TCP/IP Host Window

Description

| This window controls the TCP/IP communication between the host and the players. The person hosting the game uses this window as the basis of their communication with all of the players. |

How to get here

| The TCP/IP Host window is launched when a game is setup as a TCP\IP Host game. In the Game Setup - Mechanics Window, if the user selects a play style of different machines, and a turn style of Simultaneous Movement, then the Connection Type selection will become enabled. If the user chooses a connection type of TCP/IP Host, and presses the Begin Game button, the TCP/IP Host window will be displayed to manage the game. NOTE: The host of a TCP/IP game should make all game setup selections in the Game Setup window before pressing the Begin Game button. The only section that does not have to be completed is that no players need be added to the game. Those players will connect in to the game using the TCP/IP Host window.

Another method to reach this window is to load a saved game that was a TCP/IP Host game. When the game is loaded, a window will ask you if you wish to continue the game as the TCP/IP Host. If you say yes, then the TCP/IP Host window will be displayed. Players will be allowed to connect to the game as normal, but once they connect, the game turn file will be sent to them and they will begin taking their turns again.

Controls

| Player List | This list displays all of the players in the current game. As the players connect in to the host, the player's name will be displayed in the list, along with their current status ("Connected", "Empire File Received", "Order File Received"). Once the empire file has been received from the player, the player's empire name and email address will be displayed. Since all players in the game are displayed in this list, players under computer control will be listed with a player name of "[Computer]". If the host has added an empire for the host to player, its player name will be listed as "[Host]".
| IP Address | This displays the valid IP Addresses for the host. Players can use any of these addresses to connect to the host with. Each address designates a unique location on the internet (or intranet) that can be connected to. It is best if all of the players use the same address when they connect to the host.
| Status Display | This area displays the current status of communications. Different text messages will indicate what communication is currently taking place, or what action is required by the host.
|  | "Waiting for players to connect..." - When a game is first started, the host waits for the various players to connect. Once all of the players have connected, or the host wants to just begin the game, he should press the Begin Game button.
|  | "Sending game setup file to players..." - Once the Begin Game button has been pressed, the game setup file will be sent to all of the players.
|  | "Waiting for players to send empire files..." - Once the players have received the game setup file, they will create or add their empire to the game. Their empire file will then be sent in to the host. Once the host receives all of the empire files, he can generate the first turn.
|  | "Ready to generate first turn..." - When all of the players have sent in their empire files to the host, the host can generate the first turn. The host should press the Process Turn button to do this.
|  | "Generating first game turn..." - As the host is generating the first turn, a progress bar will be displayed.
|  | "Sending turn file to players..." - When the first turn has been generated, it is automatically sent out to all of the players.
|  | "Waiting for players to send order files..." - After the turn file has been sent to all of the players, they will take their turns and generate order files. These files are then sent in to the host.
|  | "Ready to generate turn..." - Once all of the order files have been sent in to the host, the host can generate the next turn by pressing the Process Turn button.
|  | "Generating game turn..." - As the host is generating the game turn, a progress bar is displayed. When this has finished the host will send the turn file to the players.
| Chat Message List | This list is normally hidden until the Chat button is pressed. The list displays the chat messages sent by all of the players (including the host himself).
| Send Message | This box allows the host to enter chat messages. Once a message has been entered and the host presses enter, that message will be displayed in the Chat Message List, and will be sent to all of the players.

Buttons

| Begin Game | This button should be pressed by the host after all of the players have connected in. When the host does press this button, only the currently connected players will be participating in the game. Beginning the game will send the game setup file to all of the players.
| Process Turn | When all of the order files from the players have been received, the host presses this button to process the turn. The host can choose to process the turn even if all of the player order files have not been received. In this case, the computer will play the turn of the empire. A progress bar will be displayed showing the progress of the turn generation. Once it is complete, the new turn file will be sent to all of the players.
| Add Empire | After players have connected, the host can choose to add more empires to the game. When the game is created random empires and random neutral empires will be added if those options have been selected in the game setup. This button allows the host to add an empire to the game for the host to play himself. Once the empire has been added, it will be designated as [Host].
| Remove Empire | After players have connected, the host can choose to remove any of the empires that are present in the game. Once the game has been started, selecting Remove Empire will allow you to change an empire from human to computer control.
| Play Turn | When the game turn has been sent out to the players, this button allows the host to play the turn of any empire he wishes. This is usually done if the host is specifically playing an empire, but can be used to play any empire's turn.
| Chat | This button will show or hide the Chat Message List and the Send Message editbox. These are used to send chat messages to the other players in the game. Pressing this button while they are visible will cause them to be hidden and the Player List will be redisplayed.
| Minimize Game | Pressing this button will minimize the game on the Windows desktop.
| Quit Game | This button will quit the game in progress. The last game turn will still be save under the game named specified in the game setup. So the host does not need to specifically save a game. He just quits the game, which will leave the game saved at the last processed turn. Then the host just reloads the game when the players wish to resume.

Special Notes

| None |

Related Areas

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