Input issues? (spacebar, keyboards)

[skunk3]

If anyone can shed some light on this issue, I'd be appreciative.

Shortly after I came back from my break, I noticed that I was having some input issues. I'd tap space but the rope wouldn't shoot. At first I thought it was just my timing but I know that it's not because I could FEEL the switch click as well as hear it. My keyboard (Corsair K70 Vengeance) is loud. Very clicky. I can both feel and hear when I strike a key. At first I assumed that my spacebar was just going out as I have had this keyboard for ~10 years now and it's been abused quite a bit.

Another issue, and even more perplexing, is that sometimes when I tap space, the rope will come out but it's delayed by somewhere around half a second to a full second, or longer. This almost always ends up in a turn-ending fail. I ordered a new keyboard (Corsair K100 with optical switches) hoping that my problems would be solved, but nope. I am having the exact same issues as before. People I rope with can clearly see times when I should shoot the rope out but instead nothing happens and I fall- in other words, my inputs are not being registered. It's not all of the time and I don't know what the cause is. I've roped around solo a bunch of see if I can replicate any specific situations in which this issue will occur, but it seems to be pretty much random.

I can have games in which it will only happen maybe once, and I can have games in which my spacebar inputs are missed or delayed for several turns in a row. I know it's not a "skill issue."

My question to all is this: If it is not my keyboard and if it is not human error, what is the likely cause? The only other time I had issues like this was when my previous computer's GPU was going out, but when that was occurring I could see glitchy artifacts, screen tearing, stutters and FPS drops, etc. None of that is happening on my end. I also don't run a lot of stuff in the background while I'm gaming and have a decently powerful PC. If anyone could help troubleshoot this with me, I'd be grateful.

edit: I am using the Steam version of W:A if that matters.

[InternalHigh]

Oh... my old gamepad was squeezing a surface hence the problem. I am a moron.

[flashR]

I can't say exactly what the problem is. But as a preventative measure, I'd recommend to check the following settings.

1. Repeat Delay and Repeat Rate.
Сontrol Panel -> Keyboard settings -> set up Repeat Delay and Repeat Rate to Short/Fast (drag the slider maximum to the right).

2. Keyboard and mouse buffer size. You may have changed it already at some point, following some advices on Youtube or wherever, maybe you broke something. Lower buffer = better response, but don't set it to extreme low values, some keyboards may not work properly when buffer values are too low. If you've never changed these settings, then you can try, maybe it could help as well. You can set it up manually, following Win + R -> regedit -> ... or copy-paste this code into .txt file and save as .reg and then double click to this file to run these settings. I recommend to test these settings in the range of 20-100 dec (default is 100 dec / 64 hex). I use 40 dec / 28 hex for my cheap non-mechanical keyboard:

Spoiler! View

Code Select Expand

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;mouse buffer size
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\mouclass\Parameters]
"MouseDataQueueSize"=dword:00000028
;kb buffer size
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\kbdclass\Parameters]
"KeyboardDataQueueSize"=dword:00000028


Defaults:

Spoiler! View

Code Select Expand

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;mouse buffer size
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\mouclass\Parameters]
"MouseDataQueueSize"=-
;kb buffer size
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\kbdclass\Parameters]
"KeyboardDataQueueSize"=dword:00000064


3. Process priority. Make sure you have the WA.exe process set to high priority while playing. If you run WA via Great Snooper, it should be default option.

Spoiler! View

If you don't use Great Snooper, you can change this setting manually everytime you run WA: Task manager -> Find the WA process -> Right click -> Details -> Right Click -> Set Priority -> choose High. This should help to increase the responsiveness of the game and reduce input lag.

Reset your PC and try playing for a while after applying these settings. Don't forget that the WA process priority must always been set manually everytime you run it (if you don't use GS ofc).

[skunk3]

I can't say exactly what the problem is. But as a preventative measure, I'd recommend to check the following settings.

1. Repeat Delay and Repeat Rate.
Сontrol Panel -> Keyboard settings -> set up Repeat Delay and Repeat Rate to Short/Fast (drag the slider maximum to the right).

2. Keyboard and mouse buffer size. You may have changed it already at some point, following some advices on Youtube or wherever, maybe you broke something. Lower buffer = better response, but don't set it to extreme low values, some keyboards may not work properly when buffer values are too low. If you've never changed these settings, then you can try, maybe it could help as well. You can set it up manually, following Win + R -> regedit -> ... or copy-paste this code into .txt file and save as .reg and then double click to this file to run these settings. I recommend to test these settings in the range of 20-100 dec (default is 100 dec / 64 hex). I use 40 dec / 28 hex for my cheap non-mechanical keyboard:

Spoiler! View

Code Select Expand

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;mouse buffer size
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\mouclass\Parameters]
"MouseDataQueueSize"=dword:00000028
;kb buffer size
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\kbdclass\Parameters]
"KeyboardDataQueueSize"=dword:00000028


Defaults:

Spoiler! View

Code Select Expand

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;mouse buffer size
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\mouclass\Parameters]
"MouseDataQueueSize"=-
;kb buffer size
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\kbdclass\Parameters]
"KeyboardDataQueueSize"=dword:00000064


3. Process priority. Make sure you have the WA.exe process set to high priority while playing. If you run WA via Great Snooper, it should be default option.

Spoiler! View

If you don't use Great Snooper, you can change this setting manually everytime you run WA: Task manager -> Find the WA process -> Right click -> Details -> Right Click -> Set Priority -> choose High. This should help to increase the responsiveness of the game and reduce input lag.

Reset your PC and try playing for a while after applying these settings. Don't forget that the WA process priority must always been set manually everytime you run it (if you don't use GS ofc).

Thank you for these suggestions. I will try these suggestions next time I'm at my PC.

[skunk3]

Update.

I disconnected my XBox-style game pad from my PC. No effect on issue, but I expected that since nothing is mapped for WA anyway.

I checked all of my kb settings in Windows but everything was how it should be, and I've never edited buffer size before so I left that alone.

I ran W:A with high priority. All of this changed nothing, unfortunately.

I then backed up my games folder and team folder and completely uninstalled the game and reinstalled. So far I have had a few instances of the delayed rope issue, so to me that indicates that the reinstall probably didn't fix anything. I haven't had any instances of space simply not triggering yet, though.  The delayed space is bad enough anyway, because as space is delayed for a second or so, my directional input keeps being input. I am usually holding up + left or right at any given time, or down + left or right. Whenever this delayed space issue occurs, it looks goofy, like I'm attempting a pump or a kick for no reason, and that's definitely not my style.

I don't see any stutters or lagginess during my turns, but I do see plenty of lag when I am typing in the chat box. Sometimes words that I type won't show up for a moment. I don't see how slow network issues would cause my space bar to do this weird shit though. 

I also do not think that it is the Steam version of the game as the issue because I've played the Steam version for like 2,600 hours and never had this problem before. I hope I get this solved because this sucks lol.

[Senator]

Have you checked that the graphic settings of WA and GPU are as they should be (no vsync etc)? No recent Windows or GPU driver update? Windows game bar disabled?

[TheWalrus]

my WA was set to directdraw 32 for some reason and was doing the issues you are describing, i set it to direct9 shader and it works lag free now

[flashR]

skunk3, do you use default Microsoft driver or manufacturers for your keyboard? Do you use remapped or default keys in WA? If remapped, which software do you use for remap: wkremap, ahk or firm software maybe? Do you have the same issues in another game or anywhere else besides WA?

[skunk3]

Have you checked that the graphic settings of WA and GPU are as they should be (no vsync etc)? No recent Windows or GPU driver update? Windows game bar disabled?

No Vsync options at all? On mine, the first box is ticked by default. Game bar was enabled, so I disabled that. I do see there's an Nvidia update so I'll download that as well. Normally my PC would automatically download update but since I'm using hotspot data on my phone, I only manually download drivers. I'll update and check when done.

my WA was set to directdraw 32 for some reason and was doing the issues you are describing, i set it to direct9 shader and it works lag free now

Mine is set to direct9 shader, so I'm not sure if that is the issue.

skunk3, do you use default Microsoft driver or manufacturers for your keyboard? Do you use remapped or default keys in WA? If remapped, which software do you use for remap: wkremap, ahk or firm software maybe? Do you have the same issues in another game or anywhere else besides WA?

I just use the default Microsoft driver for my kb. It seems to work perfectly fine for everything but WA, but I don't play any other games where I'm tapping on the keyboard much; just using it for normal stuff. I also don't use remapped keys at all.

I'm gonna test the game out now with updated graphic drivers and game bar disabled.

[Senator]

No Vsync options at all? On mine, the first box is ticked by default. Game bar was enabled, so I disabled that. I do see there's an Nvidia update so I'll download that as well. Normally my PC would automatically download update but since I'm using hotspot data on my phone, I only manually download drivers. I'll update and check when done.

I have both v-syncs disabled. V-sync adds input lag but if you've always had it enabled, it shouldn't be the issue. I meant that you could try to revert updates / changes (using system restore for example) that could have caused this issue.

[flashR]

I don't play any other games where I'm tapping on the keyboard much

Ideally we'd like to know if this problem only occurs in WA or in an other games as well. You were writing about delays while typing in the game chat. It's quite weird. Can you test a chat in another game?

I can also recommend:

1. Disable Sticky Keys and Filter Keys.
Control Panel -> Ease of Access -> Make the keyboard easier to use ->

Set Up Sticky Keys -> Disable "Turn on Sticky Keys" and "Turn on Sticky Keys when SHIFT Is Pressed Five Times".
Set Up Filter Keys -> Disable "Turn on Filter Keys" and "Turn on Filter Keys when Right SHIFT Is Pressed for 8 Seconds"

2. Unplug your keyboard and plug in to another USB port. As far as I know, any USB keyboard should be connected to one of the two top USB 2.0 ports. It shouldn't be USB 3.0+ ports, usually they works bad (with errors).

3.

No Vsync options at all? On mine, the first box is ticked by default.

If you want minimal input lag in the game, you need to disable all synchs. And switch to D3D Shader. But on some systems OpenGL Shader might work better, if I remember Deadcode recommendations correctly.

[skunk3]

Update:

My problem seems to have been fixed, or maybe I've just been lucky enough to not run into any issues yet. I updated my graphics card drivers, turned off v-sync completely, and disabled the Microsoft game bar. I am not sure what fixed the issue; if it was one thing or a combination.

Now it's just a matter of adjusting to this new kb. So far I'm not really liking it and haven't been able to fully adjust. It feels so weird to not have that satisfying and tactile switch CLICK that I'm used to when pressing a key. I can see why some would like this kb a lot, especially those who play a lot of games other than Worms. For now I definitely prefer my old one but I remember that I didn't really care for my last kb when I got it and now I absolutely love it.

[skunk3]

Another update:

My keyboard issues are fixed, but not really. I will have no issues at all for many games and then once in a while, it will act exactly as I've described. I'm completely stumped but I am just going to live with it. It's annoying when it happens, but thankfully, at least for the time being, it does seem to be rare.

In addition to that, I experienced something odd lately. Last night I played some Big RR's with Bisco (Chipmunk) and I noticed something REALLY weird that I've never experienced before. The physics of the game felt completely different. My worm was noticeably heavier and I could also not build up lateral speed. I was having to tap far more often than I normally did because my worm was not traveling the distance it should. It was so weird and so noticeable that I jokingly said that some superuser (like Deadcode) is pranking us. I checked my graphical settings and I had vsync turned off still, as before. I figured that I'd try out some other settings, so I ticked the second vsync box, which IIRC was assisted vsync. With that option enabled, the physics and game 'feel' were once again massively different. It felt like Worms 2. It was better than the issue I was having previously, but still off. It wasn't the normal, expected feel. I then selected the first vsync option and tried that and the game played perfectly. So perfectly that after dealing with how messed up everything was before, it almost felt like I had some sort of zen effect going on and could rope perfectly.

This might not be news to others, but I found it very surprising that different vsync settings so DRASTICALLY affect the feel / physics of the game.

What does confuse the heck out of me though is this: Why did my game start initially have this problem to begin with if I didn't make any changes? I played a day or two before and it was normal. I'd be happy to share replay files if anyone is curious.

[Korydex]

Last night I played some Big RR's with Bisco (Chipmunk) and I noticed something REALLY weird that I've never experienced before.

[skunk3]

Last night I played some Big RR's with Bisco (Chipmunk) and I noticed something REALLY weird that I've never experienced before.

LMAO I love it.