Playing via LAN

[spec24]

I thought this game could be played via LAN (except for classic). Is that not true?

[Concordion2k]

There is indeed a LAN option when you select "Multiplayer Beta" in the Homeworld Remastered launcher.

[spec24]

Multiplayer is not working right now. I have had a hard time finding a definitive answer to this. Some have said it's there, no problems, but I've also seen people saying that even though there's LAN you still have to be Online - in other words no offline LAN, like Men of War or a lot of other games. Which is it?

[botman]

The LAN option does require you to have an internet connection since it relies on connection and authenticating with SHiFT (which requires that Steam be running and online, so Steam can't be in Offline mode).

[spec24]

Sorry to hear that. Had to return the game. Am left to play my original copy of Homeworld that does allow me to play over LAN without having to be online. Thanks for the confirmation botman.

[Combat-Evolved]

How do I join multiplayer please?

[Yellow 13]

Originally posted by botman:

The LAN option does require you to have an internet connection since it relies on connection and authenticating with SHiFT (which requires that Steam be running and online, so Steam can't be in Offline mode).

Ah, that's disappointing. Any way Gearbox can reconsider this? I've played countless hours of LAN play without an internet connection on HW1 (original).

[Yellow 13]

Originally posted by botman:

The LAN option does require you to have an internet connection since it relies on connection and authenticating with SHiFT (which requires that Steam be running and online, so Steam can't be in Offline mode).

What about LAN play for HW1C / HW2C ? is LAN play completely disabled?

In other words, do we have to go back to playing HW1 (1999) in order to play HW1C online/LAN ? HWRM is fun, but everyone can agree that HW1 still has its advantages.

[botman]

I think the online requirement for LAN is only need while the BETA is in effect (to verify that people have accepted the Multiplayer BETA agreement), after that it shouldn't be necessary to go online for LAN play.

LAN was disabled (but not removed) from Homeworld 2 classic because we wanted people focusing on the Multiplayer BETA for HWRM. I believe there is a mod on the Workshop that re-enables LAN on HW2C (all it does is add the Multiplayer button back to the menu that it was removed from).

[Yellow 13]

Ah thank-you. What about HW1C?

[spec24]

Originally posted by botman:

I think the online requirement for LAN is only need while the BETA is in effect (to verify that people have accepted the Multiplayer BETA agreement), after that it shouldn't be necessary to go online for LAN play.

LAN was disabled (but not removed) from Homeworld 2 classic because we wanted people focusing on the Multiplayer BETA for HWRM. I believe there is a mod on the Workshop that re-enables LAN on HW2C (all it does is add the Multiplayer button back to the menu that it was removed from).

Thanks botman. This is kind of nebulous though. I would certainly like to have Homeworld Remastered in my collection but I'm not going to buy it based on an "I think.." Is there any way to get a definitive answer to this question?

[botman]

Originally posted by yelow13:

Ah thank-you. What about HW1C?

HW1C networking had dependancies on WON and DirectPlay. WON died off years ago and DirectPlay support has been deprecated in modern versions of Windows. It would taken considerable effort to replace WON and DirectPlay with something else (like Steam). We focused more on the multiplayer for the remastered version and just disabled the stuff in the classic versions that were not supported or functional anymore.

Originally posted by spec24:

Thanks botman. This is kind of nebulous though. I would certainly like to have Homeworld Remastered in my collection but I'm not going to buy it based on an "I think.." Is there any way to get a definitive answer to this question?

Unfortunately, I can't promise anything for the future. You could always wait until things change and then buy it later if things improve to your liking.

[Yellow 13]

Originally posted by botman:

Originally posted by yelow13:

Ah thank-you. What about HW1C?

HW1C networking had dependancies on WON and DirectPlay. WON died off years ago and DirectPlay support has been deprecated in modern versions of Windows. It would taken considerable effort to replace WON and DirectPlay with something else (like Steam). We focused more on the multiplayer for the remastered version and just disabled the stuff in the classic versions that were not supported or functional anymore.

I can see that integrating with Steam wasn't in Gearbox's best interests, and that WON is history, but DirectPlay/LAN still works with the Homeworld 1.05 (from 2000) on Windows 8.1. I understand that it's deprecated and we can't expect it to work perfectly/forever, but it would be nice to be able to use it with the help of a mod / command-line switch considering there is no other multiplayer option for the game.

Fingers-crossed, is it just 'disabled' from the menu, like HW2C, or was it removed pre-compilation?


Edit: Not to rant, but HWRM collection was released as a collection of 4 games. Removing features from the old games because you want people to play the new games is a cheap, disappointing ploy. I guess I'll continue playing the original (disc+patch) or build my own with the source code! :(

Don't get me wrong, HWRM multiplayer is fun, but as stated, it's in BETA, and requires online connectivity (even for LAN play). Also, what happens if/when SHiFT goes the way of WON?