How exactly does Direct IP work? Sorry, I haven't really played too many online games, so this is still a mystery to me. Not to techinical, please, just a basic outline of how it works. Thanks. :)

CG

Click the box that says Direct IP, under the GameSpy logo bottom left of the Lobby. You will need to have the host's IP address to enter in the popup box. It will skip the GameSpy lobby.

Originally posted by kring
Click the box that says Direct IP, under the GameSpy logo bottom left of the Lobby. You will need to have the host's IP address to enter in the popup box. It will skip the GameSpy lobby.

I think I get it. So I can set up a game here, get the host's IP, and then play? Cool. :D

CG

Remember the days of dialup "multiplayer" games? :) That's like direct IP, but it's across the Internet.

For a change, I would appreciate the technical version. :D

Is it a client-server model (one server/host and many clients)? What ports are used on the server and what ports are used on the client? Does it run over TCP at all?

Originally posted by kring
Click the box that says Direct IP, under the GameSpy logo bottom left of the Lobby. You will need to have the host's IP address to enter in the popup box.

What is the "host" whose IP address I need to enter here? Can I set up such a host? If yes, how?

I havent got the game yet, but think i can answer the question.
The host is the person making the game (hosting it). So if you are making the game the host ip, are your ip adress. So host ip should be the game makers ip.

Hope that helps.

Originally posted by Ani
I havent got the game yet, but think i can answer the question.
The host is the person making the game (hosting it). So if you are making the game the host ip, are your ip adress. So host ip should be the game makers ip.

Hope that helps.

Not really, although I appreciate your input. ;)

See the problem is, I can't find the option to host a Direct IP game per se. I have the sneaking suspicion that you have to host a game just like you do with the other online options, and then the clients can opt to connect to you using Direct IP. I hope I am mistaken because I don't want to use that public server (GameSpy?) that the game tries to connect to (without asking me or telling me a damn thing, btw! :rolleyes: ). Actually, if I am right then I would say this is a bug. After all what why would we want to have Direct IP if not because we don't want to go through a public server?

Direct IP is when a host starts the game and you connect to his computer, not a host server like gamespy.

Originally posted by Civanator
Direct IP is when a host starts the game and you connect to his computer, not a host server like gamespy.

Did you try? What you say is logical but I am not convinced that it is true for Civ PTW. I think you simply can't host a game unless you have connectivity to Gamespy.

As a side note, someone said on another thread that even if you do use Gamespy, the actual connections don't go through the Gamespy server. Gamespy acts just like a message board to advertise your game. I don't know if it's true, but it sounds logical.

You CAN host without an Internet connection.


As far as hosting an IP game, the assumption is correct. The Host Simply starts as a host, then others connect via the IP of the host.

Yes, if you have an Internet connection this does mean your game will be advertised via the gamespy stuff, so password protect your games.

there does seem to be stability in this patch as far as making games goes, but lag is still a huge factor, even on a lan.

Delmar,

Gamespy is just a connection service. So once you hook up into the game screen, gamespy is out of the way.

Whether they close and clean up the no longer used connections to gamespy's servers at that time is another matter.

So when you are playing the game, all players have a direct connection to the host machine.

Originally posted by mok
You CAN host without an Internet connection.

I think I wasn't precise enough: I was talking about the Direct IP version specifically (hint: check the title of the thread ;) ). I still claim that you can't do that, see the thread I started in the 1.14 patch bug tracking forum.

As far as hosting an IP game, the assumption is correct. The Host Simply starts as a host, then others connect via the IP of the host.

Did you try?

Yes, if you have an Internet connection this does mean your game will be advertised via the gamespy stuff, so password protect your games.


And what if I have internet connection and a firewall that doesn't let me through to GameSpy? Direct IP still should work, shouldn't it? Well, AFAIK it doesn't.

Sorry for the very basic question, but how do I find what my IP address is so that I can relay it to others to direct IP in? Civ II did this for you. I'm sure there is some basic command to bring it up.

Also, Has anyone successfully hosted a direct IP game? Did it seem to reduce lag?

Can I host a game set up as "local" and have people direct IP into it as long as I am online?

Thanks

Originally posted by Suave
Sorry for the very basic question, but how do I find what my IP address is

Start->Run...->cmd[Enter], in the upcoming black window type: "ipconfig".

Can I host a game set up as "local" and have people direct IP into it as long as I am online?

I think you have to start it as an "Internet" game, not "local".

Can I host a game set up as "local" and have people direct IP into it as long as I am online?


Yes.

Originally posted by delmar


Start->Run...->cmd[Enter], in the upcoming black window type: "ipconfig".



I think you have to start it as an "Internet" game, not "local". This doesn't work all the time though. Ifyou are behind a NAT (Network Address Translator) like a lot of Cable/DSL users have built into their routers. Use this website: http://www2.simflex.com/ip.shtml to find out what your ip address if you have a router.

Zamphyr, did you try this (Direct IP as "local")?

delmar,

Yes, I have tried it today and succesfullydone it. On LAN and Internet. No Problems.

Simple have the host machine "Host" a game. Simply have the clients connect using the host's IP address.


If you are behind a firewall, and your buds are on the other side of it, you will still need to open up the ports listed in the readme to play. I guess you could be selective and ignore the gamespy specific ports (if there are any), but a firewall will still affect play.

Originally posted by mok
delmar,

Yes, I have tried it today and succesfullydone it. On LAN and Internet. No Problems.

Simple have the host machine "Host" a game.

Did you use "Internet" or "Local" as location?


If you are behind a firewall, and your buds are on the other side of it, you will still need to open up the ports listed in the readme to play.

No doubt. It just appears to me that I also have to open up the IRC channel to GameSpy and I wonder why (and what else).

OK, I'm still a little confused by the information in this thread. Is the following possible :

1) I have a 4-port Linksys Router connected to my cable modem, but for the sake of argument, I've neglected to pay my ISP and my service has been disconnected.

2) I have four machines connected to the Linksys router and we can all happily ping each other with the DHCP assigned IP addresses from the Linksys Router. We share files and printers with no problems at all. Life is good.

3) Can I host a Direct-IP game on machine #1 (the fastest machine among the four) and have machines #2 through #4 join the Direct-IP game I've hosted on the machine #1, or am I still forced to somehow communicate with the GameSpy server on Internet?

I'm assuming that I shuoldn't need to worry about forwarding ports on my Linksys router if I don't plan on playing with anyone on the other side of my router, but the postings I've read seem to indicate that an Internet connection is still needed.

Thanks for your time all.

Originally posted by rdomarat

3) Can I host a Direct-IP game on machine #1 (the fastest machine among the four) and have machines #2 through #4 join the Direct-IP game I've hosted on the machine #1, or am I still forced to somehow communicate with the GameSpy server on Internet?


Bingo, pretty much the same question as the one bugging me! I think you should be able to do what you discribe above but my experience is that you can't. OTOH, why don't you just try it out? People above mentioned that you can set up a Direct IP host by selecting "Local" for location. If that's true, then there is hope. I was trying to "host" after I set location to "Internet" and I couldn't do it.

Originally posted by rdomarat
OK, I'm still a little confused by the information in this thread. Is the following possible :

1) I have a 4-port Linksys Router connected to my cable modem, but for the sake of argument, I've neglected to pay my ISP and my service has been disconnected.

2) I have four machines connected to the Linksys router and we can all happily ping each other with the DHCP assigned IP addresses from the Linksys Router. We share files and printers with no problems at all. Life is good.

3) Can I host a Direct-IP game on machine #1 (the fastest machine among the four) and have machines #2 through #4 join the Direct-IP game I've hosted on the machine #1, or am I still forced to somehow communicate with the GameSpy server on Internet?

I'm assuming that I shuoldn't need to worry about forwarding ports on my Linksys router if I don't plan on playing with anyone on the other side of my router, but the postings I've read seem to indicate that an Internet connection is still needed.

Thanks for your time all.

Actually in this scenario you should (IIRC) be able to host a local game and all four clients should be able to join without needing to use the direct IP option.

And, as counterintuitive as this sounds, you can host a direct IP-joinable game by hosting a "Local Game". The game will not use the Gamespy network but your pals can still join if you give them your IP and you've opened/forwarded port 2302.

Dan

Originally posted by Dan Magaha FIRAXIS


Actually in this scenario you should (IIRC) be able to host a local game and all four clients should be able to join without needing to use the direct IP option.

Dan

Thanks for clarifying that Dan. Your input is always appreciated.

Great...so game spy isn't needed. Anyone else think that name is creepy? :D

Don't like to judge things by name or appearance, so I tried to play PTW through GameSpy today. It was terrible. The best I got was an "Out of sync" message after 30 minutes playing, and that was after i tried to get into a game for about an hour.

Honestly I am not sure if things will be better with Direct IP but I would love to try. Is there anyone with a couple of free hours and control over his/her firewall (or without one) who would like to try out (really just for testing, not for a real game, for starters) how Direct IP works? Let me know.

PS: After the GameSpy experience, now I really start to appreciate the PBEM style.

Ok I'm the first to admit this that I'm likely a dolt but can someone respond with the exact steps to play a direct IP game.

Are the steps ... ?

1) You are the host so you start Game and select (I don't know)

2) Give out IP your IP address prior or private chat to folks

3) Wait for folks to join by direct IP button.

But aren't you in gamespy then ? Can Fixaxis provide some doc on this ? I can't believe they put out an enhancement and there is no documentation on how to use it.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by WarningU2
....


Step One: The Host player determines his correct IP address, and gives this info to his friends

Step Two: The Host Player selects LOCAL or INTERNET game, and uses the HOST option

Step Three: The other Players press the "Direct IP" button and enter the Host's IP address.

All clients should hook up to the host machine if all firewalls have been properly configured.

Do not worry about gamespy, the game is never played "through" gamespy. Gamespy is the chat and matchmaker, that is all. Dan may correct me if I am wrong, but once the game is started, it is out of the way. It has nothing to do with lag once you are in the game itself.

If your machine is hooked up to the Internet, you will still be thrust into the Gamespy chat before you setup the game. This appears to be a "feature". Choosing LOCAL game will evidently keep the game from being advertised on Gamespy, so others will not see it and try to join.

If your machine is not hooked to the Internet, the game will not find the gamespy server. This is no big deal. There is a slight timeout pause, then the chat feature in the room where games are advertised does not work. If you go to host a game, it will still be advertised and other players on your LAN will see it. But if they are doing direct IP, they do not even have to worry about seeing it.

Thank You Mok! When the CD is inserted and you are presented with your choice of options, I assume you select the MP option still and then perform your instructions - right ?

Now I just need someone to try this out. :)

I have a game ongoing now with someone, shouldn't matter that it was started without Direct Ip right ?

Thanks again Mok.