Playing the Multi-Player Games Online

The best (fastest) way to initiate a Multi-Player Connection is from the AutoPlay screen that appears when you put the Shanghai: Dynasty CD into your CD-ROM drive or by clicking the Dynasty Online icon in the Start menu (note that in either case, the CD must be in your CD-ROM drive). You can also start Shanghai: Dynasty and click the Multi-Player Connect button on the Title screen, or select the Multi- Player Connect option from the Games menu - but these methods of initiating a Multi- Player Connection take more time since the game must launch the multiplayer component and close the Shanghai: Dynasty program.

After launching the multiplayer component, you will be presented with a list of connection methods.

Internet
If you have an Internet connection, you can connect to Activision's game server and find other people to play Shanghai: Dynasty with.

LAN (IPX)
To play against other people on your Local Area Network, choose this method.

Modem
Choose this method if you want to dial a friend's computer or if a friend is going to dial your computer directly.

Null Modem
Choose this method if your friend's computer is connected to yours with a null modem cable. Each of the above methods allows you to join or create a game.

Quick Start

- Select a transport (connection) type from the list (e.g., Internet or IPX).
- Click New, then type a character name and click Create.
- Select the Next button to enter the Chat area.
- Press Enter to send messages.
- To join a game, click Games on the left side of the screen. Select a game from the list then click Join. If the game is locked you will have to enter the correct password.
- To create a game, select Games on the left side of the screen. Then select Create.
- Set your game options, and wait for other human players to join your game or Add computer players (you can set their difficulty by right-clicking on the icon by their names). It's a good idea to chat with the other human players until the connection stabilizes. Then click Launch to start your multiplayer game.

For further information, select the ? icon after launching the multiplayer component or select Technical Help from the Start menu.

Be nice to others and others will be nice to you. Vulgar language and harsh words will not win you any friends (and may get you kicked out of the game server).

Use the Shift key to start sentences and names with capital letters, typing mostly in lower-case letters (the way you see it here on the screen). Typing in all upper- case letters is considered "shouting." And (t.s. eliot aside) typing in all lower- case letters is considered strange.

Dynasty can be played by a maximum of five players. The player with the crown is the Host (the player who created the game). The other players can be any combination of human and A.I. players. All human players' names automatically appear when those players have joined the game; all A.I. players (as defined by the Host) are simply called "A.I. #3" or "A.I. #4," etc.

As Host, you can select whether Power Tiles will be used or not, and you can select the Dynasty layout upon which the game will be played. You can select a layout supplied with Shanghai: Dynasty, or a custom Shanghai layout which you have created or acquired by clicking the Browse button and selecting the custom layout file from your hard drive. (The other players do not have to have that custom layout on their hard drives - the game will provide the layout and the arrangement of the tiles to the other players. Note: after the game is done, the custom layout will not be present on other players' hard drives, if it was not present before the game.)

Playing Dynasty Online
When playing Dynasty online (against other people over the Internet, modem, or Local Area Network), you will see a few differences from when you play Dynasty offline. For example, you don't have to go through the Title screen before you play. And many menu items which were available when playing offline are no longer available when playing online. Only the Host is allowed to start a new game or change the layout.

When Power Tiles are used online, your game is not necessarily over when you hit a No More Moves situation - since there are real people playing (not just artificial beings inside your computer), somebody cares who wins - and somebody might get a Power Tile which gives you another chance to continue playing. So if you see the No More Moves box, hang in there - you still have a chance!

The player who clears his layout first is declared the winner of the round. The first player to win two rounds wins the game. There is no Wall of Fame when playing online.

All players can be playing with their favorite tile sets - the game does not care if Player 1 is using the Mah-Jongg tiles, and Player 2 is using the Fantasy tiles, and Player 3 is using a custom tile set, for example. It is strongly recommended that you only use a tile set which is installed on your hard drive; playing online with a tile set which requires frequent accessing of the CD will likely cause delays while playing.

If any player's computer is disconnected (intentionally or accidentally) from the game during play, that player is automatically out of the game. His/her layout is marked as though it had reached a "No More Moves" situation, and s/he is ineligible for a win.

Pandamonium online can be played by a maximum of five players. The player with the crown is the Host (the player who created the game). The other players can be any combination of human and A.I. players. All human players' names automatically appear when those players have joined the game; all A.I. players (as defined by the Host) are simply called "A.I. #3" or "A.I. #4," etc.

As Host, you can select the Shanghai layout upon which the game will be played. You can select a layout supplied with Shanghai: Dynasty, or a custom Shanghai layout which you have created or acquired by clicking the Browse button and selecting the custom layout file from your hard drive. (The other players do not have to have that custom layout on their hard drives - the game will provide the layout (and the arrangement of the tiles) to the other players. Note: after the game is done, the custom layout will not be present on other players' hard drives, if it was not present before the game.)

Playing Pandamonium Online
When playing Pandamonium online (against other people over the Internet, modem, or Local Area Network), you will see a few differences from when you play Pandamonium offline. For example, you don't have to go through the Title screen before you play. And many menu items which were available when playing offline are no longer available when playing online. Only the Host is allowed to start a new game or change the layout.

When a No More Moves situation occurs (as it is bound to do, with so many people playing simultaneously on one layout), the game automatically shuffles the tiles. The game ends when all the tiles are gone or the game is unplayable. The winner is the player who removed the most tiles. In the case of a Draw Game, you'll just have to play again (and ain't that just a shame)!

All players can be playing with their favorite tile sets - the game does not care if Player 1 is using the Mah-Jongg tiles, and Player 2 is using the Fantasy tiles, and Player 3 is using a custom tile set, for example.

If any player's computer is disconnected (intentionally or accidentally) from the game during play, that player is automatically out of the game. His/her tile count ceases being added to, and s/he is ineligible for a win.

Mah-Jongg requires four players. If you cannot find three other people to play with, the computer will fill in the remaining seats with A.I. players. All human players' names automatically appear when those players have joined the game; A.I. players are simply called "A.I. #3" or "A.I. #4," as appropriate. As Host, make sure you select Chinese or Western, and make sure you set up the game options the way you and your friends want to play.