Hi, my brother and I both have the mac version of civ 4. We both have the first beta patch installed. I nor he have any firewalls set up (we both checked our routers etc.). We also are very sure of our IPs. Still we always time out.

Also I noticed when you join a game there is an option to use a password, but when I attempt to host I can't make one. Could this have to do with the problem somehow? Any help would be greatly apreciated, my brother and I are looking forward to playiong over the internet.

I might as well give a little more information...

I have an iMac G5 1.8ghz with 2 GB of RAM
My internet connection is DSL over a wireless network I have set up using a belken router. I disabled the firewall of this.

My brother has a 1.83ghz intel iMac with 1GB of ram.
He has DSL and is using an airport base station and says he checked to make sure he doesn't have a firewall.

Any ideas?

Even if you disable the firewall, you still have to open the ports on the router. I haven't figured out which ports Civ IV needs, so I just plug straight into the cable modem. I've been playing with a guy from Iowa for a couple weeks.

It seems to work. Haven't tried the password thing yet.

Hmm, I unfortunately have to use the router to get internet upstairs where my computer is. Does anyone know which ports to open, and how to do this? Thanks.

do a quick search in the forum search box for router ports multiplayer.

It's pretty complicated... lots of ports need to be opened. Or if you have the DMZ option, that will work too.

Good luck!

whoever is hosting the game, open port 2056

Try using GameRanger to launch the games. It should bypass your routers automatically.

Scott.

Thanks for the responses. I am not entirely sure I know how to open port 2056, but I think I did this by typing my routers IP into safari and going to virtual servers under the firewall section (firewall is disabled). I then typed 2056 into two spots under inbound port, selected TCP for "type", added my computers IP, and for private port I typed in 2056-2056... Still didn't work. Also gameranger didn't work. Connection always times out. I also tried setting my computer as a DMZ, also didn't work. Any other suggestions, or am I doing something wrong?

I then typed 2056 into two spots under inbound port, selected TCP for "type"
I think civ needs both UDP and TCP.. there should be an option for both in your router settings. Also, go to your sharing preferences in system preferences. If you have firewall turned on, add a new service/port to open 2056 for UDP and TCP.

That's all I can think of for why it might not be working. I haven't tried gameranger so can't help ya there.

Thanks for the responses. I am not entirely sure I know how to open port 2056, but I think I did this by typing my routers IP into safari and going to virtual servers under the firewall section (firewall is disabled). I then typed 2056 into two spots under inbound port, selected TCP for "type", added my computers IP, and for private port I typed in 2056-2056... Still didn't work. Also gameranger didn't work. Connection always times out. I also tried setting my computer as a DMZ, also didn't work. Any other suggestions, or am I doing something wrong?

I just re-read your specs and realised your brother has an Intel iMac. Normally this would have just worked with no effort, except that Intel Macs aren't yet supported with this networking feature.

Instead, for the meantime, you'll have to do it the hard way. Civ 4 uses only UDP 2056, not TCP. Only the host will need to do this.

Edit: Once you've done this, it will work in GameRanger, and via Direct IP, but GameRanger will still be easier to use since you won't need to worry about exchanging IP addresses.

Scott.

Last night I browsed over to GameRanger and found a couple of Civ4 games published. One was sitting waiting for a second player, so I invited myself in, just to see whether we could play. I couldn't get into the hosted game, but I tried opening UDP 2056 on my router and set up my own game, and the other player was able to join it (thx Michael with a G5 :thumbsup: ). We played a few turns, and it went very well.

I'm on a Mac Pro, so the current version is now Intel-PPC compatible :D

I have checked into GameRanger a few times but havent seen any Civ4 games. I have set one up and waited but I must be coming in at the wrong times.

Has anyone tried a PBEM game?