SC2013 on dial-up

[MOWS 4 U 169]

Is it doable?  Is there even more lag than there is now?

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

I wouldn't recommend doing anything on dial-up.  Satellite internet has made it obsolete anyway.

[Panos 29]

See the minimum requirements. I believe if lucky, you might be able to play on 4G, but I couldn't hold my breath. 

 

However, are dial-up still around? I haven't used one since the very early 90s when I put ISDN,  and ADSL or DSL later. 

[Cyclone Boom 16,829]

The minimum requirement is a 256 kbps internet connection. Unfortunately, in the best situation, home dial up only has a maximum of 56 kbps -- which is considerably less.

 

Overall, I don't think it'd be very practical, at least for sustained periods. With the intermittent server problems, obviously it won't beat a broadband connection (in terms of reliability and performance). But hey, it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.

[Rhadamant5186 19]

The trouble with satellite and DSL and all those post-dialup solutions is that your upload speed is still 56k, even if your download speed is considerably faster the game may require you to have a decent upload speed so that you can re-sync your cities up with Origin.

[simcity1999 34]

Hmm, if there is no DLS/Cable/3/4G in your area, then ISDN combined with Satellite (not sure if it works) may be your solution, if any.

[DCMetro34 576]

Only, perhaps, if it took you fewer than 15 minutes to post that message.

[leptooners 1]

The trouble with satellite and DSL and all those post-dialup solutions is that your upload speed is still 56k, even if your download speed is considerably faster the game may require you to have a decent upload speed so that you can re-sync your cities up with Origin.

The trouble with making assumptions based on no evidence or fact at all is that those assumptions tend to be inaccurate. In the real world, SDSL speeds are the same for both upload and download. For example, a 256kbps SDSL line would be 256kbps Up and Down. The more common form of DSL would be ADSL, which would have faster download speed than upload, but generally the upload speed would be greater than 56kbps.

 

So therefore, my recommendation is this. SimCity will play just fine on DSL, if you're willing to contend with server disconnections and the ocasional two day lag. I doubt you'll even be able to connect to the game with 56k dial-up, but if I were you I would try anyway.

[simcity1999 34]

How about mobile broadband (EVDO)?

[timmie 988]

Wow, I didn't know dial-up still existed. Sure brings back memories. Playing Simcity 2013 on dial-up probably isn't a good idea.

 

[simcity1999 34]

Wow, I didn't know dial-up still existed. Sure brings back memories. Playing Simcity 2013 on dial-up probably isn't a good idea.

 

Hmm, only 13% of Indonesians use broadband (10% mobile, 3% fixed), while penetration in Indonesia is (only) around 25%, so half of Indonesian netizens still use dial up or other narrowband technologies.

[leptooners 1]

 

Wow, I didn't know dial-up still existed. Sure brings back memories. Playing Simcity 2013 on dial-up probably isn't a good idea.

 

Hmm, only 13% of Indonesians use broadband (10% mobile, 3% fixed), while penetration in Indonesia is (only) around 25%, so half of Indonesian netizens still use dial up or other narrowband technologies.

 

There are still lots of people using dial-up in the US as well. It's isn't completely gone yet, it's a cheap alternative to satellite when you can't get anything else.

[RDTG 10]

The problem with dial-up is, you are never 'REALLY' at 56k... its always less... like 30.. or 20.. The fastest I ever had dialup was at 48k, and this was many years ago, so I don't know how dialup is now days, but yeah. I don't think the game would work. But you never know until you try, right?

 

EDIT: I just listened to that video, that brought back some memories.. What a horrible sound that was.

[AlpineTiburon04 3]

I never really thought about it after I got FIOS... Out of curiosity what ISP do you dial into? AOL used to connect us all, but who's left???

[simcity1999 34]

Leptooners said:

 

Wow, I didn't know dial-up still existed. Sure brings back memories. Playing Simcity 2013 on dial-up probably isn't a good idea.

 

Hmm, only 13% of Indonesians use broadband (10% mobile, 3% fixed), while penetration in Indonesia is (only) around 25%, so half of Indonesian netizens still use dial up or other narrowband technologies.

 

There are still lots of people using dial-up in the US as well. It's isn't completely gone yet, it's a cheap alternative to satellite when you can't get anything else.

 

Except in both Koreas. in the South, high speed broadband is too cheap and in the North, the government doesn't allow (almost) everyone to use the internet (the Kwangmyong is a slight exception)(although internet speed in NK is probably not slow)

 

The problem with dial-up is, you are never 'REALLY' at 56k... its always less... like 30.. or 20.. The fastest I ever had dialup was at 48k, and this was many years ago, so I don't know how dialup is now days, but yeah. I don't think the game would work. But you never know until you try, right?

 

EDIT: I just listened to that video, that brought back some memories.. What a horrible sound that was.

The fastest I've ever got is (I think) around 52-54 kbps. But I still remember the sound, and if only it is not expensive (Rp. 150 / 1.5 cents per minute), I want to return to dial up 

[The Pennsylvania Turnpike 252]

Dial up gameplay is not good in today's standards. With a game that lags with my pretty good connection, i would not want to see that game play on dial up. Plus i also like the privilege to have my home phone up and running when i'm playing online. But if you were to try to play this game, it might not even work. I'd suggest getting WiFi or cable internet. You should be able to get it. Even if you live in the Boonies. The last game i played on Dial up was Midtown Madness 2 in 2005. After that, we've been WiFi ever since. 

[simcity1999 34]

Slightly off topic, but ADSL in Indonesia is now much cheaper than before, and at least comparable to other developing countries (in the past, 1Mbps is $70). Now 1Mbps is only $32, if you are willing to spend $70, you got 3Mbps, the cheapest is now 512kbps for $20, is that cheap enough?

[timmie 988]

That's quite expensive, I think. I have 60Mbps (in practice this is 20-30 Mbps) for 46,50 euro's per month.

[Cpt Johnny 57]

Slightly off topic, but ADSL in Indonesia is now much cheaper than before, and at least comparable to other developing countries (in the past, 1Mbps is $70). Now 1Mbps is only $32, if you are willing to spend $70, you got 3Mbps, the cheapest is now 512kbps for $20, is that cheap enough?

Yeah I remember back in 2005 when my 1mbps connection cost around S$65.90 per month. Dropped to $19.90 before I made the switch to 3mbps, which cost only $4 more per month. Am still using 3mbps, which is enough for me and my family.

[RDTG 10]

That's quite expensive, I think. I have 60Mbps (in practice this is 20-30 Mbps) for 46,50 euro's per month.

I am on 100 mbps now with Charter... I usually only clock around 85 mbps ~ 95 mbps, but it's very decent, yet very expensive. I pay only $24,99 a month right now, but thats the first year, after this first year it's going to be something like $124.99 per month and the installation fee was $150

BUT I digress, the speed is great, and SimCity plays great on it.

 

 

Slightly off topic, but ADSL in Indonesia is now much cheaper than before, and at least comparable to other developing countries (in the past, 1Mbps is $70). Now 1Mbps is only $32, if you are willing to spend $70, you got 3Mbps, the cheapest is now 512kbps for $20, is that cheap enough?

Yeah I remember back in 2005 when my 1mbps connection cost around S$65.90 per month. Dropped to $19.90 before I made the switch to 3mbps, which cost only $4 more per month. Am still using 3mbps, which is enough for me and my family.

 

 

 

 

 

I remember years back when my father first got cable internet, We had 512 kbps, which was their top package at the time, and it was $99.99 per month - 

THEN few years later, we got satellite internet,I remember we had it through Dish, it was called 'Starband' or something. which only clocked at like 1 to 1.5 mbps down, and 256 kb up. and it never went that fast, had horrible lag, and it HAD to run through proxies, at the time you HAD to have windows to run their stupid proxy program winproxy or something, and we are a Mac family so we had to go buy a freaking PC, and it couldn't play multiplayer games, heck, SimCity probably wouldn't even work on that thing back then. just awful. and it was REALLY expensive, something like $115 per month at the time, when that company started doing it.. 

Then finally we got DSL, at 4 mbps up, and 1.5 down. Loved it, from verizon, had free newsgroup password, used it all the time and it was very affordable. Now I have fiberoptic internet through Charter at 100mbps down, 30 some odd up @ $24.99 (for the first year, as I said in the above quote).

[simcity1999 34]

So probably I should stick with my EVDO (up to 14.7 Mbps, but in reality never got that speed, usually 512-1 Mbps)(6GB quota) until they reduce ADSL prices or there is something cheaper like cable (yes, cable is cheaper here, but the coverage is very small. Just a question, is 2 Mbps cable internet (symmetrical, upload and download speeds are same) for $25 cheap enough (not yet available in my area)?

[RDTG 10]

So probably I should stick with my EVDO (up to 14.7 Mbps, but in reality never got that speed, usually 512-1 Mbps)(6GB quota) until they reduce ADSL prices or there is something cheaper like cable (yes, cable is cheaper here, but the coverage is very small. Just a question, is 2 Mbps cable internet (symmetrical, upload and download speeds are same) for $25 cheap enough (not yet available in my area)?

 

$25 per month? 

2 Mbps down & 2 Mbps up?

I'm not entirely sure... It does seem a bit expensive, as I know Comcast offers a package of 2mbps internet + basic cable + tax for 12 months for $25 per month. So if it's just internet it does seem a little, maybe just a little bit expensive. But if its affordable for you, go for it.

[simcity1999 34]

 

So probably I should stick with my EVDO (up to 14.7 Mbps, but in reality never got that speed, usually 512-1 Mbps)(6GB quota) until they reduce ADSL prices or there is something cheaper like cable (yes, cable is cheaper here, but the coverage is very small. Just a question, is 2 Mbps cable internet (symmetrical, upload and download speeds are same) for $25 cheap enough (not yet available in my area)?

 

$25 per month? 

2 Mbps down & 2 Mbps up?

I'm not entirely sure... It does seem a bit expensive, as I know Comcast offers a package of 2mbps internet + basic cable + tax for 12 months for $25 per month. So if it's just internet it does seem a little, maybe just a little bit expensive. But if its affordable for you, go for it.

 

Including cable TV. And Internet in Indonesia used to be the most expensive and slowest. Although now Indonesia is no longer the slowest and most expensive, it is still considered slow and expensive compared to many countries. And in 2004, where the first ADSL broadband is available here, the price is $300 per 500MB (speed up to 384 kbps)! or $700 per 2GB (same speed)!

[12thDoctor 14]

To go back to the original question, I actually don't think playing and syncing games to the server would be too big of a problem... because, when you consider it, there aren't any graphics or anything stored in the save-games... it's just data like building and object coordinates/locations and information on sims and population. And syncs aren't all that frequent, really... it's not actually constantly communicating and syncing with the server in real-time. 

 

The real issue--and the issue I think that would make this pretty much impractical--would be with all of the updates: The packages (4) updated in the SimCityData folder by this latest patch total close to 900 MB... although I'm not 100% sure if patches require full re-downloads of updated package files or not... but even a 50 MB or 100 MB patch/update would take a considerable amount of time at 56 kbps. But chances are that they would have released another update by the time you finished downloading the first update.

[simcity1999 34]

Hmm, let me time travel to the 80's and tr to play SC2013 using 300bps modem!

[RDTG 10]

To go back to the original question, I actually don't think playing and syncing games to the server would be too big of a problem... because, when you consider it, there aren't any graphics or anything stored in the save-games... it's just data like building and object coordinates/locations and information on sims and population. And syncs aren't all that frequent, really... it's not actually constantly communicating and syncing with the server in real-time. 

 

The real issue--and the issue I think that would make this pretty much impractical--would be with all of the updates: The packages (4) updated in the SimCityData folder by this latest patch total close to 900 MB... although I'm not 100% sure if patches require full re-downloads of updated package files or not... but even a 50 MB or 100 MB patch/update would take a considerable amount of time at 56 kbps. But chances are that they would have released another update by the time you finished downloading the first update.

 

I agree, updates would be nearly impossible on 56k... 

I found this website, it is a estimated download time calculator. I put in 900 mb for 56k and it came out to 37 hours 26 minutes and 55 seconds.

http://www.calculatorcat.com/free_calculators/download_speed_calculator.phtml

Give that website a try, you can see how long it will take to update SimCity on 56k.

[David1544 1]

Assuming that your location under your username is correct, the cheapest plans I could find for your area was AT&T's DSL Pro plan which is 3.0Mbps at 15$ a month, which is pretty decent. Hate to sound like I'm advertising, but if you need a new plan, check out http://www.yellowpages.com/hilliard-oh/internet-service-providers-isp?g=Hilliard%2C+OH&q=Internet+Service+Providers+%28ISP%29