The IPX Simulator is available on the MPG-Net Showcase network. MPG-Net is a multiplayer games network accessible through internet.
Signing up and downloading the software may be done immediately on their
web page at: http://www.mpgn.com/
You must download and install the systems access software in order
to use MPG-Net. Once you have done that, you can get the IPX Simulator
directly while online or through their web page.
1.a. Getting it online
----------------------
Once you download and install the System access software and register for an account, simply connect up and go to the fantasy game room. There you can click on the headphone/straight-edge icon on the tool bar,and then click the games button at the far end of the tool bar. This will bring up a list of games you may install in the fantasy game room. Select the IPX simulator and click install. This will initiate a download that will take about 30 seconds at 14.4, and then will prompt you to install the software. Just click "INSTALL" and you will be able to go into the IPX room by clicking on its door.
1.b. Getting it through the web page
------------------------------------
You can also download the software in a self extracting install
shield program from the MPGN Web page. Simply go to the MPG-Net Resources
section on http://www.mpgn.com and click on "download IPX Simulator". After
it has downloaded, run the file and it will lead you through the installation
with an install wizard.
The version of the IPX Simulator on the web page is about 700k larger than
the version downloaded online. This is due to the install programs size. The
version on the web page may also be outdated, and if it is, you will be asked
to update when you go to the IPX simulator room for the first time. So I
strongly recommend downloading it online.
==========================
2. Using the IPX Simulator
==========================
Forewarning: A Dos "Session" or "Window" is not the same as Dos
"MODE". DOS Mode requires you to reboot your computer thus clearing its
memory of the IPX Simulator and the MPG-Net software. A Dos session is
sometimes referred to as a Dos-BOX, Dos-Window or DOS-Shell. In general
you should maximize your dos session by alt-enter when it starts up.
Using the simulator is simple. You create a game as you would in
any other MPG-Net game, invite people to that game, and then launch it once
the players have accepted the invitation.
When the Simulator starts up it will give you a window that lets you
run an MSDOS shell. After you click run, you may run any IPX game in that
DOS shell that runs in a DOS box under Windows with IPX.
2.a. Advanced usage
-------------------
The IPX Simulator has a feature that lets you setup predefined game
launch definitions. If you have defined one for a particular game you can
launch it by simply clicking on the run button when the IPX Simulator starts.
To define a defition file, open the MPG-Net Notepad by clicking on
the mirror on the toolbar, and then the pencil a paper icon. This will bring
up a text editor. You need to define the game-type,the executable filename,
the pathname, and any command line parameters you want to pass to the
executable. This would look something like the following if you were
connecting to a quake game:
*GAMETYPE:QUAKE
*HOMEDIR:c:\quake
*EXECUTE:c:\quake\quake.exe
*CMDLINE:"+connect"
Or if you were running the quake server:
*GAMETYPE:QUAKE
*HOMEDIR:c:\quake
*EXECUTE:c:\quake\quake.exe
*CMDLINE:"-listen 4 +map e1m2"
If a game has no command line parameters, you may leave out the
*CMDLINE: token completely.
Once you enter a game, you simply save the file to your briefcase
by clicking on the open file drawer. It will let you describe the file, and
give it a filename. The description is useful for distinguishing multiple
entries for the same type of game. For example, in Quake you might wish to
have 2 files in your briefcase...one for the server and one for connecting to
a server. The IPX Simulator will let you select which one you wish to run.
After you have stored the file in your briefcase you may give it to
other players by dragging it from your briefcase into the crystal ball in
the conference rooms. Other players may drag it to their own briefcase by
clicking on your name. Some editing of the definition file may be required
to get it to work since the drive letters may change from player to player
and the conference rooms reformat the text of the message when you drop it
in the crystal ball.
There is quickstart help on MPG-Net that can be accessed while in the
IPX Simulator Tavern through the Tool Bar. It may go into better detail on
setting up the definition files.
2.b. Tips
---------
If a game doesn't work, try setting up a PIF file for it. You can
do this simply by right clicking on a .exe file in Windows and dragging it
to a different position, release and select Create shortcut here. When you
specify the *EXECUTE line, simply type the name of the PIF file instead of
the .exe. This will allow you to modify settings such as memory, allow
detection of windows, and so forth.
Some games may claim that they do not work in Windows when you try
to run them. This is sometimes a lie. If a game claims that, try making a
PIF file and under Program/Advanced settings, tell it not to allow the program
to detect windows. In some case this will allow the game to run under windows,
and in other cases it may cause the game to crash. You may then set the
*EXECUTE line to use the PIF file instead of the .exe. PIF files are your
friend.
If you exit a game and leave the dos window, it is not necessary to
exit IPXSim in order to play the game (or a different game again). You can start
a new DOS window as you normally would and run the game again. IPXSim will remain
active and work with the new session However, if the game crashes, it is
recommended that you exit IPXSim back to the conference rooms and reenter. If a
game requires that you set "Don't Detect Windows" in a PIF file and you have not
created a game defition file for the game, you can close the DOS window that
starts when you launch IPX Sim and run your own dos windows with whatever
properties are necessary.
Once the DOS session has launched you can switch back to windows to see
the IPXSim window. It will show you who has launched the simulator and who is
still out. Be careful when switching if you are in graphics mode...some DOS
programs don't switch back to windows well. There are a few settings in the
IPXSim window that can be changed. These are RLE compression and Packet Loss. In
generally, the Packet loss slider is experimental and should be left along.
Changing it will cause the IPX Simulator to discard a number of packets to
reduce the bandwidth used. For some games this may work...for others which
mistakingly assume that IPX is a reliable protocol,this will fail.
If you switch off RLE compression, all clients should do so as well. It
is safe to leave it on. In the future there may be some games which will run
better with RLE switched off. Most PPP implementations handle compression as well
so it might be better served to let PPP handle it.
When you switch back to windows from dos, you will be able to maximize
the information window. This is a window that is minimized in the task bar when
IPXSim starts. It displays various information about how much data the program
has sent.
==================================
3. Games Tested with IPX Simulator
==================================
What follows is a list of games that have been tested and the status of
operation with the IPX Simulator. The ones marked with* have been tested
and work fully. Those with the ! are not working with the current version
of the simulator. (At this time 0702.12)
A sample definition file is given for each game. In all cases you should
edit the drive letter and path to reflect the actual installation location of
the game on your computer.
3.a. Quake (shareware) [*]
--------------------------
QuakeSW 0.92 works fairly well with the IPX Simulator. There is
a console command in quake "sys_ticrate 0.10" which may be used on the server
to reduce the number of packet sent. The Quake documentation states that this
will only work on a dedicated server, however it *seems* to have an effect
even when used on a normal server. Whether this is true or not is unknown.
You can get quake from: http://www.idsoftware.com/
A definition file for the server:
*GAMETYPE:QUAKE
*HOMEDIR:C:\QUAKE
*EXECUTE:C:\QUAKE\QUAKE.EXE
*CMDLINE:"-listen 8 +map e1m2"
A definition file for clients:
*GAMETYPE:QUAKE
*HOMEDIR:C:\QUAKE
*EXECUTE:C:\QUAKE\QUAKE.EXE
*CMDLINE:"+connect"
3.b. Duke Nuke'm 3d [*]
-----------------------
For Duke Nuke'm 3d you must have version 1.3 of the software. An
update is available from: http://www.3drealms.com/
Run the setup program and select IPX Network Game. Some people
have had problems running the game but this may be attributed to older
versions. If the game gets out of synch, then you may have to abort the
game. See the duke nukem readme file for more info.
*GAMETYPE:DUKENUKEM
*HOMEDIR:C:\DUKE3D
*EXECUTE:C:\DUKE3D\SETUP.EXE
3.c. Warcraft [*]
-----------------
Warcraft works with the IPX Simulator, however may run somewhat
slower than normal due to the manner in which information is sent in warcraft.
Go in and select "Start a New Game" and select "Network Game". The default
values for the Node is acceptible.
*GAMETYPE:WARCRAFT
*HOMEDIR:C:\WARCRAFT
*EXECUTE:C:\WARCRAFT\WAR.EXE
3.d. Warcraft II [*]
--------------------
Warcraft II runs very well under the IPX Simulator when used with
the Kali patch. (war2kali.exe) This patch as well as playable game demos are
available on the blizzard web site and ftp site at: http://www.blizzard.com/
and ftp://blizzard.com/
*GAMETYPE:WARCRAFTII
*HOMEDIR:C:\WAR2
*EXECUTE:C:\WAR2\WAR2KALI.EXE
or
*EXECUTE:C:\WAR2\WAR2.EXE
3.e. Virtual Pool [*]
---------------------
Virtual Pool is very playable through the IPX Simulator. Simply
enter the game and select "Game Setup" and choose "Network or Modem Player".
When you click ok, you will select either Transmit or Receive. 1 player must
transmit, while the other must receive. (decide this before you launch the
game!) You can get a demo at: http://www.interplay.com/
*GAMETYPE:VPOOL
*HOMEDIR:C:\VPOOL
*EXECUTE:C:\VPOOL\VPOOL.EXE
3.f. DOOM [*]
-------------
While DOOM works through the simulator, I can not recommend it for
slower internet connections (14.4 and below). The frame rate is tied to the
packets and these pass through all clients, so it can be dog slow.
If you must try, run setup and choose Network game.
*GAMETYPE:DOOM
*HOMEDIR:C:\DOOM
*EXECUTE:C:\DOOM\SETUP.EXE
3.g. DOOM II [*]
----------------
This is the same story as DOOM. It works, but can be very slow.
*GAMETYPE:DOOMII
*HOMEDIR:C:\DOOM2
*EXECUTE:C:\DOOM2\SETUP.EXE
3.h. Heretic [*]
----------------
This seems to be based on the same communications software as DOOM
and DOOM II. If you play this, have a fast modem.
*GAMETYPE:HERETIC
*HOMEDIR:C:\HERETIC
*EXECUTE:C:\HERETIC\SETUP.EXE
3.i. Hexen [*]
--------------
Same as above...
Doom, Doom II, Hexen, and Heretic shareware are available at
ftp://ftp.idsoftware.com/ and its mirror sites.
*GAMETYPE:HEXEN
*HOMEDIR:C:\HEXEN
*EXECUTE:C:\HEXEN\SETUP.EXE
3.j. Nascar Racing 1.21 [*]
---------------------------
Nascar Racing has a hidden feature that lets you play it across
an IPX Network. To use it you must type "-n:Opponent" on the command line
when running Nascar, where Opponent is the name of the opponent on MPG-Net.
You must have the Nascar Patch v1.21 which is available at their web
site: http://www.sierra.com/papy/home.html
First of all, Nascar racing claims that it does not run under
windows, however if you define a PIF file for it or run a DOS window
with the "Don't detect windows" option set under Program/Advanced in
the properties, it will work fine. If you create a PIF for the nascar.exe,
then you must supply the "-n:Opponent" as the command line to the
shortcut. In other words, nascar must be run as:nascar -n:opponent
To startup nascar racing you must know the name of the opponent
you have invited to a game. On MPG-Net, this is the name under the face
of the person you are inviting. They must also know your name.
Once nascar is launched, go to Multiplayer race and change the
Opponent User ID to the name of the other player you are looking for. Then
you simply select "Dial" and it will attempt to connect. It may be necessary
for 1 player to "Answer", while the other "Dials".
*GAMETYPE:NASCAR
*HOMEDIR:C:\NASCAR
*EXECUTE:C:\NASCAR\NASCAR.PIF
3.k. Rise of the Triad (!)
---------------------------
Rise of the Triad does not work with IPXSim as of version 0702.12.
Apparently the communication between the server and client on the same machine
causes problems.
3.l. Descent [*]
-----------------
Descent works well with the simulator (Descent II works even better).
Simply start a multiplayer game from the main menu.
*GAMETYPE:DESCENT
*HOMEDIR:C:\DESCENT
*EXECUTE:C:\DESCENT\DESCENT.EXE
3.m. Descent II [*]
-------------------
Whoever wrote descents multiplayer communication routines knew what
they were doing, because in Descent II they added support for setting the
number of packets per second. I recommend reducing this value to 5-8 range
for play over a 14.4 modem. This is definately a good choice to try.
You can get a demo at: http://www.pxsoftware.com/
*GAMETYPE:DESCENT2
*HOMEDIR:C:\DESCENT2
*EXECUTE:C:\DESCENT2\DESCENT2.EXE
3.n. Terminal Velocity [*]
--------------------------
I've been told this works, but haven't tried it myself. You might
look for this at: http://www.3drealms.com/
3.o. Command and Conquer [*]
-----------------------------
I've also been told that this works. You will have to see for
yourself. Check out its ftp site at http://www.westwood.com/
3.p. Speed Haste [*]
---------------------
Speed haste has been tried with IPXSim and works reasonably well.
*GAMETYPE:SPEEDHASTE
*HOMEDIR:C:\SPEED
*EXECUTE:C:\SPEED\speed.exe
3.q. NetBios Games (!)
----------------------
As of version 0702.12, Netbios games are not supported.According
to MPG-Net they will be supported in the very near future. (this includes
games like HI-Octane, SeaWolf, and Magic Carpet)
4. Credits
----------
If you know of a game not listed on this, please send mail to
ewtayl01@starbase.speed.louisville.edu or post information about
it in the MPG-Net IPX Simulator forum.
MPG-Net is a trademark of MPG-Net, Inc
IPXSim and the IPX Simulator are trademarks of Tantalus Software, Inc
and MPG-Net, Inc.
Quake, Doom I/II are trademarks of Id Software
Heretic/Hexen are trademarks of Raven Software
Descent I/II are trademarks of Parallax Software
Command and Conquer is a trademark of Westwood Studios
Rise of the Triad, Duke Nuke'em 3d, Terminal Velocity
are trademarks of 3d-Realms
Warcraft I/II are trademarks of Blizzard Entertainment
Nascar Racing is a trademark of Sierra and Papyrus Software
Virtual Pool is a trademark of Interplay/Celeris, Inc.
Speed Haste is a trademark of Noriaworks Entertainment and Javier Arevalo
This was taken from the FTP site for MPG-Net---
located at ftp://ftp.mpgn.com/MPG-Net/FAQs/IPX_faq.txt
