Multiplayer is a set of gametypes in SRB2 that allow play for more than one person. Multiplayer games are either played splitscreen on one computer, or over netgames, where one player hosts a game on a network using several computers, such as the Internet.
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Splitscreen games are games held on one computer, with the two player screens being split horizontally. A combination of keyboard controls for both players or gamepads are used for control. Splitscreen games include all the same game types that network games use.
Network games, often shortened netgames, are games that are played online with other people. They are set up by a host, with up to 31 other members joining the game. The host has full control of what level is being played, whether chatting to others is allowed, whether the game is paused or not, and so forth. He/she can also ban unwanted users. Most of the host's privileges can be lent to someone else in the netgame, either by using the VERIFY console command or having the member log in with the correct password.
A master server is a website or IP publicized on the Internet and primarily functions as a list of servers for players to join. Currently, the Official SRB2 Master Server hosted by Cue, Alam, and Logan at ms.srb2.org is the community's official master server. It serves as the main gateway for netplay, as it is the only public method of obtaining a list of running netgames. Through several information packages sent between the Master Server and running servers, in-depth information about all hosted netgames can be obtained from the Master Server website.
You can set your Master Server through the MASTERSERVER command, or by using the Options menu: Make sure you include the port (Standard is 28900) after the IP Address or Hostname, like so:
MASTERSERVER ms.srb2.org:28900
The Official SRB2 Master Server is divided into two separate "rooms" which serve different purposes. In the Standard Room, netgames using the official gametypes implemented into SRB2 are hosted. Servers that play the game in a different way than intended through the game, such as Roleplaying or Hangout, are hosted in the Casual Room. During the OLDC judging period, an additional OLDC room is open for contest judging netgames.
To join a netgame, there are four methods:
CONNECT <ip address> into the console. This method works in the same way the "Join Game (IP Address)" option does.
To host a netgame, there are several necessary procedures you must follow. First and foremost, you must have port 5029 UDP open. This website will explain how this works. Once this is done, hosting your game is simple. Just go to the "Multiplayer" option in SRB2, select "Host Server" option, and choose your settings. If you want to advertise your game on the Master Server, choose the "Yes" option on "Advertise on internet". This will allow people to search for your game and join it. If you want the game private, select "No" on the "Advertise on internet" option, and only people who know your IP address and that you are hosting can join. If you need to inform someone of your IP address and you don't know it, this site can help you.
Lag is any kind of delay. It occurs in SRB2 netgames among people far away from each other on the globe, but it can also happen when there's too much detail in the level.
CONSFAILPROTECT is set to enabled, is characterized by the character teleporting back to where they were after moving so they don't get a consistency failure. This can make a game impossible to play, but prevents player from being automatically kicked.
LISTSERV console command) a small amount of times quickly can sometimes clear up your own server's spike lag.
PING command to determine which players have an excessively high ping, and either ask them to leave or kick them.
A consistency failure, also called "c-fail", is an automatic action performed by the server if the other players' connections are sending improper data. The player sending the improper data will have it refreshed by the server, this can cause lag. People still get kicked for consistency failures, however. Usually when the client sends an illegal netvar command. The host can see who is being inconsistent by typing blamecfail 1. If these jam up your game without stopping, you can turn off consistency protection with consfailprotect 0. Don't forget to turn it back up afterwards.