Playing Deathmatch

I have had many requests for information on how to play Doom2 on the internet. If you want some of my personal opinions about the best way to play and how to start a simple modem game, keep reading.

1. I will be honest in saying that I have never played deathmatch with more than one other person. The best i have done is played against freinds using a computer, a modem, and a phone line. I think that this is by far the best way to start out, unless you have a network (which I obviously don't have). It is pretty simple to use, and I like it because:-
• You know who you are playing so it can be alot more fun.
• If something goes wrong, you can contact them easily to work out what the problem is.
• It is cheaper (local telephone call), than internet connection (ISP fees and possibly game server fees).
• I am assuming it would be better game play, because it is only two people connected with a direct phoneline, instead of you playing three others on the other side of the world with shonky internet connections losing bits of data and slowing the whole thing down.



2. There are a couple of ways to start a modem game. One is to go through the setup program that comes with Doom2, and the other is to get a seperate program called a 'front end', that replaces the setup and lets you do lots more. (I am using Doom2 1.666 so other versions contain different setups I think).
• Setup. Organise a time that you and a friend will play each other. Nominate who will make the phone call and who will wait for the call. Both go into the Doom2 directory and type setup. The setup program will open so select Run Network/Modem/Serial Game. Select Chose your modem, and chose the modem that you have. If yours isn't in the list, try one of the Generic ones or one that is similar in speed. (You only have to select the modem once. It will be saved for use in future games). Select Modem or whatever other form of game you are playing. For modem, the modem configuration window should open. Select the skill level, the type of play (Deathmatch or Co-op), the modem port and finally if you are going to make the call or if you are waiting. If you are the caller, enter the phone number of your friend in the box and you're ready to go. Both people need to then hit F10 to start the game. A dos window will appear with some numbers and you're modem should make a bit of noise. The person who is waiting should do all this a bit before the caller to avoid the caller making the call before the waiter is ready. The callers modem should ring the waiters modem and the game will start up. Then you kill each other.
• Front End. I use the front end program by the name of UltraLaunch. It has heaps of extra features, the most important being that it allows you to use custom levels. Other good things that UltraLaunch can do are putting a time limit on the play for each level, preview maps of the levels, save play statistics like total elapsed play time for each levels, and UltraLaunch can even keep extra wads zipped up and then unzip them when you want to play them. Basically the approach to front ends is the same, you enter the details and it will make the connection between the two computers. I recommend getting one. The Links Page should point you in the right direction of UltraLaunch.



3. Playing over the Internet can be very complicated. But with the right equiptment, it can become really simple. Zdoom is the greatest thing that I have found on the net. For this reason I have dedicated a whole page to it. Go here.

So there you have it. If you still need more information, I suggest you don't e-mail me becasue I don't really know much else apart from what is written above. I hope it has been helpfull though.

Teleport back the Dr Deathmatch's main page.

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