Left 4 Dead 2 released yesterday and, while its Versus Mode is terrific fun, you'd be hard pressed to find many people able to enjoy it. The game has been hit with massive lag on Xbox Live, despite two updates being made available for the game since retail copies were made.
Destructoid staff members have been hit with issues when connecting online. Brad Nicholson has suffered from lag, as have I and my wife. Looking around online seems to confirm that this is a widespread problem, with complaints pouring in like a horde of Infected near a car alarm. The night before launch, the game was running smoothly from my experience, but now the game is a stuttering nuisance most of the time.
Repeated attempts to get into games can find some smooth-running games, but most are almost impossible to play. This is obviously not the kind of thing you want to have for an online-focused game at launch. I'm sure Valve will resolve the issue in good time, but right now it's very frustrating.
What about you lot? Anybody having similar issues? What about our PC users? Is the Steam version holding up?
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
Likes
PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3
Meet the rest of the team
| BBcode help |
| [b]Bold text[/b] |
Bold text |
| [i]Italic text[/i] |
Italic text |
| [url]http://www.dtoid.com/[/url] |
http://www.dtoid.com |
| [url=http://www.dtoid.com/]Web link[/url] |
Web link |
|
| [img]http://www.example.com/robot.jpg[/img] |
 |
Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
120 comments | showing # 1 to 50
|
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
Comments policy
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
3:00 PM on 11.18.2009
| 
So yeah, Steams been working fine.
Did that to me too. Apparently its 'ninja decrypting' as they said on the Steam Forums. Leave it for an hour or so and it should come up, that's what happened for me anyways.
Oh yeah, I play PC games now.
Yeah, assuming you don't count elitism as a problem.
not sure what you mean, but ye, anyone can rent is own L4d2 server for like 8€/month, which divided by a couple of friends is almost nothing for a perfect l4d2 experience.
PC Version is fine, it has... dun dun dun... Dedicated Servers!
When all the console gamers were mocking our desire for them in Modern Warfare, this is the reason why. Enjoy the lag.
I started a L4D2 game with a friend last night and we noticed right away it was too laggy. So we tried again but this time I set the server settings to "Local" instead of "Official Dedicated" and that solved the lag issue. I thought it was interesting that there's an an option of local or dedicated since usually Live games are hosted locally (AFAIK). Maybe the dedicated servers couldn't handle the release day load?
Theres nothing elitist about knowing youre on a superior platform.
Damn right! Console gamers are SO fucking stupid! Not like us great mates together with our PCs. ENJOY YOUR LAG, XBOT LOSERS!
The best fix would probably be to just get the PC version tho :P
All very odd indeed. Anyone else having these issues? L4D1 runs beautifully on my PC, as did the L4D2 demo.
What in the hell does dedicated servers have to do with XBox Live fucking up? Hahah
Wait..... What?!
I don't usually like to get in to the whole console vs PC debate (they both suck), but online console gaming for me is rarely an enjoyable experience.
I find nothing attractive about having the game host on another player's console. The host advantage sucks, when the hosts connection sucks the lag sucks, randomly losing all the progress in a game because the host sucks and/or the connection just sucked to begin with sucks. It just sucks.
And yes, I know PC gaming has plenty of problems like that too, but at least you have a chance to customize the sucking experience.
I hope this doesn't affect review scores, I think that's the dumbest thing ever. I understand the rationale but really, so long as it's fixed who gives a shit about a week of imperfect online gameplay?
It's very very popular and I guess they haven't got enough good dedicated servers close enough to each group of players etc.
Welcome to the PC Elitists, Jim! You should expect your top hat, cane and smoking jacket shortly, but you might have to learn the secret handshake first.
"Damn right! Console gamers are SO fucking stupid! Not like us great mates together with our PCs. ENJOY YOUR LAG, XBOT LOSERS!"
It's pretty stupid to prefer paying to use your own internet rather than getting free access to dedicated servers, yes.
Glad you agree.
I'll buy it for PC cheap, once I build a new PC. Til then, console zombie face splitting.
@StingingVelvet: Not all console gamers make fun of you PC people. It's just some of us don't have the money to keep up with the new stuff. That, and I am too used to a controller...
Hope that helps!
I'm sure the issues will be sorted out shortly, isn't it pretty much commonplace for very popular games to have lag issues on the first couple of days?
That said, my PC-version runs perfectly fine, haven't had any problems finding good servers (and that's in Japan, where there's literally nobody playing).
Yeah I said it, so what.
Replace "platform" with "race" and you have Hitler's mantra.