Multiplayer via internet?

[MayA]

How does one set up a multiplayer game over the internet?

I've managed to do a multiplayer game locally (I bought to copies of the game + DLC)

how do ppl find me via the internet?

[MayA]

i should also note i looked up My IP address... which the other player says he tried (taking his word for it)

[Nalgas]

The person hosting the game may need to forward the port(s) the game uses on their router for other people to be able to connect to them.  I forget which off the top of my head, but it says what it uses in the in-game settings.

[MayA]

how do i do that? on the setup screen there is no mention of this...

[x4000]

Take a look in the settings tab of the game, it has a lot of info in there on how to do it.  Also, we have a guide for that here that we wrote for Tidalis: http://arcengames.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=Tidalis_-_Network_Play#Network_Troubleshooting

[Nalgas]

The port and stuff should be listed in the settings, and if you need to know specific instructions for your particular router, http://portforward.com/ is pretty handy.

[MayA]

if its a port forwarding issue then that is quite disheartening i have spent literally 20hrs messing with my routers port forwarding settings to try get other programs to work... in the end I gave up and reset my router to default ~sigh~

[TechSY730]

If you can't get port forwarding to work, you can use one of those personal VPN software things. Comodo and Hamachi are two you see AI players frequently use. No forwarding and fiddling with your router is needed (though you do need to get other players on your VPN as well, which means they will have to use the software as well)

It might not even be your router. It may be your ISP; some ISPs pretty much block all unsolicited incoming requests, which will also stop you from hosting a game online. These VPN solutions should get around that too, though.

[MayA]

wouldn't that prevent me from hosting other games too though? i can/have hosted other games on my steam account (borderlands, serious sam, L4D, sup com2)

[Nalgas]

wouldn't that prevent me from hosting other games too though? i can/have hosted other games on my steam account (borderlands, serious sam, L4D, sup com2)

Depends how each game handles it, but yeah, it does seem like it would probably affect at least some others.  I think they changed something about it at some point (I think they might've added the (IMO somewhat sketchy security-wise) automated UPnP port forwarding or something), but I know I had to forward ports for Borderlands when it was new.

[Ozymandiaz]

I usually do it with hamachi, sice most of my frinds is on the same hamachi. Makes gaming easier in general.

[Tridus]

wouldn't that prevent me from hosting other games too though? i can/have hosted other games on my steam account (borderlands, serious sam, L4D, sup com2)

Hamachi is a program like any other. When you're not hosting a game like AI War, just turn it off.

That said pretty much every router supports port forwarding. If you can get that set up you should be fine.

[NickAragua]

Remember that you want the other person to connect to your external IP not your 192.168.x.x IP.

[MayA]

wouldn't that prevent me from hosting other games too though? i can/have hosted other games on my steam account (borderlands, serious sam, L4D, sup com2)

Hamachi is a program like any other. When you're not hosting a game like AI War, just turn it off.

That said pretty much every router supports port forwarding. If you can get that set up you should be fine.

my router supports it... but i am inept at it (hence the 20 hrs of fiddling)... could i troubleshoot this with myself (ie trying to connect via my external IP addy from my other game copy (legitimately purchased off steam)? or do i need for the connecting comp to be located on a diff network?

I am sorry I am not good at networking issues, and seem to be a slow learner (but then being self taught usually works that way for me)

[Nalgas]

or do i need for the connecting comp to be located on a diff network?

Unfortunately, that's the case.  You can't test if your router is letting people outside your network connect to you without trying to connect from somewhere outside your network.  If you have a laptop and can get on someone else's wireless network (like a neighbor's or something, since a lot of people leave them open...), that's an easy way to check, or if you can tether to your phone, that's another option.

There's also a tool on portforward.com that'll check for you.  I haven't used it myself, but that might be the easiest way, depending on your situation.