What to expect (and not to expect) of OR Multiplayer Phase 1

[jjtang]

1. After uncoupling, depends on the train settings (how many players coupled together, any engine left from other player), one will be declared the controller, or none. But always, you can hit shift-E to gain back control.
2. If a player get lost (connection problem, or hit ESC to quit), his train will disappear, unless it is coupled to another player's train, then it will become the asset of another player. Server quits means all other players will get disappear in the client's sim, but spawned AI will continue to move (as ghost at this stage).
3. Client has to choose explore mode, so no timetable.
4. You can couple to any train, but coupling to an AI is not fully tested (I once coupled to one, drag it back to the yard, but that is pretty much the whole test we have done on this topic).
5. No manual change of signals yet. Signal is the constant updated area in OR, so we decided to postpone it, although we have already implemented the click-and-pick function in the dispatcher viewer window.

[csantucci]

jjtang, thanks for answers.

Carlo

[jjtang]

You are welcome.

One thing to mention, the Client can load an activity, but the AIs are not sent to the server yet, so that's why we want the client to play in the explore mode only. However, you can create a one-train activity, connect to the server, and play by the timetable you set for your train, then may be OK, as the server does not care, it only tells you the switch, the signal, but does not care about where do you go and how fast.

[OTTODAD]

How will multi-player sessions participants using Internet connections with varying bandwidth affect the smooth running of it ?

My rural UK Internet BT Telecom copper cable broadband connection is said to be 1MB average !

O t t o

[jjtang]

I assume 1MB should be fine. Client only gets 1 message (about 1k at most, depends on how many train moving) per second, plus signal and switch (all compressed and carefully designed to make it short) every 10 seconds.

[jjtang]

I am now in the airport, using its wireless, my testing speed was ranged from 5k per second to 180k per second, please see the following picture. Both are running on my computer, and both are looking at the same train, but the server is 500 miles away. You can notice that the location synchronized quite well (the distance reported), and the right-bottom shows the current connection speed.

OR7.jpg

[csantucci]

Somewhere there is some concern about client players not behaving correctly and disturbing the other players. Can the server owner "throw out" clients not behaving correctly?

[tscraftsman]

I could see that being a handy feature to implement. Or the dispatcher could just line em into the siding and forget about them and run trains by them until they get the idea! Which brings another question could he line the switch to let himself out or run through the switch and end up on the ground? I'm definitely looking forward to trying out multiplayer sessions. I could see clubs, groups virtual railroads with their own set of operating practices being formed just for this purpose. Sounds like alot of fun.

Somewhere there is some concern about client players not behaving correctly and disturbing the other players. Can the server owner "throw out" clients not behaving correctly?

[jjtang]

The dispatcher window is now available in the single player mode. We also added a feature so that you can click a switch in this window, and change it.

[OTTODAD]

Looking forward to testing the next beta, nothing much of interest going on elsewhere !

Take care, O t t o.

[smiljacc18]

The dispatcher window is now available in the single player mode. We also added a feature so that you can click a switch in this window, and change it.

Thanks so much,I'm sure it will be a nice asset to OR and all of us OR fans!

[eric]

The dispatcher window is now available in the single player mode. We also added a feature so that you can click a switch in this window, and change it.

Now that's responsiveness! Thanks, guys. Running activities on a four track crossover into a terminal or an ore dock has been interesting at best unless I'm going 5 mph......

[twpol]

Now that's responsiveness! Thanks, guys. Running activities on a four track crossover into a terminal or an ore dock has been interesting at best unless I'm going 5 mph......

Don't forget that Alt+click works in the normal 3D view too.

[eric]

Don't forget that Alt+click works in the normal 3D view too.

Yeah, but still a little tricky with double slips...

[Koplopermau]

Very impressive! I really like this setup but I have a couple of questions.

1. Will you implant remote server capability, or do I need to be in-game while the server runs?

2. Can't you make one player (the server or administrator) control the server switches remotely, like traffic control? A sort of "back end" at the server which enables this person to fly through the route like in the Route Editor and switch switches in a different client form. Of course, in the dispatcher view (which will be more extended for a traffic controller), a chatbox can be installed where people can request to change paths. This will really make you experience the real deal. You have to contact the traffic controller to switch the switches for you so you can drive the way you desire. This traffic controller can also give priority to trains, like making them enter a station first instead of that cargo train.

3. You already said that AI can drive on the servers and that you *maybe* can switch trains. Maybe it's a idea to give this traffic controller a ability to create activities just as in the Activity Editor and add those to the server. If one chooses the server (Think about choosing a route in MSTS) he / she can choose a activity that is created by the server host and drive this service. After the client is done, the player can either free-roam or request another activity to the traffic controller which will create one live for the player. This could lead to some very interesting results, if done well.

4. In addition to point 3: Make the server able to create activities and assign these to the AI. When a player joins, the player can choose to take over the current AI train and continue the activity.

I hope I don't sound very demanding... I adore the work you guys do and I hope the beta comes out soon. This is just as I imagine the multiplayer to be.