Welcome
to Joe's GameNet Page.
GameNet is my home
network built around multiplayer gaming. It
started off as a small group of 4 or 5 extremely
obsolete PCs patched together to play networked Star
Craft and Doom and has steadily grown to become one of
my favorite hobbies.
BE WARNED: Once you get a gamenet
up and running you'll inevitably start adding games...
then hardware... then more games... Soon you'll see that: If you upgrade the video on
two of your five boxes they could all play game
"X"! Done! Wow! Hummm with the better video, if
they all just had 256 meg of RAM they
could all play game "Y"! Done! Wow! And now, if they all had game pads
they could play game "Z"! Done!
Wow! Etc...
Now with that warning out of the
way feel free to brows through what I've managed to
cobble together. Perhaps the info will inspire your own
game networking endeavors.
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Rules of thumb.
Comments on hardware are from
my own experience and may differ from the game's
stated requirements.
When XP is the OS, I turn off
all start up applications and lots of unneeded
services. I've found this makes a considerable
difference in reducing CPU and Memory hardware
requirements.
With the above in mind
I don't connect my game network to the
internet. This has pros and
cons, no need for firewalls, no spyware
& viruses but I do burn a lot of CDs/DVDs to
transport: games, patches, mods and maps to
GameNet and they do need to be scanned
first!
More RAM will
almost always help in: Win 2000, XP, Vista
In general the more you
exceed the graphics card requirement the more you can
fail the CPU requirement.
This is my first squad level RTS game. I found it on the software shelves at BigLots for $6.00 and what a deal it was! The game may be too hard for many in single player mode but multiplayer is awesome! The tried and true WWII atmosphere is spot on and just about everything is destructible if a big enough gun is brought to bear. Tanks finally act like tanks - In a hurry? drive straight through the heart of town. Through buildings... over trees and defenses, it's a real hoot! And the destruction is very well done. Once I experienced how much fun that was I just had to learn the game :)
Another great feature and a welcome change of pace, this game offers co-op multiplayer gaming against computer controlled forces.
You may need to download and install the latest patch to get multiplayer LAN to work correctly but that is a minor task.
All in all it's a great LAN game, and if you see it for $6.00 BUY IT!
A very addictive fully 3D space exploration & combat RTS game.
Gorgeous battle graphics and a scalable universe that lets you command your troops on whatever level you like, zoom in on a single unit slugging it out or effortlessly pull back and look at the entire galactic map for the big picture using just the scroll wheel. My only lament is that it's easiest to control your units at a level that denies you the cool looking eye candy of the battles. This however is a small nit as the game play is fun, smooth and stable, with nicely scalable difficulty and size features.
An instant classic.
Hardware
Minimum
Comments
CPU
P4
1.8ghz
A good video card will run it ok with even a
1.7
Video
128MB
RAM, DirectX 9.0 compatible (Radeon 9600 / GeForce FX 6600 and above)
If a picture is worth a 1000 words - here come a couple
hundred grand. The movie below is what BSM actually plays like. The footage is from in
game. Be warned however game play does lack sim like realism, this is largely made up for in
playability and drop dead gorgeous good looks. BSM is a fairly high end game, the requirements
are about right, and to get the best eye candy you'll want to run with a decent graphics card somewhere
near a 128mb ATI 9700 Pro or better. If this genera floats yer boat - download the multiplayer demo and kick the tires.
It's huge but gives you a real feel for the full game, it also let's you know if your hardware can run it.
All told, Battlestations: Midway is a fun game with an arcade feel (as opposed to a WWII Navel sim). I wouldn't
have thought I'd say this, but arcade works for this game. My biggest complaints are in replay value,
especially solo-play. After about 7 hrs the game was done. There is no random mission generator
and no scenario editor. What you get is it, and that's a crime because it's got a
great engine and could have easily been much more.
Oh well, thank the gods of network gaming for multiplayer!
This is a fun
game that really makes you feel like your controlling an 80
ton mech. Hits from powerful weapons will make even the
biggest Mechs sway convincingly and will actually knock a
small fry on it�s little metal touche. Hit visual effects are
also unusually good for a game of this vintage and the
degraded response of your machine is spot on.
It's been GameNet tested though a few GNet regulares have yet to score their first Mech kill...
It is a
7 years old game, but not hard on the eyes with
all its trimmings turned on, it must have brought PCs
of its day to their knees. Minimums specs are low but for
the good stuff you'll want better hardware especialy in the
graphic card area.
Hardware
Minimum
Comments
CPU
P2
300mhz
I'd recommend a P3
600mhz
Video
8mb
I'd recommend at least
a 32mb class video
card
RAM
96mb
I'd recommend 256mb &
XP
HD
About 500mb
Notes: - You can
pick this up cheap off Amazon Price < $10.00 - CD only initially needed for
Multiplay.
GameNet
finally has a flight sim! Well... Kinda... I
didn't know it then but I've wanted this game since I was
about 15. That's right LOOOORD Vader,
watch your back... Punk!
If you're looking for a Star Wars
adrenalin fix, X-Wing Alliance is about as good as it gets, it
was the last (and in my opinion best) in Lucas Arts: X-Wing,
X-Wing vs Tie Fighter series. The 3D graphics and effects
with video setting on max are surprisingly good for
a 7 year old game and if you can find it, it's going cheap.
Hardware
Minimum
Comments
CPU
P 200mhz
I'd recommend a P3
600mhz
Video
2mb
VGA
>= 32mb with 3D
acceleration
RAM
32mb
>=
128mb
HD
About 300mb
Notes: - Game Pads or Joysticks
are required for play. - CD
needed in each PC for play. For
graphics that even begin to approach the pics below with
smooth game play you'll want the much stronger
hardware.
This was a
fortuitous find.
I stumbled onto this MP Demo while looking for info on a
good Western game or mod (I'm still looking... And please, don't even
get me started on Call of Juarez). I can't describe it other then
Halo with Mechs. You're heavily protected in robotic armor.
You can power jump like a Mech, giving limited flight (It's a
real hoot) and the numerous weapons are all quite
different and satisfying to use. There are also ground/air
vehicles and gun emplacements to try on for
size. Movement on all three axis (both you and your
targets) can make for intense running gun battles.
Definitely worth the drive space.
This is a
fantastic Freebee. FEAR Combat Is BIG, BAD, and a GameNeter's
dream come true but grab a good PC cause it needs some
horse power to really shine.
Hardware
Minimum
Comments
CPU
P4
1.7ghz
Video
64mb
T&L and pixel
shader
I'd recommend
a better 128mb class video
card
RAM
512mb
HD
About 2gb
Notes: - Free! - CD not needed for play. - Unless you have a 3ghz box with ATI
X800 256mb class video (or better), your screens will probably
look nothing like the ones
below.
A real time
strategy game. This is my favorite Microsoft "Age of ..."
game, the Gold edition contains both "Age of Mythology" and
the add on "The Titans".
True Combat Elite is a modern world total
conversion modification of the free, popular, stand-alone FPS:
"Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory". The old Quake 3 engine must be
tweaked to the max as the maps look more like those from
F.E.A.R. then ET, with high resolution support and map designs
and textures that are incredibly detailed. This game is
definitely worth a download.
Hardware
Minimum
Comments
CPU
P3 500mhz
Better on P3 1ghz or
faster
Video
32mb
with 3D
Better
with a 128mb class card
with T&L support
RAM
128
HD
About 470mb
Add another 260mb For
ET
Notes: - Free! - CD not
needed for play. - Requires
installed: "Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory". - A passage from the TC:E site regarding
requirements:
"In comparison to ET, TC:E doubles
the standard texture resolution to 512*512 pixels. In
addition, the maps will have 6000-8000 polys on average
and 12000-15000 polys max. This does mean that people
that have state-of-the-art hardware can actually use its
power. However, the ET/Q3 engine is so scalable that
low-end users don't have to suffer. TC:E is developed to
still run on 32MB-Geforce256 and mobile 16MB-Geforce2Go
systems."
Click a
thumbnail below to see a full sized picture. I took these from
my box, a lowly P4 1.5ghz and was amazed at the quality of the
images and the fluidity of movement.
A
Multi-player racing sim that does for street stocks what
COD2 did for war... Puts the fun back in! Realism where
it's needed draws you in, with none of the unwanted
nasty aspects. Click the image at right to see a
post race replay of one of my better runs. It'll give you some idea of the fun
factor. In the video I'm in the little gray crapbox #55,
driving erratically and cutting corners.
This may take a while to load and
if you're on dial-up Forgetaboutit! P.S. The soundtrack is in-game,
it's got some great driving tunes.
Ok - I don't need to sell
anyone on these two! Hats off to the designers & coders,
these are by far the most popular titles on GameNet.
COD
Hardware
Minimum
Comments
CPU
P3 600mhz
Video
32mb T&L and pixel
shader
I'd
recommend 64mb
RAM
128mb
384mb
is smoother
HD
About 1.5gb
COD 2
Hardware
Minimum
Comments
CPU
P4
1.4ghz
I've run this game on a 933mhz P3 with 512mb ram and a lowly 128mb GForceFX5200 (in DX7 mode) with detail and resolution toned way down and
forget about anti-aliasing...
Video
64mb
T&L and pixel
shader
RAM
256mb
384mb
is smoother
HD
About 4gb
Notes: - CD not
needed for Multiplayer mode. - While
both games can run with relatively low-level hardware, they
can't do it in style. With all the bells and whistles turned
on these games need good machines, but the difference in
appearance is dramatic.
America's free
army FPS. Modern battle & weapons with a some-what dated
Unreal engine. This is version 1.3 and I believe it's the last
version you could run the game server on and not have an
internet connection for server validation.
I'm having a
hard time finding any hardware info for V1.3 so the below is a
total WAG.
Hardware
Minimum
Comments
CPU
P3
700mhz?
I know it
runs well with a 933mhz
P3
Video
32mb 3D
accelerator?
I know it runs with
64mb video with
T&L
RAM
128?
HD
About 350mb
Notes: - Free! - CD not needed for
play.
Click a thumbnail below for a full sized
screen
shot.
Another free
FPS, this one running on the veteran Quake3 engine. The map
designs are great with very few dead ends, excellent flow and
beautifully rendered. Some features are lacking that have
become expected in newer games such as: Right mouse for weapon
aim and CTF game play but Enemy Territory is still fun to play
with it's unique character types of: Soldier, Medic, Engineer,
Field Ops, and Covert Ops and generally excellent design, plus
the price is killer.
Hardware
Minimum
Comments
CPU
P3
600mhz
P2 400mhz with 128mb
class video may work
acceptably
Video
32mb 3D
accelerator
RAM
128
HD
About 260mb
Notes: - Free! - CD not needed for
play.
Have a look at the screen shots below,
click a thumbnail for a full sized
picture.
A Role playing
D&D adventure game. Here's another GameNet title that's been round a long time, but's still a virgin.
Some day my precious....
Hardware
Minimum
Comments
CPU
P2
333mhz
If you can use a P3
600mhz
Video
8mb 3D
accelerator
32mb
T&L
RAM
128mb
HD
About 1gb
Notes: - CD
needed in each PC for play. This game
just looks and plays better with stronger hardware but you can
play with the minimum with reduced
settings.
To most of you
this game needs no introduction. It wasn't the first RTS but
after 8! years, it's still one of the best. Take a look at
those hardware requirements, you can see how a
GameNet could get started with this game :)
Hardware
Minimum
CPU
P
90mhz
Video
SVGA
RAM
16mb
HD
About 200mb? May be considerably
less for spawned clients
Notes: - CD only
needed in game server if clients are Spawn
installs.
Another RTS
game. This should almost be in the new arrivals as I've never
played it other then to set it up. Graphics look great and
playability seems excellent.
Notes: - CD
not needed for Multiplayer
mode
GameNet
11-04-2006
11-03-2007
The
Players
Ranked by order of appearance (On this planet)
Colonel John
Major (Byrd) Dickinson
Captain Clement
Captain JC
Lieutenant Rob
Lieutenant Durgesh
Lieutenant Jack
Unknown Soldier Chris (Ok, so he's not totally unknown)
