How does online gaming work?

Gandalf501

Gandalf501

Gandalf501

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I have asked a similar question in Networks, basically how internet gaming works.

However, as im posting in the gaming section, my question here is slightly different.

I have never played online, ever. Yes, sad maybe, but true.

Now, how do you go about it? Do you need to register your game on the manufacturers website? Is there a way of finding private servers? What about cheats, how do you stop them...

Its something I have always wanted to know, but too afraid to ask.
 
It all depends on the game.

For example BF2 and HL2 u purchase servers which run the game and you basically load it up and connect and play with others. Bf2 and Hl2 require u to purchase the game and register an account online as along with most games now require an account.

For cheats some people get away with but companies are stopping them more often using programs such as VAC2 and PunkBuster.

How do you mean private servers :confused:
 
What games do you have and want to play online?

Each game is different (principle of online gaming remains the same) and uses different interfaces to get you started. Basically, most modern games require a unique CD-Key to stop multiple IP's (or people basically) playing copied/downloaded games which you can only get by purchasing. Then you have to update your game to the latest version which means that everyone playing online are all using the same version and cant exploit the game. Once you are updated then you search for servers by choosing multiplayer and updating the list. This should then give you a list of servers in which you can connect. However, you may have to change the options to Internet and not LAN so you get internet servers and not networked servers. Choose connect to join the server and then go from there.

It's somewhat more advanced than that but it would take ages to write down every step to getting online and doing it with your choice of settings (such as type of net connection, name etc).

:)
 
Sorry, not being clear. By private I mean something like I could do. And allow, say, just my network of friends to connect...

So a public server, say one owned by the software house, you would need to register before you could play online...

Would I just give my friends my IP address and ask them to connect if I host a game?
 
you could set up a LAN game between you and your mates, in your own private network. it depends on *** game whether you need to register or not. generally you need to have "an account" which is used to track stats or whatever (bf2, mmorpg's etc) but others you don't have to. if you have an ip address of a server you can directly connect, or you can use the ingame browser to find a server to play on. that server could be one owned by the games company, a hosting company or a private dude like you and me :D

nin9a
 
You could host a server on your machine and give your friends the IP, or start a public game and simply password the game so only your friends can join.

It varies lots depending on the game you play, but private games are very easy to get going.
 
The basics are pretty simple.

a lot of the specifics depends on the game but Quake 4 for example is as easy as launching the game and clicking the multiplayer button then find a server with a few people on it. Most free to use servers are either "pubs" (short for public servers) which are run by ISP's, hosting companies or the game companies or Clan servers which are paid for by clans but can sometimes be password protected at times or have reserved spaces for the clan players.

Most let you setup your own server on a lan or the net but without a dedicated PC it can be a bit poor performace. On the otherhand a lot of RTS games use p2p and run pretty hapily that way.
 
Alrighty, a list of the games I own...

Age of Empires III
Battlefield 1942
Black n White
Civ 4
Oblivion
FEAR
FIFA06
Marrowind
Neverwinter Nights
San Andreas
Sim2
Tiger Woods Golf 06
Warcraft III
Zoo Tycoon

I know some of them are single player only... Which ones are the best to play online.

Never played online before as gf used to ask to use computer all time. But has got new laptop... So doesnt bother me... :D

Hence the reason havent played online games before. Also only really got internet at home in the last 8 months. Previously lived in a broadband blackspot. Yeah. No ADSL, just yards too far from the exhange. No cable.
:9
 
Ok, so do I just go onto the multiplayer section?
Does it bring up a list of servers that I can connect to?
Do I need to register on the website first?

Proper noob eh? I can build you a top rig, Setup a mail/web/app server.

but online gaming is just one big black spot in my knowledge. It seems like everyone else knows how to do. I even googled "how do online games work", and nothing. Heck, the 1st link is p0rn... great. (not)

I guess its one of those things that once I find out myself, its something like walking, you just get up and do it.

Anyway, im off the give it a try...
 
Just load the game up and click Multiplayer, and follow the prompts. Seeing as you're not to online gaming, you may or may not know that it is best to play on servers with a low ping (this being the time it takes you to send data to the server, and for data to come back to you) Generally anything sub 50 in most games is ok, but the lower the better.

Easy :)

Gandalf501 said:
Ok, so do I just go onto the multiplayer section?
Does it bring up a list of servers that I can connect to?
Click to expand...

Yes. Not being funny, but seeing as you're on your computer now, why not just go and do it? It isn't going to explode if you press the wrong button.


EDIT
Gandalf501 said:
Anyway, im off the give it a try...
Click to expand...

That's more like it :)
 
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Theres also two versions of multiplayer for San Andreas, which I see is on your list.
There is MTA San Andreas(multi theft auto) and sa-mp (self explanitary, I reckon), both are mods which you will need to download and install.
Of the two, I prefer MTA as its a full-on race mod at the moment , whereas sa-mp seems to be more about deathmatch and variants.

Both of them are in beta , but theyre both quite fun already and features are being added .
 
One thing to note that everyone has forgotten - you need to have the latest patch installed (or at least the same patch version as the server).

...

From you games list, I didnt even know you could play BF1942 offline :p :eek: That cant be fun :confused:
 
Yeah playing online is very easy, as said above I have BF1942 and I have also never played it offline.

You just go into the game and join a server. Only tricky bit is you need the same version of the game. So go to the website and download a patch. Then just browse for servers and join one, you sometimes have to create an account but the game will give you the link to do it.

Lots of RTS games don't even need a server, you just host it on your PC, the other way is MMORPGs where you all connect to a big server and it usually requires an account and a monthly subscription.
 
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