1 - DOSBox (XP/Vista, handle max 2 players because it's DOSBox)
OR
2 - Hamachi (up to 8 players, 98/XP only, needs PC with 32-bit CPU, eg. original P4)
1 DOSBox
Thanks to aabluedragon (creator of Dukonnector http://duke3d.vachu.com/) who is first person to setup Blood over internet via DOSBox successfully - and now his Dukonnector can help connect Blood players together.
Quick guide to DOSBox multiplayer, client type:
ipx=true
ipxnet connect <server's ip> 23513
(where 23513 is your chosen port and the server has to port forward /open this port on his router. Port number is optional, and the default is 213 for DOSBox (I think).)
The server types:
ipxnet startserver <port>
(if you don't specify a port, then 213 is used by default for DOSBox).
OR
2 Hamachi
I have tested this and it works, even behind a router/firewall.
My working setup:
- Hamachi version 1.0.2.5, or 1.0.3.0
- Hamachi settings default, but ensure you have:
-- System | (check) Do not use Universal Plug and Play
-- Security | (uncheck) Block vulnerable Microsoft Windows services
- In Network Connections install NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol
- In Hamachi Network IPX Properties (not your normal internet connection):
-- Internal network number: 00000000
-- Frame type: Ethernet II
-- Network number: 00000101
- In Hamachi Network TCP Properties (not your normal internet connection):
-- (tick) Obtain an IP address automatically
-- (tick) Obtain DNS Server address automatically
-----------------------------------------------------------
If you are interested in playing over the internet then please reply to this thread. It will be good to get 4 - 8 player games going on, on a weekly basis.
I will keep here an up-to-date list of players who submitted their MSN/YAHOO messenger usernames publicly:
aabluedragon@gmail.com (MSN)
denizsi@hotmail.com (MSN)
oleolaussen65@hotmail.com (MSN)
rogerhaarr@hotmail.com (MSN)
Just add them to your MSN/YAHOO messenger and hopefully you will have 3 Blood players for a 4 player deathmatch!!!
Also, this is an excellent alternative for Blood Buddies:
http://forums.transfusion-game.com/viewtopic.php?t=1149
* - Vista? only via DOSBox, which is really DOSBox platform rather than Vista itself.
Oh, I forgot to mention, to force DOS games to detect & use your XP IPX network card, you need to do either one of two ways.
After installing there's 2 ways to run with IPX:
1. Get VDMSound 2.1.0 from http://vogons.zetafleet.com/viewtopic.php?t=2071 & install it! Right-click (Blood's) Setup.exe and select "Run with VDMS". Setup custom configuration. Create new configuration from scratch. Click Advanced. Goto Compatibility tab. Enable low-level network support. Done! Thew! You only need to do those config steps once.
Just right-click Blood's setup.exe file and "Run with VDMS" and you should get the setup straight away now.
OPTIONAL FOR 1. Right-click C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe and do exacly the same as above (in step 1). Once finished, a cmd.vlp file will be created. Copy/move this to wherever you want (eg. Desktop). Double-click it to run (if not recognised, right-click it and "Run with VDMS". Click yes to the prompt. Now you have a working DOS prompt with working IPX! Now you can run any DOS games...
OR
(this method is if you don't care about sound and don't need sound)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/158214
Open up C:\Windows\system32\autoexec.nt file in notepad. Add
Code:
Code: Select all
lh %SystemRoot%\system32\nw16
lh %SystemRoot%\system32\vwipxspx
to the bottom of the file.