How do i play multiplayer in XP?

[mastablasta]

I have a very similar problem as described in this unaswered thread only i use windows XP.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=313043&highlight=multiplayer

Two computers message can not be sent etc. Eventhough when the server quits the client gets the info but before that it's like the message gets blocked somewhere. But all programmes have a free path. Checked the router, ports are clear. Can anyone help here? I remember this game used to run well on Win98...

 

[chuft]

I have a very similar problem as described in this unaswered thread only i use windows XP.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=313043&highlight=multiplayer

Two computers message can not be sent etc. Eventhough when the server quits the client gets the info but before that it's like the message gets blocked somewhere. But all programmes have a free path. Checked the router, ports are clear. Can anyone help here? I remember this game used to run well on Win98...

I have had this problem using GameRanger, and also people have it running Hamachi.

But if I do a direct TCPIP game with someone else, connecting to their IP, I don't get this problem.

 

[Buster's Uncle]

Have you seen this?

http://www.weplayciv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1873

 

[mastablasta]

I have had this problem using GameRanger, and also people have it running Hamachi.

Ok that's a bit strange. Are you saying firewall could still be the culprint eventhough we lett all messages for terran & direct play server through? Also here i connect directly to the server by typing in the ID and using IPX protocol the programme even finds the game by itself.

Have you seen this?

Yes i had a look at it. However i am not sure why i would need to run Hamachi in order to connect to another computer and play on it. Also the probelm here appears to be that a message can not get through (unless they encoded some other error under this). Considering the fact that the game is still being sold (if i understand correctly) support should also then be offered. You can not sell a product without offering support for it.

Anyway, they made a patch so it works in XP in single player, but something obviously is not working with the connection in multiplayer.
I even tried the IPX protocol (which i also remember worked well on Win98), but i receive the same message. It looks like something can not get transmitted. Now the funny thing is as soon as the server cancels the game or decides to ignore the message the client gets updates about the game settings. Unfortunatelly soon after the game crashes.

 

[chuft]

Ok that's a bit strange. Are you saying firewall could still be the culprint eventhough we lett all messages for terran & direct play server through? Also here i connect directly to the server by typing in the ID and using IPX protocol the programme even finds the game by itself.

I am saying I can play games with people on GameRanger, and I can play direct TCPIP (not IPX) games with people in SMACX, but I cannot play SMACX with the same people on GameRanger. There's something about the combo SMACX doesn't like. I have heard identical reports from people using Hamachi.

GameRanger has permissions, and SMACX has permissions, and they each work great independently, but when I try to combine SMACX with a virtual LAN thingie like GameRanger, the guest can connect and see the host in the lobby but the host can't see them and eventually the "message can't be sent" occurs. If I (or they) host a game using "Internet TCPIP Connection for DirectPlay" we can play with no problems.

 

[vyeh]

I have a very similar problem as described in this unaswered thread only i use windows XP.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=313043&highlight=multiplayer

Two computers message can not be sent etc. Eventhough when the server quits the client gets the info but before that it's like the message gets blocked somewhere. But all programmes have a free path. Checked the router, ports are clear. Can anyone help here? I remember this game used to run well on Win98...

Also the probelm here appears to be that a message can not get through (unless they encoded some other error under this). Considering the fact that the game is still being sold (if i understand correctly) support should also then be offered. You can not sell a product without offering support for it.

Anyway, they made a patch so it works in XP in single player, but something obviously is not working with the connection in multiplayer.
I even tried the IPX protocol (which i also remember worked well on Win98), but i receive the same message. It looks like something can not get transmitted. Now the funny thing is as soon as the server cancels the game or decides to ignore the message the client gets updates about the game settings. Unfortunatelly soon after the game crashes.

The problem in "Message time expired" problem also involves messages in TCP/IP games. It is probably time tp paste your messages in that thread and treat it as a serious bug.

I'll post here when we have a resolution there.

Regarding support, the game is 11 years old. It is being distributed by "Sold Out Software. I suspect that this forum (and the forum in my signature) can do a better job of providing support than SOS.

 

[DrazharLn]

Hi there, the reason I recommended Hamachi for networking is so that you can avoid problems related to NAT or Network Address Translation. This is almost certainly occurring if your PC is behind a local router.

This makes it impossible for two people behind a single router to connect with another player elsewhere in a 3 person game.

Anyway, a short troubleshooting list would be to check that all players are running the same version of the game (you may also need to ensure that everyone is using the same .exe or that they patched the game in the same order), if players are using different operating systems, particularly if one is using XP and the other Vista, then you could also have problems.

Oh yeah, and try disabling your firewalls completely while you play. DirectPlay packets are sometimes filtered.

 

[mastablasta]

I see. But here we have a situation where both computers are behind the same router and want to play with eachother. So we are in the same LAN. it all looks like this worked with older direct X and it could be possible that they (microsoft) fixed some flaws with previous direct x and thus closing it for transfer.

yesterday we tried what happnes if we choose to ignore the message. game goes a little forward until same message appears and is ignored until the loading sort of gets stuck and message continues to pop up. obviously by then a crucial part can not be transmitted to start the game.

 

[chuft]

But are both computers plugged into the same router? If the traffic is going through the router, even if it is re-emerging on your side of it, that may be your problem.

 

[chuft]

You could try connecting the two computer directly using a crossover cable

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet_crossover_cable

or a cheap ethernet hub purchased at Best Buy or something.

That would eliminate all filtering other than that done by the comps themselves.

 

[mastablasta]

But are both computers plugged into the same router? If the traffic is going through the router, even if it is re-emerging on your side of it, that may be your problem.

What would that be a problem? Traffic just passes through the router which routes it to my computer. It's not like any other game has an issue here.

 

[chuft]

The router may be filtering certain kinds of packets. That is something routers do.

Hubs do not filter anything, they give you a clear connection, as does a direct ethernet cable.

I am just suggesting things for you to try. Other games might not have a problem because they might be using different types of packets than SMAC does.