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View Full Version : Breaking free of GameSpy


Achilles
Dec 4, 2004, @ 08:24 AM
As we are all painfully aware, GameSpy is Suckness Inc.

However, it is not really a game server like Battle.Net, that I know, only a match-maker. So we really play P2P. That is why a host is required on GS and not on Bnet. If I am wrong about this, tell me so and skip the rest.

So, here's the story. A bunch of us Moonbase Commander (small-time strategy game, no one ever heard of it *sob*) players still love the game, and got tired of hanging around in GS lobby. So 2-3 of us that know a code line when they see it (urs truly not included) put together a game 'console' that does the match-making (it is also a random map generator, but that is not necessary). The host's 'console' generates a game code and sends it to the other player/s, and they type it in their own 'console' and join him. The 'console' is a 156KB simple program with options to host/join a game, and set random map parameters (again, not vital).

Now we just get on messenger, preferably multi-account supporting like Trillian, see who's online, and get a game no problems and almost no disconnections / outta sync etc. Also no burdening the PC with running anything until match-up is set. Btw, MSN account is preferable as it allows conference-chat.

I understand most of the work was the random map generator, the match-making was mainly written by one guy, not too big project. So I was thinking, maybe the same can be done for other games.

So, any of u guys that know a code line when they see it feel up to it ? I can ask the guys who wrote the console, maybe looking into it can help. Reply here or msg me - I use Trilllian and have MSN, AIM, ICQ accounts, as u see in the icons.

Cheers :)

Papa Smurf
Dec 8, 2004, @ 09:35 AM
emmmm not being funny but aint that just direct connect which is a feature of most games now, certainly HW2 and DoW.

Achilles
Dec 9, 2004, @ 03:13 AM
Say 4 of us want to get a 2v2 direct connection game, how do we go about it ? one of us hosts, and just messages his IP to the others ? did u ever play HW2 like that ?

If so, we should really tried that, so many launched games never make it...

MVB
Dec 9, 2004, @ 03:15 AM
We used to do that all the time in the old days, Achilles, especially before the first patch (and only patch I think).

After that, things got a little better, and I recall us never really direct connecting anymore.

It's a great idea, though, and I appreciate your offer. If you stick with TLSC through multiple games (and I hope that you do), I'm sure it will come in handy, if not in HW2.

LardGibs
Dec 9, 2004, @ 02:00 PM
A good while ago somebody named Aracat wrote a small directx hack for autodirect connect that you could install, and a mirc macro that would activate it.

In mirc you'd do /hostgame, then others could /join and it would direct connect it up for you. It worked, and since they haven't patched the game since then you probably could sniff it out on relic forums. They used it in #homeworldladder as I recall.
but really what's so horrible about gayspy that ignore can't fix? user name smurfing is about the only thing and mirc isn't going to fix that.

Achilles
Dec 9, 2004, @ 03:29 PM
Hmm am i the only one that experiences so many disconnections, crashed launches and out-of sync ?

I estimate ~40% of launched games make it to a natural ending. Most common is some kind of stoppage in mid-launch (downloading content etc), or arriving on the map with some players missing, but mid-game out-of-sync and other kinds of disconnections are not uncommon either, and much more annoying.

LardGibs
Dec 9, 2004, @ 04:03 PM
Then it's you, your router/firewall, and your ping. Don't use software firewall on a slow computer?

Achilles
Dec 9, 2004, @ 06:01 PM
hmm...

Celeron 2.4G, 256MB (512, soon as I plug the new stripe in), GE-Force 5200, adsl 1.5G, typical pping 250... reasonably above minimum specs, should be ok right ?
Router firewall, but I DMZ; no software firewall.

laserflip
Dec 10, 2004, @ 01:38 AM
A good while ago somebody named Aracat wrote a small directx hack for autodirect connect that you could install, and a mirc macro that would activate it.

In mirc you'd do /hostgame, then others could /join and it would direct connect it up for you. It worked, and since they haven't patched the game since then you probably could sniff it out on relic forums. They used it in #homeworldladder as I recall

hwladder was run off of this system almost in its entirety until its demise.