My On-line Halo experience last weekend

[l Maximus l]

Well, dudes (and Xboxpebbles - dudette )...I finally got on-line last weekend and played Halo...and let me tell you....it was worth the wait!!!

Playing on-line was the best XBox experience I have ever had! You can have 1-4 people (via splitscreen) on one XBox and join up with a bunch more people...it's so sweet!

One of the games there was 16 people...we played 8 vs 8 CTF...Man, that was a memorable game! It was so fun! Absolutely no lag!

All I know is that I thought I was a bad ass before I started...and, man...Let me tell you...I was humbled really really really fast...there are some bad ass Halo players on there. Most are average, but, there are some "professionals" on there, too... I would say that after that experience, I'm only slightly above average only because I came in first place twice out of 30 games! lol...many 2nds and 3rds, though.

Halo is simply amazing!

[The Terminator]

What connection do u have to provide you w/ no lag?

[l Maximus l]

Terminator...I am using my Broadband cable modem. The technique in playing games without lag is to find someone that is hosting that has a very low ping. It's critical. I cannot honestly say that I didn't play games that had some lag...but, the one I was referring to with 16 total players had absolutely zero lag

It's critical to find someone with a very low Ping...especially if they are hosting. To find this, just look on the right of the forum that you decide to join...there is a bar that shows the ping rate...the lower the ping the better (or the longer the green bar is, the better)...Man, I can't wait to get on-line again...hopefully tonight...but, definately Wednesday

[LynxFX]

That's awesome Max. Very suprising to see that you found a server with 16 players that had no lag. I think the most I've found was 7 players with no lag.

Look for me sometime though. I go by Lynxfx on there too.

[l Maximus l]

Originally posted by Lynxfx
That's awesome Max. Very suprising to see that you found a server with 16 players that had no lag. I think the most I've found was 7 players with no lag.

Look for me sometime though. I go by Lynxfx on there too.

Sweet, Lynxfx! I'll try and find you...during the week, I can be found after 6:00pm PST...and on the weekend, any time.

As for the 16 player game...all of the people had exceptionally low pings....and were all on the west coast. I'm not sure if location makes a difference or not...I haven't played long enough to understand if logistical issues play a factor. All I know is that the host was using an OC192 (Which is compriable to three OC3s) and everyone's ping rate was very low, including mine! I was pinging around 90 at the time I have seen my ping as high as 125...but, not any higher...I think that makes the difference!

Oh man, Lynxfx...the wait was well worth it! Hey, I figured out the problem I was having...I had a poor connection with the CAT 5 that was connected to my XBox. I simply bought a new one and it worked! lol....all of that frusteration was because of that stupid cable! lol...oh well, no problems now

It's everything I imagined and more! Because I didn't play a lot of multi-player, I didn't know that you can manipulate the games so that you can add and subtract options from them...like vehicles, etc. It was so much fun! I can't wait to play again...and, I'll keep a look out for you...what time are you normally on?

[DT21]

Originally posted by Maximus


As for the 16 player game...all of the people had exceptionally low pings....and were all on the west coast. I'm not sure if location makes a difference or not...I haven't played long enough to understand if logistical issues play a factor.

Yea, location makes a big difference especially if you want to play w/16 players! I tried playing w/10 people from the east side and it was very laggy.

[l Maximus l]

Originally posted by DT21

Yea, location makes a big difference especially if you want to play w/16 players! I tried playing w/10 people from the east side and it was very laggy.

Dude...gotcha...that makes sense....The title was "8vs8 CTF - Westcoast only!!!" ...so, that's probably why they were stressing West Coast so much. I'm in Seattle and the host was from around my area...it worked great...and that OC192 wasn't shabby either

But, I have a question, though: I played a dude in Chicago, another in Tampa, Florida, and a third dude in Sacramento, CA while I was in Seattle...and, there was no lag on that either...but, it was only the four of us and we all had great pings...is that normal?

[DT21]

Originally posted by Maximus

But, I have a question, though: I played a dude in Chicago, another in Tampa, Florida, and a third dude in Sacramento, CA while I was in Seattle...and, there was no lag on that either...but, it was only the four of us and we all had great pings...is that normal?

Yup, I think 4 is the max you should be able to play with a fairly low ping if location is all scattered around like that. Is your SN for HAlo Online Maximus?

[l Maximus l]

Originally posted by DT21

Yup, I think 4 is the max you should be able to play with a fairly low ping if location is all scattered around like that. Is your SN for HAlo Online Maximus?

Yes, I use the nickname "Maximus" while playing on-line. Look me up, dude! What do you go by?

[DT21]

Go by "Skull Assassin", we should make a team like they do on Counter Strike. We'll be the XBA team.

[LynxFX]

If I'm on it is usually after 7PM Mountain Time. I haven't played for a bit but maybe I'll try to get on tonight.

**** it is nice having a day off.

[wizkid918]

I plan on getting halo as soon as i finish my setup in my bedroom, i am waiting on the VGA adapter from liksang.com and then im gonna buy a switch box so i can just switch to gamespy find a game, switch to xbox join game, and then ill be set with out any hassle. need a few more controllers then everyone will want to leech of my cable... might have to brag for a week then invite some friends

[wizkid918]

meant get halo online, not buy it

[l Maximus l]

Originally posted by DT21
Go by "Skull Assassin", we should make a team like they do on Counter Strike. We'll be the XBA team.

Cool, dude! Let's do it! I saw one dude last night from XBA...he recognized me...it was ZGXB.

[l Maximus l]

Originally posted by wizkid918
I plan on getting halo as soon as i finish my setup in my bedroom, i am waiting on the VGA adapter from liksang.com and then im gonna buy a switch box so i can just switch to gamespy find a game, switch to xbox join game, and then ill be set with out any hassle. need a few more controllers then everyone will want to leech of my cable... might have to brag for a week then invite some friends

Dude, Wizkid...it's awesome just using your TV for now. Once the VGA adapter comes out, you can simply play it through that...but, in the meantime, get your ass on-line and see what you are missing! I finally came to the realization that I was missing out on something so HUGE as playing Halo on-line! D a m n, I'm an idiot for waiting! lol...It was worth every second getting everything figured out....I had to learn because I'm somewhat novice to networking. I learned a lot from all of you guys....so, a big THANKS!!!! to all my XBA buddies1!

I played all weekend...11 hours yesterday alone...and it only felt like 2 hours! Oh man, that's how much fun I had!

I can't wait to get my ass home and play again! I thought I was a complete bad ass at Halo until I played some of the dudes on there...lol.... If the room says "Pros only"...leave it to them...lol...they truly are "pros".... I have been humbled out of my mind. Now, I consider myself just barely above average...lol

[Frostberg]

well, although everything may be "important" it all counts on who is hosting the game. If you get someone with a t1+ you can have those big lag free games. It also counts largely on what connection YOU have and how many people share a box. Many games I have played where just because the guy has DSL or cable he thinks he can host 3 other people and 3 or 4 on his box...if his up isint good enough Location isint a huge factor...its more on how good your conjnection is. If you have a really slow cable or DSL connection, it wont help if you are even on the same block as the host...and make sure just because you may have cable or DSL, you might not have a good connection based on where you are, the quality of lines,etc. In DSL, how far you are from the CO. And in cable how many people in your neighborhood or block are sharing the same connection.

[l Maximus l]

Originally posted by Lynxfx
If I'm on it is usually after 7PM Mountain Time. I haven't played for a bit but maybe I'll try to get on tonight.

**** it is nice having a day off.

Well, Lynxfx...it won't be until 11:00pm Mountain time before I can be on there if it's tonight...but, if it's tomorrow or Wednesday, I will be there around 8:00pm your time What nickname do you go by?

[l Maximus l]

Originally posted by Frostberg
well, although everything may be "important" it all counts on who is hosting the game. If you get someone with a t1+ you can have those big lag free games. It also counts largely on what connection YOU have and how many people share a box. Many games I have played where just because the guy has DSL or cable he thinks he can host 3 other people and 3 or 4 on his box...if his up isint good enough Location isint a huge factor...its more on how good your conjnection is. If you have a really slow cable or DSL connection, it wont help if you are even on the same block as the host...and make sure just because you may have cable or DSL, you might not have a good connection based on where you are, the quality of lines,etc. In DSL, how far you are from the CO. And in cable how many people in your neighborhood or block are sharing the same connection.

Thanks for the info Frosty...So far, I have purposly played people that have low ping rates...and fortunately, I haven't seen my ping rate exceed 125....so, all is good... What nickname do you use in Gamespy?

[Frostberg]

yep, the lowwer the better...but another thing that makes me mad is where some guy comes in and he has a really bad connection, and once he quits everything is better, but then the game isint even and it is really annoying for like 3v2 because they have an extra guy to guard the base or snipe or whatever...Frostberg is my gamespy nick...but usually I host 2v2 games when my friend is over, or Ill just wander into one of those t3 guys servers where there are like 3 games going at once...or if I can find a decent game. I usually play team games but its hard to resist a good free for all!

[l Maximus l]

Originally posted by Frostberg
yep, the lowwer the better...but another thing that makes me mad is where some guy comes in and he has a really bad connection, and once he quits everything is better, but then the game isint even and it is really annoying for like 3v2 because they have an extra guy to guard the base or snipe or whatever...Frostberg is my gamespy nick...but usually I host 2v2 games when my friend is over, or Ill just wander into one of those t3 guys servers where there are like 3 games going at once...or if I can find a decent game. I usually play team games but its hard to resist a good free for all!

Dude, you just brought up something that I was trying to figure out. On the Gamespy screen, there are those little pictures of computers, obviously, showing which games are available to play because the host is wating. As you know, it shows a yellow square for available games where the host is waiting for players...and there is a red "X" on the computer screen if a game is in progress and not able to join. But, what does the green arrow mean?

I tried clicking on the green arrow and I selected "Join Game", but, nothing happened. Am I doing something wrong, perhaps?