After the update, the game is extremely power-hungry [Investigating]

joerginger
joerginger Posts: 198 Tile Toppler
edited August 2018 in MtGPQ Bugs & Technical Issues
I noticed last night that after the update, the game is extremely power-hungry. While opening packs, updating decks and playing TG, AX and FS, I had my phone connected to the computer. But the power supplied by the USB cable wasn't enough to prevent the battery from being emptied. Previously it used to be not enough to actually load the battery, but definitely enough to keep the battery stable.
I decided to play AX, too, and for this the phone was connected to the plug socket. Now even the wall connection is not enough to prevent the battery status from going down.
Related to this is the fact that the phone now becomes extremely hot. It used to do so only in extreme cases like when there were a lot energy gems on the board. So playing FS with its energy-centered AIs might in fact have contributed to the rapid decline in battery power, but I don't think it can be the only reason.

//Edited Title -Brigby

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Comments

  • Laeuftbeidir
    Laeuftbeidir Posts: 1,841 Chairperson of the Boards
    I didn't watch the battery, but can confirm irrational high temperatures
  • arNero
    arNero Posts: 358 Mover and Shaker
    Huuuh, looks like I wasn't the only one. I also thought that my phone battery seems to drain faster now with the latest game client. Is this because of the new 60-ish FPS framerate? Maybe I'd like to suggest if this game can have low-power feature (low-res, that is) or something so as to save energy....
  • DumasAG
    DumasAG Posts: 719 Critical Contributor
    Probably because they upped the frame rate, right?
  • DBJones
    DBJones Posts: 803 Critical Contributor
    Weren't they planning to add a no animations option? That would probably fix this issue.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Just Dropped In
    Oh it wasnt just me.

    Before if i set my phone on the my air-conditioned, cool, fake wood floor, the exterior of my phone would cool down quite a bit; but now it just stays hot. Abd it becomes a meteor when i start charging and playing mtgpq
  • wereotter
    wereotter Posts: 2,070 Chairperson of the Boards
    I've noticed this too. I'll go from 100% battery leaving my house to 15% battery by the time I get to work on the train from the game within 45 minutes.
  • souki12
    souki12 Posts: 47 Just Dropped In
    My tablet's battery seems to last approx. only half of what it was capable of before the update.

    2x faster animations, 2x shorter battery life. ;-)
  • boopers
    boopers Posts: 175 Tile Toppler
    edited August 2018
    Yeah, I played one Longish TG match testing some cards, dropped from 90% to 54% during that match. 

    I guess its no longer a mobile game now?
  • Stalker
    Stalker Posts: 141 Tile Toppler
    Yeah same, phone now heats up and battery seems to drain 3x faster. Makes it easier to break away from game. Not letting this gsme destroy my battery early. 
  • Joefitts63
    Joefitts63 Posts: 11 Just Dropped In
    I am not seeing increased battery usage on my tablet, but the double frame rate has halved the speed the game runs.
  • Brakkis
    Brakkis Posts: 777 Critical Contributor
    I have certainly experienced faster battery drain on my phone and increased temperature since the update as well.
  • TomB
    TomB Posts: 269 Mover and Shaker
    Agreed, my phone's burning through power (pun intended) a whole lot faster now... :/
  • Scotcamp
    Scotcamp Posts: 70 Match Maker
    My Android phone dies in less than an hour since the changes.
  • Mburn7
    Mburn7 Posts: 3,427 Chairperson of the Boards
    Since the update I'm losing about 1% per minute while playing.  That's nuts, especially since I have a pretty new phone.
  • stikxs
    stikxs Posts: 534 Critical Contributor
    DBJones said:
    Weren't they planning to add a no animations option? That would probably fix this issue.
    I don't know why this is so hard to do...
  • boopers
    boopers Posts: 175 Tile Toppler
    Folks on this thread: I think there is plenty of evidence at this point to confirm that there is something new going on with battery drainage.  To help, can you all answer the following:

    When you experienced this excessive battery use, overheating, etc... were you playing on wifi or on your carrier 4G network?

    If you are willing to go a step further and help get some data:
    1) charge to 100%, unplug from power, then play 20 min worth of TG matches while on wifi
    2) charge to 100%, unplug from power, then play 20 min worth of TG matches on your carrier network
  • joerginger
    joerginger Posts: 198 Tile Toppler
    I tried it.
    On WiFi: 90 %
    Without WiFi: 85 %

    However, the question is if this has anything to do with this certainly extremely buggy and powerhungry game - or if this just means that the device needs more power when it shovels data through the phone network. Or if for some reason the matches in the first attempt needed less power (less activated gems or whatever). Or if I just put down the device more often because I was preparing dinner at the same time. I have no idea.
  • boopers
    boopers Posts: 175 Tile Toppler
    lol... ok.  It's more of a test to see if there is an increased draw on the antennas.  Traditionally, 4G will draw more power than wifi.  If there is a big discrepancy between the two tests, it indicates antenna usage is increased with the new release.  If players report relatively inconsistent results, it means it is probably a device issues, or a combination of device/OS/Carrier issue. If there is consistency, it would indicate the game is the issue.

  • stikxs
    stikxs Posts: 534 Critical Contributor
    How do you get from "4G uses more power" to "more power used means they changed their network usage pattern"? It seems a much more likely event that increased processing is the major contributor to faster battery drain.
  • DBJones
    DBJones Posts: 803 Critical Contributor
    I believe he's saying that if network interactions are a significant part of the power drain, the Wi-Fi to 4G difference will be significantly greater than if it's the new animations. I'm not sure why he suspects the network, as the animations seem a much more likely culprit to me.

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