Multiplayer Q& A

You've got questions, we've got answers.

from PolMach Forums

1) If you are using Windows XP SP2's firewall or a third-party firewall on any supported platform, you must set it to allow PolMachine.exe to connect to the Internet and allow traffic on port 2509 (TCP). This also means ROUTERS.  That said, you should be able to connect to other people's games and play them even behind the firewall. But hosting requires the open ports.

2) If you are playing on dial-up, slow the speed down some. Don't play at "Rabbit" speed for instance. When you play single player, experts tend to whale on various buttons in a sort of speed-dial like way. Don't do this in multiplayer if you're not hosting as you may find that lag loses some of your commands. Play deliberately. It's not an arcade game.

3) In the lobby, use the refresh game option regularly to check for games.

4) From Stardock Central (www.sdcentral.net) go to the chat area and type /join #polmachine to talk to other people including the development team.

 

9,919 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
5) Make sure you give yourself a name! I've seen waay too many "Players" out there.

6) Talk to your opponent before the match, and make sure their skill level is equal to yours. If he/she is having trouble with beating Wesley Clark and you have decimated Lincoln, it'd be very unfair.
Reply #2 from PolMach Forums Top
Also, some bugs I've noticed:

Multiplayer, on Fantasy Mode: The two computers (I'm playing on a Home LAN) have different stats for states. E.g. we set initial awareness at 20%. My computer would have all states have 20% awareness of both candidates. The other computer had awareness of 40% for both!! I'm using version 1.0.0.

On a quick action multiplayer game, I, as the client (George Bush), was unable to stop advertising after implementing it.

--James
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from PolMach Forums Top
Yeah, I noticed that bug also that wouldn't me stop advertising. It was terrible for me too because I had some expensive radio ads in a state I no longer wanted to contest so I can concentrate my monthly resources on swing states late in the campaign. Another bug was that I was not able to build new HQ's or create Ads in almost any state. When I clicked build or create it would just close the window and do nothing rather than do what I wanted it to.
Reply #4 from PolMach Forums Top
Well, the multiplayer system as a whole is like Africa the way bugs crawl around on it. It looks like those kids in Somalia with flys coming out of their noses.

I was on week 6, while my brother was on week 10, playing against each other online.

Our connections were still good as we were talking over the phone, and i was able to browse the internet on my ultra fast cable connection. This is great. Try making a game complete before allowing people to buy it.

I would have rather bought two cases of Busch with my $20.00
Reply #5 from PolMach Forums Top
Amazing game.... I'm thoroughly addicted. Only bugs I've come across are 1) not being able to stop any advertisements (this is always a problem); and 2) not being able to create ads or fly to another state (just once or twice... no big deal).

Thanks!
Reply #6 from PolMach Forums Top
Thanks Frogboy.. I have tried to configure our LinkSyS router for opening certain ports many times, never worked for me. No idea why? I have not been able to play MP games at all. I will visit the chat session when I can.

I have not encountered any bugs per say, but I am finding somethings that could be improved. Ads do not go away it seems yes, but I do not think that was a bug. It is intentional I suspect.

The game is real addicting it has pulled me away from Galciv and my new website enough times. I love it so much that I decided to create a Pol Machine Forum and a side forum for political discussions. My site is a Sci-fi theme website, no matter this will be created anyways. http://www.neotechgaming.com NeoTech Gaming Network - Galiciv - Altarian Prophecy - Sapce Empires IV Gold - SEIV: Star Fury and some support for CIV3. This weekend the new forums will be made. NGN is a proud Stardock affiliate!
Reply #7 from PolMach Forums Top
Ok I'm an idiot.

I have a wireless internet connection through a University. I have windows Xp. My game works wondefully, but I can't play multi-player games. I know you talked about routers....but I don't know what that is. Can you help me step by step so that I can play others please? Also, when you are in multiplayer mode, and it says IP address, do I leave it as is....or should I enter mine., Thanks and I can't wait to play multiplayer!!!!
Reply #8 from PolMach Forums Top

I can't find or create games that can be seen for multiplayer. I have a netgear router, and can add a service for the correct port, but I need a server IP address. PM.stardock.com is not accepted by my router. Can someone help me out? This game is really cool, but would much better playing against real people online
Reply #10 from PolMach Forums Top
1) If you are using Windows XP SP2's firewall or a third-party firewall on any supported platform, you must set it to allow PolMachine.exe to connect to the Internet and allow traffic on port 2509 (TCP). This also means ROUTERS. That said, you should be able to connect to other people's games and play them even behind the firewall. But hosting requires the open ports.

2) If you are playing on dial-up, slow the speed down some. Don't play at "Rabbit" speed for instance. When you play single player, experts tend to whale on various buttons in a sort of speed-dial like way. Don't do this in multiplayer if you're not hosting as you may find that lag loses some of your commands. Play deliberately. It's not an arcade game.

3) In the lobby, use the refresh game option regularly to check for games.

4) From Stardock Central (www.sdcentral.net) go to the chat area and type /join #polmachine to talk to other people including the development team.





How do u adjust the router?