods. 15-20 mods on a server are not uncommon and Ive even seen 40 mod servers as well. That takes considerable time at first to download them all(once downloaded for one its on for all you viist that use that specific mod though.

However lets say you visted 3 different unofficial servers using 5 17 and 26 mods. Of course some overlap of those mods between the 3 exists but you now are subscribed to lets say 20 mods. The more servers you visit the more this can start to add up in your modded content library/subscriptions.

That means every time you fire up ark(or steam only) it will automatically start to download updates for any of those 20 mods. That will chew through your dl.


Again, you wholly are underestimating the demand from Ark. I've seen people complain on here who have similar situations to you and are quite upset about this. Again, you are going to have issues with this and I do not think its wise for you to think this is like wow.

[Eminence]

Originally posted by retsam1:

Originally posted by xXROUGEXx:

Ya and together both my servies cost about $140 a month. I'm assuming it would use the same as about Battlefield 1 or World Of Warcraft, which should be fine. Is there a way to shut off automatic updates so that I can log out and update then log back in?

Then you would assume wrong. You have two sources of downloading in Ark:

1. The core game(which updates usually multiple times a week(do a search on here of people who complain about this). This can be -very- hefty, especially if its a major update that drops and you get 5+ micro updates there after in the first 24 hours and then a few every day after that for a week(it does happen).

2. Modded content(the main focus of what this game is about btw). Mod makers update their modded content at any time they choose. If you visit a few unofficial servers, you'll be at the first time visiting them, automatically subcribed and start downloading those mods. 15-20 mods on a server are not uncommon and Ive even seen 40 mod servers as well. That takes considerable time at first to download them all(once downloaded for one its on for all you viist that use that specific mod though.

However lets say you visted 3 different unofficial servers using 5 17 and 26 mods. Of course some overlap of those mods between the 3 exists but you now are subscribed to lets say 20 mods. The more servers you visit the more this can start to add up in your modded content library/subscriptions.

That means every time you fire up ark(or steam only) it will automatically start to download updates for any of those 20 mods. That will chew through your dl.


Again, you wholly are underestimating the demand from Ark. I've seen people complain on here who have similar situations to you and are quite upset about this. Again, you are going to have issues with this and I do not think its wise for you to think this is like wow.

All of this but point 1 can be ignored if you play unmodded content though. As much as Retsam will likely disagree, unmodded is a perfectly viable way to play and the only way that might fit your situation. Steam only updates games when it is open, so as long as you don't leave steam up and updating you won't have any unforeseen updates. If you are actively playing it also won't update, though you will likely get kicked off of any official server if there is an update.
It's risky and you most likely won't be happy with the situation due to the frequency of core game updates that can only be put off for so long and severely limit where you can play prior to downloading them.

[Bobo]

So i have played ark for some time now and if i can give you one tip, do not play ark multiplayer if you expect/has knowledge of a DC/Crash. Nothing worse than to spend countless hours of taming or farming only to DC, die and lose whatever dino and mats you were carrying

[retsam1]

Originally posted by Eminence:

All of this but point 1 can be ignored if you play unmodded content though. As much as Retsam will likely disagree, unmodded is a perfectly viable way to play and the only way that might fit your situation. Steam only updates games when it is open, so as long as you don't leave steam up and updating you won't have any unforeseen updates. If you are actively playing it also won't update, though you will likely get kicked off of any official server if there is an update.
It's risky and you most likely won't be happy with the situation due to the frequency of core game updates that can only be put off for so long and severely limit where you can play prior to downloading them.

He of course can stick to limiting game play to unmodded content but as you cite from my point one in the previous post that will still be a significant source of issues.

With regards to citing the unmodded content though that needed to be stated simply because that is even how the devs encourage people to play and thus support. If they bought into the game with expectations to play any and all content options available, I would be remiss to not warn them of such issues that they would encounter due to their stated concerns.

[N'Zoth]

Ah ok thanks for the warnings guys. I don't think playing modded content will be that big of an issue. I'll just have to limit myself on it. That being said I looked into ways of conserving my data.

1.)Is obviously updating with Hughsnet before I even log onto the game.
2.)Set Windows to kill my connection at 50mb per hour, or even less depending on how much data the game is using naturally per hour without downloads.


Also Hughsnet doesn't have a hard "Cap", it's just super fast as long as I don't exceed the data limit. Once it hits the data limit it slows down, BUT it's still fast enough to stream videos at 480p without any interruptions.

EDIT: The reason I don't play online with hughsnet is due to the fact it's a nightmare trying to play with 10,000 ping. The service suffers from huge packet loss.

[Hot Fuzzy Pizza]

I know I am replying to an old thread, but just adding details. I run a server and keep detailed performance logs. It looks like each user uses between 70 and 100kbps (depending on activity), that includes both up and down traffic. If we use 100 to be safe, that comes out to be about 1 gigabit for every 3 hours of play.

As others have stated, downloading patches will probably be your biggest issue.

NOTE: Keep in mind the difference between a gigaBIT and gigaBYTE. When Steam says it is downloading a 1 GB patch, that is a gigabyte, which is 8 gigabits.