Playing on a Network

To play the network game, the TCP/IP Protocol must be enabled for all users.  

The recommended minimum system for the Multiplayer game is:

P200 with 32 MB RAM

If all variables "seem" right and yet you still are getting poor performance, it is probably due to one system in the configuration that is dragging down the performance of the others.  The server runs at the lowest system connection speed.

1. Cheats are not activated during Multiplayer games

We have disabled the cheats for the Multiplayer games.  There are also now voice or notepad briefings.  However, on the game CD readme file is a listing of all the mission briefings.

2. Commandos cannot be played via Direct Connection Modem or Null Cable.

This is a limitation of the game engine.  

3. Commandos Multiplayer game speed is slow, UNLESS, you play on a fast LAN on fast systems.

This method of play is how the programmers designed the multiplayer game.

4. In the 1.1 version, clients DO NOT need the CD to play if they perform a full install.

SETUP NOTES:

1.      Faster gameplay can be achieved by starting a dedicated server (multiplayer server menu option).  This means locating the fastest system, installing the game, starting the server, and then getting the IP Address and giving it to the clients.

2.      If the Host chooses to run the server in the background, this is possible, but latency will increase by 10-20%.
3.      The Host NEEDS THE CD to HOST (Start) a game.  Clients DO NOT NEED the CD installed, BUT NEED A FULL GAME INSTALLATION.

4.      There in no automatic LAN/WAN server search, Clients need to manually enter the IP Address of the server.
5.      Playing Commandos over the Internet is gutsy call.  Generally if you and your clients live in a country will excellent phone lines or you and your chums have a 56k+ connection, you can play the game with efficiency.  If you do not, play at your own risk OR ask your kind boss if you can play at the office.

GAME NOTES:

1. If you lose a Commando, you will need to restart.
2. The FIRST person to access the server is the HOST and MUST have the game CD inserted.
3. We know this kind of stinks, but for the ONLY the host, we do have QUICK SAVE and LOAD enabled - So save often!
4. If the game session disconnects, you will loose your quick saved game.
5. Pressing "Z" activates the chat window.  CTRL+Z closes the chat window.  Backspace deletes text.  Enter sends it to the other players.
6. You will have access to all 20 game missions. Available missions are listed according to the number of human players.
7. Multiplayer Game resolution is set at 640x480.

 FINAL NOTES

Menu display during a Multiplayer game session
In a game for a single player, if he presses Escape during the game, he will return to the Main Menu. In a Multiplayer game, however, it will be enough for a single player to press Escape for the game to be interrupted for all the connected players, and for the character selection window to appear.

While this window is being displayed, any player can cancel the selection of a character, leaving him free to be used by another player. It is also possible to select a character that has been abandoned by another player, exchange messages, or leave the game session by selecting the option Exit. In that case, all the characters selected by the "deserter" will be free to be selected by the remaining players.

The character selection window will also reappear during the course of the game if a player abandons the game, or if the communication of this player with the remainder of the network is interrupted for any reason. In this case, the remaining players must take charge of the characters that have become free.

It will not be possible to continue the game while there are free characters (not selected by any player).
During the reappearance of the character selection menu, the Master will also be able to change the mission, by using the option "Select mission". Just like in previous stages, if the Master is disconnected, someone will have to take over his role.

The Master ONLY can save and load the game
A network game can be saved and loaded. This option is only available to the Master, and only using the options of Quick Save and Load Quick Saved Game (Control + S and Control + L, respectively). If the mission has been changed during the Multiplayer game session, a game that has been saved using the Quick Save option and corresponds to the previous mission will no longer be valid.

Continuing after the success or failure of a mission
As has been said before, any system message due to the success or failure of a mission will return all players to the Commandos selection screen. At that point, the Master will be able to press the "Continue" button to continue the game. What happens next will depend on why the mission has finished:

If the mission is over, the "Continue" button will cause the mission selection menu to be displayed, so that the players may play another mission. If the mission has been finished successfully, then the next mission after the one that was being played will be selected by default. If, on the other hand, the mission has ended in failure, the option by default will be to play the failed mission again.

If something has occurred that has led to the failure of the mission, but that permits the game to continue (for example, if the escape vehicle has been destroyed), then the "Continue" button will permit you to continue playing the same mission from the point at which it was interrupted. To play another mission or replay the failed mission, the Master must select the option "Select Mission".

1.1 Version Enhancements

NOTE: North American versions (with Black CD art and Black box) already have these enhancements.  If you have the European version download the patch at this location to upgrade.

1.      Only Game Master needs CD

The FIRST person to log into the server will be designated the HOST and MUST have the CD to proceed.  The game will check to if CD is present.  Clients DO NOT NEED THE CD, but must do a full install and cannot play the single player game.

2.      Server limitation for High Latency User (Ping)

When the user connects to the server, server will ping user, if ping is greater than 300ms, the user will NOT be allowed to join.  We have implemented this minimum to prevent high latency users from adversely affecting the game speed.

In the lobby, the user is shown this text - "Your connection at this time is to slow to properly play Commandos.  Please try again later."

This applies only to user created network games.  It "should" alleviate most latency related game problems on networks by preventing high bandwidth users from entering.

You are able to customize the ping filter at the command line.  To do so, run the dedicated server executable with the command line argument -ping (# of ms).  For example, "mpserver.exe -ping 200" will set the maximum ping to 200ms.

3.      End Game Record Screen

After a successfully completion of a Multiplayer game, the users will be returned to the chat lobby.  There they will receive a brief summary of their game.

Mission name
Player names
Time to finish  (listed as  #H #M #S, for Hours, Minutes, Seconds)

Please note, the time to finish is by no means a comparison indicator.  No matter how fast you complete the mission, if your team runs P166 systems and your rivals run on PII systems, they will have the speed and time advantage.  This is the best we could do in the limited amount of time.  Our advice is to play by the honor system and use a system speed handicap.

4.      Menu options

• Player that is HOST, has name shown in red text
• Commando selection screen - once selected by user, that Commando cannot be taken unless original person gives up control
• Mission selection - only missions listed are those that equal or greater than player number
• During a game, is Host presses ESC, RESTART GAME has been added
• Master cannot start game unless ALL players have chosen a Commando (Commando Selection)

5.      Chat Feature changes

• Reduced Window size by 50%
• Allow text erase with BACKSPACE KEY
• Z = CHAT WINDOW OPENED
• CTRL + Z = CHAT WINDOW CLOSED
• Player name text is shown in RED
• Player chat text is shown in BLACK
• Send messages to specific players.  To use this feature, type in the number of the Commando with a space after the number, and then type in the message.  For example, if you type "1 Shoot the barrel", the message will be sent to the player controlling Tiny, the Green Beret.  Here is a list of the Commandos and their associated numbers:

1)      Green Beret - Jerry "Tiny" McHale
2)      Sniper - Sir Francis "Duke" Woolridge
3)      Diver - James "Fins" Blackwood
4)      Sapper - Thomas "Inferno" Hancock
5)      Driver - Sid "Tread" Perkins
6)      Spy - Rene "Spooky" Dechamp

6.      Out of Sync players

During a game, if a player leaves a game or is out of sync, users are returned to Commando selection screen and shown this message: "player name has left the game"