Official Multiplayer Notes

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Microsoft Urban Assault Multiplayer Notes
July 1998
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(c) Copyright Microsoft Corporation, 1998

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CONTENTS
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1. COMPACT DISC REQUIREMENTS
2. SELECTING A MULTIPLAYER CONNECTION
   2.1  IPX LAN (Up to Four Players)
   2.2  TCP/IP LAN (Up to Four Players)
   2.3  Microsoft Internet Gaming Zone (Two Players)
   2.4  TCP/IP Internet Service Provider (Two Players)
   2.5  Modem (Two Players)
   2.6  Serial (Two Players)
3. CREATING AND JOINING MULTIPLAYER GAME SESSIONS
   3.1  Creating a Multiplayer Game Session
   3.2  Joining a Multiplayer Game Session
4. UNIT LIMITS
5. KNOWN MULTIPLAYER ISSUES
6. MISCELLANEOUS

WARNING: Task-switching -- for example, pressing ALT+TAB -- may cause 
instability, including crashing, in some multiplayer games. Please do 
not press ALT+TAB or perform any other task-switching function while 
playing a multiplayer game.

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1. COMPACT DISC REQUIREMENTS
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You need one compact disc for up to three players. You need at least two 
compact discs for four players. Anyone playing a multiplayer game without 
a compact disc, must have installed a Complete installation.

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2. SELECTING A MULTIPLAYER CONNECTION
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2.1  IPX LAN (Up to Four Players)
---------------------------------

To start an IPX LAN game session, you need to be connected to a network. 
Be sure that all computers are on the same side of the router. If you are 
unable to make an IPX connection over a network, you may want to consider 
choosing the TCP/IP connection. If you are unsure of the configuration of 
your network, speak with your network administrator.

>>>To start an IPX LAN game session

1. Be sure you are connected to a network and have the IPX protocol 
installed on your computer.
2. Start Urban Assault.
3. On the Main Menu, click Multiplayer.
4. On the Connection Type Selection screen, select IPX Connection For 
DirectPlay, and then click OK.
5. On the Enter Call Sign screen, enter your call sign, and then click OK.
6. Either create or join a game session, as outlined in Section 3, 
"Creating and Joining Multiplayer Game Sessions," later in this document.


2.2  TCP/IP LAN (Up to Four Players)
------------------------------------

>>>To start a TCP/IP LAN game session

1. Be sure you are connected to a network and have the TCP/IP protocol 
installed on your computer.
2. Start Urban Assault.
3. On the Main Menu, click Multiplayer.
4. On the Connection Type Selection screen, select Internet TCP/IP 
Connection For DirectPlay, and then click OK.
5. In the Locate Session dialog box, enter the IP address of the computer 
you wish to call, and then click OK. (If you are the host, leave the text 
box blank, and then click OK. To find your IP address for the other players 
to enter, click Start on the taskbar, click Run, type WINIPCFG.EXE in the 
Open box, and then click OK. In the IP Configuration dialog box, find your 
IP address.)
6. On the Enter Call Sign screen, enter your call sign, and then click OK.
7. Either create or join a game session, as outlined in Section 3, 
"Creating and Joining Multiplayer Game Sessions," later in this document.


2.3  Microsoft Internet Gaming Zone (Two Players)
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>>>To start a Microsoft Internet Gaming Zone session

1. Connect to your Internet service provider, and then connect to the 
Microsoft Internet Gaming Zone (http://www.zone.com).
2. Once you have logged in and have made it to the Urban Assault Lobby, 
host or join a game.
3. If you are the host, start Urban Assault by clicking the Launch button. 
If you are joining the game, wait for the host to start Urban Assault.
4. After Urban Assault has started, either create or join a game session, 
as outlined in Section 3, "Creating and Joining Multiplayer Game Sessions," 
later in this document.


2.4  TCP/IP Internet Service Provider (Two Players)
---------------------------------------------------

>>>To start a TCP/IP Internet service provider game session

1. Connect to your Internet service provider, and then start Urban 
Assault.
2. On the Main Menu, click Multiplayer.
3. On the Connection Type Selection screen, select Internet TCP/IP 
Connection For DirectPlay, and then click OK.
4. In the Locate Session dialog box, enter the IP address of the computer 
you wish to call, and then click OK. (If you are the host, leave the text 
box blank, and then click OK. To find your IP address for the other players 
to enter, click Start on the taskbar, click Run, type WINIPCFG.EXE in the 
Open box, and then click OK. In the IP Configuration dialog box, find your 
IP address.)
5. On the Enter Call Sign screen, enter your call sign, and then click OK.
6. Either create or join a game session, as outlined in Section 3, 
"Creating and Joining Multiplayer Game Sessions," later in this document.


2.5  Modem (Two Players)
------------------------

>>>To start a modem game session

1. Start Urban Assault.
2. On the Main Menu, click Multiplayer.
3. On the Connection Type Selection screen, select Modem Connection For 
DirectPlay, and then click OK.
4. On the Enter Call Sign screen, enter your call sign, and then click OK.
5. Either create or dial into a game session, as outlined in the following 
two procedures.

>>>To create a modem game session

1. After following the steps in "To Start a Modem Game Session," click 
Create Session.
2. On the Level Selection screen, select a level with a telephone icon next 
to it, and then click OK. (A telephone icon indicates that the level has 
been optimized for low-bandwidth play and will offer the highest performance 
for your modem game.)
3. In the Modem Connection dialog box, click Answer to accept a call. Once 
a call has been answered and the connection is made, the Start Game screen 
appears.
4. Select your faction, and then wait for the other player to join. (Players 
cannot play as the same faction.)
5. Once the other player has joined and is ready, click Start.

You may notice a timer in the upper-left corner of the screen. If one 
player's computer is particularly slow, this timer keeps track of the time 
that player has left to join before he is dropped from the game. Once both 
players' computers are synchronized, the game will begin.

>>>To dial into a modem game session

1. After following the steps in "To Start a Modem Game Session," click 
Connect.
2. In the Modem Connection dialog box, enter the phone number of the host, 
and then click Connect. Once your call has been answered and the connection 
is made, the Start Game screen appears.
3. Select your faction, and then click I'm Ready! (Players cannot play as 
the same faction.) Once you have clicked I'm Ready!, the host can start the 
game.

You may notice a timer in the upper-left corner of the screen. If one 
player's computer is particularly slow, this timer keeps track of the time 
that player has left to join before he is dropped from the game. Once both 
players' computers are synchronized, the game will begin.


2.6  Serial (Two Players)
-------------------------

>>>To start a serial game session

1. Connect your COM port to the other player's computer.
2. Start Urban Assault.
3. On the Main Menu, click Multiplayer.
4. On the Connection Type Selection screen, select Serial Connection For 
DirectPlay, and then click OK.
5. In the Serial Connection dialog box, be sure that both computers' baud 
rates are the same, and then click OK.
6. On the Enter Call Sign screen, enter your call sign, and then click OK.
7. To update the Session list, press the SPACEBAR.
8. Either create or join a game session, as outlined in Section 3, 
"Creating and Joining Multiplayer Game Sessions," later in this document.

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3. CREATING AND JOINING MULTIPLAYER GAME SESSIONS
-------------------------------------------------

3.1  Creating a Multiplayer Game Session
----------------------------------------

>>>To create a multiplayer game session

1. Follow the procedure for the type of connection you want to make (see 
the procedures in Section 2 for specific connection types), and then click 
Create Session.
2. On the Level Selection screen, select a level, and then click OK. Be sure 
that the level you select has at least as many factions as the number of 
people playing. (Note that if you are playing over a modem, a serial 
connection, the Internet Gaming Zone, or the Internet, you should select a 
level with a telephone icon next to it. A telephone icon indicates that the 
level has been optimized for low-bandwidth play and will offer the highest 
performance for your type of connection.)
3. On the Start Game screen, select your faction, and then wait for the 
other players to join. (Players cannot play as the same faction.)
4. Once the other player has joined and is ready, click Start.

You may notice a timer in the upper-left corner of the screen. If one 
player's computer is particularly slow, this timer keeps track of the time 
that player has left to join before he is dropped from the game. Once all 
players' computers are synchronized, the game will begin.


3.2  Joining a Multiplayer Game Session
---------------------------------------

>>>To join a multiplayer game session

1. Follow the procedure for the type of connection you want to make (see 
the procedures in Section 2 for specific connection types).
2. On the Create or Join Session screen, select the game you want to join, 
and then click Join.
3. On the Start Game screen, select your faction, and then click I'm Ready! 
(Players cannot play as the same faction.) Once you have clicked I'm Ready!, 
the host can start the game.

You may notice a timer in the upper-left corner of the screen. If one 
player's computer is particularly slow, this timer keeps track of the time 
that player has left to join before he is dropped from the game. Once all 
players' computers are synchronized, the game will begin.

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4. UNIT LIMITS
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There are two types of unit limits that you will encounter in multiplayer 
games. One is the "hard" limit type, for low-bandwidth games (these levels 
are indicated by telephone icons on the Level Selection screen), and the 
other is the "soft" limit type, for high-bandwidth games.


Hard Limit

The hard limit is pretty basic. Once you reach the hard limit, you will no 
longer be able to create any additional units until those that have already 
been created are destroyed. The hard limit is used for low-bandwidth levels.


Soft Limit

The soft limit works on the idea that the more units you create the less 
efficient your energy absorption rate becomes (see your printed documentation 
and online Help for information on the Energy Manager and resource management). 
Once you reach the soft limit, every unit you create over the limit causes 
your energy efficiency to drop by 5% (you may not notice this if you have 
already had the good fortune to conquer numerous sectors). The way to return 
your energy efficiency back to 100% is to either conquer more sectors or 
destroy your other units.

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5. KNOWN MULTIPLAYER ISSUES
---------------------------

ISSUE: On the Connection Type Selection screen, there is not a connection type 
listed for the Microsoft Internet Gaming Zone.

Suggestion: Connect to the Internet Gaming Zone first and enter the Urban 
Assault Lobby. Once all the players are in the correct room, have the host 
click Launch Urban Assault from the Zone Lobby.

ISSUE: The Microsoft Internet Gaming Zone may not automatically start Urban 
Assault for some players.

Suggestion: Be sure that players do not have Urban Assault running when the 
host tries to start a game from the Zone.

ISSUE: If the host exits a game before a player has joined and the host then 
rejoins as a client, there will be no way to start the game, as both computers 
will be clients and the Start button will not be available to any player.

Suggestion: The host should exit from the Start Game screen and then create a 
new multiplayer game. Once it has been created and the level has been selected, 
the client can then join.

ISSUE: If you receive the message "System Error: [Opponent] has files that are 
different from yours," one or more files in your Urban Assault folder vary 
from those of your opponent. This can happen if files are edited or deleted 
from the Urban Assault folder on either computer. This message is in place to 
ensure that all players have the same files and to prevent cheating with edited 
files.

Suggestion: When this message appears, all players should uninstall and then 
reinstall Urban Assault. Not doing so may prevent Urban Assault from running 
or may give one player a distinct advantage over other players.

ISSUE: Higher resolutions my cause latency problems.

Suggestion: Reduce your resolution in the Display Resolution box on the 
Options screen.

ISSUE: When Dial-Up Networking times out, the game may crash if you click 
Reconnect in the Reestablish Connection dialog box while it attempts to retry 
your connection.

Suggestion: Always exit Urban Assault before you attempt to retry a Dial-Up 
Networking connection.

ISSUE: After a multiplayer game session, internal modems may stay on after the 
game has ended.

Suggestion: Restart your computer to turn off the modem.

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6. MISCELLANEOUS
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** Enemy AI is not available in multiplayer games.

** A single player can create and play a multiplayer game. This is an excellent 
way to try out enemy vehicles and check out the terrain of the various 
multiplayer levels before you take on an actual enemy.

** On the Create or Join Session screen, levels with a telephone icon next to 
them are for low-bandwidth connections (Internet TCP/IP, Internet Gaming 
Zone, Modem, or Serial connections). Playing other levels with these types of 
connections will most likely result in poor gameplay performance and is not 
recommended.

** Pressing ALT+TAB may cause a loss of network connections to other players. 
Do not press ALT+TAB while playing multiplayer games.