+streakeagle 871 Posted May 2, 2005 (edited) Extensive list of links to SFP1/WOV websites with downloads: CombatAce SFP1/WOV weblinks Okay, you just bought Strike Fighters Project 1 (SFP1), Strike Fighters Gold (SFG), or Wings Over Vietnam (WOV) and you want to play online... Installation Being able to play online starts with the most basic of steps: getting the game installed correctly. Someone cannot join your game when you host, nor may you join someone else who is hosting if you don't have the same version. 1. Start with a clean install separate from any other installs you have used with user made addons. 2. Go to http://www.thirdwire.com, then download and install all of the latest Service Packs or patches for the game you purchased. 3. If you have SFP1 (not SFG or WOV), you should also download and install the official F-4J and A-4F free addon aircraft. Online Internet Multiplayer via Game Lobby Servers Now you are in a good position to host or join a standard server. So how do you join? To easily find other people, you need to download and install a game lobby server: 1. Hyperlobby is packaged with Wings Over Vietnam and supports SFP1 and SFG. This is where you will find most people who are playing online. However, the version of Hyperlobby included on the WOV CD is already obsolete. You will need to go to http://hyperfighter.sk to download and install the latest version. If you have SFG, Hyperlobby won't recognize the "SFG.exe" as Strike Fighters, so you should do the following if you want to use Hyperlobby: a. Go to the root folder of your install. By default it should be "C:\Program Files\ThirdWire\SFG". b. Copy the "SFG.exe" and paste it into the same folder. It should be named "Copy of SFG.exe". c. Rename the copy to "flightsim.exe". 2. Gamespy Arcade was originally packaged with SFP1. If you have SFP1, you can use this software if you want, but you will have to download the latest version. You will find almost no one is ever playing SFP1 through their lobby. Gamespy does not support WOV. I haven't tried SFG. Connections through Routers and Firewalls Okay, you have a clean, patched install and a game lobby program, what next? It could be as easy as logging in to the game lobby server, choosing the appropriate game room, and either hosting or joining a host. It could also be a lot harder. You may be using a router and/or a firewall. SFP1/SFG and WOV can be very picky about how it communicates over the internet. Whether you are hosting or joining a host, you may need to open certain ethernet ports for communication. There are too many different makes and models of routers and versions of firewall software to describe how to open these ports, in general you need to use port forwarding and/or port triggering. Note: A special consideration when using port forwarding, is your IP static? If your PC's IP is dynamic (which is the normal DHCP setup), you will have to make sure your port forwarding is going to the correct IP before you start playing or change your PC and router to support a static IP. Please read the appropriate manual or get help from the router manufacturer as required for more specific information on port forwarding and static/dynamic IP assignment. WARNING: Opening ports in a router or firewall is circumventing some of the security that these devices/software are supposed to provide. SFP1 (WOV does not appear to require these ports!) requires the following ports to be opened: 1234 TCP & UDP 46000 TCP & UDP Microsoft DirectX 9.0 DirectPlay is used by SFP1/WOV, which requires the following ports to be opened: 2300-2400 for both TCP & UDP 6073 for UDP HyperLobby requires the following ports to be opened: 1698 TCP & UDP 21000 TCP & UDP Hyperlobby also requires ICMP echo reply protocol for latency calculations, so you may want to disable Block Anonymous Internet Requests (or the equivalent) if you want people to see your ping status. Online Internet Multiplayer without Game Servers If you know the IP of the host computer, you can connect directly through TCP/IP by typing the following from the command line: FlightSim -join:[xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx] -n:[callsign] -c:[c] -p:[password] where [xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx] is the IP address of the game to join, [callsign] is your callsign, and [c] is an optional number 0-15 representing your color. [password] is an optional password required to join private session. A host can start the session normally, or start using the following command line: FlightSim -host -s:[sessionname] -g:[g] -m:[m] -n:[callsign] -c:[c] -p:[password] [sessionname] is the name of the game session, and [g] is the game type (0 = dogfight, 1 = co-op) [m] is the maximum number of player, default is 16. [callsign] is your callsign, and [c] is an optional number 0-15 representing your color. 0 = red 1 = green 2 = blue 3 = yellow 4 = magenta 5 = cyan 6 = orange 7 = purple 8 = violet 9 = ochre 10 = sand 11 = maroon 12 = pink 13 = olive 14 = peach 15 = turquoise [password] is an optional password; the session will be private (and only those with correct password can join) if this parameter is present, and public (and anyone can join) if this is not. A sample DOS batch file for starting and joining TCP/IP sessions, "join.bat", has been included with SFP1, but it can be used with WOV as well with very little modification. Simply change "flightsim" to "wov". The batch file can be found in the Strike Fighters directory. If you only have WOV you will have to create the batch file. Batch files can be created and edited by any text editor (such as notepad). Just remember to change the file extension from "txt" to "bat" (if it isn't already "bat") after you save the text. To join my WOV server, the batch file text should be of the form: wov -join:70.127.88.212 -n:your callsign here -c:your color index here A complete example using my callsign and an arbitrary color is: wov -join:70.127.88.212 -n:streakeagle -c:1 Note: I do not have a static ip so it is subject to change at any time. Hyperlobby is the most reliable way to join my server. Offline LAN Multiplayer via built-in game interface A LAN offers several advantages over playing via the internet: a built-in interface for doing so, lower chances of lag due to network connections, and no need to configure a router. However, software firewalls may still get in the way. The only big disadvantage is that you need to get two or more players with computers and joysticks together in the same place. 1. Start the game (SFP1, SFG, or WOV) Note: things go smoother if you get the host PC up and running before trying to join with other PCs. 2. Click on the MULTIPLAYER button. 3. The screen will go black for a while, then the main Multiplayer screen appears: 4. The host PC must click on the HOST button. Note: The remaining steps (5 through 10) only apply to the host PC. Other PCs must click on the desired available SESSION NAME, then click on the JOIN button to join the session. 5. The HOST A NEW GAME pop-up window appears on the host PC: 6. Type in a SESSION NAME (if you don't like the default one). 7. Choose a SESSION TYPE (normally PUBLIC for a LAN). 8. Choose a GAME TYPE (DOGFIGHT or CO-OP, discussed below). 9. Choose the MAX PLAYERS (if the default is too low). 10. Click on ACCEPT to start the session and continue to the next screen. DOGFIGHT Session This is a free-for-all death-match with respawning. 1. The Multiplayer Dofight screen appears: 2. The Host PC must select the DATE, MAP, and LOADOUT. 3. Other PCs may join this session at this time. 4. Every player (including the host PC) may select any available AIRCRAFT, PAINT SCHEME, MARKINGS, and SQUADRON. 5. Click on the FLY button to start flying. Note: the FLY button may not be clickable for a number of reasons such as not having the same files installed as the host PC or the host PC has not clicked the FLY button. 6. If a player is killed, the player will respawn after a small delay. 7. Any player can press the ESC key at any time to exit flight and go to the Debriefing screen: 8. Click on the REFLY button to return to the Multiplayer Dogfight screen and choose another aircraft, or click on the ACCEPT button to exit the session. Note: The host PC will no longer be the host if the ACCEPT button is clicked on after the ESC key has been pressed. All other PCs can join and exit the session at will after the host has started flying until the host PC exits the session. Beyond the obvious choices through the game interface as detailed in the above procedure, the Options.ini file in the root folder has the following configurable values to vary the dogfight environment: [DogfightHost] MissionMap=DESERT MissionYear=1968 Loadout=1 StartTime=10:30:00 RespawnTime=30 RespawnDistance=4000.000000 MinHeight=2000.000000 MaxHeight=5000.000000 HeightDeviation=1000.000000 ContrailAlt=7000.000000 StartYear=0 EndYear=0 StartTimeDeviation=240 ScreenshotsDelay=60 WeatherType=SCATTERED In addition, a dogfight ini can be placed in terrain folders so that each terrain has its own configuration (this is important if you install addon terrains!). The file should be named "x_dogfight.ini" where "x" is the name of the terrain. For a clean install, the file would be placed in the only available terrain folder, "desert", and named "desert_dogfight.ini". The contents of such a file might be: [startPosition] Position001=266000,392000 Position002=536000,366000 Position003=246000,538000 Position004=410000,424000 CO-OP MISSION Session This is a lot like random single missions except the every aircraft always start in the air and the players are free to choose which side they are on. 1. The Multiplayer Mission screen appears: 2. The Host PC selects the MISSION MAP, MISSION DATE, SERVICE for both sides, and both the MISSION and AIRCRAFT for each flight. 3. Other PCs join. 4. Every PC must choose a flight by clicking on an <OPEN> pilot slot. 5. The host PC must click on the ACCEPT button after everyone has joined and all of the appropriate selections have been made. 6. The Multiplayer Hangar screen appears: 7. The host PC begins the mission by clicking on the FLY button after all the players have appeared in the hangar. Addons You have successfully gotten multiplayer to work. You either hosted other people or successfully joined a game hosted by someone else. But, you are bored with the stock terrain, aircraft, and/or weapons. What about the hundreds of free addons available on for download on the internet? In theory, almost all addons will work with online multiplayer if everyone has the same files as the host installation. Certain addons that work great with single player may cause issues online multiplayer due to size, complexity, or bugs in the multiplayer implementation. 1. Addon aircraft should be limited to a small list of aircraft that everyone wants to fly. This avoids problems with the filechecker and makes it easier for everyone to download and install exactly the same files. 2. Addon weapons and fuel tanks are completely covered by the Weapons Pack addon. Unfortunately, the sheer size of this file gives the multiplayer file checker a lot of trouble, which means people will have trouble joining. Even if everyone is able to join with the Weapons Pack installed, you may experience some strange bugs while flying and fighting. It is better to use the weapon editor to create a custom weapons pack with only the weapons and fuel tanks needed to support the installed aircraft. 3. Addon terrains do work, but may cause some inexplicable anomalies. Check-Six Multiplayer Standard I mainly host clean/patched installs to keep my servers as accessible as possible, but custom installs are a great idea and a lot of fun if everyone involved can agree on a standard that works. A group of French players have set a such a standard that can be found at CheckSix! Of course that is in French. If you can't understand what is posted, the people involved understand English and hang out at forums like Column5 and SimHq Voice Comms Trying to type a chat message in the middle of a dogfight or a ground attack run can be very difficult. The solution is for everyone to use the same voice chat program. Modern internet service and PCs have plenty of bandwidth and CPU cycles to spare for good voice comms. Many free downloads are available: the old reliable RogerWilco, Teamspeak, and Ventrilo to name a few. Even IM and netphone programs like MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, and Skype will work with some sacrifice of bandwidth and CPU power. It helps if there are free servers available to everyone to support the comms. I have used all of the above programs at one time or another. Presently, my I suggest Teamspeak for several reasons: It is easy to install and configure (almost anyone can get it talking within a minute or two of downloading it), it is very tunable to work on different levels of PCs and internet connections (i.e. there are plenty of advanced options to meet anyone's needs), and best of all there is a free server at CombatAce.com open to any and all flight simmers! To get Teamspeak, go here: http://www.goteamspeak.com/index.php?page=downloads If you go to the homepage of http://CombatAce.com, there is a link to the free public Teamspeak server. After you click on the link, you are on the Teamspeak page. Click on the server IP to open the login dialog box and type in your nickname. Click on the submit button and then click on the "click here to log in" text. This will automatically open teamspeak on the lobby channel so you don't have to figure out how to connect! You can now adjust the settings as necessary to permit voice activated or button activated mic and try to talk/listen to other people that are there. There is even a test mode in case you are alone. You haven't achieved the full immersion of multiplayer until you have experienced live voice while flying coop or dogfight.... 10x the fun!]SimHq[/url] Edited April 17, 2006 by streakeagle Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+streakeagle 871 Posted May 2, 2005 (edited) Voice Comms Trying to type a chat message in the middle of a dogfight or a ground attack run can be very difficult. The solution is for everyone to use the same voice chat program. Modern internet service and PCs have plenty of bandwidth and CPU cycles to spare for good voice comms. Many free downloads are available: the old reliable RogerWilco, Teamspeak, and Ventrilo to name a few. Even IM and netphone programs like MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, and Skype will work with some sacrifice of bandwidth and CPU power. It helps if there are free servers available to everyone to support the comms. I have used all of the above programs at one time or another. Presently, my I suggest Teamspeak for several reasons: It is easy to install and configure (almost anyone can get it talking within a minute or two of downloading it), it is very tunable to work on different levels of PCs and internet connections (i.e. there are plenty of advanced options to meet anyone's needs), and best of all there is a free server at CombatAce.com open to any and all flight simmers! To get Teamspeak, go here: http://www.goteamspeak.com/index.php?page=downloads If you go to the homepage of http://CombatAce.com, there is a link to the free public Teamspeak server. After you click on the link, you are on the Teamspeak page. Click on the server IP to open the login dialog box and type in your nickname. Click on the submit button and then click on the "click here to log in" text. This will automatically open teamspeak on the lobby channel so you don't have to figure out how to connect! You can now adjust the settings as necessary to permit voice activated or button activated mic and try to talk/listen to other people that are there. There is even a test mode in case you are alone. You haven't achieved the full immersion of multiplayer until you have experienced live voice while flying coop or dogfight.... 10x the fun! Edited April 17, 2006 by streakeagle Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Spectre_USA 7 Posted May 2, 2006 If you open up a web browser, Firefox, etc., type in the IP of 192.168.1.1 It will ask for a username/password, no name, default password for Linksys is admin. From there you can adjust port settings and a butt-load more! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
