WoT versus multi-core CPUs

I heard and read quite a lot of "advises" when it comes down to how to run WoT on a multi-core CPU.
A lot of people suggest that running WoT on one core affinity is better. It's actually worse and I'll show the why.

For this benchmark I used a random replay downloaded from WoTReplays.com.

My system:
CPU: Intel Core2Quad Q9550 2.8Ghz
MEM: 8Gb DDR2
Video: ATi Radeon HD7870 2Gb GDDR5

WoT graphics settings I used:

I did not used any mods whatsoever.

Phase one: obtain a baseline benchmark as with no changes to affinity, I called it "default" (ran on all four cores)
Phase two: set affinity to two cores, called it "2 cores"
Phase three: set affinity to three cores , called it "3 cores"

And here are the results:

• default - Avg: 70.463 - Min: 39 - Max: 113
• 2 cores - Avg: 47.786 - Min: 23 - Max: 76
• 3 cores - Avg: 65.209 - Min: 37 - Max: 102

So, there you have it. I't absolutely not better to run WoT on one core affinity if your CPU is multicore.

Note: I skipped adding the one core affinity to the graph for the reason it's extremely similar to 2 cores affinity

What I suggest, if you are having issues with framerate stability running WoT, is that you set priority to Above Normal for WorldOfTanks.exe.

I did another test to show if there is any difference between running default versus running WoT with a higher priority:

a zoomed it section of the graph to show the minute differences:

• default - Avg: 70.463 - Min: 39 - Max: 113
• above normal - Avg: 71.352 - Min: 42 - Max: 108

So, is it better? well arguably .. yes. There is a smoother framerate and the a minute increase in the average framerate.

Note: I do not recommend running with a higher priority than Above Normal because that will interfere with Windows's own services and software components (drivers).

F.E.A.R. OnLine - press release

[Press release]

EVIL RISES ONCE AGAIN IN F.E.A.R. ONLINE

Aeria Games Announces New Free-to-Play Installment in the Celebrated Horror FPS Franchise

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – July 25, 2013 – Face your fear together with friends in F.E.A.R. Online! Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, announced today the upcoming brand-new installment in the popular horror FPS series. Developed by Korean company Inplay Interactive and being brought to the United States by Aeria Games, the new chapter in the F.E.A.R. saga will deliver hardcore multiplayer shooting action while furthering the dark and ominous story surrounding Alma Wade.

“We are thrilled to present the next entry in one of the most popular horror franchises of the last decade,” said Tom Nichols, Vice President of PC Games, Aeria Games. “F.E.A.R. Online will bring back the tense, heart-pounding action that the series is known for and make it accessible to a huge online community of competitive players.”

F.E.A.R. Online will focus on several team combat modes spanning over ten ominous maps packed with grotesque details such as still-twitching bodies hanging from meat hooks and messages smeared in blood. The battle rages between Armacham Technology Corporation (ATC) and the elite F.E.A.R. team. F.E.A.R. 3’s unique Soul King mode also makes a return, challenging players to possess enemies for new abilities and collect more fallen souls than their opponents.

The story also continues in cooperative scenarios that detail the terrifying occurrences surrounding the F.E.A.R. team parallel to the events of F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin. Up to four players can team up and fight for their lives against both hostile Armacham personnel and hideous monsters lurking around every corner.

F.E.A.R. Online will be free to download, and like all Aeria Games titles, will be free-to-play. Brave players can sign up for closed beta now at http://fearonline.aeriagames.com. Stay alert for news, events, and updates at F.E.A.R. Online’s Facebook page.

[Art work]

[Screenshots]

[Fact sheet]

WarGaming finds XBox Live certification unacceptable

Speaking with Polygon, Victor Kislyi, CEO of WarGaming, said in relation with XBox Live policies:

The good thing is with online games, sometimes if you screw up, you can do frequent updates. But one of the biggest challenges with Microsoft was the frequency of updates because the QA process and certification process takes an extremely long time. Totally unacceptable for a meaningful free-to-play. We are working with them to do quicker updates.

You fucking morons! What did you think it would happen?!
A lot of indie developers had massive issues with MicroSoft's strict policies regarding publishing and patching games.
WarGaming went feet 1st and totally ignored the issues and various aspects regarding publishing a game on the XBox 360.
If the World of Tanks for XBox 360 fails, it will be their fault .. completely.

World of Warplanes - WarGaming fix your game

WoWp went from ALPHA, to closed BETA and now to open BETA. I am one of the Alpha testers of this game, since December 2011, so yeah ... I've seen it all

WG put plugs in their ears and ignored most of the feedback submitted in the testing phases. If you recall, I mentioned WoWp has input lag: http://wot-ro.blogspot.ro/2013/04/world-of-warplanes-mouse-input-delay.html - that issue is still not solved

One other issue that affects a lot of WoWp players/testers is the drop in framerate during dogfights. The discussions on this matter are locked in a section of the forums available only to certain testers, so I won't link it.
Anyways, this is what to expect when playing WoWp:

huge framerate issues, framerate drops at moments to 3 FPS (!!!) and that's at low settings:

WarGaming, fix this junk you call "game".


[Update 01 August ]

IL-2 firing / no firing framerate test while passing over a enemy target:

as you can see, opening fire (3rd pass) made little to no difference compared to just flying over the enemy target without opening fire (1st and 2nd pass)
in 4th and final pass, I destroyed the target and you can also see a slightly significant increase in framerate.

PlanetSide 2 - implants back to drawing board

About two days ago, Sony announced a new game update for PlanetSide 2. Included in this massive game update, titles GU13, there would be implants.
Since then, the community took notice of some of the issues these changes would bring and voiced them on the official forums. Sony took notice of the concerns and decided to pull the implants from the next update:

After reading through your comments we have decided to go back to the drawing board on implants
— John Smedley (@j_smedley) July 18, 2013

Path of Exile integrates streaming with Twitch

[Press release]

Path of Exile Introduces Integrated Streaming with Twitch

Link a Twitch account with Path of Exile to stream within the game client and watch race events live

Auckland, New Zealand - July 16, 2013 - Grinding Gear Games today announced that Twitch, the world's leading video platform and community for gamers, has been integrated into their online action RPG, Path of Exile. Path of Exile now allows players to stream gameplay from inside the game client, including full support for streaming webcam footage and integrated Twitch channel chat. Twitch integration also enables players to know who on the leaderboards is racing at any given time for real-time spectating.

Leveraging Twitch's new software developer kit, Path of Exile is able to add functionality beyond the live broadcasting of gameplay. When Path of Exile and Twitch accounts are linked, users viewing the Path of Exile website will be able to see little Twitch icons next to player names wherever they appear on the site while streaming and can click on the logo to visit the user's stream. In addition, while a Path of Exile race event is in progress, the leading streamer for that event is shown on the race page. Since all streamers are marked on the leaderboard, players can switch between them and watch them play directly on the race page.

"We've witnessed first-hand the rapidly growing appeal of live streaming gameplay, so it's great to see Grinding Gear Games integrate Twitch functionality into a compelling title like Path of Exile," said Matthew DiPietro, VP of Marketing, Twitch. "Equally notable is they've embraced Twitch's ability to leverage game data to make leaderboards more dynamic so that players are able to know when their competition is streaming."

Additionally, Twitch channel chat is integrated directly with the Path of Exile game client. Streamers can chat to their viewers in real-time without having to check a separate chat window. In Path of Exile, Twitch chat appears as another chat type alongside global, local, party and trade chat.

Further information about streaming Path of Exile can be found on the Path of Exile website at www.pathofexile.com.

End of Nations is back

Well .. sort of. Let me explain.
Originally, End of Nations was designed and developed around the idea of an MMO-RTS game. Some time ago, Trion Worlds halted all development.
Now the game is back and redesigned as an free to play MOBA RTS game, in ALPHA stage.

THE FIRST MOBA RTS 

End of Nations® is a tactical MOBA where your success on the battlefield depends on the heroes and units you command and quick decision making in the heat of combat. Dominate during team-based matches and catapult your commander to the top of the ranks. 

THE STRONG CAN SURVIVE.ONLY THE BEST WILL THRIVE.

• Tactical MOBA gameplay
• Customizable heroes and support units
• Varied commander classes featuring unique tactics and abilities
• New leveling system 
• Dramatically improved menu system and overhauled UI

ALPHA testing will start next week.

MWO 12 vs 12 - public testing later today

In case you missed it, PGI is planning a public test of the upcoming 12 vs 12 matchmaking system later today (schedule below). If you are interested, you need to download a special test client from here (2.42Gb).
PGI also posted a public test FAQ that can be found here.

Public 12 vs 12 test schedule for July, will be conducted in 2 sessions, 2 hours each :

• Thursday 11th July -> 5PM - 7PM  | 11PM - 1AM (July 12)
• Thursday 18th July -> 5PM - 7PM  | 11PM - 1AM (July 19)
• Thursday 25th July -> 5PM - 7PM  | 11PM - 1AM (July 26)

Note: all times are converted to GMT/UTC

After each test session, provide your feedback in the special feedback forum section.

The public test client can be identified by a green test in the top left corner: PUBLIC TEST

WoT 0.8.7 - press release and british arty screens

[Press release]

British Artillery To Enter The Fray In World of Tanks Update 0.8.7

New Line of Self-Propelled Guns Preps For Battle

July 9, 2013 — Wargaming, the leading free-to-play MMO developer and publisher, today announced details of Update 0.8.7 for its MMO action game, World of Tanks.
Mike Zhivets, World of Tanks Producer said:

The core of Version 0.8.7 is the new British SPG branch.The upcoming expansion features several stand out models that are likely to catch on with the masses and spice up the overall artillery gameplay.

In Update 0.8.7, the new branch of British self-propelled guns will take to the field of battle, including a number of iconic and well-known vehicles. Mid-tier entrants include the Sexton, Bishop and the Crusader. The higher-tier entries for the British line will include a number of post-war prototypes, once again granting players the chance to climb into the hatches of some truly powerful vehicles that never saw actual combat. The Conqueror Gun Carriage experimental vehicle will top the new SPG line.

Other additions in Update 0.8.7 include a brand new map, Belogorsk-19, a chilling and unforgiving Russian winter landscape, as well as one tier change for the Soviet line.

The Tier 5 Soviet light tank T-50-2 will be replaced by the MT-25, a visually unique light tank known for his high rate of acceleration and surprisingly powerful gun.

New map: Belogorsk-19

Loyd gun carriage

Sexton

Birch gun

Bishop

FV304

Crusader 5.5 inch

FV206

FV3805

Conqueror gun carriage