Topic: Sad, but true, I need help connecting two computers to play SFC together.

[Vernard64]

Hello everyone,

I am almost embarrassed to admit this, but I can't connect my two computers together to play Startrek Starfleet Command.  My nephew loves the game and I have two computers.  I tried the tcp/ip route, but they wanted to know the ip address of my computers and both of them get their ip addresses dynamically.  I also ran my ethernet cord from one computer to the other computer.  You would think that cord would work since it is the same cord that was ran to the router.

Obviously I have what I need to connect the games, I just don't know which options to pick and exactly step by step instructions on how to do it.  I would really appreciate someone's help in being able to do this using the tcp/ip option or using the ethernet cable connecting the two computers.

Thanks for any help anyone can give me.

[Kreeargh]

Bump help here please! Lan game usefull?>

Use the ethrnet cable or usb to connect the pcs , Only 1 pc needs to be connected to the net!  None needed For sfc to work offline it works Off line and online. Lan the pcs to play silmple numbers to connect each other. No cost needed. Just the things that one must do to create it.

[Strat]

Hey,

There are some things to do it, but I have a request. If you don't already have one, I suggest you buy an 'home Internet router' if you don't already have one. It would make this a LOT easier for you.

They are like $30 and allow multiple computers to communicate with each other and the internet all at the same time.

Strat

[Vernard64]

I have a Linksys wireless G 2.4 GHz broadband router.  Please let me know if that is good enough.  By the way, the LAN option was not available to me, only the other 4 or 5.  I will admit I did not have my game disk in at the time, so I don't know if that would have made a difference or not.  I would love to use the LAN.  Basically, I have the router with a wired desktop computer connected directly to it and a wireless laptop that I use to connect to the router wirelessly.  Last, but not least, I have one game on disk.  If you can show me how to make the internet thing work for me or the LAN thing I would be more than appreciative.

[Panzergranate]

The first time I linked two PCs together was with a null modem cable (serial to serial) to play Total Anialation. Later we used the same method to play SFC 1.

Buying a home router means that PCs only have to log into the router. This means that any visiting friend with a laptop with SFC installed can instanly login and join in the group.... unless they are running Windows 7 which will tend to create hastles an spoil everything.

I host LAN games here via a router and occasionally play SFC 1 battles, campaigns and co-op missions together with friends.

We've aquired a few older PCs to just use for these LAN games.

With the FMSE scenrio builder (check out Battleclinic) it is possible to create some interesting battles, scenarios and co-op missions for your nephew and yourself to play together.

Having a router is essential to having a successful LAN game and SFC makes connecting via a router pretty simple to carry out.

 

[Sirgod]

Exactly what Panzer said. and wow, Total Annihilation, that game takes me back. I think for house Stephen, the first real LAN game was either the original Command and Conquer games, or Baldurs gate.

Stephen

[Vernard64]

I have a router.  One computer is connected wirelessly and the other has a wired connection to the same router.  Am I going to need a second actual game disk and also get a legacy computer or can I take my windows 7 laptop and change my compatability settings to something like xp pack 2.

I guess one or both of these things are holding me back, can you tell me is it possible to play the game with just one game disk and/or a windows 7 laptop to go along with my windows xp computer?

[Panzergranate]

We spent 2 hours trying to make a Windows 7 laptop run the install disc for SFC 1 and then many more hours making it run the game without crashing. We have not tried to run a network game since then with that laptop but instead use PCs and laptops running Vista and ME as these give no problems at all.

Make a copy of the game CD and always use these. The original should be hidden away somewhere safe and used as a master. That's how we play 6 PCs together here.

We have a common expanded shiplist that all computers in the LAN have to have. The same goes for the models.

The scenario scripts also have to be the same as the host cannot select a scenario that does not exist on any of the other PCs joining the game otherwise they cannot join.

If a model or shiplist variant, such as a Klingon D5F plasma cruiser or Federation FES science freighter, is used that doesn't appear in the shiplist of any of the PCs playing the game then that model will not physically appear on the screen of the lacking PC. Instead a point will appear and this will crash the game the moment it takes fire from another player.

The common shiplist, script file and model folkders are backed up and distributed between PCs here on a memory stick. This replaced the original floppy disc archiver and later DVD methods of propogating of models and shiplist updates.
 
We've also discovered that it is possible to run the whole game from a memory stick. This also works when playing in a LAN group. It allows us to simply hook a PC into the LAN insert a memory stick with SFC 1 on and immediatly start playing the game by skipping the installation process.

On the subjct of Total Anialation....the game evolved into Supreme Commander on the PC and X-BOX 360. It is the numero uno RTS game on the X-BOX 360 with a pretty unbelieveably cunning and devious AI. Supreme Commander 2 sucks as it is a dumbed down version.... a sort of "Legacy" version for kids.

[Vernard64]

Thanks alot Panzer, I can handle it from here.  I have more than enough options to get things rolling now.

[Panzergranate]

Playing with or against people is a lot more fun. AI either makes no mistake or you can steer the AI towards playing a certain way. People can either be making a mistake or setting you up.

Best to experiment with just two computers playing SFC before jumping in with more.

It is possible, unlike playing online, to have more than one ship in a player's squadron in a LAN game. FMSE let 6 ships in a player's squadron including ships from the freighters and neutrals part of the shiplist.

Whether an abundance of Hi-poly models will make the game lag on LAN depends on the graphics card quality and capabilities. Modern PCs and modern graphics cards don't seem to give us any problems with 36 ships in a battle.

The most a FMSE scenario will allow, with 6 LAN players, is 36 player ships and 30 AI ships which makes some of the machines here creak a bit or lock up when we've tried it in the past.

One word of warning when playing over LAN.... If somebody in the house decides to go online and visit U-Tube or start downloading expect serious game lag and perhaps a crash....

[FA Frey XC]

Here's what to do, sorry I didn't see this before.

OBJECTIVE: Allow two computers to run SFC and connect locally to play together.

1.) Open a command prompt (Start-- All Programs --> System tools --- command Prompt) on both machines.

2.) Type in the following: ipconfig

3.) Hit [Return] / [Enter]

4.) You will need to look for the IPV4 address. Something to the format of X.X.X.X (71.170.1.1)

5.) Launch Starfleet Command and use those IP's in the direct connect.

Regards,

[I, Mudd.]

This is the EXACT question that was on my mind last week ... Thanks guys!