Once GS hands out the host's IP it is indeed know longer in the picture. It is indeed just a match making/chat service, not a game server in the way that most FPS's or massively multiplayer servers are. The problems for most people IRT GS Arcade(and the normal CivPTW interface that is powered by gamespy technology) are that it requires many ports to be fully open on your computers TCP/IP adaptor. And as many people with cable/DSL run firewalls for hacker protection, this causes problems that many people do not have the knowledge to deal with. Direct IP(which uses directplay) uses only one port, 2302. And ergo has fewer problems.
The big reason for myself, to use Direct IP, is that you can much easier chose who you want to join your game, if you don't want someone you don't give them your IP.
As for how to host a Direct IP game:
1. start CivPTW, chose Multiplayer....
2. click on the "Location" button, which changes the game from "internet" to "local", this is the same as per LAN game.
3. click Host, which takes you to the "multiplayer setup" screen, with the players list etc.
4. at some point before this give out your IP to the player you want. This can be done many ways; instant messangers, IRC chat rooms etc. I have both PTW and Arcade open, I have the game open and ready to except players as in pt 3, and I chat in Arcade to get good low ping players. But what ever works for you is fine.
To join a Direct IP game, first you must have the 1.14f patch for your version of CivPTW, then it's just a matter of clicking on the "direct IP" button above the "powered by gamespy" logo in PTW interface.
Hope this helps
Merry Christmas
The big reason for myself, to use Direct IP, is that you can much easier chose who you want to join your game, if you don't want someone you don't give them your IP.
As for how to host a Direct IP game:
1. start CivPTW, chose Multiplayer....
2. click on the "Location" button, which changes the game from "internet" to "local", this is the same as per LAN game.
3. click Host, which takes you to the "multiplayer setup" screen, with the players list etc.
4. at some point before this give out your IP to the player you want. This can be done many ways; instant messangers, IRC chat rooms etc. I have both PTW and Arcade open, I have the game open and ready to except players as in pt 3, and I chat in Arcade to get good low ping players. But what ever works for you is fine.
To join a Direct IP game, first you must have the 1.14f patch for your version of CivPTW, then it's just a matter of clicking on the "direct IP" button above the "powered by gamespy" logo in PTW interface.
Hope this helps
Merry Christmas
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