What is becoming increasingly a bad experience is the number of versions for the same track and no information about the track needed to race online. It has been said so many times we need more information on the details of the mod required when joining online racing. When set up to go online for a race most times frustration takes over after clicking the server to find out a different version of the track needs to be downloaded. I keep up to date with latest versions from track builders but now it is specific changes servers are including in the track or an outdated version they are choosing to use. NO problem with that it is just we need to know this before deciding to join. Mods are often filled with several tracks several cars which becomes APITA because again no information available to know what is needed. Some of us are still on very slow connections and the moment the component loading screen comes up we know it is not likely to end well. Then add the data transfer time out error or various other errors and yes as expected it all ends bad. As long time user it frustrates me to no end so how new players would feel must be just plain awful no wonder the best sim is not thriving the best. Is this mod system the best way to go about setting up racing, or is it just the continued lack of information that makes joining such a bad experience. The new developers really need to take a look at this side of the game.
While a better implementation of the matchmaker would help, don't forget that the server admin plays a part in this.
agreed WW, gets a bit frustrating with slow net speeds.. I tend to exit once any download needs to take place as limited seat time means no time to wait for it to finish, thankfully i have plenty of offline combos set up for a stint of racing ,choosing cars and tracks with good AI config. As Emery noted . proper Server set up is essential for a good online experience > well Done to the SRA guys for this at least(Having said that Im still having issues with official 397 server something to do with my Indianapolis tracks I think (versions)) Cya on track soon WW
The devs have just taken over and i look forward to what updates we will see in the future. So far i have raced the AI (which is super!) and my initial experience was amazing as i first tested an AI race on Spa 66 with Historic Formula. After that i started looking at some other combos and found myself a little bit further down the bottom of the barrel where FFB, physics, graphics etc wasnt as good (random mods etc), and then i tried to go online where i tested maybe 6 servers before giving up MP at that time (i really want to do my first MP friendly race in rF2). I didnt really know what was on the servers and they all had something to upload to me. At first i had no clue that i had to install them myself (thought it was automatic), and then when i did install them i still couldnt join. No idea why so i went back to SP trying to learn the physics. Anyone not into simming in a more "hardcore" way might have been driven off at this point, but the good that shines through is incredible good, and i really look forward to Studio 397 polishing this gem into something greater. By great i mean a bit more clarity in MP (like OP mention for example and knowing if its people or AI on the server etc), more studio developed content, some audio enhancements, the new DX11 for better performance and whatever things that most of you guys know better than me.
My personal issue are missing information about the track and mod version. Sometimes there are server with tracks or cars, wich doesnt could downloaded because of missing getmod url`s and you have to search somewhere to get them. Therefore it would be very helpful, to see in the mp launcher the version numbers of the cars and tracks and the complete mod names.
The MP lobby is basically nothing more than a piece of crap. It was like this 3 years ago too so there hasn't been any improvement in this area. It doesn't even contain the car(s) used on the server which is silly (unless you specify it in the name of the server). The same goes for the replays. I don't really care about the looks (however for 2016/17 it really should look better) but it should contain all the information you need to know before joining. It needs a total transformation, just look at the Assetto Corsa lobby, that's a good starting point.
Hi Christopher, I get an error message that says " unable to download rfmod ,try manual instillation" no issue if I can find rfmod via a league site and download and install manually but thats where my issue is ,finding rfmod out of game. it sort of points to missing content(possibly indy after some advice from a member who had same issue) but Ive always had all official content and subscribed to same in workshop.
No havnt tried for a day or two and tried both servers, back at work and will try after Thursday. Im going to do a fresh install soon as we are finally getting opitc fibre connection at home soon (5mbps currently due to tourist in flux for holiday period ) if I get a chance tonight will test again . Cheers
I get the trouble with third party but not rF2 content. This is updated automatically from Steam. Also Steam subscribed content is updated when you start rF2 launcher. If you have the automatic update turned off is the only time you wouldn't have/ get updated. The S397 servers would / should have to the minute updated content on them. Also remember that when you join a open server that you haven't entered before you'll be required to download the rfm, known as the Race Event Mod. This is only text that downloads and installs in seconds. Then you shouldn't have a issue with S397 servers. League servers are a hole different ball game and despite all this getmod and all the stuff tried to get people online, it's now worse then it ever was in rFactor. Answer is to join a league. Run their content. That way you'll be sure to be up to date with the servers. Most people argue "I don't have time for league races." This is a really poor excuse when the practice servers are open 24/7 and generally have races after practice times out. Most of us have a preferred type/style of race car. Choice yours and support the leagues so they can support you. It's really not that hard unless you wont it to be. The biggest issue here is the lack of people to race, not the servers. Specially if you can't get on to S397 servers. That's all you.
Ok, Casing point. I haven't joined a server in over a year apart from LAN one. We don't use S397 content much. Tracks maybe more so. Went to MP just now. S397 Servers. Server 1, Race event, Nissan GT500, Track Mills Metropark / Outerloop. As described in the window below the server list. I joined after it downloaded the RaceEvent and installed it. No problems at all. Server 2. Before joining I see it has RaceEvent USF 2000, Track is Autodrome of Portugal / GP layout. I have the track but have no interest in the car and haven't downloaded it. Didn't join the server. Server 3 RaceEvent Stockcars Oval series, Track, Alabama Superspeedway / Alabama 500. I joined straight away because a rfm download wasn't required as I already had it. Why have I got it? Because it's part of the content list from Steam. We all have it. If your on Steam. I don't know if S397 can check to see who has been on their servers but if you can my rF2 race name is the same as here on the forum.
Well aware how it works, had rf2 since 2012. All official content subscribed . I've got a few weeks holiday now so will delve deeper. Cheers
Please don't see my posts as being directed solely at you because they where not. This is a common area were people are having trouble so my post are directed at everyone or anyone with a similar problem. To everyone; What we need to do is not be afraid of entering a empty server. If people see a player in there they maybe more inclined to join themselves. @S397 Just my opinion here, A server with stockcars wouldn't be my first choice. Their great fun with at least 20 other drivers but a solo or even 5,,, Just a little boring. I'd use your Megane or similar on circuit style tracks were 1 driver can at least run his own time till someone else joins or not. These are reasonably easy to drive for newbies or those looking for a quick fix. You have the other two for the more ambitious or experienced.
All good, after you wait for all the required downloads to complete and install as per my original post. The problem as I see it is not the reluctance to join empty servers but the trouble we go through just to do it. And the latest trend is for servers to show a number of players on the server but after surviving the torturous entry in the server you find they are all AI. The falsehood of the number of players is growing amongst many of the servers. It is ironic how many servers show 18 and 15 players. Let me illustrate my original point. Tonight I decided to join this V8 quickrace. It turns out I would have needed a total of 15 Files. No idea however at this point what or how many. I simply get the component download screen. Using the old mod manager ( which is still very good) I had to wait for 4 missing files that I did not have. I waited for one that is why three are now shown as missing. Sorry with my slow connection that could mean any amount of time. And all I wanted to do was join an empty server for a quick V8 race. There could have been many others going through the same negative experience. For giggles I let the download run and after 35 minutes I fell asleep waiting for the download. Lucky for me that I already had 11 of the files god knows how long the complete download would have taken. There must be a better way!
? just started racing rf2 do I need a mod manager to race online? keep getting bad file descriptor error message, is this linked to not having a mod manager?
Make sure you set a valid package directory otherwise you will get that error. I had the same issue. Look here: https://forum.studio-397.com/index.php?threads/bad-file-descriptor.53721/#post-871577
Here, the problem is that for some strange reason that is difficult to understand some server admins keep on including several tracks in their open servers. This method is the second best way to prevent people joining your server. The best one is using a password.
The reason admins do that is they don't want to keep building new rfmods every time they change tracks in rotation. So what they do is to include all tracks they ever need into one rfmod. Then, from that one rfmod with for example 15 tracks, they select maybe 5 tracks into active rotation and change those 5 tracks depending on week. So you end up downloading 15 tracks of which only 5 are actively used that week. This is the behaviour I observed since day one with rF2 from a lot of servers. I think it's an inherent problem with the rfmod system.
