Multiplayer Problems - Direct Connect Mac & PC

[allfunandgames]

Hi all,

Is anyone able to help me?  I just purchased a copy of AI: War ion Steam for my brother and I to play multiplayer.  I didn't realise it wouldn't have the same multiplayer functionality of other Steam games and we are unable to connect a game and there seems to be very little information out there to help us.

Any suggestions?  Have tried using www.whatismyipaddress.com, but it still won't connect.  I have a Mac and he has a PC, could that be the issue?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[keith.lamothe]

Welcome to the forums

Is anyone able to help me?  I just purchased a copy of AI: War ion Steam for my brother and I to play multiplayer.  I didn't realise it wouldn't have the same multiplayer functionality of other Steam games and we are unable to connect a game and there seems to be very little information out there to help us.

Any suggestions?  Have tried using www.whatismyipaddress.com, but it still won't connect.

Are both your machines behind the same router?  Or are you in separate locations?

If you're behind the same router then usually the direct connect window will automatically find the IP addresses of other computers behind your router that are hosting an AIW game, but you may need to enter the IP manually.  That would be your "local" IP, which you would get (on a windows box) by running ipconfig in a command window, so:

1) Start menu.
2) Run.
3) type cmd and hit enter
4) in the command window that pops up, type ipconfig and hit enter
5) look for the entry that's relevant (you may have both an ethernet and a Wireless connection and possibly a variety of others; look at the one you're currently using) and the IPv4 Address (possibly just "IP Address") line has the number you want.

If you're not both behind the same router there's other questions like port forwarding and so on, but one step at a time

I have a Mac and he has a PC, could that be the issue?

That should work fine

[x4000]

This should also help: http://www.arcengames.com/forums/index.php/topic,8496.0.html

[Echo35]

I have a Mac and he has a PC, could that be the issue?

That should work fine

Ethernet is Ethernet Though I know sometimes Macs don't like talking to things on different subnets.

[x4000]

I have a Mac and he has a PC, could that be the issue?

That should work fine

Ethernet is Ethernet Though I know sometimes Macs don't like talking to things on different subnets.

The bigger worry, in the past, would have been the big-endian or little-endian conversions.  But I tested even with PowerPC Macs, and our networking library handles those swaps automatically.  And it's not even a worry for the newer x86-based Macs.

[Nalgas]

I have a Mac and he has a PC, could that be the issue?

I can also confirm that that should definitely not be an issue, since I just played a four player game where half the people were on OS X and half were on Windows.  The two versions are nearly identical as far as I can tell, except for a couple keyboard shortcuts.

[allfunandgames]

Thank you everyone for the prompt, enthusiastic and helpful replies!  These are easily the best game servers I have ever had the pleasure to visit!

Are both your machines behind the same router?  Or are you in separate locations?

Separate locations

I have a Mac and he has a PC, could that be the issue?
That should work fine

Great!

So, does that mean my best bet is looking at port forwarding?  The link above from homeboy x4000 looks promising, so I will investigate and see how easy it is.

Thanks again for all your help - will let you know how we get on

[x4000]

Yep, port forwarding should do it!  Or if you prefer not, then you'll need something like Hamachi or Commodo to make a VPN connection instead.  With either of those set up, you should be good to go!