Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri Online
I know I personally wanted to chuck my PC out of the window before I figured this all out. Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (or SMAC, the expansion being called SMAC) is such an old game, but why not share some of my knowledge of playing it online over TCP/IP?
1. Make sure your SMAC/SMAX client is up to date. Also, make sure you decide ahead of time if you're playing SMAC/SMAX with another person. Obviously one can't play SMAC and the other play SMAX.
Make sure that EVERYONE has the SMAC XP fix installed, even if they don't have XP! Without it, the client won't connect to another patched client!
SMAC XP Fix: Click to Download
SMAC 4.0: Click to Download
SMAX 2.0 Patch: Click to Download (only needed if playing SMAX)
IF PLAYING MAC vs PC: Click to Download
2. Make sure all of the required ports are open.
These ports:
TCP: 47624 (directx7) or TCP: 6073 (directx8 and above)
TCP/UDP: 2300-2400
Must be open on your router to Join/Host Games.
Here is a link on how to open ports: Click to Download
4. Create a network on Hamachi.
Make a new network if you plan to host the game (the button is on the bottom right), and then everyone must join this network (via the same button).
5. All players must pick the TCP/IP option of the SMAC multiplayer menu.
6. The Host must chose to host a game, name it. Don't set up any options or load any maps or save files until all others have joined to prevent crashing.
7. Joiners: Fill in the Hamachi IP of the host (something like that: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx, it's listed near the host's name. You can right click their name to copy the IP address.), then hit OK. YOU MUST FILL OUT THE IP, You can just just "search" for a game!!
8. If everything is ok, you will enter a lobby. If you return to the title screen, see step 1 and 2.
Helpful Tips:
- Simultaneous Moves. I can not stress this option enough!! The Game moves so much smoother this way.
- When continuing a game, to prevent the game from crashing, load up the save file when everyone is in the lobby
- Time Constraints: Can be helpful or harmful varying on the people you're playing with. Think about who you're playing with and how many players you have.
- View this thread about cheating: Cheating and what Measures to Take
- If you're playing with a modded game, in order to play custom factions ALL players must have the faction files installed.
- If you're running a game with a lot of players, make sure your players run a test run with at least one other person to test out if they can connect to them in a game. This makes the initial game run nicer because the host won't be trying to help players trying to set up their game. It may even be a host problem, so make sure you get everything sorted out before hand!
- Communicating through IM in at least the first few moments of attempting to get the game up is an EXTREMELY good idea. Email is not fast enough, especially if someone is having problems connecting to the game. Hamachi even has a built in chat program, so use it!
- Voice chat can be extremely helpful during a game, however it sometimes creates a lot of lag, so use some discretion when playing with people who are living far away from you, as they may lose connection when you voice chat.
- If a player disconnects, even on accident, it can be a burden to the entire game! Make sure that if you lose connection to another player you save and get back to the lobby ASAP and resume the game.