A discussion on Reddit asks, “Why do good games fail?” One of the popular responses suggests that instead of seeking out the positives, players tend to focus on flaws and overlook the good aspects of games.
One of the main challenges that gamers may encounter is high latency or ping – two critical performance indicators. In this article, we aim to explain the concept of latency in gaming using easily understandable language and highlight its significance for a great gaming experience.
What is latency when it comes to gaming?
In simple terms, gaming latency refers to the duration it takes for data to travel from your device to the game server. Faster data transmission results in lower latency, providing a better gaming experience. On the other hand, slower data transfer leads to increased latency, commonly known as “lag.” A game server with low latency is capable of transferring information quickly.
It’s important to note that while latency and ping are often used interchangeably, they have slight differences. Ping is the signal sent when a player inputs a command, and the server responds. In games like Destiny 2 or Doom Eternal, bad ping is noticeable, as it can result in delays that affect gameplay. Hence, prioritizing a gaming server with good ping is crucial when considering latency in gaming.
Latency and ping are hot topics within gaming communities. Searching for “latency” or “ping” along with the name of your favorite game will yield numerous articles and YouTube videos on reducing latency in that particular game.
What causes high latency?
Examining its underlying factors is essential to understanding what causes high latency in gaming. These include:
- The hardware specifications of your server (lower-spec or shared machines may process and render game data slower than low-latency game servers),
- The server’s location (greater distance between the server and the gamer means longer travel time for information),
- And the quality of your gaming server’s internet connection (lower-grade connections result in slower information transfer).
If you’re seeking answers regarding high latency in your game, it’s likely a combination of these factors.
How do we measure latency?
Measuring gaming latency involves calculating how long it takes for data to travel between your computer and the game server. Players often do this by sending a game server ‘ping’, a small packet of data, and noting how quickly the server acknowledges receiving it.
Dedicated gamers place great importance on game server ping times and often abandon servers considered too slow to deliver a satisfactory gaming experience.
How can we reduce latency to enhance the overall gaming experience?
If you are looking to reduce latency in your gaming experience, here’s what you need to know –
- Physical distance matters: The closer players and data centers are to each other, the lower the latency. Consider where your gamers are located and choose a host with data centers in the same region to minimize travel distances and network hops.
- Opt for a dedicated server: Sharing hardware resources with other users can negatively impact performance and increase gaming latency. Ensure you have a dedicated servers for your game.
- Improving local network performance: Players can also take action to improve their local network performance:
- Check hardware and internet speed: Ensure your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements and has a fast broadband connection.
- Use wired connections: Choose a wired connection instead of WiFi to minimize latency whenever possible.
- Optimize WiFi setup: If you have to use WiFi, place your computer as close to the broadband router as possible to reduce ping.
- Close background applications: Close any unnecessary applications that are running in the background to free up resources for your game.
- Prioritize gaming traffic: Adjust your router settings to prioritize gaming traffic for a smoother experience.
By implementing these strategies together, you can minimize latency and improve overall gaming performance for a better player experience.