F4 Internet Play (www.combatsim.com)

F4 Internet How-To

by Richard "Shaman" B.

To play on the internet it is very convenient if all parties have an instant chat software like ICQ or AOL Instant Messenger. This allows for coordinating game setup before people have started the game. Once everyone is in the game, then you can continue to chat within the game, using the game's chat feature. These internet chat programs are free and downloadable.

Once you have Falcon running there are three different levels of chatting. The Lobby - this is available after Step 3 below. The Furball Window - this is available at Step 10 below for Host's and Step 8 for clients. Finally you can use Radio communications while you are flying, but I haven't got that documented yet. Each level of chat is exclusive of the other levels such that you can only chat with those at your same level.

The next thing to point out is that you need to be able to establish your internet connection before you start the game. I do this by making a shortcut of my Dialup Networking Connection Icon that was created when I set up my internet access. Open up My Computer / Dial Up Networking / and then make a shortcut of the icon representing your internet connection. Put this Shortcut on your desktop and use it to connect to the internet independently of other programs.

Finally you will need to know the Host's IP address. To get the IP address, have the Host, after he is on the internet, go to the Run window, within the Start button menu. Type in winipcfg and press OK.

Once you are on the internet:

DO THIS ON THE HOST MACHINE ONLY

1. Click Comms
2. Select Internet, and your Internet Bandwidth
3. Click Connect
4. Click OK when it says connection established in the Commlink Status Window
5. Click Dogfight
6. Click Furball
7. Click the commit button (lower right icon of the jets)
8. Choose the options you want
9. Click OK
10. Now you are in the Furball Window. WAIT HERE FOR OTHERS TO JOIN.

You can select your plane color in this window. Click the "plus" sign next to a plane to determine who it is. Also if you click on your plane it will outline in white. Then you can select a new color for it from the four choices available. If you press Comms you should be able to chat with others who have reached this window also.

11. When everyone joins click the commit button

Note: Hosts who are at step 10 will not be able to see the other players in chat if they haven't joined their game. (ie: those still in the Lobby chat area will not show up.)

Click to continue . . .

DO THIS ON THE CLIENT MACHINES

You will need to know the Host's IP Address. This is where ICQ chat comes in handy. Connect to the internet, then start Falcon 4.0.

1. Click Comms
2. Select Internet, and your Internet Bandwidth, and type in the Host's IP address.
3. Click Connect
4. Click OK when it says connection established in the Commlink Status Window
4. Click Dogfight
5. Click Online
6. Click on the Game you wish to join (it will highlight in green)
7. Click the commit button (lower right icon of jets)
8. Now you are in the Furball Window. WAIT HERE FOR OTHERS TO JOIN.

The Host should already be there. You can select your plane color in this window. Click the "plus" sign next to a plane to determine who it is. Also if you click on your plane it will outline in white. Then you can select a new color for it from the four choices available. If you press Comms you should be able to chat with others who have reached this window also.

9. When everyone joins click the commit button

I found that if you exit from flight, you may have to restart the whole program before you can hook up again. If you don't you may have two games running and your system will slow down in a big way. Also as the Host, if you quit and then start again you may end up with two games running which will bog down your system, so it is best to shut down the program and then restart Falcon again. Have a plan that if you get lost, you will shut Falcon down and meet back in your AOL or ICQ chat window.

Finally, once you are all up in the air, the easy way to find someone is to hit the 4 key on the keyboard (above the letter R) for padlock view. Also Shift L will toggle Labels on each plane so they are easier to see.

I would like to thank David S. and Dimitry in customer support for teaching me how to get on a multiplayer game, and David S. for creating the original Lan version of these instructions.

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