First of
all, the problem of the swing meter is not simple one, and I guess the solution
will be different from computer to computer. That's why I included my though
process where you can pick-up ideas how to solve the problem. (And how to thing
about solving this problem.)
When I
started playing the game, everything was ok (even swing meter) but then, one
night, between 17.1. - 18.1., it just felt apart, swing meter started spiking
hard. In around 24 hours I resolved the problem, and now I feel it would help a
community, if I provide some help, even with my not so cool English.
Also I have
a view from more angles: PC power user and pro-gamer who was thinking it's just
about a computer and whiners. And recently a swing meter victim
who knows it's not only about computer and its definitely unplayable with the
spikes.
Section 1:
How it is possible that I got swing meter problem? Really WTF... look at these
facts:
As I used
to play games professionally from 2001-2007 I heard about 10000
methods how to boost your FPS, ping, latency, jitter, loss, choke, ms and keep
computer functioning. Fast.
- My computer does not
run rubbish services, start-up programs, unknown processes, and Windows cool graphics
...
- 10/5MB cable internet
(10 latency, around 200 to San Francisco, 0loss, 6+/-jitter), INTEL Core i7
920 4 GHZ (stable, even temperature),
6GB RAM, 295 GTX Nvdia, Asus Rampage II, 1200W, Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
- I use only “good coded”
software (meaning I do not use Skype etc.) and clean computer regularly
(CCleaner, Revo Uninstaller).
- I use Google chrome
stable channel browser with in-build Adobe Flash.
- I Use updated drivers.
- During swing my computer
is around 2% Load and 68% free memory.
So, we can say that my computer is OK (I could give you screens, but I thing you will trust me.
Section 2: First
wave of possible solutions
I crawled
like 2 to 3 hours through the forums here and did everything written in there:
- I tried Game Booster 2.1 and Leatrix Latency Fix 1.23 (Google that and try it too)
- Did and checked everything here.
- Played with Adobe flash global settings.
- Deleted every cache, temp, history, cookies ten times.
- Reinstalled browser, drivers, tried beta channel and dev channel of Chrome also.
And guess what, no change.
Now it was like, what the ****, it can't be WGT
fault only, because one time meter is fine and another day not.... so how to resolve
it.
Section 3: The absurdities
I learned one thing from dealing with computers,
when you screwed; try the stupid things, (like cleaning computer physically,
installing super new releases of unstable software. And so on.) So what I did:
- Downloaded Flash Beta and tried installing it.
- Tried
to install Jolicloud, but did not boot up
- Tried Internet Explorer 9, x64, X86
versions (spikes to)
- Tried t (and it
worked!)
My problem was probably caused by
new version of chrome, that somewhat screwed the WGT, and is not working even
after reinstalling everything and cleaning everything.
My working Flash version in Firefox is: 10,1,102,64
Section 5: The Solution
Yes, the solution to my problem was simply installing different browser.
But that doesn't mean that your solution is this one, probably in the end, it
will be that simple. But the way to the solution is way harder - classical
trial and error on the LEGEND level so to speak.
Just follow this guide, and your best judgment:
Do you have abilities to locate the problem? If yes check if its
internet related, Drivers related or Flash related. If you have skill to do
that, you have skill to choose an appropriate action:).
IF no:
Do you have clean PC and at least Minimum Requirements? IF yes, start
section 3 style- changing browsers, rolling back Flash versions, trying to
reinstall drivers, flashing new firmware to router and so on.
If you have performance issues and you are somewhat PC Pro+ user go with CCleaner, lowering windows
graphic settings, game booster and Leatrix Latecy Fix.
If you are PC Hack user, and rolling your eyes up when you read the above,
download Tune-Up utilities 2011 trial (or torrent) and it will do the job for
you. Then try different browsers. Reinstall Flash. And if it doesn't work, invite some PC master+
user and let them read solution part of this post, they will figure out, probably.
Yes, and even if you do this all, it could still spike! Thumbs up.
Section 6: Debugging myths of swing meter
I gathered the myths from the attitude on the forums, when finding possible
solution, and just try to shed a little light on it from my point of view.
Myth 1 and 2 is based on quote:
„There is something wrong with your PC that does not let it work well
with flash and it could be some obscure thing that you would never even think
about, And flash is not WGT's problem to solve."
The quote is not probably opinion of WGT,
it just show the attitude of one side on the forums.
Myth1a: "„There
is something wrong with your PC" - False. If the game doesn't work well on Minimum
System Requirements (or at least Recommended Requirements) with normal up-keep,
and the gaming experience can be killed by „some obscure thing that you would
never even think about" means, that the game is not optimized well.
Myth1b: "flash
is not WGT's problem to solve" - True, it's not their problem to solve flash,
but it's their responsibility to secure functioning flash within aforementioned
Minimum Requirements. Imagine Cisco telling their customers "That bug, that's
because of Windows, and that's not our problem to solve, write to Bill." WGT chosen the platform and it's their responsibility.
Myth2-
"Just clean your computer and update drivers" - If that type of solution would
work, there would be less flame topics:). It's
true, that for most, it will do the job. But others have to look elsewhere.
Myth3
-"It's just whine, they play to weeds and then whine about swing meter, it can't
be that bad" -Seriously, it is, it's so bad that it's almost impossible to
ding. It's probable that there are some less severe versions of spikes, but I
had serious case of spiking.
Myth4-
"Its WGT fault, and WGT should PAY, DIE DIE DIE"- It's an optimization glitch
in BETA game, that's have to be expected, and yes we are playing beta, and we
should expect to do a little extra work to smooth our gaming experience. That's
the point of beta, mass of people finding out obscure problem that will help
developers. So reading this topic and figuring out how to play smoother, is
part of the beta gaming. I played a lot of betas, and this beta is better than
RC of some games.
In the end, I would be delighted to get
more communication from WGT, we as beta users, did not know (or maybe only me)
the roadmap of the project, your opinions on issues, we don't know if you working
on our problems. The news section is really sparse. I did not find answers of
WGT staff to suggestions like putting green/driving range/single hole practice.
And this lack of communication from WGT
is probably a reason why so many users are pissed off by the issues at hand.
P.S.: I currently accepting gifts (clubs
are fine), so don't be shy.