online gaming and connection speed

[Itchie]

Some of you might find this a really dumb question, but I am new to the world of online gaming because until very recently I had a Pentium 1 so I wasn't able to play any newer online games.

Anyways, I want to play games online like Unreal Tournament but I have a 56k connection. Before I go to the trouble of moveing my computer downstairs where there's an internet connection, I want to know if it's possible to play newer online games with a dial up? From what I've read so far on this board, it appears you all have cable or dsl or even T1.

[[Oc]acaridans]

I know some people that use the UT clan server are on 56k...It can be a bit slower...but I do know that there are UT servers out there for dial-up's only.

[It_The_Cow]

It most certainly is possible, but you'll be killed alot. The lag usually makes me ping around 1000, and shots are delayed about 1/2-1 second

[Itchie]

Oh well, that's better than nothing. I'm getting cable, but there's a really long waiting list to get cable so I won't have it for at least half a year.

Are there any tweaks I can adjust the settings somehow to take some of the load off the 56k?

[OpenFriday]

I have cable and never get over 100ping. Lots of people play cs with 56k. Theyre pings are usually in the 250-350 range. Thats a little laggy for me but not too bad.

[Treker]

I've been playing with a 56k all these years and I can hold my own just fine.. I sure did shine however, when I was at my Bros basement lab, back when he had DSL.. MAN everything was so EASY! :)

-Trek

[6502kid]

I do online gaming all the time via a modem.

It will depend upon the actual connection speed you are getting.

I usually get something between 45,000k and 49,000.

(Am at 49333bps right now. About the best I can get)

I usually get pings in the 160-300 or so range. The lag doesnt
get too bad unless it goes over that.

My sister lives out in the country, and can never connect faster
that 24600 bps, so the games lag a lot more there.

People with pings like OpenFriday gets will have an advantage.

[JigPu]

I sometimes play multiplayer Descent 1. I have a 56K connection, and most of the other people complain of the lag (they got DSL or Cable I think. Mabey that's why I'm allways the one dying (half-hour into the game, still no kills. One if I'm lucky!). Or I could just be a really bad player. (Wingman Extreme don't work in DOS. And that's my only stick. Just pure keyboard non-straffing action! WOOHOO!)

JigPu

[!-=sky=-!]

i think it is really slllllllllloooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwww to play 56k...i cant really stand it b/c when i play rogue spear i see myself walking towards a door, i want to open it but suddenly i jump back to like where i was around 30sec ago and after 1 sec i m shot by terriosts.......my 2 cents

[CSaddict]

Unreal Tournament is way to fast online to play with 56k. I tried before I got my DSL. CS is a little easier though you will get killed alot. I suggest you play Team Fortress. Its a little more forgiving for the high pingers. Also I play D2 and it really doesn't make a huge difference in ping.You could also try Tribes 2.

[Alun]

We're talking LIGHTWIDTH here... not bandwidth

My best advice is to get a GOOD 56K modem, choose a server near to you (in a traceroute) and try lots of ISPs. You should be able to get a connection with a lag of easily less than 300ms