Twinreaper:
Thank you for your reply. It is without a doubt one of the clearest descriptions I have read concerning xbox matchmaking. With regard to the lag issue I am incurring, it appears to be primarily driven by the matchmaking.
My contention is based upon checking each player 's profile following a team slayer match. I have discovered that roughly 75% of the Team Slayer games I am matched in have at least 1 player from another country. In roughly 20%-25% of the games I am the only player in the US. I appear to be matched against players from the following countries going from most to least:
1. UK (including Ireland)
2. Mexico
3. France
4. Germany
5. Netherlands
6. Spain
7. Sweden
8. Brazil
9. Finland
10. Columbia
The UK connections are tolerable however, I have noticed that game connections with the other listed countries frequently begin with an immediate host migration. The lag may be for or against you, meaning that the player in the other country is scoring 22 kills / 5 deaths or the exact opposite.
Originally this type of matchmaking typically occured only during late afternoon games. As such I elected to play later in the evening to avoid this type of matchmaking. Unfortunately over the past week and a half it has begun to occur more frequently during the 10PM to 12AM EST time slot.
Additionally I have checked the number of online "Team Slayer" players at the start of each session. It is usually in the range of 1,500 to 3,000.
My conclusion is that the number of Reach players in/on other countries/continents has dropped to the point where they are being matched with US based players in order to get a match. This is occuring in spite of me selecting the customization feature for "Good Connection" and "Language". Given my experience, I have difficulty believing that the customization feature is operable. Not just because of the aforementioned but also because I have at times been matched with players that I have placed on my "Do Not Play List".
These all may be moot points but both I and the eight ( or so players I regularly team with have been growing increasinly frustrated at the situation. An expectation of a reasonably level playing field is a fundamental requirement for satisfactory game play.
