Uh...Direct IP...Uhh...Cool!

[cgannon64]

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

 

[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.

 

[cgannon64]

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.

CG

 

[Chieftess]

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

 

[delmar]

For a change, I would appreciate the technical version.

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?

 

[delmar]

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?

 

[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.

 

[delmar]

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! ). 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?

 

[Civanator]

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

 

[delmar]

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.

 

[mok]

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.

 

[mok]

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.

 

[delmar]

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.

 

[Suave]

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

 

[delmar]

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".

 

[Zamphyr]

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

Yes.

 

[munzy76]

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.

 

[delmar]

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

 

[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. 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.

 

[delmar]

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).