Online gaming for dummies- or help needed.

[Mo.Raider]

Hi,

You guys are really great to help wipe out the ignorance of the masses, and any help earns a thanks in advance. I have never played a game online and my nephew wants to play a game one on one over the net. The game is Age of Empires:The Conquerors. We both are looking for a free gaming host and are on dial up. My questions are:

1) Which internet gaming service do you recommend? The game points you to an MSN service called The Zone, but I am a little leary of the .netpass thing.

2) I don't want him to have to sign up for any intrusive liscense agreements. Is this possible?

Thanks again,
MO

[gstelmack]

Does the game let you specify an IP address to join over the internet? You could swap IPs and join that way without actually joining a service. This gets a bit tricky if either of you are behind a router (if your IP address begins with 192.168.x.x); you have to do port forwarding which can get a bit nappy.

Sometimes the game itself will have a game browser (which may or may not use another service like Gamespy). Some of these won't require you to sign up for anything, and you can usually create a private game so the two of you are the only ones in it.

Or you're stuck with a service. I haven't used the Zone in a long time, but it was a reasonable service when I used it a few years ago. I don't think you'll find a service that does not require signing a license agreement, as they need those to lay down the groundrules so they can kick/ban obnoxious players.

[Mo.Raider]

Does the game let you specify an IP address to join over the internet? You could swap IPs and join that way without actually joining a service. This gets a bit tricky if either of you are behind a router (if your IP address begins with 192.168.x.x); you have to do port forwarding which can get a bit nappy.

Thanks so much for the reply. The game does let you specify an IP address. I am going to show my ignorance again here, but if we connect via the "Internet TCP/IP connection for directplay" or "Modem Connection for Directplay" will their be a long distance phone charge. I am assuming the the first option would be no charge and the second yes (we live in different area codes).

Thanks again for helping!

Mo

[gstelmack]

No, if you use the "Internet TCP/IP Connection for DirectPlay" there won't be unless you pay per-minute charges to access your ISP; it will be just like checking e-mail. Don't use the "Modem Connection" one, that one may actually dial out and then you will be paying long distance.

[hhiipp]

If you only want to play co-op games with your friend or head to head against him use the IP connection. However, if you're wanting to play with him against other people you'll need to consider something like The Zone, but really with the amount of lag that will cause over dial up I'm not sure it's a good idea to go that route.

If you're looking for other similar type games where you build up and just go destroy computer AI - Starcraft is an excellent game, a little bit dated but a 'shorter' game overall than Age of Empires. Another good one is Command and Conquer, I only played the Red Alert version of this, there have since been other releases. And finally Warcraft 3, the newest of the 3 games is a bit more pricey but also has the functionality of connecting via IP or thru their built in BattleNet service, Starcraft also uses the Battlenet service. C&C also has a built in connectabilty package but I can't remember what it is called.

[Mo.Raider]

No, if you use the "Internet TCP/IP Connection for DirectPlay" there won't be unless you pay per-minute charges to access your ISP; it will be just like checking e-mail. Don't use the "Modem Connection" one, that one may actually dial out and then you will be paying long distance.

Thanks so much. I have never had a pay per minute charge to access my ISP, so how would you know if there is one (Maybe I answered my own question since I have never been charged to check email.)?

One last question, and I won't bug you anymore :) , you have been too kind. When I am prompted to host a game it tells me to display my IP address. How will the nephew be able to see my hosted game?

Have a good Thanksgiving,
Mo

[hhiipp]

It's been a long while since I've played AoE but I'm pretty sure he should have a spot on his end to enter the IP address. What you can try is to act as though you're joining a game like this and see exactly what it asks that person for. If that is the case just instant message him your IP addy and run with it. Good luck :)

[Mo.Raider]

It's been a long while since I've played AoE but I'm pretty sure he should have a spot on his end to enter the IP address. What you can try is to act as though you're joining a game like this and see exactly what it asks that person for. If that is the case just instant message him your IP addy and run with it. Good luck :)

Thanks, I appreciate your help!

I'll give it a try.

Mo

[gstelmack]

Thanks so much. I have never had a pay per minute charge to access my ISP, so how would you know if there is one (Maybe I answered my own question since I have never been charged to check email.)?
If you haven't been charged for e-mail, you shouldn't be while playing the game. The most common extra charge for modem users is if they don't have a local number to call, so they end up calling long-distance to connect to the ISP. If this was the case for you, you'd see charges for checking e-mail, and you'd end up seeing charges to play the game. This is not a common case, and it does not sound like it applies to you.

[Mo.Raider]

Thanks gstelmack. I appreciate all the help you have given.

Mo

[judicial clerk]

Let us know who wins.