Most PC games are client/server. That is, someone creates a game and others join that game. The data then goes from you to the host (the server) and then back to the other players. Sins of a Solar Empire is client/server.
In Demigod, it is peer-to-peer. This was necessary because it needed to have the least amount of latency possible since your moves are directly sent to the other players rather than to a server first. Because the action in Demigod focuses a great deal on Melee in the third person (i.e. players can see their hits) a lot of traditional methods to mask latency aren't possible. Peer-to-peer reduces the problem of "lag".
The downside of peer-to-peer is that everyone has to be able to connect to each other. In a client server game, many people have heard someone say "I can join games but I can't host them." In a peer-to-peer game, everyone is technically a host thus greatly increasing the challenge of connecting players.
The solution developed is known as CVP NAT, a new feature of Stardock's Impulse Reactor development library.
So what problems can people have? Below are the most common issues:
To learn how to port forward, see this website: http://www.portforward.com/
To learn more about what ports to open see this document provided by the Monk (THANKS MONK!)
http://themonk.ca/Monk/Networking_and_DEMIGOD.pdf
Why not just go old fashinoned and use a single a host that the others connect to?
There is one thing people in EU need to know:
AFAIK, if you have some sort of DSL (ADSL) connection, chances are DG wont work in MP until the fix arrives (probably during the week).
So basicaly there is probably nothing wrong with your configuration, just need to wait.
(Man, Europe is always the worse when it comes to game releases. Its european Warhammer Online launch all over again...)
So i have a adsl connection qwest. I have this issue. I was highly considering picking up a new router today. Any suggestions or opinions on weather this would work or not.
i am still in a DMZ, deactivated all firewalls and antivir etc. (actualy this system is set up new and i didnt even install them and only deactivated the windows firewall...) and still cant play in no way a multiplayer round... is it possible that this has something to do with that im using windows7 actually? maybe ill try to play some games on my notebook with XP... i hope its not releated with W7... dont want to set up the computer for a new and i hate vista... 8GB Ram for nothing... looks like ill have to use XP until W7 is fully released...
Don't bother until we see if it is fixed during the week. If its fixed for most people, and not you, then it *may* be you can fix it with a different router.
7hyrael,It might be that my setup is some exception or fluke, but, I'm currently using Windows 7 x64 build 7022 and after forwarding ports properly according to Monk's guide everything works about as well as can be. Takes a long time to find a game occasionally, but I can find them regularly and custom games work well.
So, I don't think Windows 7 is a likely source of the problem.
The only solution to the Peer-to-Peer problem is Client-Server.
With CS you have 18 connection in a 10 player game. 9 Streams going to the server, and 9 streams going from the server.
With P2P in a 10 player game you have 81 streams.
A system with 18 points of failure is less prone to fail than one with 81. Yes, it sucks when the host disconnects, and there is some lag, but I think CS should be an option.
the reason why i ask is that i could play without connection issues during beta 2 ... i dont know why but i think the new connection system wont work propperly, back then i was using XP tough... but i dont remember when the "no portforwarding" system was implemented...
as well i dont know why so many game make such an problem out of the things with the ports... warcraft gave a great example how to make it right. 1 port to open for beeing able to host games and not a single one required normally for playing and joining games... the new system may be cool for sure, if making connections more stable and if coming up with lower latencys, but what is it good for if you have more troubly with it?
EDIT:
exactly what i meant... i more likely get disconnected when the host is disconnecting and play another game then having several days of trouble to get a game running propperly online... btw i think many people will just be pissed of and not play it. good examples for that are the least 3 CnC games... the netcode sucked as hell, houndreds of ports to configure in NAT etc.
wouldn't it be possible to make a option for everyone how he wants to get connected? im not that expired in networking technologies that i know if a dual way is technically possible but if it could bring less trouble... why not?
Looking through this thread it looks as if I am screwed if I want to play this game on-line. I have an ADSL connection with Cincinnati Bell using their Westel Modem/wireless router.
Monks guide nor will portforwad can help me... Iv'e turned off firewall on the modem/router, and My Norton Internet Security, (windows firewall always off cause of Norton) There is no way to activate/find port forwarding in my model, and to my knowlage my isp (cinci bell) doesn't stop p2p traffic ( have friends that use Xbox live with no prob, if that is related)
I guess I will just play single player till impulse is up and running properly... or the 30 day return policy is nearly up from buying it from Best buy and get my money back.
***Update*** Took a closer look at the return policy... can't return it, unless getting the same item. Maybe I can talk them into stor credit for another game.
From the pattern, I'm seeing that the majority of people having problems have DSL / ADSL, and for plenty of people (myself included) it is not a problem limited to Europe. Hopefully the fix Frogboy spoke of for them regarding DSL, will help some of us out as well.
Cmo4Ever,
I'm inclined to avoid looking for patterns in just the few posts here since it just seems too anecdotal.However, circumstances being what they are and with my desperation for an answer to get my friend playing, I have to admit it does look like there's some kind of DSL / ADSL specific problem. At least as far as the data i'm seeing here and in the chat is concerned.
I'm gonna try going back and forth between my Cable and different service's DSL connections to figure out what the difference is. At the very least, it hadn't occured to me before to try and isolate the DSL as the problem.
I'm gonna formally say imo, GAMERANGER will be a temporary solution for alot of users in this thread experiencing these symptoms.
www.gameranger.com
VPN app like hamachi but, you join rooms by game rather than some random name.
So you just join the demigod room after installing choose a game when host starts it automatically runs everything.
Probably want to advertise version .93.
I've played 3 games there in 2 hours, 3 more than the last 72 hours. Hit me up on there if you need help or something same addy.
Luck_
Major solution to connectivity problems found: MLPPP. If you use a Linksys router or any other with Tomato/MLPPP firmware to get around P2P throttling from your ISP you will not be able to connect to multiplayer games if MLPPP is turned on. You need to set it to off and reconnect your router. This is an odd problem since ive played dozens of multiplayer games over MLPPP just fine so not sure why it would be a problem but it somehow is for this particular game.
This worked somewhat for my friend. Now the problem we have the game crashes for him when I go to start the game. Nevermind, figured out it was due to the people with pirated copies that only had version .91.
Annekynn,
That could be due in part to the fact that the MLPPP firmware might be emulating similar behaviour to Stardock's NAT-T technology? This would of course create a -1 +1 = 0 type of scenario where things are actually canceling one another out! Hence why things work with that option enabled in other games....but not in Demigod?
Just a thought....
the Monk
Oks. I configured everything. dd-wrt router(SPI and UPnP disabled) with udp 6100-6200 ports forwarded along with 6073 UDP. Firewall down, connection is rock-solid, ISP does NOT block p2p traffic. Its DSL connection with dedicated IP.
"You have been disconnected from NAT Facilitator." Who the heck is that? I managed to play to play 2 games so far, but atm every time i'm trying to play custom or Pantheon game - i get this message as soon as i fail to connect to one of players (usually after connecting normally to 2 or 3).
Ideas?
P.S.: i can understand complex network stuff so feel free to throw it at me if necessary.
Upd
I am joining the queue here...
just cant connect to any game... i have done all that was to do (opening ports, forwarding ports, etc. ...).
Any other online game plays fine with my configuration. Maybe you should have use the SOASE netcode which also works fine for me...
hope for a patch soon, else gonna apply for my first refund from stardock which would be a shame...
Same issue, same problem. Who do I contact to return the game?
@ Hettikus and anyone else who has done what he has...
I believe the servers have been having some issues (regarding the NAT-Facilitator error message), and I'm not sure if they've been worked out.
SD have been adding more and more servers to handle the login/gamesetup load and we were told there will be more changes in the coming days. If you believe your network is now correctly setup, please be patient. Tomorrow when everyone is back at work will bring more changes I'm sure of it!
I have never been able to join an internet game with my current setup. I use CenturyTel DSL with a Westel Modem. Then I have a Watchguard Firebox. I have a block of static IP's, one of which the Firebox uses. It's a model x10e by the way. Anyways, it has all of the default configuration our of the box and doesn't allow Impulse Reactor to work. I created a custom policy to allow traffic on the required ports to all destinations, but it will not work. Anyone got DG to work behind a Firebox?
2Monk,
thats what i thought... lets hope all the kids will be gone tomorrow. At least for a while.
2dustbeta,
you have a block of white IP's at home? You absolutely sure about that? Or you just have 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x type static IP's configured for your local network?
No, I have a block of statics, I have multiple servers outside the firewall that need them. I also removed all ports in the 6000 range from the blocked list.
I get:
"Attempt To Join Game Failed" dialog in custom. Not sure if this is a connection thing or a game full thing.
"Failed to connect to..." in the connection dialog with some people while joining custom games games.
"A player has left the game" quite frequently in pantheon.
as far as i understood from Watchguard site Firebox is like mini preconfigured antispam/antivirus/blah-blah-blah solution. I suggest you check if all ports are forwarded properly, then disable and the anti- stuff on firebox and try again. My guess will be its the IPS system thats giving you trouble.
yeah i get the "attempted to join - fail" on a few games and then on others i can connect no worries.
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