How large of a factor is Ping when deciding to buy a game?

[Flex]

So this has always been a HUGE issue to me. Probably because I play FPS games 95% of the time online. And I almost solely play Online games. So ping is a very important factor for me when I am deciding on whether to buy a game or not.
For example playing CSGO with a ping of 100+ms is impossible for me. But I think that is because I am very competitive.

I was amazed at the amount of South Africans that bought and played BF1 and played on international server. Crazy!

The ONLY 2 games that I am currently playing on international servers is OW and Player Unknowns Battle Grounds, and that is just because I have not other choice of Servers.
Both of these games are that good that I can over look the issue with Ping.

How important is Ping to you, and have you had any games like what I mentioned above?

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[DieGrootHammer]

For me, ping has little to no impact whatsoever. I pre-ordered and bought Battlefield 1 knowing fully that there won't be any servers in SA. But it's really easy for me to say this because I am just not in to competitive online gaming at all. It's all for fun for me, and as long as I'm having fun, lag will be a very limiting factor in my buying process.

 

[Flex]

For me, ping has little to no impact whatsoever. I pre-ordered and bought Battlefield 1 knowing fully that there won't be any servers in SA. But it's really easy for me to say this because I am just not in to competitive online gaming at all. It's all for fun for me, and as long as I'm having fun, lag will be a very limiting factor in my buying process.

So you still played it Online, even though you had to run and gun (or Spray and Pray)? Or did you buy it mainly for the campaign ?

 

[DieGrootHammer]

So you still played it Online, even though you had to run and gun (or Spray and Pray)? Or did you buy it mainly for the campaign ?

I was lured into buying it by the promise of gameplay in a WW1 scenario. I impulsed bought it before it came to light that there wasn't gonna be a big emphasis on single player. And to this day, I've spent a huge amount of hours in multiplayer in the game. I think the fact that I bought it on Xbox, and the fact that I'm playing via Xbox Live and I'm playing an FPS with a controller makes up some of the inaccuracies associated with high lag.

 

[Werfetter]

So you still played it Online, even though you had to run and gun (or Spray and Pray)? Or did you buy it mainly for the campaign ?

I think that is pretty much the difference. If I want a game for it's multiplayer capabilities then Ping will greatly impact my decision. For single player/campaign games It wont make a difference.

 

[Graal]

It's going to depend on the game. Some games have great netcode that compensates for ping, like Overwatch. With slow-paced games like ArmA3 or DayZ where twitch-reactions aren't necessary to win, it also tends not to be an issue.

If I'm looking at a twitch-shooter like Battlefield or Counter-Strike, then high pings are an absolute no-go.

 

[czc]

High pings are definitely not enjoyable. So I wouldn't want to try playing if I had another choice.

 

[TechThief]

I can play MOBA games like HoN and HoTS on EU servers as well as diablo.

It's FPS games that I kind of can't handle with high ping, played APB reloaded once upon a time and it was really fun, but the amount of lag was just too much and would have ended up me starting to hate the game, as an example it literally took 5 seconds for the vehicle I was driving to turn left after I pressed the left arrow key....

MMO games tho, I am absolutely fine with since I don't partake in any PVP whatsoever, yeah certain attack prompts from mobs in newer MMOs I won't be able to dodge, but honestly that does not bother me, I'm a filthy casual when it comes to MMOs

My range of being able to handle "high" ping is usually 250-300max any higher and I start teleporting and animations start looping, that's when I am like: "nope time for something else"

 

[Graal]

It's FPS games that I kind of can't handle with high ping, played APB reloaded once upon a time and it was really fun, but the amount of lag was just too much and would have ended up me starting to hate the game, as an example it literally took 5 seconds for the vehicle I was driving to turn left after I pressed the left arrow key....

Holy crap, I remember that. I still can't believe any developer could be so stupid to handle driving server-side. I thought the game was broken before I realised the game sends driving instructions to the server before it actually steers the vehicle.

 

[The Joker]

Anything other than multiplayer shooters are generally ok with ping around 160-200 (Except maybe Dota and Lol. Only matters if you're at all serious about gaming).
People claiming that 200ms latency makes no difference in a game like Overwatch, either doesn't play competitively or only plays heroes like Reinhardt. Please do yourself a favor and play McCree or Widow and then tell me that 200ms makes no difference.

Honestly I hate high latency with a passion. The biggest issue for us in SA is the fact that many Multiplayer games now make use of Amazons AWS, we don't have that in SA and it won't be coming here anytime soon, seeing as one of the requirements is having more than 1 Electricity provider...So yeah we have Eskom and that's it.

 

[Xiphan]

I can play MOBA games like HoN and HoTS on EU servers as well as diablo.

It's FPS games that I kind of can't handle with high ping, played APB reloaded once upon a time and it was really fun, but the amount of lag was just too much and would have ended up me starting to hate the game, as an example it literally took 5 seconds for the vehicle I was driving to turn left after I pressed the left arrow key....

MMO games tho, I am absolutely fine with since I don't partake in any PVP whatsoever, yeah certain attack prompts from mobs in newer MMOs I won't be able to dodge, but honestly that does not bother me, I'm a filthy casual when it comes to MMOs

My range of being able to handle "high" ping is usually 250-300max any higher and I start teleporting and animations start looping, that's when I am like: "nope time for something else"

Before Dota 2 came along I easily sunk well over 1000 hours into HoN and a good amount of that was before we even had local servers to play on. Diablo III while playable started to infuriate me when it came to spells that could be your saving grace; ie the Wizard's Diamond skin ability. I like to think I have good reflexes but when your character dies before you get any indication that you should've cast diamond skin, well that becomes off-putting very quickly. You can even have a great connection and still die because the server's suck.

Lastly there is the following benefit you get by avoiding multiplayer games:

View attachment 24321

 

[czc]

For example that Grim Dawn mygame. The first night we tried multiplayer with [MENTION=289]Jan[/MENTION] and [MENTION=2132]Xiphan[/MENTION] and the lag was just a major killer for trying it again.

 

[Isengard]

I agree with Joker, competitive FPS must be under 100ms. Overwatch is a lot more lenient with latency so I wouldn't lump it in with traditional FPS. MMO's are fine with 200ms for the most part, even the twitchy action ones.

Ideally we'd play all our games sub 100ms, but as long as we are down here at the tip of Africa that just wont be the case.

 

[BeoTeK]

Games that I play on overseas servers include; Titanfall 2 and Rainbow Six Siege.

And actually considering buying them a second time for the PS4.

 

[Gforced]

Games that I play on overseas servers include; Titanfall 2 and Rainbow Six Siege.

And actually considering buying them a second time for the PS4.

Watching Rainbow Siege gameplay I don't think I could play on overseas servers. As soon as fibre hits my area I am switching, I need those low pings.

Playing csgo over the weekend, had problems with my isp and got 200ms ping instead of my normal <100ping and the game was unplayable sure I got a few kills but going head to head with someone they would win most times, had to switch to the smg and prefire every corner.

I didn't pick up BF1 because no local servers, so ping is pretty important. I like being a least semi-competitive when I play.

 

[mottamort]

For example that Grim Dawn mygame. The first night we tried multiplayer with [MENTION=289]Jan[/MENTION] and [MENTION=2132]Xiphan[/MENTION] and the lag was just a major killer for trying it again.

But thats local based, so lag shouldnt be too bad, surely? Maybe the host was just crap
If you're HC or willing to boost a little (its fairly quick actually) I'm always keen to play, and i have fibre