Gamespy or Relic Online? [Archive]

TheLoneKnight

5th Apr 08, 4:02 PM

While I'm not terribly fond of having to log onto RO every time I want to play a singleplayer game in CoH I cannot concieve of any excuse Relic would have for not using it in DoW2.

I suppose it doesn't make a huge difference to me one way or the other; I've never had any problems with either. I suppose my vote would go for RO simply because they have control over it and can fix it/tweak it/release patches as often as is necessary without having to involve parties other than the publisher.

Mardhyn

5th Apr 08, 4:19 PM

First off, I've never had any serious problems with Gamespy so at least to me it isn't a complete shit stain. But I would have to go with Relic Online because of:

A.) Its a home network, so Relic has total control. Which would(hopefully) make incidents like the last 3 weeks of automatch being broken in DC easier to fix. And we the consumers will finally have a controlled area to complain at, no more "its gamespy's fault".

B.) The times I've used RO I've always had a good connection and jumped into a game immediately. Where as Gamespy freezes, kicks you just for automatching(somehow the automatch set up sometimes triggers the spam filter), and has horrible lobby control.(Though that may be Relics fault)

C.) Troublemakers will finally have a solid way of being punished, as it is now if you abuse something in DoW nothing is going to happen.(Looking at you stupid people in the lobby saying things to get a rise out of people! :rant:)

Croaxleigh

5th Apr 08, 4:40 PM

Given that the CoH engine is already set up to use Relic Online, it's no stretch of the imagination that they'd continue using RO for DoW2 (using Essence 2.0) instead of GameSpy. Most likely the contract with GS states that the service will be used for Dawn of War and its expansions, as they're technically considered to be part of the same game... most times when you see a game switch online service providers and the like, it's between numbered sequels.

DoW2

5th Apr 08, 6:10 PM

Never tried Relic Online, to be honest, don't know what it is exactly.

Gamespy, however, sucks...

Talonfire

5th Apr 08, 7:19 PM

As long as I don't have to use the internet to play a single player game I'm a happy camper. I'm on dialup, so needing to be connected to the internet to play a SINGLE PLAYER game is a pain.

neucromaner

5th Apr 08, 7:35 PM

GS is a no no,pls.they need many ports to be open.

Mokino

5th Apr 08, 7:35 PM

Talon, I'm pretty sure CoH requires either the CD in the drive or you to be connected online for singleplayer. It's not too bad.

SScRiBLe

6th Apr 08, 4:15 AM

It would be crazy if they dont use their own online system. Sure its not perfect but tis also a long way to go to DoW2 release. I am 100 % sure it comes with RO

Darkbladecr

6th Apr 08, 4:21 AM

relic online has been updated now and it has great service. Whenever there are problems with the servers they are actually looked into. I have had a good share of time with both Gamespy and RO, my choice that RO is better! Better interface and less problems then Gamespy.

neucromaner

8th Apr 08, 3:14 AM

you know the COH lags bar
i think a lot of people will be kick off game in dow2 , because of the lag bar
more than dow.

Grabnutz

8th Apr 08, 3:31 AM

We can leave the tiresome "lamespy" and "gayspy" references out of this thread please, they wern't funny first time round, they're not funny after 3 years of it

Mardhyn

8th Apr 08, 3:32 AM

Boonerang

8th Apr 08, 3:54 AM

Logging on to RO and getting into a game with CoH really doesn't take that much time compared to Gamespy and DoW.

Harkonnen

8th Apr 08, 3:55 AM

They should just use steam to handle the online part. Would be easier, no DVD in disc drive required to play online.

SScRiBLe

8th Apr 08, 4:04 AM

Would be easier, no DVD in disc drive required to play online.
so where is the diffrence to RO?
RO isnt perfect but they keep on working.

neucromaner

8th Apr 08, 4:08 AM

Neucromaner that is a good thing, how many times have I started a game and had someone take 10+ minutes to load then have us play frame by frame for another 10+ minutes until being vote kicked/dropped.

Edit - I think it should also go back to locking out playing with different countries, or at least have it as an option to play with players of only your country. Why? Because cross ocean connection is really finicky, I have 40ping in FPS's in American servers but get 400ping in German servers.

Lag have nothing to do with loading time.
loading time is very long, because some MP player have very old PC and or worse very old notebook.

i think 400 ms is doable in RTS. more than 1000 ms, that is what worry me.

this mean it is harder to get a game in DOW2.

Harkonnen

8th Apr 08, 4:10 AM

I have no idea what the difference is. I have never played company of heroes or any other game that uses relic online.

I'm not saying relic online is better or worse then steam, just suggesting another option.

Red Squirrel

8th Apr 08, 4:19 AM

Gamespy: DoW - Constant disconnects, laggy. It detracts from the gaming experience when you can't even connect and play with your friends easily.

Relic Online: CoH - Massive improvement on Gamespy but I still have issues with being able to connect to some games. It seems you have to set up your firewall and port forwarding perfectly for it to work all the time. I suspect a lot of the people I try to connect to and get a NAT error need to sort their configs.

Multiplayer should work right out of the box, with perhaps 1 confirmation with your firewall to allow it access instead of having to make sure all ports are set up correctly.

Personally, I would really, REALLY hope Relic bites the bullet and uses's Valve's Steamworks (google it, can't post urls on the forum) for DoW2. I bet a large percentage of people have played a Valve multiplayer game via Steam - the process is so quick and easy it pisses all over RO and GS. It's not as if Steam would be unprepared either, with peak concurrent users of 1.2+ million each day.

tl;dr
GS = poor
RO = better
Steam = best

Would be easier, no DVD in disc drive required to play online.

so where is the diffrence to RO?
RO isnt perfect but they keep on working.

Valve's Steam, at the moment, is an online way of purchasing DoW and CoH. You pay online via Steam, you then download all of the game content, you don't get sent game packaging or a DVD.

Valve's Steamworks would be an alternative to RO. If you've ever played CS, DoD, TF2 etc. you'll have used Valve's multiplayer server browser etc. I'm sure it could easily be tailored to function as well as, if not better than RO.

Harkonnen

8th Apr 08, 4:27 AM

Yes, Steam's server browser is pretty good. It is vastly superior to most other online browsers in games I've played.

I don't purchase my games through the service though, I prefer having the packaging but some people really like the convenience of buying through Steam.

Chaingun

8th Apr 08, 9:03 AM

Gamespy have had their chance, far longer than they should. Get rid of the buggers.

Oom Gert

8th Apr 08, 9:20 AM

As long as the game doesn't use Windows Live, now that is a big no no

PitSoulja

8th Apr 08, 9:19 PM

they could use a central server and players can create their own games and people can just flat look at a list and join them rather then using another service they can use their own. so in reality you could start the game up and log into their like "irc" server and from there join a game thats started in the game list.

come to think about it the whole relic online idea is sounding much better. which would probably be more like what i'm talking about

Dyntheos

8th Apr 08, 9:32 PM

I would assume relic's titles will all be RO in future as it's in house and they have more control.

Imperial Dane

8th Apr 08, 10:44 PM

I would assume Relic Online as it is their own service so it would make the most sense considering that Gamespy probably doesn't have any hold on them anymore.

Croaxleigh

8th Apr 08, 11:10 PM

I just couldn't see them going with Steam, as it wouldn't make much sense. Gamespy was used for DoW because of contractual obligations... now that they've developed Relic Online, why would they bind themselves to yet another company if they move away from Gamespy?

Red Squirrel

9th Apr 08, 2:04 AM

You're probably right, Croaxleigh, in that they won't use Steam but in my opinion it would be good if they did. Relic Online is not exactly the smoothest experience when trying to play a multiplay game but it is better than Gamespy. A relationship with Valve I don't think would be like the Relic/Gamespy relationship at all, Valve would be a lot more supportive as Relic would be using Steam which always needs more games and publicity.

Anyway, go Steamworks \o/

nick2512

9th Apr 08, 3:13 AM

Screw Steam. Go RO, as Croaxleigh said before. RO gives Relic more control over their games and Relic will develop it overtime and you'll have something very smooth within a few years.

I played stuffs on Steam and I can't say its that good either, even though I got ADSL2+ and I can't even bloody play CS:S with my neighbor next door, get it? NEXT DOOR. But nothing is flawless right? SC got flaws and I'm pretty sure one of the senoir admins on this board have flaws too (oh for the Emperor's sake, don't ban me because I said something that is totally untrue :lol::)

Kapp'n

9th Apr 08, 4:17 AM

As long as the online works, im not fussed which one. Ive not had many problems with Gamespy myself.

TheLoneKnight

9th Apr 08, 9:38 AM

Relic Online means hotfixes. Gamespy means... not-hotfixes.

Hotfixes are more delicious and snuggleable.

Hirmetrium

9th Apr 08, 9:51 AM

I disagree, hot-fixes are like telling the waiter theres a fly in your soup and him immediately replacing it with a new, steaming hot bowl of non-fly soup.

F-Minus

9th Apr 08, 9:59 AM

In-house solutions are definitely better for both parties. Just look at Battle.net for Blizzards. Half of the success of their games comes from Battle.net. So Relic Online is the way to go.

godseyeview

9th Apr 08, 2:55 PM

whoever can make a decent mapsharing game so people can use the dowfiles maps easily like in battlenet.

Z3r0Fear

10th Apr 08, 5:31 PM

Uh with the problem I'm currently having connecting to Relic Online I would have to choose gamespy because atleast I can play some games unlike Relic Online where I get refused everytime I try to join a game. Seriously Relic wake up and start working with the router companies to fix your issue with routers like D-Link. It's really fustrating when trying to play games in CoH online when your own online setup has issues with popular router companies like D-Link. If I solve my problem before DOW2 comes out then I will gladly purchase the game otherwise I'm not going to bother getting the game if you go the route of Relic Online.

Falaris

10th Apr 08, 6:30 PM

Gamespy has one heck of a painful account system, at least combined with EA/Battlefield 2 (friend of mine can't play any EA games online because it is impossible to get an account working). I haven't played DoW online much though.

Relic Online, being mostly a CoH player, I find is fast and stable. There was a period where it was not so great, but for me it works as one of the best online systems out there now. All systems must cope with one thing - connection going down - in one way or another, and it will never please everyone all the time, but they're doing a very decent job of it.

... Oh yes. Routers is a problem. But that's another chapter. Port forwarding is the usual fix and as far as I know it works very well on CoH. (I use a D-Link router myself with no problems.). It doesn't work too well with several players on the same network, then it needs hamachi to kludge it through. Or at least, it does for me.

TheLoneKnight

10th Apr 08, 8:17 PM

To be honest I've only ever had one real problem with RelicOnline and that's the copy protection stuff they've implemented since Opposing Fronts that forces you to log in online before you can even play singleplayer stuff. I've also heard that the game deliberately disables connections via Hamachi, although that wouldn't really be much of an issue if you can't log in to RO in the first place.

If people can't connect to RO due to router problems and this copy protection scheme is used for DoW2 I can imagine all sorts of problems from disgruntled fans being denied their precious orgies of violence. Hopefully Relic is planning ahead for this sort of thing and will build in some kind of guide (or make a note in the manual) explaining solutions to the common problem, at least.

Bota99

10th Apr 08, 11:12 PM

I am guessing they will use ROL for DoW2, although ROL still has a lot of issues that need worked out.

Imperial Dane

10th Apr 08, 11:13 PM

Sixtus Salvatus

11th Apr 08, 8:55 AM

It's a choise between plague or colera, but I choose the lesser evil, RO.

Humungus

12th Apr 08, 6:14 AM

Anyone thats ever played both DoW & CoH knows that reliconline in CoH has tons of connection issues in MP mode, its bad enough that lots of people stopped playing CoH because of it.

(games freezing at start, cannot connect to all players, cannot connect to all players, cannot connect to all players, drophacks)

Hopefully they will stick with what they have now.

White_Pointer

13th Apr 08, 6:48 PM

I would assume relic's titles will all be RO in future as it's in house and they have more control.

You'd think that...unless they have some weird contract with gamespy to make all DoW/40k titles use it. Now that would suck. The lack of official response in this thread seems like a worrying sign too :/

People need to realise though that RO is still a relatively young service that's still beign developed. Any idea how long it took Blizzard to get Battle.net right? Give it time and it'll turn into something great.

White_Pointer

stopgap

14th Apr 08, 6:02 AM

i am in the RO boat, ive played some frustrating times in RO's development and they are improving it, slowly but surely.

cagecrawler

14th Apr 08, 7:23 AM

It'll be Relic Online, no doubt. They wouldn't spend all the time and money developing it and then decide to only use it for one game.

As for the lack of official response, there has been no official response on anything to do with DoW2 so I wouldn't worry. They won't be saying much at all until it gets nearer to release, especially not commenting on rumours etc.

KFJ

16th Apr 08, 12:45 PM

If they use Gamespy, I, for one, won't play online.

Why?

1.
Lag.
2.
I can connect to no servers, at all.
3.
Advertising the only thing there.

Example:

MY NAME GOOD GAME
MY NAME GOOD GAME
MY NAME GOOD GAME

So on...

4.
Every two game has "Noobs only" in it and the host has lost once but won 9001 times.

Flagg

16th Apr 08, 4:55 PM

OMG, reading KFG's post made me laugh, because it's so damn true!! :D:D

Fire_Warrior

17th Apr 08, 1:57 PM

Relic Online. I am thoroughly pissed off with Gamespy. Despite promising multiplayer automatch improvements, there are more problems in SS than DC (me included) and it's getting harder and harder to find any games at all.

KradDiher

18th Apr 08, 1:57 AM

but I can't connect to any games in RelicOnline...*kicks router*

Wrapper

18th Apr 08, 3:44 AM

It's gonna be GameRelicSpyOnline -- combining the best features of both....

Versian

6th Jun 08, 2:37 PM

There seems to be a chat monitor in GameSpy that doesn't do anything. Probably overwhelmed by all the spam, but you can say just about anything and you'll get away with it. Not that i've tried, but I've seen it.

Agree with KFJ. Somewhat

The spam is funny, but too much.

Although, you can just go to another room if you wanna have a decent conversation.

Blackheart

6th Jun 08, 3:03 PM

RelicOnline. And No, Neucromaner, RelicOnline doesn't lag per se, it sets up pvp connections and thus people lag between eachother, not RelicOnline lagging-- I almost never experience lag from RO. Basicly, the way RO works is that there's no third party go-between server.

The main problem with this is syncronization errors are more common, but otherwise, it is a thousand times better than gamespy.

stopgap

6th Jun 08, 3:04 PM

ive been playing relic online since beta. It sucked. a lot. however Relic has been very consistently improving their service over the year or 3. I vote RO.

Pokey ork

6th Jun 08, 3:28 PM

Well gamespy is not the best but it would not put me off playing online that is for sure. However since Dawn of war 2 has been in development for...what 3 years now? Surely they would have had to have put up some form of contract during that time to make preperations for later on i.e Gamespy/Dow series.

I am not trying to put a damper on this whole thing as I would also prefer RO as by the sounds of it, it is vastly superior to Gamespy. But I would stll prefer to keep my hopes low until actual confirmation or hints are given to the community.

Blackheart

6th Jun 08, 3:35 PM

They only had a contract for DoW, and if they're smart, there's no reason for them to get into a contract for DoW2-- they have something better in RelicOnline. IIRC, they've even (politely and carefully) expressed their frustration at how Gamespy works (or as the joke goes, doesn't work).

and using their own system will leave them free of contractual agreements with anyone, and you can bet that this is a big reason to use it.

Imperial Dane

6th Jun 08, 3:43 PM

In any case, would be a pretty strange move to develop Relic Online, only to use it for CoH, and not DoW 2 or any other game that comes afterwards...
Plus there are all the advantages that come with having your online service i imagine.

Pvt. Griffen

6th Jun 08, 10:34 PM

I would think that DoW2 has Relic Online, due to the fact that OF has this.

newcomer

6th Jun 08, 11:04 PM

HA gamespy?? youre joking...

Rednova88

6th Jun 08, 11:26 PM

I'm convinced that if it's not Gamespy it's probably a step up. I don't HATE Gamespy, but it's hard to enjoy a game when your teammate gets kicked out because a sync error or something.

Pvt. Griffen

7th Jun 08, 2:44 AM

It's gonna be GameRelicSpyOnline -- combining the best features of both....

Gamespy has good features?

Swashbuck

7th Jun 08, 3:26 AM

Relic Online had some early troubles, but now at least to me, the service is trouble-free. I can get a CoH:OF game very quickly, the interface is way better, you see stats, ladder, and even medals you earned in the campaign. Gamespy is the worst service i encountered so far. I have troubles getting an automatch, i have troubles joining a custom sometimes. drop them, do not even consider them as a multiplayer option.

Demonhorde

7th Jun 08, 4:15 AM

They need to build up a own network if they want to have online control, check steam or bnet... I added steam since it's also a service and i think the future of pc gaming in a sense. I do wish some developer could come along to rival steam, dominating teh market is not good in the end for the consumer. Also the retail price on steam is HIGH to high since they removed the transport, boxes etc the price should be lower BUT it's a brilliant step anyway! saves the good old mother earth :D