Can't play internet multiplayer or direct IP connection

[Cutwolf]

When I try to play internet multiplayer, it just sits at the create account/login screen. When I hit "login" or whatever, it hiccups for a second and sits there.

Direct IP connection just times out when connecting to host or someone tries to connect to me.

Any clue?

 

[Oren]

It's exactly the problem I had. Turned out to be a Windows Firewall problem. Just disbable your firewall and then try. Most likely it will solve the problem. You'll have thereafter to configure your firewall to work with Civ4 before enabling it again.

And by the way, the accounts you tried to create were actually created. You can go to www.gamespyid.com to verify that.

 

[stanmons]

Hi,

After 2 hours of Civ4 debugging I got multiplayer working with version 1.61! I started from exactly same problem, login did not do anything but halted for a second.

I would say the problem solving falls in two categories in this order:
1) Connectivity (firewall) issue resolving
2) GameSpy account resolving

Firewalls and port configurations are discussed widely around the forum. I disabled Windows firewall, configured Norton carefully to allow all UDP 2056 traffic and other TCP traffic (just in case) specified by gamespy. I also checked my ADSL router is not blocking any traffic. All set!

Next I set on debug logging in Civilization 4 ini file to:

; Enable synchronization logging
SynchLog = 1
; Enable the logging system
LoggingEnabled = 1

This allowed me to see in logs following entry:
ERR: The uniquenick provided is incorrect.

I googled it to do with GameSpy. Now I new connection works just fine! My girlfriend (civ fanatic!) had created an account earlier today in www.gamespyid.com which I tried. Did not work. I also tried one older account. No luck. After some searching I found a post (thanks!) about a solution: no account created OUTSIDE the Civ4 game will work. I guess Civ4 account creation provides some data normal www.gamespyid.com registration does not. Ok, I went and created another account now INSIDE Civ4 which worked with no problems and I found myself in multiplayer lobby! Tested once that login also now worked. Debug off and to play!

I hope I have been able to give you some ideas.