Multiplayer join - timer

I feel like this must have been discussed, but can't find a thread...

One of my few frustrations with AMS2 is when trying to join lobbies. Frequently I try to join, wait for a bit, then realise that the window for joining must have already closed. Once I've done that 3 times in a row, it gets rather boring. Sometimes it happens when I'm choosing a car, so generally I hit Join ASAP and take whatever the default is.

I would love a timer in the server list that tells us whether lobbies are still open and how long for. Anyone else?

 

I'm aware of that rule. But it doesn't show that in the server browser or lobby does it? Just says 'waiting' on a greyed-out button and doesn't change to Join. Or am I being stupid and it's been staring at me this whole time?

 

If it says "waiting" it means the lobby is about to switch between sessions and you cannot join. If the lobby is indicated as Q in the server browser but you can't join immediately then it's already entering the race and all you can do is join the race as a spectator. At that point you can leave for another lobby.

 

Yes, this has been brought up since 2020 if I'm not mistaken. It is bad UI communication, possibly because Reiza has run into some engine limitation (yes, I'll say engine limitation, otherwise it would have to be Reiza willingly designing terrible UI, which we know is very unlikely).

Ideally it should display a countdown on the server list itself, but I guess the UI logic isn't responsive enough for that to happen.

 

Ah, that's useful. Thanks. Now at least I don't have to go through the join / wait / return to lobby cycle. Wish we could get that 'min(s) remaining' timer in the server browser but in the meantime that helps a lot.