3 ms·

Another issue: lag. I have yet to see a wi-fi connection without occasional periods of enormous latency, packet loss, or both. Cellular data is even worse. RTS

Another issue: lag. I have yet to see a wi-fi connection without occasional periods of enormous latency, packet loss, or both. Cellular data is even worse. RTSs and MOBAs both seriously suffer under those conditions. Who's going to plug an Ethernet cable into their tablet just for one game?

anonnyj 11y ago
I've been wanting that. I'd plug a mouse and keyboard in too really, but my tablet (and apps) don't really allow for that.
bruizar 11y ago
One of the nice aspects of tablet gaming (Hearthstone, Vainglory), is that bringing your tablet with you to a friend is a frictionless way of setting up a 'lan party'. Vainglory is best played with team members sitting in the same room. Gone are the days that you'd have to carry with you bulky laptops or worst, transport your tower/desktop to a friend. On wifi: The privilege I enjoy of living in a country that has historically had among the fastest internet connections in the world biases my view on this. I've been called an LPB (Low Ping Bastard) since 1997 :-). From the games of Vainglory I played I found it feels very responsive. Many places don't have fast internet connections, so you do make a fair point, but I doubt that wifi is the bottleneck here. On cellphone data: The cellphone contract I use has an unlimited data plan fast enough to stream youtube videos; but it is not yet reliable enough to play Vainglory from the passenger seat. It is essentially unplayable even though I have an above average data plan. I realize that until more providers switch to a flat fee structure and upgrade their infrastructure, 'true mobile' gaming for RTSs and FPSs isn't going to happen. However, these type of games require so much cognitive attention that the situations where you'd play this on-the-go is very limited (e.g. domestic trips via train, car: passenger seat and plane (international trips are too expensive due to roaming fees)). You don't really want to be playing Vainglory when you are out camping in the woods, I hope :-).

anonnyj 11y ago

I've been wanting that. I'd plug a mouse and keyboard in too really, but my tablet (and apps) don't really allow for that.

bruizar 11y ago

One of the nice aspects of tablet gaming (Hearthstone, Vainglory), is that bringing your tablet with you to a friend is a frictionless way of setting up a 'lan party'. Vainglory is best played with team members sitting in the same room. Gone are the days that you'd have to carry with you bulky laptops or worst, transport your tower/desktop to a friend. On wifi: The privilege I enjoy of living in a country that has historically had among the fastest internet connections in the world biases my view on this. I've been called an LPB (Low Ping Bastard) since 1997 :-). From the games of Vainglory I played I found it feels very responsive. Many places don't have fast internet connections, so you do make a fair point, but I doubt that wifi is the bottleneck here. On cellphone data: The cellphone contract I use has an unlimited data plan fast enough to stream youtube videos; but it is not yet reliable enough to play Vainglory from the passenger seat. It is essentially unplayable even though I have an above average data plan. I realize that until more providers switch to a flat fee structure and upgrade their infrastructure, 'true mobile' gaming for RTSs and FPSs isn't going to happen. However, these type of games require so much cognitive attention that the situations where you'd play this on-the-go is very limited (e.g. domestic trips via train, car: passenger seat and plane (international trips are too expensive due to roaming fees)). You don't really want to be playing Vainglory when you are out camping in the woods, I hope :-).