Use of the CD-Key in MP game

baboune · #1 November 3rd, 2004, 10:55 AM

Ok, this has probably been discussed already. Can two person play from the same computer and participate in the same MP game? In other words can I play hotseat?

(I know that it implies deleting the .trn and .2h files)

If not, it needs to be fixed.

tka · #2 November 3rd, 2004, 11:05 AM

I think they can.

The Panther · #3 November 3rd, 2004, 11:10 AM

Yes, they can do this. But both players must play under the same user name on the same computer for it to work. Probably also under the same IP address, though I am not sure on this Last point. You do not ever have to delete any files for it to work.

I have always found this kind of stupid. I mean, it allows a player to play multiple races on one computer, but does not allow my son and I to both play in the same game from our separate computers, even against comps! It's not like we are going to buy a second copy of the game to get around this, so I don't see that it is a valid form of copy protection, at least in my household. Just an annoyance.

baboune · #4 November 3rd, 2004, 11:19 AM

Are you sure that 2 persons from one computer can play in the SAME MP game?

liga · #5 November 3rd, 2004, 11:24 AM

Quote:

baboune said:
Are you sure that 2 persons from one computer can play in the SAME MP game?

I'm quite sure about that ... we start a MP games with a lan of 8 PCs and 11 players ... some of the PCs was hosting more than one players ... we play the first 15 turns in that way, than we move to PBEM (every one with his own computer at home) and everything runs wells.

The only things I'm not sure if you can PBEM in the same MP game with 2 Users form the same PC.

good luck
Liga

The Panther · #6 November 3rd, 2004, 11:30 AM

I am certain, because my son and I have done this in three MP games. It is no different from a single person selecting two races.

I will also say that we will never do it again because it is a complete pain in the a$$. For one thing, it is near impossible to fight a war between the two players unless they never make their moves during the same sitting on the computer. In one of the games, it got down to the Last three players, so I turned my side over to a permanent sub for this reason.

You also have to be careful about the stales. If not done exactly right, a stale for one side is the result. We both got some stales for unexplainable reasons more than once.

archaeolept · #7 November 3rd, 2004, 11:32 AM

i don't see why PBEM would be different from normal hosting. Panther and his son Tauren have both played in the same MP game w/out problems.

Soapyfrog · #8 November 3rd, 2004, 11:45 AM

Interesting... I wonder how the server distinguishes whether two nations are being played hotseat on the same computer or on seperate computers?

Chazar · #9 November 3rd, 2004, 04:51 PM

It may bundle the PC's mac address (=media access control) or a random seed with the CD-key, and a key may not be used twice in a single game with a different MAC address or a different random seed...

Soapyfrog · #10 November 3rd, 2004, 05:22 PM

Ah I see, clever...