Technology should reduce the negative effect of high latency in streaming games

Microsoft has developed a technology to reduce the adverse effects of high-latency connections. The Redmond company’s R&D department claims it works; in Doom 3, players with the technology turned on were less likely to be fired.

Microsoft has put online the files to try out the system called DeLorean and published a paper on how it works for single-player games. DeLorean applies a few methods. For example, the system tries to predict what the gamer will do based on his previous behavior and there is an error correction in case the system is wrong.

In addition, if DeLorean thinks there are several options for what the user is going to do, the system will stream several frames from the server to the user and then end up using only the right ones. Compression is applied to minimize the bandwidth occupied by the system.

Microsoft’s R&D department also tested DeLorean, and according to those own tests, players rated the Doom 3 version with DeLorean higher and had more health left in their life bar at the end of a level of Doom 3. The researchers claim that using this technology, streaming game providers can offer games with a better gaming experience to more users than has been possible until now.