TCP/IP Games

Description

| TCP/IP is a protocol used on the internet (and intranets) to govern communication between different computers. When you play a Simultaneous Turn game in Space Empires IV, you have the choice of whether you want to move the files yourself or use TCP/IP to move the files automatically. For complete details on how a Simultaneous game works, you should read the chapter on Simultaneous Games. When you setup a game in the Game Setup - Mechanics Window you will choose the Connection Type. This indicates if you will be moving the files manually or you'll be using TCP/IP to move them.

Now there are pros and cons to each of the different methods of moving files. When you use TCP/IP, all of the players (people playing the game) and the host (person who sets up the game and manages it) must be online at the same time. This means that they must have an active internet connection (or a connection to an intranet). For the game to progress, all players must remain online at the same time. If you move the files yourself, the players do not need to be connected in any way. For example, the host could email the game files to all of the players, and then they could take their turn whenever the wished. Later, the players would email the orders file back to the host who would process the next turn. Normally, TCP/IP is used for players who wish to have a quick game, and manual file moving is used for player who wish to have a long drawn out game.

In a TCP/IP game, the host is the central hub of the game. He creates the game, manages it, and controls its play. The basic routine of play is that the host will generate a turn, that game turn file will be sent to each of the players (automatically using TCP/IP), each player will take his turn (and this will generate an order file), the order file will be sent to the host, and the host will generate the next turn.

Basic Elements

| Player | Each individual who controls an empire within the game. Each player will connect in to the Host over an internet connection and will play turns of the game. The main interface for a Player in a TCP/IP game is the TCP/IP Player Window.
| Host | The central computer where the turns are processed. The Host can be a player as well in the game. The Host is the person who creates the game and has the game master password. The main interface for a Host in a TCP/IP game is the TCP/IP Host Window.
| Game Setup File | When the Host begins a game, the settings he chooses for the game are saved into a Game Setup File. When the players connect to the Host, they will receive this file. This file contains settings such as the maximum number of racial points and empire can spend, how many solar systems there are, etc. When a player creates his empire (or loads it), it is restricted by the settings in the Game Setup File.
| Empire File | Once players receive the Game Setup File from the Host, they will need to create their empire for the game. They do this in the Game Setup - Players Window. They can either create a new empire, or load an existing empire. When they have finished, the empire will be saved into an Empire File, and this file will be sent automatically to the Host.
| Game Turn File | When the Host processes a turn, a Game Turn File is created. This file is then sent to all of the players in the game. Once a player receives this file, they can take their turn. (Note: There are actually several files which make up the game turn file).
| Orders File | When a player takes their turn, they are giving orders to their ships and planets. When they finish their turn, all of these orders are saved in an Orders File. This file is then sent to the Host to be included in the next game processing.
| IP Address | Every machine that has an active internet connection has a unique address called an IP Address. When Players are connecting in to the host, they need to enter the IP Address of the host so that TCP/IP can find them. The current IP Address of the host is displayed on the TCP/IP Host Window.
| Chat | While a game is in progress, all of the players can talk amongst themselves using Chat. This is a central message system that allows players to send messages which are displayed to all of the other players. If a player has finished his turn and is waiting for the other players to finish, he can use Chat to communicate with the other players or the host.

Sequence Of Events

| Host creates game | This Host starts Space Empires IV and selects New Game. He then sets all of the game settings that should pertain to this game and does not add any empires. He then goes to the Game Setup - Mechanics Window and selects Different Machines, Simultaneous Movement, and TCP/IP Host. He also enters a game name for this Multiplayer game. He presses Begin Game. The TCP/IP Host Window is displayed. The Host waits for the players to connect.
| Players start game | Each of the Players starts Space Empires IV and selects New Game. They immediately go to the Game Setup - Mechanics Window and select Different Machines, Simultaneous Movement, and TCP/IP Player. They press Begin Game and the TCP/IP Player Window is displayed. They enter the IP address of the host, their player name, and press the Connect To Host button.
| Players connect to Host | The host will see the players added to the Players List on the TCP/IP Host Window. Once all of the players have connected, he presses the Begin Game button.
| Host sends Game Setup File to Players | The Game Setup File is automatically sent to each of the Players.
| Players create their Empires | Once the Game Setup file has been received by the Player, they should press the Create Empire button. The Game Setup - Players Window will be displayed to allow them to add their empire to the game. They finish by pressing the Begin Game button.
| Players send their Empire Files to the Host | Each Player's empire file is sent to the Host.
| Host generates the first turn | Once all of the Player's empire files have been received by the host (as indicated on the Player List), the Host presses the Process Turn button.
| Host sends Game Turn File to Players | When processing of the turn is complete, the Game Turn File will automatically be sent to each of the Players.
| Players take their turn | The Players receive the Game Turn File and then press the Play Turn button. This will display the Main Window for them to take their turn. When they are finished they press the End Turn button.
| Players send Orders File to Host | The Player's Orders File is sent automatically to the Host.
| Host generates the next turn | The Host receives all of the Player's Orders File and then presses the Process Turn button. This process continues with the "Host sends Game Turn File to Players" step.

Saving a game in progress

| If, at some time, the players agree to stop the game and continue it again later, the Host can select Quit Game. Since the Game Turn File is saved each time it is processed, the Host does not need to explicitly save the game. |

Loading a previous TCP/IP game

| When the host and players wish to continue a saved TCP/IP game, the Host needs to start Space Empires IV and select Load Game. After selecting the savegame from the list, he will be asked if he wishes to continue the game as a TCP/IP Host. If he selects Yes, then the TCP/IP Host Window will be displayed. Players should start their game as they normally would for a TCP/IP game, and then connect in to the Host. The Host will automatically send them the current Game Turn File, at which point the Players can take their next turn. After that, the routine is the same as described above. |

Special Notes

| None |

Related Areas

| TCP/IP Player Window, TCP/IP Host Window, Simultaneous Games, Game Setup - Mechanics Window |