How to host a game with friends?

[Doodybop]

Whats the easiest way to host a game to play with friends? I'm fairly new to startimg servers and what not and all we wanna do is play the vanilla game online.

[Ade]

lan or wan?

[[Bouncy]-|Henky‼|-[TTC]]

Easiest way is just using Create Server in the menu.
When you want to play with online friends open the console.
Then sv_lan 0 and changelevel followed by a level name.

Alternatively you could make use of my server installer to get a dedicated server running. www.bouncyball.eu/hl2dmbeta.exe

[Baba Lulu]

Originally posted by Ade:

lan or wan?

WAN, obviously, it's 1999 anymore.

[Scorp]

It was possible to create/open port and making the local PC, host the server ONLINE for the duration the host was active. It was done with few console commands. Used it alot back then to play with friends (and test my maps), to host our own server (temporarlity) as long as the host doesnt disconnect.