Home Will Evolve work in South Africa?

Will Evolve work in South Africa?

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Evolve multiplayer

Some of you are excited about Evolve. The game has been getting a lot of loving – both from the hype machine and actual critical praise. However, here in South Africa, there has been a lot of concern about how well it would work due to our poor internet infrastructure. I have been given the chance to put the game through its paces locally, and here’s how it went.

First of all, we already told you that the beta ran just fine locally – people were playing it on Xbox during the open weekend and had a serious blast. We also told you that Evolve would support peer-to-peer (P2P) at launch; it was just disabled in the Beta so that 2K could test the servers. We are also continually asking 2K about LAN support but haven’t received answers yet.

However, even though they couldn’t answer our LAN questions, 2K did try to help us find out if the game would be worthwhile locally. We received a very special Beta with everything unlocked – single player, P2P, and all the customization options.

Evolve Wraith

For the most part, I found myself playing single player evacuation campaigns. I really enjoy playing as the monster against a team of hunter bots – their AI can be ramped up if you find the game too easy, making it a serious challenge and a whole lot of fun. However, the game is built for multiplayer and I needed to test it.

The first game, we strangely decided to let me host. Unfortunately, this Beta build doesn’t have a built in ping tracker, so I can’t tell you the pings that we all had throughout. However, for the first game it was just me and one other local player and my horrible iBurst line (they claim it’s 2Mb but it’s closer to 1Mb) managed without the other player experiencing any noticeable lag.

Evolve caira

We continued rotating and adding people to the mix. Eventually, we settled on the member with the fastest line which was only a 4Mb connection. The games were perfectly playable, although I did find that playing as the monster experienced more lag than as the hunters. While it wasn’t game breaking lag, the speed at which the monster can kill creatures and consume them is slightly diminished (about half a second lag) in P2P gameplay. Additionally, sneak attacks and other time-sensitive maneuvers weren’t always possible. Strangely, I only really experienced this lag when alone as the monster – once a group battle started, special attacks and moves worked without any delay; even the precision-based abduct power of Wraith’s was fully operational without any lag issues. If you don’t have a full contingent of five players and instead all opt to be hunters, there is no noticeable lag.

Unfortunately, none of the beta testers selected for this test run had a 10Mb line, so it was impossible for us to see how it worked under ideal circumstances. However, since the average internet user in SA has a 2-4MB line, at least this should give you a worst-case scenario idea. Yes, Evolve works with P2P in South Africa, albeit with some lag depending on the host and player choice.

Evolve evac

Finally, keep in mind that this was tested on a Beta build, so more optimizations to the netcode may be implemented before launch. Still, if you’re looking to pick up Evolve but you’re worried it will be unplayable, fear not. It really is fine with P2P, plus I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty of user-hosted local servers when the game launches. At least if your internet goes down, it still is a fun game to play on your own, although nothing beats killing and consuming your friends. Unfortunately there’s nothing that 2K can do to make the game playable if you’re hit with loadshedding.

Last Updated: January 28, 2015

81 Comments

  1. Ghost In The Rift

    January 28, 2015 at 14:39

    Maybe South Africa’s internet infrastructure should “Evolve” a little bit more…:-P

    To Soon?:-P

    Reply

    • Raptor Rants A Lot:Original #7

      January 28, 2015 at 14:41

      Badumtsh

      Reply

    • Tosh MA

      January 28, 2015 at 14:44

      It couldn’t come soon enough, seriously. Last decade would’ve been good.

      Reply

      • Raptor Rants A Lot:Original #7

        January 28, 2015 at 14:44

        That’s not what she said….

        Reply

        • Tosh MA

          January 28, 2015 at 14:45

          Except in your case. #7SecondsSoundsAboutRight

          Reply

    • justlikemo

      January 28, 2015 at 15:22

      FTTH is coming soon, so lets see how that looks

      Reply

      • Tosh MA

        January 28, 2015 at 15:25

        It’s been “coming soon” for over a year now, and about 20 suburbs in the country have access so far. Maybe a little more, but the coverage is almost negligible, and the cost is prohibiting.

        Reply

        • justlikemo

          January 28, 2015 at 15:27

          According to the guys they are ready to roll out, your right 0.000000001% of the people will enjoy it.

          Reply

  2. Blood Emperor Trevor

    January 28, 2015 at 14:42

    Perpetually poring over peering :/

    Reply

    • RinceThis

      January 28, 2015 at 15:31

      PPOP? It’ll never catch on!

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        January 28, 2015 at 15:41

        But once you PPOP you can’t stop!

        Reply

  3. Ryanza

    January 28, 2015 at 14:46

    There will no servers in South Africa. So if you connected to a server you will lag. UK server will be around 200ms. Some might not even notice 2000ms lag but if you like me, you will notice lag.

    P2P depends on the quality of the hosts line. Evolve being a 4v1 game, there shouldn’t be much lag. Host should always be the monster.

    Anyway. disregard my comment. I have been made out to be the crazy one, the don’t know shit person, the trash commenting person, says the same thing over and over person. I wouldn’t trust my comments.

    Don’t support Ryanza.

    Reply

    • Tosh MA

      January 28, 2015 at 14:48

      You could always try a passive aggressive approach?

      Oh wait.

      Reply

      • Ryanza

        January 28, 2015 at 14:51

        yes. you said a funny thing.

        Reply

        • Tosh MA

          January 28, 2015 at 14:53

          And you are most welcome to join in. In fact, we enjoy (I hope, guys?) when people do.

          We all have our days, sometimes I say the dumbest shit, but don’t take it too hard. We’re not that bad here, actually. Come back later, try again, and don’t worry. Remember, what we say is just our opinion too, you have as much right to voice yours as any of us. 🙂

          Reply

    • Her Highness the Hipster

      January 28, 2015 at 14:51

      Agreed, actually 🙂
      When the host was monster, the lag was minimal. Thanks for the helpful and constructive comment.
      #Ryanza4lyf

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        January 28, 2015 at 15:13

        #Ryanza4lyf. I hope it’s not lyf as in his body O_o

        Reply

    • Raptor Rants A Lot:Original #7

      January 28, 2015 at 14:54

      Hey dude, why you being so down man?

      We dig your don’t support DRM stuff. It’s your signature! Don’t let the others make you feel unwanted!

      Reply

    • Spathi

      January 28, 2015 at 14:58

      Well, the last part of your comment didn’t exactly help to dispel that notion… 😉

      Reply

      • Ryanza

        January 28, 2015 at 15:05

        lol. I wasn’t trying too. I have to do my thing to have fun on here. If I change to suit others, I will not be having fun. Then it will became pointless.

        Reply

    • RinceThis

      January 28, 2015 at 15:23

      If we are like you we will notice lag? Coming from someone who always says no to online play I question your authority here!

      Reply

      • Ryanza

        January 28, 2015 at 15:45

        I taught myself how to play Call Of Duty multiplayer with lag. 1 bar lag. Over the years oversea cables come and then I got to experience 2 bars of lag. Then more South Africans started to play COD and then I got to experience P2P with South African hosts. That’s only one example. I know lag.

        I always say no to always online games, such as Diablo 3 (lag) and SimCity (lag). Always online I will never support again.

        The thing is I know lag and when I speak about lag, I am not speaking shit.

        Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 28, 2015 at 15:23

      Your message is strong. It burns like a candle in the dark. Never stop fighting.

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        January 28, 2015 at 15:24

        #nevergiveup!

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          January 28, 2015 at 15:24

          #neversurender

          Reply

          • RinceThis

            January 28, 2015 at 15:25

            #nevereaticecreamaftermidnight 0_O

          • Quo Vadis?

            January 28, 2015 at 15:26

            #whatAreYouOnAbout? O_o LOL

          • Hammersteyn

            January 28, 2015 at 15:27

            hehe #nevervisitpenisland

          • Tosh MA

            January 28, 2015 at 15:28

            Speaking from #experience?

          • Hammersteyn

            January 28, 2015 at 15:30

            It’s boring. All there is is a pen museum. Why? What did you think?

          • Tosh MA

            January 28, 2015 at 15:30

            It’s you, there’s no debate as to what I thought 😛

          • Hammersteyn

            January 28, 2015 at 15:30

            hehe

          • Spaffy

            January 28, 2015 at 15:36

            Nice recovery XD

        • Tosh MA

          January 28, 2015 at 15:28

          #nevergonnagiveyouup

          Reply

        • Sageville

          January 28, 2015 at 15:54

          #NeverLookForMeInALemonParty

          Reply

    • Spaffy

      January 28, 2015 at 15:37

      #supportRyanza

      Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      January 28, 2015 at 20:27

      i appreciate you Ryanza.
      you’re not crazy, you’re the lazygamer meme.

      Reply

  4. Guild

    January 28, 2015 at 14:48

    Ok sold. Pre-order done.

    Reply

    • Her Highness the Hipster

      January 28, 2015 at 15:04

      Which platform? Seems I’ll need it on consoles and PC so that I can jam with everyone…

      Reply

      • Tosh MA

        January 28, 2015 at 15:07

        Come to think of it, maybe this is why they aren’t rushing towards cross-platform. More sales.

        Just a sudden conspiracy theory thought.

        Reply

        • Ryanza

          January 28, 2015 at 15:53

          Don’t turn into a Ryanza.

          Reply

      • Guild

        January 28, 2015 at 16:47

        PS4, definitely hit up a lobby with you and the team

        Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    January 28, 2015 at 14:49

    Destinys Beta ran without a hitch but the launch was a disaster and recently I’ve been having server issues daily. I got sent a Planetside 2 Beta key for PS4. That sure as hell will have issues too if the PC version is anything to go on.We are still a long long ways behind with our internet. Yes we can play online but the experience leaves a lot to be desired and I wonder some times if it’s worth it. Too many times have I just given up to play an offline game instead. I hope this isn’t the case here.

    Reply

    • Tosh MA

      January 28, 2015 at 14:50

      I had such massive issues with dota last night, could watch games but playing was not possible. And we have local servers for that, so it’s mad.

      Saying that, I’ve found MMO’s to be fine, no hassles. So I think it has a lot to do with the servers and more so the netcode of the games.

      Reply

    • Aries

      January 28, 2015 at 14:51

      Why dont they just have servers like BF3 and 4, that seems to work better than depending on another person internet speed

      Reply

      • Tosh MA

        January 28, 2015 at 14:51

        Servers are expensive. :/

        Reply

        • Aries

          January 28, 2015 at 14:53

          BF4 servers are reasonable actually and it servers for like 5 people so the price kind of low actually

          Reply

    • Her Highness the Hipster

      January 28, 2015 at 14:52

      That’s why it’s cool that they’ve added P2P so that we don’t have to fight the ridiculous pings to servers overseas. Not necessarily the best solution, but still a pretty good one.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        January 28, 2015 at 14:56

        No I know that, It’s just hopefully the monster is big enough that I can still hit it with a railgun even with the half a second delay.

        Reply

    • Ryanza

      January 28, 2015 at 15:24

      The internet can be a problem for us but the bigger problem for us is the distance to the servers. So we need servers. How do we get servers. We need to grow the gaming community.

      New consoles costing R6200 is not going to grow the gaming community in South Africa. Hell R3800 old consoles didn’t grow the community much. Price is still a big factor for South Africans. PS4 has sold over 40000 units in over a year.

      What are South Africans buying. I am seeing more smart phones, laptops and desktop computers than ever before.
      Majority of South Africans don’t have access to cheap adsl lines. How do you grow the gaming community without internet. Dare I say remove DRM from retail.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        January 28, 2015 at 15:26

        Problem is that you cant remove DRM. We want to play what the people overseas are playing so we tolerate the issues best we can with lag and disconnects.

        Reply

        • Ryanza

          January 28, 2015 at 15:30

          We as people can do anything we put our minds too. People need direction but gamers get distracted by the shiny new games.

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            January 28, 2015 at 15:42

            We as people are not even 5% of the gaming community world wide. I once asked what the possibility of Planetside 2 server could be in Africa on their forums. Not even South Africa just Africa. People from Asia (China and Russia) and South America ripped into me as if I just spat on whatever god they pray to telling me to STFU and to get in line. But that’s the internet in a nut shell I guess

          • Ryanza

            January 28, 2015 at 15:48

            The industry game is designed to keep countries like us down and begging.

    • RinceThis

      January 28, 2015 at 15:32

      Compared to a year ago our internet is brilliant. Give it another year.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        January 28, 2015 at 15:38

        But I’m an impatient fanboy.

        Reply

  6. Viking Of Science

    January 28, 2015 at 14:51

    I Know @Admiral_Chief:disqus was jamming the beta on Steam, I wonder If he’ll tell us how that’s been going…. *cough cough*

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 28, 2015 at 14:59

      He’d be like :

      Evolve is coming

      Support DRM

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief

        January 28, 2015 at 20:22

        XD

        Reply

    • Raptor Rants A Lot:Original #7

      January 28, 2015 at 15:01

      He loved it hey. Said that it also grafted well.

      He made a good point on the lag issue:

      1) When you are the team hunting the monster the monster is so large that lag would hardly result in missed shots or a feeling of lag in the usual sense
      2) When you are the monster most of your attacks are area attacks so a bit of player lag wouldn’t result in many misses either.

      Apparently the very gameplay lends itself to allow a bit of lag without real penalties

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief

        January 28, 2015 at 20:23

        ^This

        Reply

  7. oVg elfroot slayer

    January 28, 2015 at 15:11

    BWAHAHAHAHA… Evolve and South Africa in one sentence 🙂 BWAHAHAHAHA

    You might as well chuck Eskom in there too 😛

    Reply

    • Quo Vadis?

      January 28, 2015 at 15:12

      Now now, play nice. The kids on the hype train need hope, too ;P
      *runs*

      Reply

      • oVg elfroot slayer

        January 28, 2015 at 15:15

        • Tosh MA

          January 28, 2015 at 15:15

          Look at that camera shake!!! Next gen?!

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            January 28, 2015 at 15:16

            Too much detail. has to be PC

          • Tosh MA

            January 28, 2015 at 15:17

            Eh, still locked at 30fps though. :/

          • oVg elfroot slayer

            January 28, 2015 at 15:18

            Puppet Control

          • Hammersteyn

            January 28, 2015 at 15:19

            lol

          • oVg elfroot slayer

            January 28, 2015 at 15:17

            No, just one hand 😛

          • Tosh MA

            January 28, 2015 at 15:17

            That’s what she said? 😛

          • oVg elfroot slayer

            January 28, 2015 at 15:18

            The other is up his butt.

          • Tosh MA

            January 28, 2015 at 15:19

            I wish I didn’t picture things as I read them. I really wish. SIGH.

  8. Johan Naudé

    January 28, 2015 at 15:55

    Doesn’t bother me. I always play on UK servers in any game. Never had issues with Battlefield 4. I prefer UK servers anyway. On the SA servers you can’t get a single frag without someone calling you a hacker or a p**s and I’m sick of it.

    Reply

  9. HairyEwok

    January 28, 2015 at 16:06

    Lag? Psh South Africans are so used to lag if we have to go play comps on European grounds we’ll totally wreck them due to lag making our reaction time and insight on strategy far superior.

    Reply

  10. Kradenko

    January 28, 2015 at 16:59

    There is a big difference between 4MB(Which is roughly 40Mbps) and 4Mb line speed. Which is it? I am assuming 4Mbps?

    Reply

    • Tosh MA

      January 28, 2015 at 17:44

      40Mbps is actually around 5MB/S. But since line speed is always denominated in bit rate, it’s 4Mbps. 40Mbps lines are a wet dream for 98% of people in SA.

      Reply

      • Kradenko

        January 30, 2015 at 10:11

        I know it’s based on binary. But to make things easy just knock a 0 off from Mbps to get get a rough MBps 😉

        Reply

  11. Cabbit

    January 28, 2015 at 17:11

    Played about 30 hours of the beta on pc, worked great. Experienced lag once or twice, otherwise the experience was great.

    Reply

  12. Michael Matusowsky

    January 29, 2015 at 13:31

    Hi .zoey, p2p doesn’t only mean good download speeds it also requires good upload speeds. In effect, ALL of you were running an X/512kb line during testing where X stands for your upload in kilobits per second. Please edit this information into your article :-). (512kb = half the speed of a 1mb line).

    Reply

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