PTW, MP and LAN problems

[Cats]

We want to play a PTW LAN game but expirence some problems in starting the game.

We can start a host and the other player on the LAN can see and join the host - but that's as far as we can go - because when the joiner wants to select the race PTW freezes completely and after a while (probably when the network timeout occurs) PTW is killed.

Our setup is two pc's, XP on both and connected with crosscable and we have never had any problem with other games. We have tried disabling the software firewall in XP as well as any other programs running (antivirus etc.). We have the European version of PTW.

Does anyone have any clue to what the problem can be? Thanx in advance.

 

[test_specimen]

Have you patched it to the latest version? Look on the www.firaxis.com page under all downloads.

 

[Cats]

- the only patch avaliable are for the US-version only.

 

[test_specimen]

Go to www.civ3.de on the right side of the screen you have links to different patch versions.

 

[Cats]

We installed the D-patch to 1.14f but it didn't help much concerning getting a game started - maybe it's a LAN problem but how many problems can there be with a LAN??

The difference with the patch is that the MP-screens write "connecting" and has a timeout of 120 sec. but when that times out the game closed and goes to the main menu screen.

 

[test_specimen]

I am sorry, but I guess patching is all I ever do when I try to get a game to run. And I have no WinXP.

Other things, which you might have already tried: Check your network settings. I always found it better to have fixed IPs than having them generated dynamically.

All other programmes should be closed, especially virus scanners.

A reinstall of civ might help.

Direkt IP might work, though I'm not sure if this works on lan.

Sorry, but I can't think of anything else. Maybe someone more technically experienced or a help thread/FAQ can solve your problems.