Please optimize this game...

[LadySky89]

In your official website you declare this game's system requirements being quite low; according to what you say a 15 year old machine (with just 512mb ram) can run this game... well, MAYBE if it's the only program running, but still maybe.

The truth is that this game is performance-draining like not many others around.

I run it on windows 7 and a machine with 6 gb of ddr2 ram; cpu is dual core 3ghz each core, and visual card is AMD Radeon HD 6950. Sure, it's an obsolete machine, but still a respectable one that contains your declared requirements at least 5 times.

The game process consumes the hell of a 860mb ram (seriously, the same amount of an important 3d game for a flat screen where a team of 2d npcs that barely move are killing a few mobs all the time... AND it's also already more than the official requirement), and while open anything else will lag brutally.
After 10h running, despite the ram consumption staying the same, even the game itself will begin stuttering, and everything else running on the machine will be totally impossible to use; if I close the game, everything magically returns fine... it seems a lot to me that the game prevents ram from refreshing and keeps draining it.

Idle Champions is supposed to be an IDLE GAME; as such, it shouldn't be even noticeable to run IN BACKGROUND, while working, browsing, playing something else.
There're lot of people complaining about it being very slow and requiring too much effort from players, to be an idle game, no one talks about how it ruins computer's performance for weaker computers where it is TOTALLY supposed to run fine.

I must be able to continue my tasks while in front of the screen and with this game open, I MUST, it's unacceptable otherwise, please optimize it as soon as possible; it is very important.

[LadySky89]

Originally posted by Zoot:

Pretty sure what you have there is a you problem. I have this game running 24/7 because i have my PC running 24/7. It's also and old machine, better than yours but still old.

I'm running the game on a system with two monitors, whilst playing rust and having well over 100 tabs open in chrome and idle is not making me break a sweat at 550MB usage. You will notice that there are many other tasks open inluding winamp which is idles but VLC is playing an H.264 video on screen two.

For good measure I even fired up the latest version of photoshop ( which is system heavy) just to take this screenie and idle is behaving itself at the same memory usage and playing just fine.

I know people always say "it's not my machine" but it almost always is.


https://imgur.com/gallery/HRZ2j

I play another idle game on this machine, since almost an year now, never had a problem with it, and only consumes 250mb of my ram.

I don't think performance's restoring upon closing and re-opening the game is a coincidence either.

I will add that this machine is freshly formatted (only a week), and that I had no problems at all keeping 3 games/clients from mmorpg in background and/or 2 browsers and/or mail service prior to installing and running this very game.
I reboot it every day, sometimes twice per day.

EDIT: Another weirdo: I previously said the game was leeching 860mb of my ram, did I? I checked task manager several times in different days and found it like that. You pointed me out your consumption is around 500mb.. and now checking my task manager again, it's set on 450mb (I did nothing beside closing and re-opening the game, anything else is still there as before).
Do you think this is still normal for a game? I would understand a browser... since adding tabs increases memory usage, but I don't see why this game should do it.

[LadySky89]

Originally posted by Zoot:

another idle game is not this idle game and sharing a title plus genre won't ever mean the code is remotely similar or will behave the same on all machines.

I've said it works fine, you's said it doesnt. The fact is that all can have a different experience. But if it works for me on a 6 year old machine then the likelehood of it being a code problem diminishes.

My computer is over 10 years old, not 6. 6 years old machine means at least 4-cores and ddr3 ram.
Do we really have to come to this kind of machines so that this IDLE game can actually feel an idle game? Don't you see what's wrong here?

The other idle game's code is different, sure, but the point is that it's programmed to actually be and feel an idle game, and it works just fine on my machine too. This doesn't.

I'd also like to remind which requirements they talk about in their official page: if my computer struggles to let this game run in background while I multi-task, I don't wanna know what happens if the used computer is actually like the one they describe.

The fact that ram consumption varies without en exact reason also suggests what I previously said, the game is not properly optimized.

[Sniper-Joe]

Well, it used to be consuming 2.5 GB of ram regularly, so it is getting better.

[LadySky89]

Originally posted by Sniper-Joe:

Well, it used to be consuming 2.5 GB of ram regularly, so it is getting better.

2.5.... O_o
So, I'm not talking about air here, there actually was and probably still is an optimization problem, and I hope they get rid of it asap, so the game can actually be named Idle game.

[LadySky89]

Originally posted by Zoot:

Originally posted by LadySky89:

My computer is 10 years old, not 6. 6 years old machine means at least 4-cores and ddr3 ram.
Do we really have to come to this kind of machines so that this IDLE game can actually feel an idle game? Don't you see what's wrong here?

The other idle game's code is different, sure, but the point is that it's programmed to actually be and feel an idle game, and it works just fine on my machine too. This doesn't.

I'd also like to remind which requirements they talk about in their official page: if my computer struggles to let this game run in background while I multi-task, I don't wanna know what happens if the used computer is actually like the one they describe.

The fact that ram consumption varies without en exact reason also suggests what I previously said, the game is not properly optimized.

You have made a mistake of thinking about this as an idle game like those that have gone before.

And you have already answered your question. The game gives system requirements and sure, you barely pass them but themoment you alt-tab and change focus to another task you are taking resources away from the gam. The devs did not say £ hey here's the system specs but please feel free to load your system up with other taskes because it won't affect your game experience"

IF you want to idle then close the game and log back in when you are ready. Idling in game or out of it appears to yield the same resources ( less chests)

I don't have a need to close the game (the other one), to get the resources back. And mind you, they're very similiar in many things, except this consumes an hell, and the other doesn't. And my computer is dualcore with 6gb ram, so I don't "barely pass them", I'm inside requirements at least 5 times like I said.

I consider this game an idle game, since it's marketed as such; idle games are idle games, "this is not like previous ones" doesn't make sense.
...And when we talk about idle games, loading the system with whatever else is pure normality, since it's pointless to keep a computer turned on for just running a game where you do nothing beside selecting powerups.
A computer like the one they described would only be able to keep this game open, and barely too.

Talking about this game in particular, you can't just close it at its current state, because it's strongly dependant on players upgrading characters, which force checking it too often to make closing-reopening an option.
Besides, I already set it as low priority for cpu, and I have nothing else installed (not even games pretty new, like Divinity Original Sin) that once minimized keep consuming resource to this extent.

Originally posted by Zoot:

Originally posted by LadySky89:

2.5.... O_o
So, I'm not talking about air here, there actually was and probably still is an optimization problem, and I hope they get rid of it asap, so the game can actually be named Idle game.

You saw my screenshot and then read your quted post right? USED to be before optimisation. It's in the patch notes.

I'm sorry, but this is not fully optimized just yet.

[nukyalur]

When I upgraded my dual-core CPU to a 4-core, it was like night and day. I've got 8 gigs of RAM, and nothing comes close to filling it up, but with 4 cores available you're got way more room to have a game and a few browser tabs open, and even other activities.

I'd be curious what CPU you've got.

[LadySky89]

Originally posted by Zoot:

Again. Apple is not orange. You are being misled by the title. This is far from a true idle game.

Don't set your cpu for low priority for crying out loud. That's like trying to fill a balloon with a syringe. You need to allocate MORE resources to it if you want it to perform, and then you need to do nothing else because your system is unable to perform the extra tasks. Sorry, I can't put it any plainer. You meet the minimal system requirements as long as you are doing nothing else.

As for not optimised. You'll have to take that up with a developer and explain where they are lying in the patch notes.

I did not talk about lie. I talk about job being unfinished and requiring some extra work.

I set the game on low priority because I want my system to be able running other stuff while the game is in background, not the opposite, but it didn't help much anyway; if my day must be reduced to just playing this, it doesn't make even sense to continue.

I think I'm not the one being mislead by the title, everything in this game suggests it being an idle game, from title to mechanics; if this game was the only and main activity of someone's entertainment hours, it'd be boring as hell, since all you do is watching some puppets smashing mobs infinite times.

Why do you even take it so close? You don't have the problem because your machine is strong enough to catch it up, good for you, so why are you still here?
For what it concerns me, when it's required to have a much stronger machine to run a game supposed to run with less resources = lack of optimization.

Originally posted by nukyalur:

When I upgraded my dual-core CPU to a 4-core, it was like night and day. I've got 8 gigs of RAM, and nothing comes close to filling it up, but with 4 cores available you're got way more room to have a game and a few browser tabs open, and even other activities.

I'd be curious what CPU you've got.

Once again: this game is advertised to work in a single core machine with 512 mb.
Once again: why do I have the need to get a modern machine to run THIS?

For what it concerns me, when it's required to have a much stronger machine to run a game supposed to run with less resources = lack of optimization.

I have an Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3.0ghz that can run anything present in my library (free to check) except Witcher 3 for obvious reasons.

[LadySky89]

Originally posted by Zoot:

You strike me as the sort of person who will take your horse and cart to the gas station then scream and shout because you can't get oats for your horse.

No developer is going to cripple their code so it runs smooth on a ten year old system.

Your problem is a you problem, not a them problem. And you are correct, why am I still here multitasking on my ancient system that has zero problems with the game normally? Maybe I'm an idiot but i was trying to help.

Your machine is not so ancient, believe me. I'm actually going to get FX 6300 and ddr3 ram sometimes soon, and it can run anything pretty fine, so I'd not say 6 years old computers are ancient.

If there're people having problems to run the game, they need to know, it's an early access game, on the other hand you talk as if you were developer's best friend....

The only reason for which there're not many people like me, it's because most people have modern computers; however, if this is going to be the final build, then they'd better raise those system requirements, because they're far from being real. I already discussed this with a friend, computer scientist and game programmer, the same person that usually help me when I have problems on my machine.

[Steel Jawbone]

A few things @OP.
1. Reset it every now and then. It's a great way to fix the memory leaks so it can function properly. Yes, it consumes a LOT of resources for an Idle game. Less than what it was, but I think they're working on it.
2. In case you haven't, drop the resolution as far as it can go (don't force 16:9 as you can drop it lower) Disable everything, drop particle amount, reduce framerate when in background, etc.
3. Stop trying to argue to Zoot. What you're doing is the same as yelling at a brick wall.

[sycocys]

Gotta make sure you have .net updated fully with these silly unity games.

[Steel Jawbone]

Originally posted by sycocys:

Gotta make sure you have .net updated fully with these silly unity games.

This. So much this.

Originally posted by Zoot:

Here we go again. Stop with the puerile insults already. Nothing I have said above is wrong. If you follow me around dropping comments that are intended to be nothing but inflammatory we are going to have a problem.

That's a loaded post. I'm just going to give a skimmed response.
I'm flattered you think I'm actively taking the time to stalk someone on an ultra slow board for an idle game; you're incredibly argumentative and stand-offish, thus, brick wall is a valid analogy; you've used puerile incorrectly; No more problems needed- in the other topic, you were a jerk, I was a jerk right back, we're quits.

*olive branch*
I will say that if you caught what I wrote before the edit, I will apologize for that, as that was a bit much. After all, anyone who makes the suggestion of gifting chests to people really can't be all that bad.

[LadySky89]

Originally posted by Steel Jawbone:

A few things @OP.
1. Reset it every now and then. It's a great way to fix the memory leaks so it can function properly. Yes, it consumes a LOT of resources for an Idle game. Less than what it was, but I think they're working on it.
2. In case you haven't, drop the resolution as far as it can go (don't force 16:9 as you can drop it lower) Disable everything, drop particle amount, reduce framerate when in background, etc.

I really hope they will improve it more asap... :(
Anyway yeah, I did all of this, all I could do in settings, and I'm using the lowest resolution possible that doesn't get cut half by my screen, in windowed mode.. I wish they would make frames customizable, so I could reduce it even more.
I only gained 4-5 fps while playing with Idle Champions in background, and slightly more stability while browsing, but it still did not solve the problem and while I'm still forced to reduce my multi-tasking greatly, the few programs I'll use won't work properly with it open...

Originally posted by sycocys:

Gotta make sure you have .net updated fully with these silly unity games.

Done this too, my system is up-to-date...

[Steel Jawbone]

Okay, here's another idea that will not only help with this game, but maybe with having an old computer. If you have win 7+ and you are using a hard drive for windows (compared to solid state) and you have a spare 4 gig thumb drive hanging around, you can use it to set up ready boost. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2442620/usb-and-sd-storage-media-readyboost-with-a-sd-card-or-a-flash-drive

I'm not sure how much this will improve the game itself, BUT, it should help reduce the load for anything else you want to do on the computer so it doesn't drag down other tasks such as internet browsing.

If you already know about this/do this, then I'm pretty much out of options other than replace your computer.

[Frostbrynger]

The usage of resources from this game is really beyond good and evil. Seriously, just look how the games from Ludum Dare run: https://ldjam.com/ . And that are mostly hobbiests, which make their games from scratch in a single weekend. Often together with strangers, that they never met before in their life. And from a professional team you may assume, that they are above this level.

Also, I have a one year old gaming PC (exact specs just don't matter) and I have blood and lightning disabled because I ran into performance issues. And this for an IDLE game, where having a low resource usage is fairly important. And this games does nothing magical, that couldn't be done on a SNES. Beside the resolution.

Sorry, but in this case I simply reject searching the problem at the user-side.

[LadySky89]

Originally posted by Steel Jawbone:

Okay, here's another idea that will not only help with this game, but maybe with having an old computer. If you have win 7+ and you are using a hard drive for windows (compared to solid state) and you have a spare 4 gig thumb drive hanging around, you can use it to set up ready boost. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2442620/usb-and-sd-storage-media-readyboost-with-a-sd-card-or-a-flash-drive

I'm not sure how much this will improve the game itself, BUT, it should help reduce the load for anything else you want to do on the computer so it doesn't drag down other tasks such as internet browsing.

If you already know about this/do this, then I'm pretty much out of options other than replace your computer.

Thanks for your help, really... but I need to replace my cpu+ram in a few weeks (for other reasons), and I really don't feel like complicating my life because devs won't complicate their own.. if I get tired about the performance issues I'll just drop the game until I get the new hardware.

Originally posted by Frostbrynger:

The usage of resources from this game is really beyond good and evil. Seriously, just look how the games from Ludum Dare run: https://ldjam.com/ . And that are mostly hobbiests, which make their games from scratch in a single weekend. Often together with strangers, that they never met before in their life. And from a professional team you may assume, that they are above this level.

Also, I have a one year old gaming PC (exact specs just don't matter) and I have blood and lightning disabled because I ran into performance issues. And this for an IDLE game, where having a low resource usage is fairly important. And this games does nothing magical, that couldn't be done on a SNES. Beside the resolution.

Sorry, but in this case I simply reject searching the problem at the user-side.

Exactly my point...