rec.autos.simulators

I was wondering if anyone had played GP2 side by side with a friend by
hooking two computers together. Since I now have the opportunity (a new
laptop that runs GP2 smooth as can be) I was wondering if someone would
enlighten me as to how to accomplish this feat. Being a computer
illiterate, you may have to type pretty slowly so I can comprehend what
you're describing. Any help would be appreciated!

Warlock!

Matt,

H        e        r        e   '    s         h        o         w         y
o        u         d        o         i        t.  :)

I've done this before and the process is fairly simple.  Just go to
multiplayer in GPL  and select "serial" as your connection.  One person
hosts and then the other person joins.  The only thing that you have to make
sure of is that you are using the correct COM port.  Just check Win98 and
see what COM ports are available and not in use.  Usually a simple trial and
error will get you using the right ports.

Email me if you need any more explanation than this-- like a detailed
step-by-step procedure.  Also, check the manual, as I'm sure they explain
how to do it there, also.

Alanb

Just few days ago I have hooked up 2 platforms only to play GP2. That was
the only game my friend and I could play since hi has a rusty Cyrix and no
3d card.
The trick is that no mater who hosts the game (even an PIII) the game will
run the pace that it does on the slower of the 2 machines! Keep that in
mind. So you will have to have the same detail levels on both platforms set
up so that the slower platform can have a decent frame rate.
All you need for the connection is a serial link cable that can be found
almost anywhere or can be made real fast easy and cheap (don't ask me how
though).

DP-MAX Computers
http://www.dp-max.co.yu/
BeoRocket Racing Team (retired)
http://www.beorocket.co.yu/

GP2 using a modem or serial link is crap, it is just too slow, no matter
what pc's you have it will run very slow.

A better idea is to use the GP2 ipx patch (if you connect the pc's using
an ipx network). You need the patch file (available from most good GP2
websites). The file is called:

gp2lp102.zip

Unzip it and follow the instructions in the readme file.

Gp2 is much, much better over an ipx link, it is still a *bit* slower
than normal (using a K6 200 clocked at 225 & a Celeron 300 clocked at
450 here) and you cannot have any AI cars on the track at the same
time? but it is much much better than a serial or modem link. I have
tried all three and ipx wins every time. The only minor problem seems to
be that the link is not always seen by the host? Just try and connect
again and 9 times out of ten the host sees the link at the next attempt.

Have fun.....

8-)

*Peter*     8-)

I beg to differ. The game runs ok in two player mode using a P5-133 and a
P5-200 if you tune the details a bit. It's not great at framerates, but
still a blast with other AI on the track.

GP2 might be better over IPX, but why on earth would add such a
backward protocol stack to an already inherently unstable Windoze
machine? Using a direct serial connect at 9600 works ok IMHO. We
found that cranking up the baud rate *slowed down* gameplay instead
of adding to it.

Enjoy,

uwe

--
Uwe Schuerkamp http://www.schuerkamp.de/
uwe.schuerkamp at telemedia.de for direct mail (from: is spambox)
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You can beg all you like. GP2 is *CRAP* if raced by serial or modem
link.

You say yourself, it only runs "ok....if you tune the details" which
translates to turn *off* all the details and effects and it will still
run very slowly with very low fps, I know cos I've tried it, and its
cack, and I've tried it on faster (and tuned for games) pc's than the
two you mention, namely a K6-225 connected to a Celery 450 pc.

Unless of course, you think little or no details and effects running at
around 10 - 15fps is ok?

On an ipx lan using the patch, it runs ok with most of the graphics
still on, and with decent fps.

Have you actually tried the ipx patch?

Not "might be", it *IS* better, no question.

Perhaps this is your problem if you have an unstable pc? Personally I
have win95 on both my pc's, and have optimised both pc's for games, cos
thats the primary use for them. I have had little or no problem using
win95 on my pc's. I even run GP2 from win95 rather than from dos with no
problems at all.

IPX is perfectly stable and easy to use on a win95 lan, and is also very
fast, certainly fast enough for everything I use it for. Serial links
are old hat nowadays?

*Peter*     8-)