Multiplayer Problem

[Nitronic755]

This is either a strange problem or I have no idea how to work it.

When I go on multiplayer, and my friend goes on at the same time and starts an online game, it never shows up on my computer. When I started a game, it didn't show up on his computer.

For info, I have DSL2 DL version.

I have no idea how to make it work! The only way I can figure it is if I am behind a firewall. Does anyone know how I can get it to work!

[Mr. Weedy]

If you have a router or NAT (a thing which hides your computer's IP, your inner IP, but doesn't hide your modem's IP, your outter IP.) Then unplug the router and go to NAT's setup and open some ports which the game uses. I don't know them even I have a NAT too. I simply just switch my normal modem to total piece of sh** with no extra stuff and then just trust to my software firewall.

So the game doesn't understand so called "double IPs." That's why you have to unplug your router if you have a router. Or of course you could open some ports in your firewall too. Don't ask me which ones, because I don't have to setup my hardware firewall because I use that software while hosting games on my other modem.  :roll:

[Nitronic755]

Ummm... OK? That was the most confusing thing I have ever read. Seriously.

So you just swap modems?

I don't know... im more confused than ever...

[Mr. Weedy]

Yeah. I swap modems. Maybe I didn't use the right word but I have 2 modems. Other has router and NAT functions, Other doesn't.

[Nitronic755]

I have one... just a standard one for broadband connection. Still confused, but thanks for trying to help.

[Nitronic755]

Um... Hello? Im still in the dark here...

[Clickbeetle]

Configure your firewall so RA2 is allowed to access the internet, or else just turn it off.  This will let you join games, but if you have a router you won't be able to host.

[Nitronic755]

Thanks a lot Click, ill try that.

EDIT: No use with the firewall, Robot Arena 2 has full access to the internet anyway, and it still didn't work when I disabled it completely. There is always the chance that whenever I go on (like 2 minutes ago) there are no people playing, but it's unlikely.

A while ago, one game did appear, although an error came up when I tried to join saying incompatible program versions or something. Im guessing this is because they probably had the stock RA2 and I had DSL.

Im astounded and slightly annoyed. Are there any other things apart from the firewall that could prevent me from viewing other people's games? If so, how do I fix it? Before you ask, I have switched it over from the LAN to the Internet.

[Mr. Weedy]

Umm... Clicky said everything what I had said but in shorter terms...

And also as I said you might have NAT which prevent your hosted game appearing.

[Clickbeetle]

There is always the chance that whenever I go on (like 2 minutes ago) there are no people playing, but it's unlikely.

Not so unlikely as you think.  Not many people play RA2 online.  If you see four games up you can call it a revival of RA2.

The incompatible program version comes from people who don't have the 1.2 patch.  There's nothing stopping a DSL user from joining a stock game, but there might be problems when you try to use a bot :lol:

[Nitronic755]

My friend and I both went on RA2 Multiplayer at the same time and we both managed to see a game someone else had started (although I couldn't watch it due to incompatible program versions), but neither of us could see games that we had started. Is this what happens when you have a NAT or router?

I had a look at my network/broadband settings and found two numbers that looked like an IP adress. One was the IP adress, and the other was a Default Gateway. Is that a double IP? My IP was 192.168.1.2 and the Default Gateway one was 192.168.1.1

Looking Harder, I also have a DCHP server and a DNS server both with the adress 192.168.1.1

Does any of that point to a particular problem, and If so whats the solution?

[Mr. Weedy]

Looks like you have "double IP." The IP which has *.1.1 in the end and is DNS's IP means your modem's IP. Only this will show to public, but this *.1.2 is your Computer's IP and that the RA2 can't find because it doesn't understand those "double IPs." So looks like you have some sort of router in your modem. The NAT would just hide your computer's IP to not show on anyone. ...Or something like that.

But anyway your problem is that "double IP." Buy a totally pieces of crap modem with only one LAN plugin without any hardware firewalls and then try to host with software firewall covering you. Should work then as it works for me.

[Nitronic755]

OK. I understand the problem bt am slightly confused about the solution.

What do you mean by LAN plugin?

Please Help!

[Mr. Weedy]

The Lan plugin is a place for the cable which is coming from your network adapter card, is that written like that? But anyway, you should have same sort of "hole" in your modem as you can see in this picture behind this card:
http://www.circuitcity.com/IMAGE/product/enlarged/dlk/EC.DLK.DFE530TXPLUS.JPG

That is that so called LAN plugin because in that slot goes only LAN cable. Normal network cable is too small to fit in that slot, it doesn't fill the whole hole.

You should have only one that kind of slot in your modem and only so you won't have any integrated routers in your modem.

[Nitronic755]

OK, in that case I only have one LAN Plugin. The socket is labeled Ethernet on my modem. Also there is a smaller cable going to the phone jack via a ADSL microfilter called the DSL  cable, but I dont think that's relevant.

So as fas as I can see, my modem should work, if it only has one LAN socket...

[Nitronic755]

The incompatible program version comes from people who don't have the 1.2 patch.  There's nothing stopping a DSL user from joining a stock game, but there might be problems when you try to use a bot :lol:

Are you sure? I went on multiplayer a few minutes ago and there were three games running, and it came up with the incompatible program version error every time for all three. I also checked and I definatley have RA2 1.2.

[Mr. Weedy]

But the others doesn't have 1.2 version of the original RA2 game. They have 1.0. Try to join to Mean2u's game one day. I have 1.2 and Mean2u has 1.2 version of the game also. If that won't work then your game is messed.

And about that modem. Yeah it should work then because normally if you have more than one ethernet plugin in your modem you have some sort of router integrated into it. You may have either firewall or NAT in your modem but not router at all because you can't connect your modem to other computers and so it can't work as a router.

[Nitronic755]

Try to join to Mean2u's game one day. I have 1.2 and Mean2u has 1.2 version of the game also. If that won't work then your game is messed.

Something tells me that whenever you or Mean2u are playing, Im asleep because im in a different timezone. Probably because everyone always replies to my posts while Im asleep.

[Mr. Weedy]

Well I'm in Finland and Mean2u is something like 6-7 hours behind me for example when the clock is 9 pm here on mean2u it is something like 3pm or so. So you'r probably right.  :wink:

[Nitronic755]

Yeah, your last post came through at 3:48am. If im really lucky I might catch Mean2u's game if he starts it early, because it should be at 9 - 10pm my time.