Steam And Lans
Arachno
Join Date: 2003-02-02 Member: 13029Members
Join Date: 2003-02-02 Member: 13029Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Can I host a lan server of ns3?</div> I expect this has probably been asked before, but I can't search for 'LAN' on the board because its under 4 letters <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I'm about to go to a lanparty with no internet connection present, and I've read I can't play cs1.6 because of steam.
However I read the sticky on this board about lan servers, saying its possible with ns. Is there any way to install ns3 without an internet connection (i.e. without steam) because not everybody will have ns or steam installed (I'm assuming steam has to have an internet connection to install). Would copying directorys work as it has in the past, or does everything have to be registered nowadays?
I must say whilst I realise and appreciate HL mods are free, steam makes everything bloody awkward for a small scale lanparty ; <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
We'd like to play some of the great HL mods still going strong, but steam has just pushed us further and further into the bf1942 camp.
I'm about to go to a lanparty with no internet connection present, and I've read I can't play cs1.6 because of steam.
However I read the sticky on this board about lan servers, saying its possible with ns. Is there any way to install ns3 without an internet connection (i.e. without steam) because not everybody will have ns or steam installed (I'm assuming steam has to have an internet connection to install). Would copying directorys work as it has in the past, or does everything have to be registered nowadays?
I must say whilst I realise and appreciate HL mods are free, steam makes everything bloody awkward for a small scale lanparty ; <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
We'd like to play some of the great HL mods still going strong, but steam has just pushed us further and further into the bf1942 camp.
Comments
The 6page NS 3.0 on WON thread wasn't any help. It turned into a 'steam debate' rather than a 'how to' thread.
edit: this thread up top didn't turn up in the search
<a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=40285' target='_blank'>http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/in...showtopic=40285</a>
edit2: that was no help either.
The problem is that copying a whole directory has (in the experience of my LAN party buddies and me) been the best and/or only way of making sure everyone has the same version of everything with the same addons, plugins, and various other garbage people insist on stuffing in their HL directory.
Also, broadband is expensive or nonexistent for most of us (not available. No broadband. None. 28.8K only.) so if anyone has to update to get current with anyone else, it's going to take freakin' hours.
1) If your event is big you can email cafe@valvesoftware.com and possibly arrange for a limited content server although you likely still need an internet connection. I'm trying this now and if I get more info I'll post it to you
2) There's a fix for CS 1.6 that allows you to run it offline, search for it online I can't really link to it :/
3) NS 3.0 is pretty much a no-go on lan without somehow getting it working outside of steam. I've heard this is possible but it sounds like a PITA.
4) The server works fine on lans, the problem is the clients are forced to connect to steam upon loading and basically freeze without an internet connection.
How without internet are you? At a recent lan I arrange to bridge a wireless connection that was available in the area (I bet you can do something similar with just the internet connection sharing wizard on win2000/xp if you're not network saavy). After some haggling I got the 100 kbit up/ 250 kbit down I needed to have everything run smoothly. I slapped the people who didn't update steam before coming (there was a steam update that day OF COURSE) and just copied files straight over from computer to computer. Of course everyone ended up playing War3 all night although we did get a couple games of NS, CS and etc in.
I'll post when I hear back from valve, but in a nutshell steam screwed small lans. :/
Internet is pretty much totally out for our Lan unfortunately - its only 20 odd people (called TRFG - we did an NS only LAN when v1 was released, which was great <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> ). For one its stuck out in the countryside (UK) and the nearest building isn't for half a mile away, and for two I don't think the hall owners would appreciate us racking up a huge phone bill even for 56k access.
I'll have a search for those patches. I know its the grey side of the law, but steam has forced me into it <!--emo&::marine::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/marine.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='marine.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
There will be a number of significant Steam events in the coming days.
The first will be a long-awaited Steam client release. The highlights from this release will be:
<b>Offline Play</b>
Account validation (via e-mail)
A new Half-Life 2 hardware survey
Support for purchasing games through Steam
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
So just wait a few days, then update your steam at home and have fun playing in the lan without an inet connection <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
There will be a number of significant Steam events in the coming days.
The first will be a long-awaited Steam client release. The highlights from this release will be:
<b>Offline Play</b>
Account validation (via e-mail)
A new Half-Life 2 hardware survey
Support for purchasing games through Steam
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
So just wait a few days, then update your steam at home and have fun playing in the lan without an inet connection <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
EDIT:
Sorry for doublepost <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Copying the nsp folder to the lan cs1.6 doesn't work (keeps asking to run in software mode), but I'll be damned, simply copying nsp to the original Half-Life directory works perfectly! <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Coris, thankyou, you are a genius, and I'm a dumb fool for not trying that before (I assumed ns3 had to work with steam since you need steam to install the thing!).
NB The offline play announcement, though good news, is too late for this weekends LAN. As soon as its implemented though, all my quarrels with steam will be dropped <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->