Lan Issue with Multiplayer.

[Mungo]

Hi Guys,

I am an old time BC3000ad player who finally got copies of BCMG this christmas. (Only turned up on Australian shores then ) The game is great and all the new features and enhancements rock!

Now to my problem. I KNOW this is an unsupported feature but I am hoping I can get an answer to the problem anyway.

I bought 2 copies of BCMG, 1 for me and 1 for my son so we could play multiplayer. I set up my machine wich is a Athlon XP2000, 1 gig ram as a server and got my son to log into it. All was fine and working well. I then logged in myself on the server machine with the client and all was good until about 10 minutes into the game then disconnected.

I scoured the manuals and tried many variations on connects etc and in the end I cam across a line in one of the FAQ's (I am trying to find where it was) stating that you needed another copy of the game for the server??

Have I missread something here? Do I need a 3rd copy of the game regardless of using the unsupported client/server on 1 machine or even if I have a 3rd machine as a dedicated server?

I would have thought buying 2 copies would allow me to play multiplayer on a LAN. There are no speed or packet issues and its about the only thing I can thing of that would disconnect me religiously each time I try to play MP.

Both computers and copies play great in single player mode it is only when we try and get into a multiplayer game that we have problems.

Anyway if anyone can help with this it would be appreciated, if I dont need another copy theoreticly I will do some more testing and try and get some more solid facts. If I do need a 3rd copy to play 2 player MP on my LAN then.... then I spose I will be playing single player....

Cheers,

Mungo

[Supreme Cmdr]

The game requires a dedicated server. And if you are attempting to run both a client and server on the same machine, it has to be a powerful machine and one that is running either WIN2K or WINXP. This is all covered in the FAQ.

If the client is disconnecting, it is because of scheduling due to the strain on the machine attempting to run both a client/server.

You could try running the console server mode. But since that version is probably buggy (since it wasn't fully fleshed out), you might have other problems.

[Cc]

quote:

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You could try running the console server mode. But since that version is probably buggy (since it wasn't fully fleshed out), you might have other problems.

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I have tried this (/console command line argument).

A window opens up,text scrolls down,get initialization message and then the app terminates.It used to work on a earlier patch.

[Mungo]

Thanks for the replies

O.K So if I get a 3rd machine can I run 1 of my two existing copies on it as a server and still connect with the same copy from my machine? Or will I need a 3rd copy for the dedicated server?

I will see if I can get a 3rd machine running for the server, I am running XP on all my home systems so that should work. Can't wait to get it working MPlayer as that will bring a whole new dimension to the game IMHO. Also nothing like showing ya kids who is boss even on computers heh

Cheers,

Mungo

[Supreme Cmdr]

quote:

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Originally posted by Mungo:

Thanks for the replies

O.K So if I get a 3rd machine can I run 1 of my two existing copies on it as a server and still connect with the same copy from my machine? Or will I need a 3rd copy for the dedicated server?

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Yes. All you need is two copies if you are only going to be running one server.

But seriously though, you really shouldn't need a third machine if you have a powerful machine on which to run both a client and server. I have a machine here with a PIV 2Ghz cpu, 512MB RAM and I can run a server (minimized) and client just fine. In fact, thats the machine I tested it on.

Unfortunately I have not had time to finish cleaning up the console server (since it does not use graphics and thus has less processing requirements than a client) and probably won't since its a freebie that wasn't released with the game. But I am going to be looking into getting one finished for UC at some point.

If you are only going to be playing one-on-one on a LAN, a machine spec'ed for 2-4 players (as per the FAQ) will work just fine as a dedicated server. It doesn't have to be a supa-dupa machine.

[Mungo]

I will try again when I have time over the weekend. I deffinately have enough Ram and processor for it but I have yet to try console. Also I had the Server window opened not minimised so that may have been an issue to.

I will post any results I get over the weekend.

Thanks again.

Cheers,

Mungo