StreetFighter IV vs Windows LIVE

RopeDrink

Getting bloody tired of these f'ing Windows Live games - I remember having issues with Kane & Lynch and after having gotten that working in the past (A year or two ago) I've just forked out on SFIV and Windows Live is acting the damn c*nt again.

I've searched for help and all it claims is "Check your network documentation to learn how to open up the required ports" (!?!?!?!?!) and the obvious problem with Firewalls.

I'm using ZoneAlarm primarily and Windows Defender has been known to pop it's head up once in a while, and I've tried bypassing these to see if they are the problem (By turning them off // Safe Mode etc) but meh, anytime I try to log into Windows LIVE via the game, it just sits on 0% 'Downloading Profile' indefinately.

I can't 'ADD' any exceptions because as far as I know the game itself tries to log on via the net, so it's not like there's a Windows LIVE application that I can add to the Firewall ignore list, unless I'm mistaken.

Anyone have any general tips with this bollocks? Been bashing my head against the same brick wall for hours and WLive's own site isn't exactly being all that helpful or informative -_-

NOTE: I can play the game using an Offline Profile but naturally I cannot access or alter any online aspect without 'logging into your **** WLive Account'.

I can log in fine from the web/outside of the game, just not in the game... ARGH! Anyone happen to have any ideas?

Jazzy

im using xp, avg & windows firewall... works fine here

Azza

Open UDP ports 80 and 3074. These are required for Games for Window Live to function correctly.

As for adding an exception into windows firewall. It did that automatically for me.

Try completing disabling zone alarm and windows defender to rule them out as issues.

Just double checking as well, you are based in Ireland yes. Just some countries do no have GFWL support and if your in one of those countries not supported your screwed!

Dreddybajs

This should help!



:pac:

Azza

Just a couple of things.

Your router password will probably be a default password. If you get the make and model of your router try posting in the broadband/coms forum here and see if anyone knows it. If you have any details written down when you had your broadband installed or if you still have a manual check that. What model is your router?

First up, I'm not sure how famiilar you are with PC gaming but opening/foward ports isn't that uncommon. Granted most PC games you don't have to do but I can name several recent titles like Company of Heroes and Demigod that needed ports to be opened.

The ports I told you to open should work for any future Games for Windows Live games you get.

I know stuff like this can be very frustrating, but unfortantly gaming on the PC can be quite complicated at times.

Moving onto the video you posted and reading your comments section.

What is your exact frame rate?. I read you where getting something like 20fps. You need to get 60fps constant in this game. The game is designed to run at 60fps, both console versions and arcade version where locked at this, if you get above or below this the game will not run at its intended speed. While people have preferences for whats an acceptable frame rate in an FPS, the 60fps is not up for debate. Fighting games require exact timing more so than other type of game. Attempting to play online with a lower frame rate will result in the game running slow for both players. You simply can't play the game properly at any other frame rate.

As for Balrog's Ultra hitting once only once on the PC, I can assure its not the case. The PC version is identical to all the other version, the reason why it hit once (and would of done so in the other versions) was probably to do with spacing and the fact your where in the corner. Also Balrogs Ultra is unique in that you can press different buttons for different types of punches during the ultra to ensure you got the maximum number of hits.

Finally the fighting game forum where there are lots of Irish SF IV players is over here
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1204

As for using a keyboard you can actually get very good at fighting games as boards.ie poster Delatroy has proved in Super Turbo. However I recommend getting a stick or a pad because it will make learning the game alot easier.

Azza

May not be a ports issue then if they are opening and your still having problems. Try creating a new profile.

Back on the frame rate issue and ignoring fraps which records the game at 30fps. I'm sure the game seems to run fine and look okay and if your happy to play with those settings on your own than thats okay but it would be best if you didn't play online with those settings. Not wanting to be a ass about this but if you do get online those settings are not suitable for playing the game, you would be in fact ruining your opponets game as well. Its happened to me several times online with the PC version, players playing at 30fps and thinking the game was fine but to people with experience its running in super slow motion. I can't stress this enough, there is no two ways about it, you can't play the game properly unless you have a constant 60fps. The timings for moves will be completely off what they should really be. Imagine your opponent for example has learned off all the timings for the normal game speed, but when he goes to play you nothing works because they are totally different.

If these means lower the settings even futher then do so. I know it may not be nice to look at but if you want to play the game as intended or if your going to play online much it really is a requirement.

L31mr0d

+1 to everything Azza has said.

Also, for online if you suffer bad framerates it would be better if you created the game and always pick the training stage.

The car lot, seths lab, the boat casino and the asian village are all known for causing slowdown online. It's better to set up the game yourself and choose the training level or one of the other ones

Also, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, go into your PC settings and set "framerate" to "FIXED". By default it will be on "variable". It has been ascertained that this is one of the main cause of extreme slowdown on line.

Also, when using FRAPs you can set it to record at 60fps. Another option, if you have a multicore cpu is to alt-tab out of the game, ctrl-alt-del, then right click on the fraps process and set priority to "low" and affinity to use only 1 core of your cpu, you can also set the priority of the SFIV process to high and also set it's affinity to the other core of your cpu.

There are also these alternatives to FRAPs which I'm going to try myself:

http://www.anewmorning.com/2009/01/06/5-free-alternatives-to-fraps/

MooseJam

Did you know with games for windows live that you can play online with any game with any key once it is legit

that is if you have an old games for windows live box lying around that you never used online then you can play a new game online with it - regardless of how you aquired it.