I was wondering if this 'Update Game Data' part of the process was because of bad internet or if its just redonkulously slow? Its kind of a turn off. I know the game is gonna be AWESOME!!! I just cant stand it doing one update every minute or so...
Anyone have any idea how to make this go faster? or is it mind-numbingly slow for everyone? (sorry for being such a jerk about this, but its a HUGE amount of time to be spending on 'updating,' especially since it only took 10 minutes to download the patch in the first place.
Yeah it sounds like you have basic DSL connection - 312Kb/sec, which actual speed would but 30-50Kb. Plus depending on distance between you and patch server you get that speed then.
I loaded the game and the patches about 8 or 9 days ago....about 2 and a half hours total. I was out of town for the past 7 days and when I got back on the game I had over 3900 items to download again....another 2 hours....thats a TON of time waiting for a game....WOW was slow but not this bad and Filefront had US patches (LOTROL dosent)which is a lot faster.....has anyone else had same trouble?
I loaded the game and the patches about 8 or 9 days ago....about 2 and a half hours total. I was out of town for the past 7 days and when I got back on the game I had over 3900 items to download again....another 2 hours....thats a TON of time waiting for a game....WOW was slow but not this bad and Filefront had US patches (LOTROL dosent)which is a lot faster.....has anyone else had same trouble?
Ok, so you first installed the game 8 or 9 days ago, got all the patches from Books 9-10's releases, then left town for a week to come back to have to download the new Book 11 release, and yet you're complaining about waiting when it's not Turbine's fault?
I must be confused here, what is exactly the problem? I mean, it cannot be because you had to get caught back up with the most recent release, especially after just installing the vanilla build of the game, could it?
As for secondary sources, this is why they offer up the ability to pre-download and install (not decrypt) the patch prior to it's release date, both via direct download and a torrent. It is not up to Turbine to work around schedules to which you will be available to download.
Give a guy a pound of gold...he'll complain about how heavy it is. Enmity of Forum Trolls: 106/5000Of the Egaads clan
Filefront had US patches (LOTROL dosent)which is a lot faster.....
Not true. The patch was available for download from Filefront, as well as Fileshack and the Turbine servers before the patch date. As per the patch download official notes: http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?t=96698
"Yet there may be a light beyond the darkness; and if so, I would have you see it and be glad."
People are complaining about their experiences. No matter how big your ego is it wont change what people are going through in the real world.
The root of people's complaints about this slow update process are perfectly valid. Updating 4000 files individually is absurd. The best practice, as has long been done before, is to download a single compressed package and extract the necessary files locally. Eliminating the need to coordinate the network transactions of individual files. Because the LOTRO launcher chooses the longer more error prone method people tend to complain about long waits to update the game. The upside is it gives us all plenty of opportunity to complain about it on this forum.
I do not have a slow connection. Which is proven through the high price I pay for it. But due to the restrictive nature of the method Turbine chooses to use to execute this update I must also wait. One large advantage for Turbine is a decrease in bandwidth usage due to the large amount of time spent processing individual files instead of transferring data. Perhaps this is why this method is used and the packaged download is lesser known to most of us.
However, none of this should be of any surprise given the poor game code and net code we have all had to deal with while playing this game. This game certainly takes the cake for instability. And for those who feel the need to defend the games honor, I say I don't care. Baring any interference caused by a poorly optimized operating system, faulty hardware, or other running application, if I meet the minimum requirements as presented to my by Turbine their application should run smoothly. It does not, and I'm not the only one. Nor am I about to take the blame for spaghetti software.
People are complaining about their experiences. No matter how big your ego is it wont change what people are going through in the real world.
The root of people's complaints about this slow update process are perfectly valid. Updating 4000 files individually is absurd. The best practice, as has long been done before, is to download a single compressed package and extract the necessary files locally. Eliminating the need to coordinate the network transactions of individual files. Because the LOTRO launcher chooses the longer more error prone method people tend to complain about long waits to update the game. The upside is it gives us all plenty of opportunity to complain about it on this forum.
I do not have a slow connection. Which is proven through the high price I pay for it. But due to the restrictive nature of the method Turbine chooses to use to execute this update I must also wait. One large advantage for Turbine is a decrease in bandwidth usage due to the large amount of time spent processing individual files instead of transferring data. Perhaps this is why this method is used and the packaged download is lesser known to most of us.
However, none of this should be of any surprise given the poor game code and net code we have all had to deal with while playing this game. This game certainly takes the cake for instability. And for those who feel the need to defend the games honor, I say I don't care. Baring any interference caused by a poorly optimized operating system, faulty hardware, or other running application, if I meet the minimum requirements as presented to my by Turbine their application should run smoothly. It does not, and I'm not the only one. Nor am I about to take the blame for spaghetti software.
Must be new in the realm of software development...patching on a single-file basis is not more prone to errors, it's actually far less prone to it as it validates checksums singularly instead of in a batch. Sure, it's slower, but that's the price you pay to make sure it works the first go around.
Beyond that, there is a small, yet very vocal (aren't they always), minority that seem to have continual issues with the game despite the overwhelming majority that have absolutely no issues. This forces me to reach the conclusion that it's not ultimately on Turbine's shoulders, but on end-user configurations that point to an underlying problem.
I'm not defending, I'd like a faster patching routine, and I'm sure it's something being explored, but at the same time I'm not decrying something for something that it's not, and that's broken.
Give a guy a pound of gold...he'll complain about how heavy it is. Enmity of Forum Trolls: 106/5000Of the Egaads clan
I still find it funny that some people complain to no end about free content updates. Perhaps they would like to have none?
As to "poor game code and net code [...] spaghetti software": how would you know this? I'm really curious.
Originally Posted by purfus
This game certainly takes the cake for instability.[...] if I meet the minimum requirements as presented to my by Turbine their application should run smoothly.
Uh, no. Meeting the minimum requirements just means the game should run. "Smoothly" is another thing entirely, and that would fall under "recommended requirements," not minimum requirements. As to instability, I haven't seen a sign of it, in almost one year of playing the game. If the game were inherently unstable, most of us would run into these issues.
There are lots of things one can do to improve performance, as you could see for yourself reading the suggestions in the Customer Support forum. But that assumes you must be at least willing to consider that the problems may be on your end, rather than making overarching pronouncements about "spaghetti code." Since that doesn't seem to be the case with you, I'm afraid we can't do much to help you.
"Yet there may be a light beyond the darkness; and if so, I would have you see it and be glad."
However, none of this should be of any surprise given the poor game code and net code we have all had to deal with while playing this game. This game certainly takes the cake for instability. And for those who feel the need to defend the games honor, I say I don't care. Baring any interference caused by a poorly optimized operating system, faulty hardware, or other running application, if I meet the minimum requirements as presented to my by Turbine their application should run smoothly. It does not, and I'm not the only one. Nor am I about to take the blame for spaghetti software.
Gosh- everyone raves about the smooth launch of this game and it's stability and lack of bugs- even all the critics that reviewed it last year! If it had poor game code and was instable- it wouldn't have taken so many Game of the year awards!
And no game runs well on the minimum requirements. There isn't a MMO is the entire world that will run WELL or SMOOTHLY if you are playing with the minimal req's on their box.
I played WoW and Asheron's Call on their minimal requirements and it was extremely laggy and I froze a lot. I attempted to play VanGuard on their minimum req. and could not even WALK one step in the game LOL!
I played the LOTRO Beta and met their minimum req. for CPU and RAM but did NOT meet their video card req. and it was stuttery and laggy. Until I tweaked a ton of things recommended in the Video tech support forum and then got it to be 100% lag free 100% of the time. I put a $89 new video card in last June and went from Very Low to Very High settings!
If you are having freezes and crashes- it's your machine. It's not the coding or the game. Everyone that plays any game on the minimum requirements will freeze and lag- that's just a universal fact.
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I've been playing the game for nearly a month now and have not had the game crash or freeze up on me a single time. I can't think of another game, mmo or single player, that I can say that about. I've gone LD a couple times due to inet issues and this game even handles that really well in that when you get back in game you are still grouped and ready to go. I also notice while grouped people never seem to crash and very seldomly go LD so it is not just me.
I have a middle of the road PC and with a lot of tweaking in the advanced settings I have been able to get the game to run very smoothly and still have the graphic features at pretty high settings. I hate graphic lag and will always sacrifice eye candy for smooth framerate but I have had to do very little eye candy sacrificing in the game.
Every mmo has content updates, and some people complain in every mmo about the updates taking too long. I'd rather wait and have an updated experience then never wait and play a stagnant game. I knew there was going to be a update yesterday so I turned the game on before going to work and it was patched and ready when I got home.
If people are complaining about the massive update that happens when they first install the game then maybe they should take a step back and go, wow, look how much content they have added to the game since launch (if you have the store version) or even since they last compiled their digital download version. Install the game in a evening (or before school/work in the morning), then leave it to update.
Ok, I agree with the fact the update game data is slow but because I am returning from my break which I took back in Oct and granted I know there has been a lot of updates since then but there has to be a faster way of updating. Also I just installed it on my other computer and would like to update that one a bit faster than what the Game Updater has...any suggestions??
Ok, I agree with the fact the update game data is slow but because I am returning from my break which I took back in Oct and granted I know there has been a lot of updates since then but there has to be a faster way of updating. Also I just installed it on my other computer and would like to update that one a bit faster than what the Game Updater has...any suggestions??
I bought this game when it was released and only played a couple days. I just reinstalled it from the CD's and after 90 minutes it is at 1900 of 14241 files. That is rediculous. My connection speed is fine (400-500 Kb/s).
Looks like turbine is interested in attracting new players. This update process is longer than any game I have ever played. I think improving that would go a long way towards increasing the player base. How many returning players are going to bother going through this?
Last edited by Eternall_00; May 07 2008 at 02:18 PM.
I bought this game when it was released and only played a couple days. I just reinstalled it from the CD's and after 90 minutes it is at 1900 of 14241 files. That is rediculous. My connection speed is fine.
Looks like turbine is interested in attracting new players. This update process is longer than any game I have ever played. I think improving that would go a long way towards increasing the player base. How many returning players are going to bother going through this?
I agree with you, its too long. Turbine is aware of the issue. For your info, the downloadable client is more up-to-date than the dvd, so for many people (with the trial), its a bit better. But I'm sure they will enventually create a new client. Of course, when Mines of Moria comes out, its gonna be less of a pain. But the best would be to improve the whole patching technology because after a couple of updates post Mines of Moria, the problem will still be there.
I agree with you, its too long. Turbine is aware of the issue. For your info, the downloadable client is more up-to-date than the dvd, so for many people (with the trial), its a bit better. But I'm sure they will enventually create a new client. Of course, when Mines of Moria comes out, its gonna be less of a pain. But the best would be to improve the whole patching technology because after a couple of updates post Mines of Moria, the problem will still be there.
Well I hope that not only are they aware but are actively adressing this problem. 3.5 hrs later and still 5k files to go. If there is a faster way to patch, you mentioned something about the trial client, well, it should be communicated better as well. My gaming time for today is gone, maybe i'll try tomorrow, who knows.
Are you honestly complaining about too much free content added since the game release?
No? I have no idea what you are talking about because after patching I didn't have time to play. Anyhow it is patched up now, I'll give it a run thru tomorrow, but I suspect I have more patience than most people who might try to play again. 6 hrs of patching just to try out a game shelved a year ago?
The "patching" process is really downloading all the new content that was released since last year. That's what I'm talking about. And yes, there's more than 3GB of it. New landscape areas, lots of new quests, housing, raids, PvMP dungeon, class updates, outfit system, reputation and so on and so forth. What did you think you were downloading?
"Yet there may be a light beyond the darkness; and if so, I would have you see it and be glad."
I wasn't being sarcastic. It sounded like you thought all the patches were maintenance patches/bug fixes, instead of new content (since you asked "what I was talking about").
"Yet there may be a light beyond the darkness; and if so, I would have you see it and be glad."
Uncalled for, and off topic. I am all patched. This is the first impressions forum, my first impression upon trying the game after a year was this. I won't be alone. This site is begging for returning players...they are all going to have to go thru this.
Forgive me for trying to point out something that affects attracting more people to the game. I don't understand why you guys are so hostile when people post issues here. Feedback is good.
BTW there is nothing free in a subscription game.
Last edited by Eternall_00; May 08 2008 at 11:49 PM.
People wealthy enough to afford computers and internet connections can be so spoiled. A cyclone just wiped out 100,000+ people in Burma http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5...LxhHLBSaK9dOLg... but OH NO, Turbine didn't send me a personal telegram warning me to update my game overnight because it takes a long time! Count yourself lucky if the worst thing that happens to you in a day is to have major amounts of "free" updated content for you to enjoy be downloaded to your computer.
That post was completely uncalled for. There is human tragedy every day in the world and pulling any of it into a discussion about patch times is ridiculous. I can never understand why anyone insists on doing it.
Yes, the patching was a pita the first time I did it. I was lucky enough (from past experiences reinstalling mmos) that I installed the game one evening and left it to patch overnight for the next day. It's worth the wait
Apologies if I offended anyone or if my post was out of line. I guess, for me personally, 6 hours isn't too long to wait for tons of updated content. Hearing posts accusing others of sarcasm for trying to explain things, or implying that a whole night of gaming was wasted waiting for updates just seemed, to me, like trivial complaints in the grand scheme of things. However, I admit I need to remember that what may not be a big deal for me, may bother someone else and that's a legitimate concern from that person's perspective. And I have to admit after re-reading this thread that no one's going to extremes saying they're going to cancel their sub, or that Turbine is awful--they're just trying to point out that the patcher takes a heck of a long time to update. So apologies again if I over-reacted and I'll edit my earlier post back into oblivion.
On a constructive note, while re-reading the thread I noticed this:
Originally Posted by Eternall_00
.... My connection speed is fine (400-500 Kb/s). ....
Eternall, is that "Kb" kilobytes of kilobits? Since (I hope I'm getting this right) 8 kilobits = 1 kilobyte, a download speed of 400-500 kilobits/sec would in fact be fairly slow compared to most modern broadband/cable connections.
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If you have a slow, almost full, or heavily fragmented hard drive, you could also have the update process take a long time. The updates are downloaded, unpacked, and then applied. This happens throughout the update process, not just at the end.
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The updates are downloaded, unpacked, and then applied. This happens throughout the update process, not just at the end.
Aye, that is the problem, with so many files involved, over 14k as I said earlier, there really needs to be a way to download the files in bulk. Your download speed doesn't matter when there is a 3-4 second pause after every file to patch. Installing from the DVD then patching is a real turn off, and thats what the knowlege base tells you to do.
And no hard feelings Toad, I was a bit defensive in this thread, mostly because "free content" does not excuse this issue imo.
The download speed I gave was what the patcher was showing. I have a good cable connection, I can grab a 3gb file in 30-45 mins most of the time. But really doesn't apply to this issue, the way the patcher runs, the extra second or 2 per file for a slower connection is not the most time consuming part of the process.
Last edited by Eternall_00; May 09 2008 at 04:19 PM.
Keep your sarcasm to yourself. Patcher needs a revamp, nuff said. 3gb is less than 30 mins worth of data at my connection speed.
And much longer than that on an average broadband speed. The download time is a big problem, and some sort of change would be welcome. Incremental updates, ala Guild Wars would be nice (you get updates for a zone when you enter it), or better compression, alternate ways of getting data (torrents), keep the official trial download up to date, etc.
I think it took me 3 days to download the trial; mostly because I only had the download running when I didn't need the net (ie, playing something else). It was probably 4-6 hours total maybe. Then I sign up for the trial early friday night, but with another 2 hours of downloads and such, it's well after midnight before I can log in. So the first day of the trial I get to play 10 minutes or so. I stuck with it of course, but I can easily imagine a lot of players giving up at any of those stages . Basically, you must be dedicated in order to get the trial up and running, the trial is not for casual players who just want to see what the game is like or if it can run on their system.
a download speed of 400-500 kilobits/sec would in fact be fairly slow compared to most modern broadband/cable connections.
That's not bad for broadband actually. Basic DSL is 250-384Kbps. Typically I think most DSL ranges from 384-1500. Yes, some people do get better speeds, but I don't think it's typical (anymore than a quad core cpu with an dual SLI video cards is typical).
Incremental updates, ala Guild Wars would be nice (you get updates for a zone when you enter it), or better compression, alternate ways of getting data (torrents), keep the official trial download up to date, etc.
Yes, Guild Wars has the best "patching" process of any game I've seen. I'm surprised more games aren't doing this. I know that if I have to reinstall from the Web, I can be up and running in a matter of an hour.
I love LOTRO, but reinstalling from the DVD is really painful. 14,241 files and 8 hours later I still have 9,533 to go. And that's after initially watching the DVD spend 20 minutes installing what I purchased from the store. &&&? Frustrating. There has got to be a better way.
Yes, Guild Wars has the best "patching" process of any game I've seen. I'm surprised more games aren't doing this. I know that if I have to reinstall from the Web, I can be up and running in a matter of an hour.
I love LOTRO, but reinstalling from the DVD is really painful. 14,241 files and 8 hours later I still have 9,533 to go. And that's after initially watching the DVD spend 20 minutes installing what I purchased from the store. &&&? Frustrating. There has got to be a better way.
Woo hoo! Almost done downloading.
For those installing the game from the box: I have a typical 768 DSL line and the patching process took 26 hours. Good thing I'm a patient person. ;-)
Note: I also tested the line speed several times during the process and there were no slowdowns.
I dont see why everybody is in such a huff over this. Yes it is slow, yes it does take a log time. There is a simple solution though. When ever i reinstall from the dvds i reinstall before i go to bed. Let the patcher update the launcher, then reset the launcher. Make sure it starts to patch the game then (heres the tricky part) go to sleep. You wake up in the morning feeling fresh and ready to play your newly patched lotro client.
It shouldnt really be taking huge amounts of time anyways. Im on adsl 1.5mb/256 in Australia and it only takes me about 8 hours to do a fresh patch. Im reading here where people have internet 20x my speed and taking longer. Make sure you haven't got firewalls and such forth blocking.
Make sure it starts to patch the game then (heres the tricky part) go to sleep. You wake up in the morning feeling fresh and ready to play your newly patched lotro client.
Apparently you didn't read my post in this thread -- I don't sleep for 26 hours - although I wish I could...
cfurlin, no idea what's going on with your connection, then.
I've got a decent enough ADSL connection, when it's up an running, and it took me about 4 hours (which includes an hour of about 15KBps ><) to patch from the release CDs to book 13.
Yes, it is really long, and that's unfortunate, but it's not impossibly so.
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