Halo 3 Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: Multiplayer matchmaking restarts.
  • Subject: Multiplayer matchmaking restarts.
Subject: Multiplayer matchmaking restarts.

Planning the cosmos for a healthier future.

Can anyone explain why matchmaking restarts when there are at least 12 players joined and ready to play? Sometimes, it happens several times in a row. Since Halo 3 apparently pays no attention to team balance and skill levels in matchmaking, why would there be a need to reset once everyone is ready? I'm not talking about where there are "Network difficulties," but just a restart for no apparent reason. Can anyone help me with this frustration? My console is hard-wired to a network connected to a cable ISP with stable service and fast speeds, so I know it isn't an issue on my end. Last night, it took over five minutes of repeated restarts to finally play, and that happened several times. Several months ago (pre-REACH?), I don't recall that issue.

  • 01.27.2011 8:45 PM PDT

Don't even get me started.

I'm pretty sure it happens when the host can't connect to someone else in the game. That would usually be caused by incompatible NATs.

  • 01.27.2011 9:42 PM PDT

Planning the cosmos for a healthier future.

Well, that could explain it, although I have no idea what an "incompatible NAT" is. Does this have anything to do with foreign ISPs? I guess that it is what it is, but it just seems to have become worse since the game population has shrunk by about 90%

  • 01.27.2011 9:48 PM PDT

Don't even get me started.

NAT is short for Network Address Translation, and routers have a NAT firewall. Depending on router settings, the NAT will be determined as strict, moderate or open. It should always be open to play on Xbox Live, but since that obviously won't be everyone's case, incompatibilities will happen. For example, two people with strict NATs will not be able to connect to each other. They may be able to play in the same game so long as the host can connect to both of them, but they'll never directly connect to each other.

  • 01.27.2011 9:53 PM PDT

Planning the cosmos for a healthier future.

Good explanation of the firewall protocols. I would think that this should be addressed in the standards to play online, but I'm probably expecting too much. Thanks.

  • 01.27.2011 10:18 PM PDT