I need to clarify that KKEN.
The TCP/IP protocol suite contains two very different transport protocols. They are User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). All types of TCP/IP Internet connections should support both types of connections, the exception being when you are behind some kind of a NAT or Proxy that won't let UDP function properly. UDP is the connectionless protocol in this case. UDP packets get sent, and their is no tracking to see if those packets actually get received. TCP is connection based, and does check to see if each packet is received, and will re-transmit as necessary. Most internet gaming will use UDP packets, since these packets are faster and use less overhead. Aces High can also use TCP packets, and is smart enough to switch to TCP if UDP is not available.
Which one is better? For gaming UDP is much better because it is faster. TCP is more reliable, but it is not as fast, so it tends to be a bad choice for gaming. By the time a TCP connection re-transmits positional data in AH, it would be useless anyway, so there isn't any benefit there. In Aces High, a UDP connection will be faster and will generally show less "warping". A TCP connection may not disconnect as easily, but will be higher latency and will tend to warp more. Now AH does use TCP packets for some information such as damage info that MUST get through and isn't as time critical as the positional data that makes up the bulk of the data flow.
Your comment about turning down the modem speed is valid, but not for those reasons. Modem connections generally use compression schemes to get better download speeds for surfing the web and downloading files. Those are not the important properties of the connection for playing a game like AH, we need quality, stability, and low latency. If you are a modem gamer you can generally get a better quality and "better" connection to a game like AH by turning the modem "speed" down a notch so it doesn't use the compression algorithms that degrade the connection quality somewhat. For example if you have a 56k modem, you are much better setting the connection speed to only 36k. This connection will be better optimized for a quality connection, just what we need in a game like AH.
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Lephturn - Chief Trainer
A member of The Flying Pigs
http://www.flyingpigs.com "A pig is a jolly companion, Boar, sow, barrow, or gilt --
A pig is a pal, who'll boost your morale, Though mountains may topple and tilt.
When they've blackballed, bamboozled, and burned you, When they've turned on you, Tory and Whig,
Though you may be thrown over by Tabby and Rover, You'll never go wrong with a pig, a pig,
You'll never go wrong with a pig!" -- Thomas Pynchon, "Gravity's Rainbow"
