Crashing Multiplayer? - Info on Firewalls, Routers and Proxies

[Swissy]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Apparently, most of the port 80 requirement is for running GameSpy arcade. Someone mentioned to me that they were watching activity and the only time port 80 was used was when firing up GameSpy. I do know that Arcade causes ZoneAlarm to ask if GS can be a server. I hope I got that right.

Yes, you got that right. ZoneAlarm considers any app that listens on port 80 to be a server. If you don't click "Yes", ZA will block that app's access to port 80.

[kring]

Originally posted by Swissy


Yes, you got that right. ZoneAlarm considers any app that listens on port 80 to be a server. If you don't click "Yes", ZA will block that app's access to port 80.

Thank you for the tip; that explains why ZA sometimes asks me a Server question instead of an Internet question.

[art_vandelai]

Don't think it's ZA

Tried both disabling ZA and allowing it to act as server.

Game still broken. Oh well - going back to SP.

I can host a game on MP, it's just that no one can see it! When I launch the game, it works, but that's not really multi-player if no one can join you. *maybe* it's everyone else's PC's?

Warcraft 3 and Neverwinter Nights are a couple of examples of good multi-player - NWN allows 64 players at once on a high speed connection, WC3 has up to 8 playing real-time. Both perform flawlessly, with firewalls enabled. Firaxis can do this, they just need to get out in the field and use the stuff we use (try a few DSL and cable-modem connections and find out if certain ISP's are blocking transmissions)

If this keeps up, I fear for the MP community - all that will be there is a few hardcores. Let's hope a new patch arrives soon.

[isak]

Re: Don't think it's ZA

Originally posted by art_vandelai
I can host a game on MP, it's just that no one can see it! When I launch the game, it works, but that's not really multi-player if no one can join you. *maybe* it's everyone else's PC's?

No, this is definitely your PC, and is a very good indication that you're either behind a NAT capable firewall or a software firewall which has not been opened correctly
Check Zonealarm's settings - double-click the icon in your taskbar and go to the Programs section. Civilization3x.exe and Microsoft Directplay 8 must be checked to 'Allow Connect' and 'Allow Server'.

If that doesn't help (i.e. let other people see your game), check if you're also behind a Hardware firewall, using the guide in the first post of this thread.

Warcraft 3 and Neverwinter Nights are a couple of examples of good multi-player - NWN allows 64 players at once on a high speed connection, WC3 has up to 8 playing real-time. Both perform flawlessly, with firewalls enabled. Firaxis can do this, they just need to get out in the field and use the stuff we use (try a few DSL and cable-modem connections and find out if certain ISP's are blocking transmissions)

You are wrong

This is Blizzard's support page for networking, firewalls and Routers

And here is Bioware's Short faq about setting up firewalls for NWN. The publisher of this game probably have more detailed support, but I can't be bothered to visit that site right now ( )

So, just like Firaxis, Bioware and Blizzard haven't found a (legal) way to program their way around firewalls and routers, I'm afraid. If you found that the games work without setup, it's just because those ports were opened on your hardware firewall, or because your software firewall was set up right

Let me know if you still have problems - people are able to set up games in the MP lobby, and so will you be if we figure out what's blocking you right now.

[art_vandelai]

Re: Re: Don't think it's ZA

Originally posted by isak

No, this is definitely your PC, and is a very good indication that you're either behind a NAT capable firewall or a software firewall which has not been opened correctly
Check Zonealarm's settings - double-click the icon in your taskbar and go to the Programs section. Civilization3x.exe and Microsoft Directplay 8 must be checked to 'Allow Connect' and 'Allow Server'.

I clued in last night when you mentioned Direct play. The problem was not a firewall problem at all. I had allowed ZA to open . I however did not have the IPX network installed. A quick trip over th the Network control panel, and installation of the Microsoft IPX protocol from my Win98 disk was required .

If that doesn't help (i.e. let other people see your game), check if you're also behind a Hardware firewall, using the guide in the first post of this thread.

After installing IPX, I was able to get people to join my game. I set up a quick game with 1 other player (who had a ping going in an out of green/yellow). The first move worked, building a city and moving a worker. After about 4 minutes of waiting to give my first worker orders, my opponent quit and that was that. Since then, nothing but more crashes.

Next, tried joining a game. This time, actually made it to the screen where you choose your civilization (before it would crash before going to that screen). When clicking on the drop down box, crash. So frustrating.

You are wrong

This is Blizzard's support page for networking, firewalls and Routers

And here is Bioware's Short faq about setting up firewalls for NWN. The publisher of this game probably have more detailed support, but I can't be bothered to visit that site right now ( )

Both of these games didn't require IPX to allow multi-player. All I had to do is set up ZoneAlarm to allow the games to act as a server. Didn't have to fiddle around with ports. I would have if I was using BlackIce Defender, I remember doing this for Age of Empires and it was a pain. part of the reason for my switch in firewalls, plus the ability to stop outbound traffic from stuff like trojans.

[isak]

This is stupefying me. Why would you need IPX to play a TCP/IP game over the internet? I find this hard to believe until I see some solid proof

It's more likely that some shared VXD or DLL file was missing or corrupt, and installing IPX fixed this problem, but re-installing your TCP/IP would have done the same.

[Dis]

well I have zonealarm. I suppose that counts as a firewall.

But other games work perfectly on it. All I had to do is let it have access to the internet. Games like Neverwinter Nights work perfectly.


edit: I just removed Zone Alarm and it still doesn't work.

I really don't know what to do now.

[isak]

Setting up ZoneAlarm to allow the game access to the internet is exactly what you're supposed to do. So if that doesn't help, something else is the problem.

Have you checked to see if you have a Hardware firewall? See the first post on how to do that.
If you don't, give a bit more description of what happens, and maybe someone here can figure out what's wrong.

[Dis]

well I know I don't have a hardware firewall. I put my computer together myself. I'm fairly handy at computers. I'm just not familiar with computer programming (my last class was Pascal )

I also checked my ip address.

The only thing I can think of is my ISP which is a cable modem service.

I'm tired, I'll mess with it more in the morning.

I actually made if fairly far. I was in the game setup screen. I moved the menu down to select Japan as my civ and the game completely froze. I managed to close down the game. But upon restarting I got a black screen. This has happened before after a crash and messed up my video drivers. Luckily I didn't have to reinstall my video drivers this time. I'm certain they aren't a problem as I can play hotseat and pbem.

I want to mess with it some more. But I hate having to restart my computer so much.

[isak]

This does not specifically sound like a firewall problem, but I'm not going to exclude the possibility totally

Have you tried re-installing Direct X 8.0 or 8.1 ? And have you tried updating your video card drivers.

About the crash, once you've got a 'Fatal Exception' or similar error, it seems to be a god given fact that the game will go on crashing until the computer is restarted, so even though it's a drag, it might save you some time in the long run.

Of course, your ISP might be a problem too - I know some Cable providers place all customers behind a proxy, and that can give you some problems, but like I said, judging from when your error occured, it doesn't sound a lot like a connection problem.

[Swissy]

Sounds more like a problem with the MP/Net software. Being your on a cable ISP, there is a good chance they are blocking inbound port 80. So if the GameSpy software is looking for game servers and isn't getting anything on port 80 (the one it uses for this search), it could be timing out and freezing. The program probably doesn't have any diagnostic loops in it, so it has no response for the situation and thus freezes. A well written program would tell you what the problem is, but Firaxis bought into GameSpy instead of developing their own MP system.

[isak]

Originally posted by Swissy
Sounds more like a problem with the MP/Net software. Being your on a cable ISP, there is a good chance they are blocking inbound port 80. So if the GameSpy software is looking for game servers and isn't getting anything on port 80 (the one it uses for this search), it could be timing out and freezing.

But he already got the server and joined - so I doubt that is the problem.

[Dis]

Damn I got it to work. Laggy as hell.

I of course had to turn off zone alarm. I was able to join a game. last night I tried hosting. I'll have to try hosting again.

I crushed my first human opponent!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel so good. He actually left the game- surrendered. I was overwhelming him with horseman. Of course it helps I have 9 or 10 cities and he only had 3. One of which he had to abandon. I didn't see that until the replay.

my recommendation if your have zone alarm and can't play multiplayer:
Turn off Zone Alarm

[kring]

There is a great reason for programs like Zone Alarm; if you have ever been hacked, or had firewall stop a hacker, you would understand the need for such programs.

[Dis]

yeah but the civ3 programmers don't realize this . I don't like taking it off, but oh well. My brother has a cable modem, uses no firewall, and has never been hacked. . Or at least that he knows of.