MP Questions

[WhiteHojo]

Ok - played the game - love the game - am thinking about tryin to do a MP game but I have some questions

1) I'm currently using a 56K modem but am thinkin of goin to DSL since it is now avail in my area. How do the 2 types compare in MP (56k vs. DSL) - is there a noticable difference?

2) How does the MP work? Is there a server you connect to (I don't think there is)? Do you have a host and everyone connects to him?

3) What exactly is this Lag I read about and how does it affect the game play?

4) What is the normal time rate in a MP game? 1:2mth?

5) Is the pause option avail in MP?

6) Read that lots of people get dropped out of games and have to rejoin em - how does that work? Is there an auto save option that prevents the loss of the entire session or do you (the host I guess) have to save constantly?

7) what is the aver length of a MP session - assuming 1:2m is the time frame? 6min=1yr, 1hr=10yrs


8) if you have 3 or more MP participants, if one quits, drops out or isn't avail to play can that persons country be turned over to computer control?

9) do all patches have to be the same for all players? that is everyone using 1.08 or IGC 1.9 etc...

thanks in advance

 

[unmerged(3159)]

ANSWERS

Howdy do,

let me try and answer as many of your questions as I can. I have only been playing for a couple of weeks but for the last week or so exclusively multiplayer.

1. DSL is a better all around form of internet access. As this game occurs in essentially real time, it would be worth it if you plan to play alot or you have other RTS games that you wish to play online

2. Multiplayer works by connected through either IP address...ie you give yours (and everyone connects to you) or you get the hosts IP and connect through the join function.

3. Lag is what and keep in mind I am not a techno-weenie, lag is the time it takes for the signal to get from your computer to the hosts computer and vise versa. commonly denoted in MS...milliseconds...
for example...I play Asherons call, before I got DSL my ping time(lag) was in the high 300-500 at best to higher than 1500 when it got "laggy"....now with DSL I ping in the 150-200 range and 300-400 when it gets "laggy" so you can see a hugh def (refer to #1)

4. 1/2 seems to be standard....

5. yes

6. yes connection problems abound in EU multiplayer get ICQ....its how most of us get games (download it at ICQ.com ) I usually autosave every year....but this question is something that has also been giving me problems....in restoring previous game sessions) so you might want to get more input on this one.

7. well I have played for 4 hours and not gotten out of the 1500s....figure its going to take mulitple sessions to complete a game

8. yes

9. yes

good luck and if you are interested in a game contact me at ICQ 115603540

 

[WhiteHojo]

thanks for the answers - where are you located in relation to Central Time in the US (me)

when I get the dsl I'll give the MP a shot and I'll drop ya a line then...

 

[unmerged(3159)]

RE:where I am

Right now I am In front of my computer....oh wait, you want to know my Timezone Mountain...Salt lake City....and you dont have to wait until you get DSL give multi a shot its fun...I would recommend the zone...Microsoft gaming zone.... zone.com you can play this game via a lan hookup by using the zone as an intermediary...anyway...up to you....have fun

 

[unmerged(3156)]

MP Pause

How does Pause work in multiplayer..

Is the player who pauses a mp game the only one who can then unpause the game?

What are some common mp ground rules for pausing mp games? Do players agree to limits as in "X" number of pauses per player per session?

Or does one generally set the game to pause at specific times or events?

 

[unmerged(2893)]

Pause

While the pause feature is available, in my experience it is frowned upon. Just because the action is hot, doesnt mean you should make everyone sit there and wait for you to balance the budget. 1=2 is slow enough. In the few games I have played, pause is used when lag occurs. Sometimes the host moves faster than the others, and when he pauses, the others catch up, before thier action is paused. Pausing because you are DOW'ed will not make you very popular.