Could we PLEASE finally remove the code in the game that forces it to popup if your alt+tabed?

General Discussion
1

Ever wonder why a game pops and then all of a sudden “Fails to launch”? It’s because someone crashed.

A recap for those who don’t realize this:

Back in the long long time ago, Blizzard implemented code into the game that forces it to popup when it finds a game and bring the window to the front of your system processes. This is particularly bad when the game is in full screen mode, but putting the game into Windowed Mode or Windowed Full Screen Mode introduces a whole host of other problems.

As game development has continued, other measures to try to ensure players are at the keyboard and paying attention have been implemented, such as the Disconnect Debuff.

Since the popup feature was implemented four years ago, changes to video drivers, changes to video APIs and changes to the secured process chain in Windows 10 have caused these problems to get worse and worse.

It’s about time this ~120 line of code be redacted from Heroes. It’s literally causing more problems then its resolving — A LOT more.

2

So its choice between having (more) afks and some people, that for whatever reason play in windowed, being angry.

Hmmm…

10 Likes
3

I’m so glad you decided to “go there”.

This work around causes more technical issues then it REMOTELY helps.

We already have a TON of things that have been added to the game SINCE to resolve the issues:

  • Disconnect Debuff
  • Background Sound
  • Default Voice Chat

On top of that — the MAJORITY of people still here are dedicated players, not the “one of” players trying out the “newest Blizzard game” or someone who’s just playing to get those gifts in other games that haven’t happened for two years if I’m not mistaken.

Even at the time of implementing this fix, it was outright stated “This might cause technical problems because it’s not technically possible to do”.

The person who programmed this feature AND the game direct who instructed this to be implemented are no longer on this game. Supposedly both aren’t even at Blizzard anymore.

Going back to update the code to fix the crashes it’s causing the client and the related residual problems as well as certifying the game compatible for Nvidia and ATI are literally now more expensive then removing it and considering a better option.

4

I don’t want that to be removed. It helps more than not in my eyes.

2 Likes
5

Theres a part in settings where you can disable the alt + tab so you can “focus”

8

honestly the solution is soooooo easy. 2 words? ready?!

READY
CHECK
queue pops: A match has been found! ready? Y/N

yes = ready up
no = nope drop out
nothing = assumed no due to inactivity.

to counteract pick dodges you can not see your comp beforehand. Or just deal with a few drops

2 Likes
9

I’m not even sure what OP is complaining about.

2 Likes
10

any proof of the amount of code it takes?

Anyhow, taking this out would be terrible. I have volume only play when the game is in the foreground, and i minimize in ranked queue… And I’m going to guess far more people do this sort of setup than what you are describing.

Now, a toggle for it, added onto the current “disable alt-tab” and 'disable windows key" would be a positive thing to add.

Wait, wait.

Wait, crashes? I’ve never seen the game crash in such a manner.
Do you have any evidence it is wide spread?

Have you put in a technical support report in the forums?
Have you worked with Blizzard to try to diagnose and fix the problem?

I would assume yes, given you seem at minimum somewhat technically minded.

(I’m assuming you have submited reports and requested files to AMD or Nvidia. Whomever your GPU IHV is.)

1 Like
11

That is not what the OP is discussing.

The game brings itself to the “front” of the stack of running applications and programs when you hit a queue. I do not believe this can be done in the games settings.

12

:rage: :anger: :angry:

1 Like
13

I’m confused by what the problem is?
I alt-tab out during queue times often and this brings it back into focus without any issues on my end (regardless of my computer set-up, since in the last year I’ve switched over to Nvidia from AMD).

I’ve never crashed or had disconnecting problems because of it.

1 Like
14

I’m actually a huge fan of this feature. I alt-tab to read articles and screw around on the internet in general all the time when I’m queueing, even more now that queue times have legnthened. If this feature was removed, I’d probably play even less than I currently do.

1 Like
15

it has to do with being windowed or full-screen windows, and not having the game selected when it automatically “alt-tabs” the window to be in focus/selected when a match is found. this is causing the game to crash.

16

What problems? I have it running in full screen mode and the popup and minimize cycle takes less than 1 second… When playing Versus AI I regularly minimize to change music and other things. Windows 10 with game running in exclusive fullscreen mode (not windowed full screen).

Never had it crash doing this, even when I am typing and it suddenly pops up.

17

He is talking about borderless windowed and windowed. Specifically the modes that are not exclusive fullscreen.

1 Like
18

I mean, if you know it’s potentially gonna cause a crash… And you do it anyways… Um… Its kind of a pick your poisen situation.

Perhaps plug your phone into your speakers to switch music or browse the interwebs on your phone? Obligatory “Dont you guys have phones” meme.

I have dual monitors, but I’ve never experienced this crash once? For me, this feature is really nice and I like it.

Also, people miss the first 2 bans during draft enough imo. “LOL sorry was alt tabbed/afk/pooping LOL sorry guys!” I’d really really hate to do anything to incur more incidences of having our team passing on 2/3 of our bans…

The game minimizes and comes back really smoothly & quickly in fullscreen, why not just fullscreen it? Problem solved.

I mean like, what apps do you have running at the same time? How maxxed are your system resources when this issue occurs? If you have Skype, Steam, 12 windows of chrome, you’re streaming, discord and a host of other garbage running at the same time that can be an issue.

I have an AMD gpu and windows 10 pro 64 and I’ve never had this issue once. I keep my machine relatively free of garbage while playing HotS. 99% of the time I only have 1-2 Chrome windows, Microsoft word (studying/work), HotS, antivirus and other windows essentials like one drive and that’s it. I’m pretty particular when it comes to my system resources though.

It drives me nuts when I watch a HotS stream or a YouTube of someone playing HotS and they are lagging and exclaim “WTF why am I lagging?!?” they minimize and check and they have about 92 billion windows of complete and utter garbage going that isn’t HotS/stream related at all and I think “Well gee whiz moron, that’s a real enigma.”

I’m not saying that’s you, but I’m saying you better believe just having things open and running complicates things. Not to even mention your internet service to your house can be throttled and choked for any number of outside reasons you’d never be aware are happening.

19

He’s complaining about the game he’s putting time to play don’t want it to force focus window in fullscreen when it loads, so he can continue doing whatever he does as the match is about to start or after it starts.

Then drops out for inactivity because they overcommitted to finishing that YouTube video.

2 Likes
20

K, I lol’d. Take my heart, you deserved it.

Edit: TB100%H, I think a lot of us suspected that but you said it ROFL. I’d give you another like just for that if i could.

1 Like
21

No, no I’m not. I talking about Alt-Tabing during those 300+ second queue wait times to do something and the game drags me back in, CRASHES during a snake pick and then gives me a leader debuff because I didn’t want to sit on the waiting screen for that 300+ second wait time.

The crashing from this is what’s frankly annoying the heck out of me; then having a leaver debuff thrown in my face as a consolation prize.

If I didn’t have another computer next to me that I could do other stuff on, I might go mad from this.

22

From the sound of it, it looks you have an issue with your computer because I never ever crashed when the game drags me back in, have you tried asking on #technical-support for help?

2 Likes