I've tried logging into the Internet games using GameSpy and it all seems to work properly. Now come the questions about actually using it. I couldn't see much actual information over in the main Multiplayer forum (mostly seems to be pitboss or PBEM coordination there). So I might ask it here where we are all new to this together and we are all on the same Mac page.

1) How can I find out details about a game - the information presented in the gamespy interface is rudimentary to say the least. It's not even obvious to me who the organiser of some games is so I could contact them for info. For example, I picked a game logged in and found that it seemed to be an abandoned game close to the end - not what I was looking for.

2) How do you leave a game gracefully - retire? Will it be taken over by an AI if you do that?

3) Anyone know what a decent ping is for these games? Most are listed as unknown but others are in the 200s for me.

4) Should I password protect my games? Does that option prevent you from leaving it and getting it taken over by someone else at a later stage if you can't continue?

5) Any other things I should know?

I've had no luck creating an account through Warlords. Once I get my details down and click 'create account' nothing happens. Nothing - just nothing. Does it take like 60 seconds?

I've had no luck creating an account through Warlords. Once I get my details down and click 'create account' nothing happens. Nothing - just nothing. Does it take like 60 seconds?

I did it using Vanilla and there were no problems. Less than 60 seconds. When I went to www.gamespyid.com and entered my email address it showed my username as Skippy_Kangaroo-tk although the -tk didn't show up and wasn't needed within Civ IV when I sign in or in the lobby.

Have you checked that your preferred name doesn't already exist? I think it silently fails when any of a number of problems crop up and it won't tell you what went wrong. I think this is also a common occurrence on the Windows side. Try using a different name (even a throwaway nonsense name) to see if that is the problem and try going from there.

After you click login, how long does it take to display the games? Nothing out of the ordinary (clouds hesitated) happened when I hit 'register' although I could log in to gamespyid.com

I've had no luck creating an account through Warlords. Once I get my details down and click 'create account' nothing happens. Nothing - just nothing. Does it take like 60 seconds?
That behavior is seen in 2 cases on the PC I think..
1) if an account with that name already exists, it seems to just time out that way without giving any error message
2) if the connection is blocked by a firewall