GGPO or 2DF? Help me choose!

[Belegorm]

Okay, so I heard about GGPO, and a friend of mine just started playing. But now I hear about something similar called 2DF! Which do I choose?

Obviously 2DF has more games, but what other pros and cons for each are there? I may just end up installing both, but which should I look into?

[lw3]

install both then try both.

[pootnannies]

they're both great. i mostly use 2df for 3s and ggpo for super turbo. 3s on ggpo runs well but you get black lines across the screen every now and then. it's usually not that bad also, ggpo seems to have better players when it comes to both games

[studtrooper]

2DF is waaay more streamlined, has a ranking system for a lot of games, has detailed stats from most games you play, has a recap system that lets you view EVERYTHING you've played on 2DF (shit, you can watch everything someone else has done too, great for spying on the competition ;) ), and has tons of game support but is lacking players (especially ones from the US).

GGPO probably has the better netcode and does have way more people in Super Turbo. GGPO has had nagging glitches that have yet to be fixed for months though (like getting challenged when you are in-game, challenges not being canceled when you enter another game, etc).

And if you want challenge in ST on 2DF, just find Damdai. He'll kick your head in as long as you want ;)

[will976]

i think 2df is better because they dont mess with the coding at all (from what i understand) and because its p2p, which to me is always better than a server.

[isamu]

2df makes the world go round. If I wasn't scared of needles I'd get 2df tattoo on my left nut.

[Aquashark]

i think 2df is better because they dont mess with the coding at all (from what i understand) and because its p2p, which to me is always better than a server.

i use both.
altho 2DF player base is annoyingly GGPO-hating and generally clueless. (see quote)

[stretch]

Just get both. They both have their PROs and CONs.

[Carmen]

Seems to be a lot more players from East Asia, especially PRC, on GGPO.

[RagingStormX]

Play both. I use GGPO only cause all I play in ST, VS, and A2 and they run better on that. But there is nothing to choose from really. GGPO does have better A2 players though.

[blazeu25]

2df has more games. ggpo has the better players. i use ggpo for my fighting games 2df for my adventure games. and plus alot of ppl take the ranking system way to serious on 2df. but there both good for there own ways.

[complexz]

both are free and have their own advantages, why would you ever wanna choose?

[Inmortal2k9]

both are free and have their own advantages, why would you ever wanna choose?


so true complexz.
i use ggpo, theres some sick bastards on Street Fighter Third Strike. watch out :)

[Belegorm]

As it so happens, I figured out how to get 2df running perfectly, while I haven't got around to doing so on GGPO (though I haven't uninstalled it, or anything). I also find it alot easier to find players for KOF '98, and Garou (the two games I play, though I think I'll start playing The Last Blade 2 soon as well).

[AcidicEnema]

The player base for KOF 98 is waaaaaaaaay bigger on GGPO, especially the 3624612 Chinese players who will give you a good challenge anytime of the day.

[DaDesiCanadian]

GGPO is basically better/smoother for everything except 3S. However, you will find good comp on both. So why not try both?

[Emil]

The player base for KOF 98 is waaaaaaaaay bigger on GGPO, especially the 3624612 Chinese players who will give you a good challenge anytime of the day.

Chinese will almost never play with anyone outside of asia so it's kind of pointless.

[AcidicEnema]

Chinese will almost never play with anyone outside of asia so it's kind of pointless.

Not for people who live in Asia.

[clue2025]

Play both.

Although I've seen better ST players (read: pro) on GGPO. Both are fun tho.

[Rob2_0]

i prefer ggpo personally
im a stickler for the lag
ggpo is much smoother from my experience
i got them both i say thats what you should do too
i mean 2df has more games too thats appealing as we

[azis]

Looks like GGPO handles better international matches.

The whole choice depends on the games you play and who do you play. And then if you like rankings and don't have problem to find players because of it.

For example,if you like 3S, Kof and Samshos, 2df is better for you. If you like ST, VS and A2, ggpo is better.

[Cronopio]

You don't have to choose one really. Both have pros and cons.

GGPO:

+ By far and away, the best netcode. It handles 200+ ms connections flawlessly, and smoothing makes 300ms matches viable. It's a no contest there.
+ Higher level of competition in most games, especially ST.
- Interface. Inintuitive and, with the way it's made, lesser games don't get much comp because you can be on only one room at a time. Spam control is random, and it doesn't have many features besides graphical customization. The dojo is a great feature, but is now down.
- Bugs. Many annoying bugs such as player lists not refreshing properly, sometimes black screens even when both players forwarded ports, lag when a spectator joins (the main gripe with GGPO IMO).
- Limited game selection.
- 3S requires a high-end PC.
- Updates are not very common.

2df:

+ Great interface and features. Ignore function, buddy lists, stats, you can be at several rooms at the same time (which helps lesser games a lot)...
+ Greater game selection. One of the main points in favor of 2df. Not only includes fighters but also shooters, puzzle games, beat'em ups, etc.
+ Way less annoying bugs.
+ Related to the previous point, constant updates fixing stuff.
+ 3S plays better than in GGPO.
+ Functional replay database.
+ Related to the previous point, no spectator lag.
- Clearly inferior netcode (nFBA p2p). At small distances it's not that evident, but at 100+ pings matches have noticeable lag, and 200ms matches are not really viable.
- You can't spectate in real time, just watch replays after a game has finished.
- The ranking system is not totally polished yet, and you can see people who only played 10 matches and 10 wins over people with many more matches but worse win ratio.

In short, I'd say that unless you play 3S or a game not supported by GGPO, go with GGPO as it has the better netcode and you matches will generally be much better. For games not supported by GGPO (and 3S), 2df is a very good replacement, so both programs are useful in different ways.

I hope that 2df's far superior interface and features force GGPO to improve in that field.

[EnKi_]

If GGPO Had all the games that 2DF has it would certainly be 100% better without comparison in my opinion but for now 2DF just has games that GGPO does not have and is used to play them, GGPO was the first client of its kind 2DF just followed its concept. Its almost like comparing Coke and Pepsi, Coke was introduced way before Pepsi but the controversy on which one is better still goes on.

[Spinning Beat]

If GGPO Had all the games that 2DF has it would certainly be 100% better without comparison in my opinion but for now 2DF just has games that GGPO does not have and is used to play them, GGPO was the first client of its kind 2DF just followed its concept. Its almost like comparing Coke and Pepsi, Coke was introduced way before Pepsi but the controversy on which one is better still goes on.

GGPO has its own unique net code. 2DF just uses Kaillera P2P NFBA with a lobby.

[damdai]

GGPO has its own unique net code. 2DF just uses Kaillera P2P NFBA with a lobby.

I just gotta say that this statement is ridiculous. I don't know if you say it like it's a bad thing, but the sentiment implied is that because GGPO uses closed source p2p net code, that it is automatically better than anything else.

When you break it down, 2DF and GGPO are virtually the same. They both use clients that connect to a server, launch an emulator, load a game, and connect the players.

As far as the network performance, they are so similar to the point that half the people that use them both claim one is better, where the other half claim the other is better, both in varying conditions.

The only place where they begin to differ significantly is in their clients and user experiences.

GGPO is great, but so is the n02 p2p module that 2DF is based on, and 0746 does not get the credit he deserves for what amounts to providing an open source GGPO.