How is the average person supposed to play privately with friends?

[BassFace]

The server setup is heinously convoluted. Why can't I just make a server and invite my friend from Steam like literally any other game? I gifted this to a friend and we were both so thrilled until we ran into the huge let-down of discovering the multiplayer is basically broken unless we both join an existing server.

Seriously, what's the real way to enjoy this privately with friends? I must be missing something here...

[Purple44]

If forward some ports, can host your own in-game server. For most, they get it working, for others, you may run into issues.

PORT FORWARDING
Forwarding correct ports is an absolutely requirement for hosting a multiplayer game. If you have created a server yet there are no players joining it, chances are your router or firewall is incorrectly configured. In order to host multiplayer games over Steam your network must be configured to allow Steam access to the following ports:

UDP 27015
UDP 27016
UDP 33540
TCP 27015

After having been set up, your port configuration should look like this:

https://i.imgur.com/euPwXz6.jpg

The local IP needs be that of the computer acting as a host. You can find out the local IP by invoking a command prompt (press Windows + R, type "cmd" and press Enter), typing "ipconfig" and pressing Enter again. You'll see a bunch of information, but the line you want to look for is "IPv4 Address" - the number at the end of that line is your local IP address.

Also make sure that your firewall is configured to allow inbound and outbound communication of the server/game executable. Many office networks and proxies block required ports for Steam operation – please consult your network administrator to ensure the required ports are open if you are using an office network or a proxy.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/228380/discussions/0/613938693082657261/

[BassFace]

Thanks for trying to help. But after not even being able to find the same public rooms already available, he's refunded the game. The multiplayer is broken as far as I'm concerned. It shouldn't be this asinine to play with a friend.

[hawley.kevin]

Originally posted by BassFace:

Thanks for trying to help. But after not even being able to find the same public rooms already available, he's refunded the game. The multiplayer is broken as far as I'm concerned. It shouldn't be this asinine to play with a friend.

100% agree

[TripleSteal-]

Wreckfest is relatively unpopular (thus doesn't generate a significant cash inflow for the devs), so it doesn't have its own dedicated servers - those usually cost quite a bit. The game relies on players to host their own servers, and as a result you can't simply queue together for a password-locked match.

While some games feature server takeover option (e.g. Killing Floor), it comes with its own disadvantages that server hosts are not always happy with. As a result, it wasn't implemented in here.

As a side note, it's not overly difficult to find a suitable empty server to play together with your friends, only 10% of Wreckfest servers ars actually populated (http://wfservertracker.com).

[Spendy]

Originally posted by TripleSteal-:

Wreckfest is relatively unpopular (thus doesn't generate a significant cash inflow for the devs), so it doesn't have its own dedicated servers - those usually cost quite a bit. The game relies on players to host their own servers, and as a result you can't simply queue together for a password-locked match.

While some games feature server takeover option (e.g. Killing Floor), it comes with its own disadvantages that server hosts are not always happy with. As a result, it wasn't implemented in here.

As a side note, it's not overly difficult to find a suitable empty server to play together with your friends, only 10% of Wreckfest servers ars actually populated (http://wfservertracker.com).

There are official servers, in the server browser, there just isn't a matchmaking system

[TripleSteal-]

Originally posted by Spendy:

Originally posted by TripleSteal-:

Wreckfest is relatively unpopular (thus doesn't generate a significant cash inflow for the devs), so it doesn't have its own dedicated servers - those usually cost quite a bit. The game relies on players to host their own servers, and as a result you can't simply queue together for a password-locked match.

While some games feature server takeover option (e.g. Killing Floor), it comes with its own disadvantages that server hosts are not always happy with. As a result, it wasn't implemented in here.

As a side note, it's not overly difficult to find a suitable empty server to play together with your friends, only 10% of Wreckfest servers ars actually populated (http://wfservertracker.com).

There are official servers, in the server browser, there just isn't a matchmaking system

How are they named? All the servers I've been through looked like custom ones to me (albeit I admit I rarely browse through empty servers).

Please don't tell me Poop sock is actually a dev...

Upd. - found them in server tracker, indeed a bunch of completely dead servers. Could work with a MM system, but who's going to design it for several thousand people playing this game, especially given that most of them wouldn't use it anyways.

[Trauma Disaster]

what would it cost to make this right a weeks worth of the devs time? I don't understand why in planning for mm it wasn't discussed to make it as easy for the person who just got their first pc to play and need it easy as console. But I think this dev has been in financial issues most of it existence and it couldn't be pulled off.

[Purple44]

Flatout 2 and GRID 2008 use game servers. These servers cost money $$. Codemasters shut down the GRID 2008 game server after only 3 years and online was still going strong.

Flatout 2 online lasted 6 years before the plug got pulled on the Gamespy game server.

The advantage of Bugbear allowing players with PC version to set up their own dedicated servers is, ten years from now ( online been going since Oct 2014 ), there still will be Wreckfest online servers. :)

Also since most the dedicated servers are setup by players, we have a variety of server types. We got no rules, anything goes servers, semi-clean, no backwards\ no corning bombing servers and even a few clean servers that like to do racing leagues. And we got modded servers, so we get play some the great mods done for WF, online. :)

And Admins keep an eye on these servers.


If Bugbear had gone with the game server route again for PC Wreckfest, the WF online community would not have all these options available. We be just like the console versions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3fmzSuIBUM

[BassFace]

Originally posted by TripleSteal-:

Wreckfest is relatively unpopular (thus doesn't generate a significant cash inflow for the devs), so it doesn't have its own dedicated servers - those usually cost quite a bit. The game relies on players to host their own servers, and as a result you can't simply queue together for a password-locked match.

While some games feature server takeover option (e.g. Killing Floor), it comes with its own disadvantages that server hosts are not always happy with. As a result, it wasn't implemented in here.

As a side note, it's not overly difficult to find a suitable empty server to play together with your friends, only 10% of Wreckfest servers ars actually populated (http://wfservertracker.com).

What's the best way of trying to find a server we can both see? We had no luck finding relatively unpopulated servers. We could find ones like Poopsock's or whatever it is but it was difficult for us to both to join with how busy those servers were.

[Purple44]

Try using the Filter by PING, less 100 PING. will narrow the list of servers if looking to join an empty server. If OK with having some players, use the not empty server filter.

[TripleSteal-]

Originally posted by Purple44:

Try using the Filter by PING, less 100 PING. will narrow the list of servers if looking to join an empty server. If OK with having some players, use the not empty server filter.

Pretty much this.
I would also mention that you need to keep an eye on server configs if you want (or don't want ) something specific - be it car class limitation, modified damage (probably the most annoying feature for those who are not specifically looking for it) and so on. More often than not crucial server settings are mentioned in its name.

If someone else joins the served you chose, you can quickly vote them out (right click on his name in players's list, initiate votekick and have your friends type /votekick in chat). A little bit rude, but efficient.

[BassFace]

Originally posted by TripleSteal-:

Originally posted by Purple44:

Try using the Filter by PING, less 100 PING. will narrow the list of servers if looking to join an empty server. If OK with having some players, use the not empty server filter.

Pretty much this.
I would also mention that you need to keep an eye on server configs if you want (or don't want ) something specific - be it car class limitation, modified damage (probably the most annoying feature for those who are not specifically looking for it) and so on. More often than not crucial server settings are mentioned in its name.

If someone else joins the served you chose, you can quickly vote them out (right click on his name in players's list, initiate votekick and have your friends type /votekick in chat). A little bit rude, but efficient.

Doing this was among the first things we tried :( We tried finding the same server quite a few times being sorted by ping but we were sending each other screen shots just to prove we weren't going mad and missing something.

[Purple44]

You guys might check your Server Browser Ping setting? Can find Server Browser Ping setting here: Steam> Properties> In-game.

Some players find 3000 work better than 5000. I use the 5000 setting.

http://www.lay-zmattress.com/flatout2/purple44/Next%20Car%20Game%202020/server-browser-5000.jpg

If it set to only 250, could be why you guys seeing different server list?

[TOG | Tanlar]

when playing online we have one person pick a server, then all the others use the friends tab leads you right to your friends server

[TOG | Tanlar]

private server i use the wreckfest server mod, forward your ports and i use the lan tab to find my server then my friends use the friends tab....servers with mods must be restarted twice to make them go into effect