rec.autos.simulators

Ok, now I feel really stupid, but I am having problems with this
multiplayer stuff. Please bear with me..

Conditions:  Sound is working properly,  T1 / T2 is working properly,
game
plays fine in single player, with one system experiencing the dreaded "
lurch ".  Only have the Papyrus supplied .CAR files and *.LST files in the
CARS directory.  All attributes have been cleared.

Ok, problem 1:  When I choose multipayer, Direct Connect, things work fine
with the origional car set. I can race my daughter all over the track and
everything is cool.  Now...

 I added the IWCCARS car set and threw in the car I like to drive.  Moved a
car
out of the MULTI.LST and moved mine in.  Added my car to the top, and
changed the name to mine.  Then, for some reason known only to me, I
sorted
all the cars by car #.  Mainly so I could tell who was mising.  Ok,
copied
this exact CAR directory over to my other machine VIA my network.  Ran it
in single player mode just fine.

Then I tried to connect the two machines via D.C.  This time nothing
except the little red phone would flicker in the top right of both
monitors
for a second then go out. Then it just sat there.

Thinking that maybe something happened to my null-modem cable, I exited N2
and ran Duke3d, and Descent 1.  Both worked properly using the null modem
cable, and VIA the IPX network.  Deleted the CARS directory from both
machines, and then copied the origional CARS directory from the CD back to
my systems.  Reset the Attribs, and tried the D.C. again.  Worked perfect.

Any ideas what was happening?

Ok, problem 2:  Remember above where I mentioned that Duke 3d and Descent
1
work fine VIA the IPX network?  Well, when I try to use the network
option,
the Answering computer ALWAYS locks up.  No matter which car set I have on
the system.  No matter which computer answers, it always locks up.  The
calling computer NEVER locks up.  Both machines have 32 megs of EDO ram.

The last time I tried the Modem option, all was well. At least it connects
fine.  I haven't played it long enough at once to get it to act up.  The
only person around here who likes to play over the phone is even worse than
I am, so the races don't last long.   Haven't had a chance to try it since
I started playing around today.

Any help / suggestions will be appreciated and acted upon.

Thanks,

Robert

I haven't lost my mind - It's backed up on tape somewhere...

I don't know what might be broken but I'd recommend keeping the original
MULTI.LST on each machine and just modify the first item on each machine to
reflect the .CAR file you want the driver on that machine to use.

If you do that, you should be fine as long as all the .CAR files which have
player-drivers are present on each machine (but worst that should happen if
the .CAR file is missing is that the two machines might show different
cars).  Also if you've done a custom paint job, make sure to rename the
CAR file to something other than T_PLAYER.CAR.

You're welcome to send me email with a ZIP file attached that has the entry
list and any custom .CAR files which are causing trouble for you, and I'll

to my BIX address).

Charlie Heath / Papyrus