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Halo: MCC might not use dedicated servers (update: p2p only as fallback, post #278)
- Thread starter The Jackdog
- Start date
The Jackdog
Member
I've seen connecting to dedicated server and nothing at all, i really dont know if its just a bug at this point.
Of course, its pretty telling that we dont know if its a bug, or if the host migration messages are holdovers (killcams in halo 4 still have SR1 meaning rank one, obviously a holdover) because the game's multiplayer is so buggy.
343 has put out three updates, two said they were doing "server side fixes" which seemed to only increase the physical range of people you can match with, which of COURSE would add lag. So it might be that too.
Those two fixes also seemed to do very little for the majority of users.
Of course, its pretty telling that we dont know if its a bug, or if the host migration messages are holdovers (killcams in halo 4 still have SR1 meaning rank one, obviously a holdover) because the game's multiplayer is so buggy.
343 has put out three updates, two said they were doing "server side fixes" which seemed to only increase the physical range of people you can match with, which of COURSE would add lag. So it might be that too.
Those two fixes also seemed to do very little for the majority of users.
R3TRODYCE
Member
Major.
Crimsonclaw111
Member
Wow, pathetic if true. Kind of tempted to refund my purchase and just save it for another game since I'm not playing it anyway, as it's not my Xbox...
Ol No Bones
Banned
Well its really not that bad. You can play and every game I have played has been smooth as butter. The only problem I have is getting matches consistently especially with even teams.
TaintedHotSauce
Member
Players connect to the matchmaking servers, which then pair players together, and designating one as the listen server host. That's how it works when there's no dedicated game servers that run the game simulation and decide which bullets hit which players and when, etc.
IXI FalcoN
Member
It's so bad that sometimes if the host quits during matchmaking, it ENDS THE GAME. No host migration, it just fucking ends right there. Happened twice to me so far.
Last night I ended up in a 6v6 game on the 4v4 H2 classic playlist...
This game is literally unfinished. Mind boggling that 343 and MS let it release in this state.
Last night I ended up in a 6v6 game on the 4v4 H2 classic playlist...
This game is literally unfinished. Mind boggling that 343 and MS let it release in this state.
Duxxy3
Member
It's weird that the definition of dedicated servers changed so much in 10 years. Back then it was simple - a server was the host and all the players connected to that host. Now dedicated servers could just be the matchmaking server, the server that keeps track of your stats, or listen servers. None of which would have been called a dedicated server 10 years ago.
Death Metalist
Member
I don't know about multiplayer because I couldn't get into a game but for co-op story mode it's P2P which I was hoping it wasn't because I thought all this talk about Azure and cloud meant something. *facepalm*
Ol No Bones
Banned
They have in fact been dedicated servers for me. I can tell because I fucking remember Halo 2.
Even if you have dedicated servers, the host may need to migrate in case the server goes down or isn't performant. I don't think one word showing up in messages some times is what I'd call "evidence". Especially since the game is built on top of decade-old code, I think it's pretty easy to imagine some pile of error messages didn't changed on an edit pass.
Super curious though. Also it never occurred to me that changing from p2p to dedicated servers would probably be a big deal in terms of game balance, these games presumably have code in place to compensate for host advantage and stuff. Do you just tear it straight out? Try to recreate the exact feel?
Super curious though. Also it never occurred to me that changing from p2p to dedicated servers would probably be a big deal in terms of game balance, these games presumably have code in place to compensate for host advantage and stuff. Do you just tear it straight out? Try to recreate the exact feel?
The Jackdog
Member
I tried to make it clear in the OP that its pretty much just things everyone playing has noticed, like sometimes it says connecting to dedicated servers, sometimes it doesnt. Multiple people including myself have seen "host migration" messages.
A few users say their network logs indicated that they were hosting as well, but i dont know anything about that.
I really hope the multiple, multiple people from 343 that have a presence here and on twitter start actually talking about wtf is going on. Id love to have to edit the thread title to "Halo uses dedicated servers, matchmaking works, all dreams have come true"
backflip10019
Member
Probably actually working to fix this.
This could actually be the issue they're trying to fix though -- that dedis are, for some reason, not activating. Maybe P2P was a quick fix. The evidence is so anecdotal that we can't know.
Welfare
Member
I don't think Campaign Co-op would use dedis. Neither does custom games I believe. All require P2P.
I think regardless this thread is highly unnecessary and is only going to result in posts (which we already see in this thread) like #haloclub, etc...
Without proof this thread will only cause a shitstorm, but that's just my opinion.
Australian Christmas. Duh.
The Jackdog
Member
It could EASILY be hold overs from old games. Halo 4 has a few in the kill cam in regards to a ranking system that isnt even used anymore.
Host advantage in halo does effect gameplay. Shotguns are effected a lot, for example.
Deadly Cyclone
Pride of Iowa State
Is it possible to disable dedis and revert to p2p to try and get people into matches quicker while they fix server issues?
A few friends have seen the "connecting to dedicated server" message before, so I don't think it's entirely without dedis.
A few friends have seen the "connecting to dedicated server" message before, so I don't think it's entirely without dedis.
Right but have you actually had a host migration in game? I've played 36 matches in matchmaking and I've only seen the message pregame. I've had entire teams quit out mid game and it never migrated. If I had to guess the pregame lobbies are p2p and the actual online game is hosted on Dedicated servers.
The Jackdog
Member
I wanted to hear from other people if theyve seen the same messages and lag implying theres a host
mangochutney
Member
For when you're in the game, playing. But you said 'for matchmaking'. In other words, the process of pairing you up with other players.
SEGAvangelist
Member
All you did was link to another forum with a few posts. Yuck.
All past Halo games, and the vast majority of Xbox 360 online titles are peer-to-peer connections so this should not be surprising to anyone - assuming that 343 has not changed the networking code. The matchmaking itself is done via a dedicated server but after that, one of the consoles hosts the game.
That being said, I thought Microsoft said one of the advantages of developing on the Xbox One would be that Azure-based dedicated servers could be utilized by developers for free. Again this might not be valid for the MCC since the networking code was already developed previously without dedicated server support.
That being said, I thought Microsoft said one of the advantages of developing on the Xbox One would be that Azure-based dedicated servers could be utilized by developers for free. Again this might not be valid for the MCC since the networking code was already developed previously without dedicated server support.
DUFFMCWALIN
Member
There is no way this game should have P2P. Multiplayer games never should but a big name title like this? What a joke.
Oh god WireShark takes me back to networking classes in college.
Oh god WireShark takes me back to networking classes in college.
"Host" is a generic term for server or endpoint. That could be a dedicated server just as easily as a P2P "host". I certainly don't know, but I guess I'm saying there's nothing to gain by trying to read deeply into verbiage of error messages.
TaintedHotSauce
Member
Very few games use peer to peer connections vs listen servers. Read about the differences here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_server#Listen_server
A listen server is basically running the code for a dedicated server, except it's hosted on one of the player's connections instead of a separate server designated by the game's dev team.
CassidyIzABeast
Member
Should have picked a better thread title brehthem. Current one will only lead to a clustfuck of hyperbole and misinformation being spread.
I'm pretty sure Gears of War 3 used both dedis and P2P. P2P was more or less a back up if I recall correctly
Ok.
This is true.
It's possible some will take it as the gospel truth and run with it.
Shining Sunshine
Banned
It must be a sunny day with no chance of Cloud.
At least DriveClub's single player stuff works flawlessly and the online has mostly been vastly improved from the early days when you could be trying for days without being able to get it even to connect to the server, let alone playing a multiplayer race. Now the online features are somewhat decent more than they are not (excl. speed face-offs and challenges).
The Faceless Master
Member
no, it's not quite that bad.
Jawmuncher
Member
I love how dedicated servers were said to be a big deal for Xone and yet we have barely had them if at all. That 60 a year is being put to good use for XBL Gold.
Skullface
Member
Most reasonable post I've seen all morning .
HappehLemons
Member
This is the way it SHOULD work:
You (and everyone else) connects to a server that sorts thru everyone, and places people together in a list (This list would be all of the people you are playing the game with). Once the list is final (For this example we'll say 8 people are needed to start a game, so 8 people have been added to this list) they will all migrate the a Microsoft server (Which would be a dedicated server) that everyone has a more or less equal amount of ping.
This is how it MAY be working:
You (and everyone else) connects to a server that sorts thru everyone, and places people together in a list. Once the list is made everyone connection is tested to see who has the lowest latency. The person who has the lowest latency now becomes the dedicated server. Now that a person in the game is hosting the game for everyone he has a distinct advantage because he has no delay with his inputs, but everyone else does based on their ping to that one player. This is how all Halos (and most console FPSs from what I understand) have worked in the past. It's very laggy, but it's cheap since no one has to pay for dedicated servers.