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

[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.

 

[delmar]

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.

 

[Dan Magaha FIRAXIS]

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

 

[rdomarat]

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.

 

[munzy76]

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

 

[delmar]

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.

 

[WarningU2]

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.

 

[mok]

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.

 

[WarningU2]

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.