cvars for better performance

[dana]

Hello I'm new here and I have already something to share :)
I play Nexuiz for a while and I have noticed that there is a major problem with the game.
Some images to illustrate what I mean:
1 - default config:

2 - updated settings:

3 - cvars (r_showsurfaces 3; r_sky 0 and sometimes r_drawfog 0)

4 - two other cvars easy to find out

First, I have nothing against a couple of cheater and I don't like spyware (punkbuster for example), but if nearly the half of all nexuiz players are playing with settings like in image 3 and 4, something is wrong. Usually I play minsta and it is huge advantage if you use configuration 3(/damn small nexuiz) or 4. I don't know why the cvars in image 3 aren't considered as cheating… for me it's relatively clear. The difference between 2 and 3 is much greater than between 3 and 4.
I think that isn't good for a new player to play against a stronger opponent, who is camouflaged (model&color) and on the other hand use cvars to boost the performance. I think that he will just uninstall Nexuiz rather than take this challenge.
As far as I know, a very large number of people use it. And that not because they play with an eeepc or something similar ;)
The actual situation forces people to play the game in an amputated version to keep up with the others. It's harmful for the atmosphere in the game.
Maybe it's the spirit of the minsta mod to do everything to be a way better. Howerver, something had to be done, because the situation tends to get worse.

I know it's easy to complain, but I think that's one of the most urgent problems. I like Nexuiz, but not in the small version :)


ps: sorry for my English

[tundramagi]

I don't know why people turn off the skys: in many maps they are the most beautiful part of the game.

[TVR]

A key principle of Nexuiz is the complete separation of visuals and gameplay, ie the game is not balanced based on player visibility.

Framerate is more important then whether you can camouflage.

[Sepelio]

Some things can be used as exploits as an extent though. I think he has show_tris 1 on one of the screenshots and it allows you to basically see through fog even if the fog isnt turned off.

[TVR]

Fog is only a cosmetic cover-up for the actual vis cull, r_showtris on a fogged map is a good assessment of the mapper's skill.

[dana]

A key principle of Nexuiz is the complete separation of visuals and gameplay, ie the game is not balanced based on player visibility.

Framerate is more important then whether you can camouflage.

Why are cvars, which improve considerably the visibility, not considered as cheat or exploit?
I really don't understand that. At present there is a built-in colorhack and a wallhack, but that doesn't seem to bother anyone.
The main contact with the game is what you see on the screen. In other words, the best game mechanics are worth nothing if the output is a black screen.
There are not robots, which play this game. It makes a difference what you see and what not. With r_showsurfaces 3, r_sky 0 and r_drawfog 0 you are better able to set priorities and you are also the first who is ready to shoot.
Try it out with instagib, you will feel the difference. It's a cheat and you don't need to download a rootkit or to make your own engine for it.
How can you make fair matches and tournaments under these circumstances?
And what is the point to make richly detailed maps if everything should be disabled when you want to play with same opportunities as your opponent?

It depends on what has the higher priority I think

[TVR]

... Why are cvars, which improve considerably the visibility, not considered as cheat or exploit? ...

It's impossible to restrict such CVars in a FOSS game, additionally Nexuiz is played & developed on millions of different hardware configurations, where such CVars are useful.

So game balance is not based on visibility.

[The mysterious Mr. 4m]

[...] something had to be done, because the situation tends to get worse.

How did you notice it gets "worse"? What exactly gets worse?

As You may have thought, something so obvious would have been addressed, if it really was a problem. Accessibility and availability of the game is a greater concern, which is why DSN was made. It gives a performance improvement and better visibility, but it looks ugly. If somebody chooses to use the ugly version to win, then (s)he's the one that misses out on the graphics experience. It's your decision to either use the version with better graphics or the one with better performance.

Some people with bad eyesight would also like to play. (preferrably without wearing glasses)

[dana]

The thing tends to get worse, because you will be rapidly confronted with it at present.

The prize for compatibility with every configuration is to have only players, who are willing to take every advantage and to play the game in the ugly version to win, if it is not already the case. It will scare new players away and it does not allow a relaxed atmosphere. I think that this will result in lesser number of players over time, because it's not easy to build up something around the game against this background.
Just take a look at how it works on some minsta dm server and you will understand.

If equality of opportunity is not a concern, then the game is not built for online gaming.

[divVerent]

Such things simply CANNOT be restricted in an open source game. If someone were to remove the code, so what? Someone else could add it back easily, or even add something worse.

For serious competition matches, there are means to check for such variables to be active, but a cheater can easily circumvent the checks as he has access to the source code. So all that really can be done is minimizing the informations sent to the clients. And this is already being done.