Some multiplayer games won't work

J

Jim Brook

On our home network we can play Age of Mythology in multiplayer mode without
any problems.

However Rise of Nations and Dungeon Seige will not play. The problem is that
potential guests cannot see hosted games.

This problem occurs whether or not the firewalls are switched on. The
network behaves normally in all other respects (pings, shared folders etc)

There is clearly something different about the way in which the two games
operate. If anybody knows what that difference is, it could be a clue to a
resolution of the problem.

I've tried everything I can think of.

Thanks for any suggestions.
 
J

Jimmy S.

Hi Jim,

Here's a list of known Networking issues with RoN:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=832800
taken from:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;gmsnetw

When LAN games don't connect, there are a few variables to consider, for
example check for a patch at: www.avault.com/pcrl/patches_list.asp?letter=a

1. Disconnect from the Internet by physically unplugging the cable or DSL
line, and then since there's no longer danger of outside attacks, turn off
your software firewall (Norton's, McAfee, Zone Alarm, Outpost, ICF,
etc.) as these firewalls could be blocking data to and from your system.

2. If you use a router, it could be blocking you as well:
Routers have built-in port blocking firewalls based on NAT technology.
DirectX games require that ports be open in order for the data packets
to be able to travel from one system to another. Here's How to Configure
a router for Multiplayer: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits/PortRoute.html#howto

3. If Step 1 applies to you, but you want an alternative solution, pick up a cross-
over cable from your local supply shop to directly connect one computer to
the other on a 2 player LAN, especially if both computers are close together.

4. If you have multiple network adapters, the game might be using the wrong one
To verify this behaviour, click Start / Control Panel / System / Hardware Tab
/ Device Manager, click the + next to Network Adapters, right click the adapter
which accesses the Internet, and "Disable" it from the right-click menu. If that
works, open Control Panel / Network Connections, click Advanced / Advance
Settings / click the LAN Connection and then the UP arrow to change it's priority
so it's at the top of the list. Test your Internet games to see if they work this way.

5. DirectX 9.0b may need to be installed on both systems:
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...-4c98-baf3-0c67e7f3751f/dx90update_redist.exe

6. Universal PnP might need to be disabled in your router, or in Windows XP:
a) To enable or disable UPnP in XP, click Start / Run / type: services.msc
and you can then right-click Universal Plug and Play on the list to Start it.
b) Consult your router manual for the UPnP instructions for your model.

7. Network Adapter drivers may need to be updated on one or all machines.

8. You may need to specify the target IP using a game specific method.
Consult your game manual or readme file in the game directory. For MS
games: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;gmsnetw

9. You might be specifying the Public IP instead of the Private (LAN) IP.
To easily find the Public and Private IP numbers of the computer you
are using, visit: http://www.u.arizona.edu/~trw/games/nat_or_not.php

For more in depth troubleshooting, try this MS Network Troubleshooting article:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/russel/02april08.asp

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

| On our home network we can play Age of Mythology in multiplayer mode without
| any problems.
|
| However Rise of Nations and Dungeon Seige will not play. The problem is that
| potential guests cannot see hosted games.
|
| This problem occurs whether or not the firewalls are switched on. The
| network behaves normally in all other respects (pings, shared folders etc)
|
| There is clearly something different about the way in which the two games
| operate. If anybody knows what that difference is, it could be a clue to a
| resolution of the problem.
|
| I've tried everything I can think of.
|
| Thanks for any suggestions.
|
|
|
 
J

Jim Brook

Thanks for this Jimmy,

But... none of them seems to have provided the answer.

As mentioned AOM works fine. But RON and DS don't, still. That rules out
some of the list. I've tried switching off the firewalls on both machines.
All games are updated. UPnP is disabled (and I 've tried it enabled). No
router is on use on the internal network. Drivers are up-to-date. Direct X
is 9.0b. Manual spec of IP address (using the private address, of course)
doesn't work (although the machines can ping each other and all other
networking is ok.).

The question I'd like to know the answer to is, "In what way to RON and DS
attempt to communicate that AOM doesn't?"

Ah well.... one of those computing mysteries.

Thanks anyway.

Jimmy S. said:
Hi Jim,

Here's a list of known Networking issues with RoN:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=832800
taken from:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;gmsnetw

When LAN games don't connect, there are a few variables to consider, for
example check for a patch at: www.avault.com/pcrl/patches_list.asp?letter=a

1. Disconnect from the Internet by physically unplugging the cable or DSL
line, and then since there's no longer danger of outside attacks, turn off
your software firewall (Norton's, McAfee, Zone Alarm, Outpost, ICF,
etc.) as these firewalls could be blocking data to and from your system.

2. If you use a router, it could be blocking you as well:
Routers have built-in port blocking firewalls based on NAT technology.
DirectX games require that ports be open in order for the data packets
to be able to travel from one system to another. Here's How to Configure
a router for Multiplayer: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits/PortRoute.html#howto

3. If Step 1 applies to you, but you want an alternative solution, pick up a cross-
over cable from your local supply shop to directly connect one computer to
the other on a 2 player LAN, especially if both computers are close together.

4. If you have multiple network adapters, the game might be using the wrong one
To verify this behaviour, click Start / Control Panel / System / Hardware Tab
/ Device Manager, click the + next to Network Adapters, right click the adapter
which accesses the Internet, and "Disable" it from the right-click menu. If that
works, open Control Panel / Network Connections, click Advanced / Advance
Settings / click the LAN Connection and then the UP arrow to change it's priority
so it's at the top of the list. Test your Internet games to see if they work this way.

5. DirectX 9.0b may need to be installed on both systems:
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...-4c98-baf3-0c67e7f3751f/dx90update_redist.exe

6. Universal PnP might need to be disabled in your router, or in Windows XP:
a) To enable or disable UPnP in XP, click Start / Run / type: services.msc
and you can then right-click Universal Plug and Play on the list to Start it.
b) Consult your router manual for the UPnP instructions for your model.

7. Network Adapter drivers may need to be updated on one or all machines.

8. You may need to specify the target IP using a game specific method.
Consult your game manual or readme file in the game directory. For MS
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;gmsnetw

9. You might be specifying the Public IP instead of the Private (LAN) IP.
To easily find the Public and Private IP numbers of the computer you
are using, visit: http://www.u.arizona.edu/~trw/games/nat_or_not.php

For more in depth troubleshooting, try this MS Network Troubleshooting article:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/russel/02april08.asp

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

| On our home network we can play Age of Mythology in multiplayer mode without
| any problems.
|
| However Rise of Nations and Dungeon Seige will not play. The problem is that
| potential guests cannot see hosted games.
|
| This problem occurs whether or not the firewalls are switched on. The
| network behaves normally in all other respects (pings, shared folders etc)
|
| There is clearly something different about the way in which the two games
| operate. If anybody knows what that difference is, it could be a clue to a
| resolution of the problem.
|
| I've tried everything I can think of.
|
| Thanks for any suggestions.
|
|
|
 

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